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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-28187
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OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE 52-2190781
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification Number)
2333 SAN RAMON VALLEY BOULEVARD, SUITE 450
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA 94583
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)
(925) 855-5000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
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NONE NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
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(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
contained to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form
10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
As of March 1, 2000, the aggregate market value of the voting stock
held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $239,509,000
based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as
reported on The Nasdaq National Market on such date. All executive officers
and directors of the registrant have been deemed, solely for the purpose of
the foregoing calculation, to be "affiliates" of the registrant. This
determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive
determination for other purposes.
As of March 1, 2000, the Registrant had outstanding 21,337,820 shares
of Common Stock.
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (To the Extent Indicated Herein)
NONE
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OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
DECEMBER 31, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM PAGE NUMBER
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PART I
1. Business...............................................................3
2. Properties............................................................22
3. Legal Proceedings.....................................................22
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders...................22
PART II
5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters..............................................22
6. Selected Financial Data...............................................24
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations........................................25
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk............33
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data...........................34
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
and Financial Disclosure.........................................34
PART III
10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant....................34
11. Executive Compensation................................................37
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management.......................................................41
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions........................43
PART IV
14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.......45
Signatures..................................................................46
Index to Exhibits
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Official Payments Corporation (the "Company" or "Official Payments")
is a leading provider of electronic payment options to government entities
enabling consumers to use their credit cards to pay, through the Internet
or by telephone, personal federal and state income taxes, sales and use
taxes, property taxes and fines for traffic violations and parking
citations. The Company's interactive toll-free telephone number,
1-888-2PAY-TAX(sm), allows consumers to make payments and receive certain
customer service information. The Company's Web site, at
www.8882paytax.com(sm) and at www.officialpayments.com currently allows
consumers to make certain payments through the Internet.
Incorporated in Delaware in September 1999, the Company changed its
name from U.S. Audiotex Corporation in October 1999. The Company's
principal executive offices are located at 2333 San Ramon Valley Boulevard,
Suite 450, San Ramon, California 94583. Imperial Bank, a California State
chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Imperial Bancorp, is the
beneficial owner of approximately 56% of the outstanding common stock of
the Company.
SERVICES
Government Clients
In mid-1998, the Company signed a credit card payment contract with
the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") to provide its services for the
"balance due" payment of personal federal income taxes. The IRS has added
Official Payments' 1-888-2PAY-TAX(sm) number and Web site address on the
instruction booklets for Form 1040, Form 1040ES and Form 4868 for the 1999
tax year. For the 1998 tax year, Official Payments processed only income
tax payments that were shown as due on tax returns filed on or before April
15, 1999, but for the 1999 tax year, the Company is processing estimated
and extension tax payments, beginning with the payments that are due on
April 17, 2000. In March 2000, the IRS awarded Official Payments a contract
to accept via the Internet and telephone balance-due and estimated tax
payments for the 2000 tax year, as well as estimated payments for the 2001
tax year. This new contract has a one-year term, with the IRS having the
option to renew the contract for one additional year. The Company is an
industry partner of the IRS's Electronic Tax Administration division
("ETA").
As of December 31, 1999, Official Payments provided its services to
the States of California and New Jersey, as well as the District of
Columbia and approximately 465 municipal government clients in 25 states
throughout the United States. The Company recently signed contracts and
began providing personal state income tax payment services in the States of
Illinois, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Minnesota and agreed to furnish
additional services beyond those originally provided to the States of
California and New Jersey, as well as the District of Columbia. The highest
concentrations of municipalities serviced by the Company are in California,
Texas and Virginia.
The table below lists the Company's existing government clients and
the types of payments it processes or has contracted to process for those
clients as of March 15, 2000:
Government Client Type of Payment
IRS Balance-due, estimated and extension personal
federal income taxes
California Balance-due, past due, estimated and extension
personal state income taxes; sales and use taxes
New Jersey Balance-due, estimated, extension and deficiency
personal state income taxes; business sales taxes
Illinois Balance-due personal state income taxes
Connecticut Balance-due personal state income taxes
Oklahoma Balance-due personal state income taxes
Minnesota Balance-due, estimated and delinquent personal state
income taxes
District of Columbia Balance-due and delinquent personal state income
taxes
207 municipalities Real estate and personal property taxes (including
school district taxes)
291 municipalities Fines for traffic violations, parking citations and/or
other services (e.g., utility bill payments)
In addition, the Company designs, installs and implements individual
systems for municipal government clients that may be purchased for certain
types of payments. These installed products include property tax, citation
processing, parking and automated fax filing systems, which incorporate the
Company's electronic payment conduits and also provide connections between
databases to transfer information simultaneously.
The Company also builds and sells custom applications such as a
polling place locator application, county social service inquiry system and
additional government-related applications. These systems are typically
sold to a government entity for a fixed fee that covers the Company's costs
and a profit margin.
Electronic payments provide significant benefits for government
entities, including improved service, cost savings, reduced paperwork and
faster transaction processing. Government entities may prefer to outsource
electronic payment options rather than provide these options themselves
because they lack the expertise, technical personnel and economies of scale
necessary to implement and maintain the required software and hardware
systems. In addition, legislation prohibits some government entities from
paying credit card payment processing fees associated with accepting credit
cards.
Most of the Company's agreements with government clients are
non-exclusive, short-term contracts or memoranda of understanding and can
be terminated without cause on short notice, generally 30 to 90 days. In
addition, a government client may choose not to renew its contract with the
Company or may not choose the Company's proposal in response to a request
for proposals to perform additional services or the existing service in
subsequent time periods. If one of the Company's larger existing government
clients (such as the IRS) chooses to terminate its contract or memorandum
of understanding with the Company, the business, operating results and
financial condition of the Company could be materially and adversely
affected.
Credit Card Processing
The Company currently processes payments using American Express(R),
MasterCard(R), Visa(R) and the Discover(R) card. Imperial Bank, Norwest
Bank, First Data Corporation's alliance partners, National City Bank and
Bank of America, in addition to other processing banks used by the Company,
are all long-standing members of the Visa and MasterCard associations and
process transactions utilizing those credit cards for the Company. Official
Payments is a merchant agent for American Express, eliminating the need for
government entities to enter into separate contracts with American Express.
In addition, the Company is authorized by Discover Financial Services to
accept Discover Card transactions.
All four credit card associations and organizations with whom the
Company does business allow for convenience fees to be charged to
cardholders as long as a cardholder receives added convenience from the
service provided. These card associations and issuers, except for Visa,
allow for a tiered fee schedule according to which the fee varies depending
on the amount charged. Because of Visa's rules against tiered convenience
fees, the Company does not accept Visa cards as a means of payment in tax-
related payment programs, such as the IRS, the States of California, New
Jersey, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Connecticut, Oklahoma and
Minnesota. However, the Company does accept Visa as a means of payment in
all non-tax-related payment programs, such as parking citations processing,
where fixed convenience fees can be charged.
Consumer Payment Conduits and Fee Structure
Consumers can make credit card payments to the Company's government
clients by using the 1-888-2PAY-TAX(sm) telephone number or over the
Company's Web site at www.8882paytax.com(sm) or www.officialpayments.com.
Official Payments currently provides a telephone conduit for credit card
payments to all of its government clients. Official Payments works with its
government clients to develop the script for its fully automated telephone
conduits. Payment and other information for the interactive voice response
telephone system ("IVR") is received from consumers who respond to voice
prompts by depressing touch-tone buttons on their telephones. Once the
convenience fee and other necessary information is conveyed to and
confirmed by the consumer, approval is obtained from the relevant credit
card issuing bank and the payment is processed. Upon completion of the
payment, the consumer is given a receipt number.
The Web site allows consumers to make only certain payments, and the
Company is working with its existing government clients (including the IRS)
to enable consumers to make additional payments in the future. In order to
facilitate payments through the Internet conduit, the Company first
configures a client's profile settings and creates a screen and menu
options or "links" within the Company's Web site. Encrypted payment data
may then be sent between the Official Payments server and the government
client's server. A "test" mode then follows until the client is converted
to "live" mode to enable payments to be processed. Payment and other
information for the Company's Internet conduit is received from consumers
who retrieve the payment screen on their computer through the Company's
secure Web site. Once this payment data is entered, approval is obtained
from the credit card issuing bank and the payment is processed through the
Company's secure Web site. As with the telephone conduit, upon completion
of the payment, the consumer is given a receipt number.
The Company is also enhancing its Web site so that consumers will be
able to obtain information regarding its services, access additional
information, print receipts and save their personal data to facilitate
future payments.
Consumers who use the Company's credit card payment services obtain
the convenience of being able to make payments to government entities by
credit card, eliminating the need to mail checks, obtain money orders or
make payments in person. In addition, they gain the flexibility to pay
their credit card balances over time rather than when a government
obligation is due and can take advantage of frequent flyer programs,
cash-back arrangements or other benefits offered by their credit card
issuers.
The Company charges consumer users a convenience fee to use its
services to make payments to government entities by credit card. For large
payments, such as personal federal and state income tax payments, Official
Payments charges a convenience fee based on the amount of the payment. For
smaller payments, such as fines for traffic violations and parking
citations, Official Payments charges a fixed convenience fee. The same
convenience fee applies for payments made through the Internet or by
telephone. The average convenience fee charged in 1999 represented 2.68% of
the amount due.
REVENUES AND OPERATIONS
Operations
The following describes how a property tax transaction generates earnings
for the Company.
o Property Taxpayers. The taxpayer receives a tax bill from his
local government entity providing the Company's telephone
number and Internet Web site address for making a credit card
payment.
o Internet/Telephone. If the taxpayer decides to pay his property
tax using the Company's services, he can use either the
Company's Internet or telephone payment interface to transmit
the required information.
o Official Payments Corporation. The Company's program performs the
following functions for its government clients:
o Capture unique identifiers for each transaction, such as
citation number, social security number, the consumer's
identity and related payment information.
o Perform real-time authorizations and postings, including
fraud checking, credit availability and address
verification.
o Electronically create daily transaction files from all
remote and local systems.
o Compare the daily transaction files to credit card
authorization processor files--the "mirror balancing
system." This validation process assures credible data and
reliable funds flow to government clients.
o Create a daily payment transaction activity report that is
automatically e-mailed or sent by facsimile to government
clients.
o Create upload files from the mirror balancing system that
are sent electronically to government clients. These files
are used by government clients to post payments to their
internal systems.
o Credit Card Processor. The Company transmits the payment data to
its credit card processor.
o Government Entity. Funds are electronically moved through the
automated clearinghouse settlement process directly to the
government entity's financial institution.
o Cardholder's Statement. The cardholder's monthly statement from
his credit card issuer shows a line item or items reflecting
the payment transaction and the convenience fee charged.
o Official Payments Corporation. The Company generates revenue
primarily from charging consumers a convenience fee for using
its services. In the majority of transactions, the government
entity's financial institution forwards the convenience fee to
the Company after receiving the tax payment and the convenience
fee from the consumer. The Company uses a portion of the
convenience fee to pay its credit card processors for merchant
discount fees.
The Company's technological solutions and operations are focused on
producing four integrated results for its government clients and consumers:
reliability, security, audit capability and customer service/operational
support. The Company designed its technology and resulting operations
around these core concepts.
Reliability. The Company's foremost service goal is reliability,
which it seeks to accomplish through redundant hardware that provides
disaster recovery and allows it to implement seamless real- time backup and
100% system availability. The Company's Internet payment servers are housed
at Digex, Inc. facilities in Cupertino, California, and in Beltsville,
Maryland. The Cupertino site is the Company's primary processing location,
containing a 72-hour capacity diesel generator. The Beltsville site is
expected to be able to instantly assume processing and provide 100% system
availability in the event the primary site is rendered inoperative.
Additionally, should the Company experience overloads due to unexpected
volume increases, its backup servers are designed to come into service
without interruption.
The Company's interactive telephone systems has the same dual
facility scheme as its Internet systems. The Company's primary interactive
telephone authorization and processing facility is located in San Ramon,
California, where its computers have interchangeable power supplies and
hard drives so that if a system fails, the redundant systems will assume
the workload. Official Payments also maintains a backup facility in
Stockton, California, used for disaster recovery and transaction overflows.
Transaction Security. The Company places a high priority on
transaction security and fraud prevention. The Company's goal is to
maintain the confidentiality of all consumer credit card and related
information. For its Internet conduit delivery vehicle, the Company employs
secured socket layers for user security from the consumer's browser to the
Company's Web site at www.8882paytax.com and www.officialpayments.com.
Taxpayer identity validations for credit card payments are transmitted in
an encrypted manner and are performed in accordance with existing industry
procedures.
The Company has several system functions that are designed to combat
fraud. For example, credit card authorizations are performed on-line and in
real time. The Company's system captures the cardholder's credit card
account number, card expiration date, billing statement mailing address
(Internet only) and zip code. Credit card information is transmitted
exclusively to the credit card processor. No one outside of the Company's
system and the credit card processor's system receives the information,
including the IRS and other government clients.
Audit Capability. The Company's internally-developed mirror balancing
system and reporting systems provide Official Payments and its government
clients with electronic audit capability. These applications enable the
Company to account for all transactions, to assure that data transmissions
to government clients are complete and reporting and update files are
accurate.
Customer Service. Official Payments provides automated customer
service systems, such as the transaction verification system, which allows
consumers to confirm their transaction posting. In addition, the Company
employs customer service representatives who are available to assist
consumers with individual needs. The Company also provides a "Frequently
Asked Questions" feature on its Web site to answer common questions that
consumers have. The Company has begun increasing the number of customer
service representatives so that calls from consumers to government clients
or to credit card issuer partners relating to the Company's services can be
routed to the Company.
Revenues. The Company generates revenues primarily from charging
consumers a convenience fee for using its services. In the majority of
transactions, the government entity's financial institution forwards the
convenience fee to the Company after receiving the tax payment and the
convenience fee from the consumer. The company uses a portion of the
convenience fee to pay its credit card processors for merchant discount
fees.
For the 1999 fiscal year, convenience fees from payments to the IRS
accounted for approximately 49% of the Company's total revenues. The IRS
has selected Official Payments to provide electronic payment services with
respect to balance-due and extension tax payments for the 2000 tax year, as
well as estimated payments for the 2001 tax year, (with the IRS having the
option to renew the Company's services for an additional year). If the IRS
does not continue to select the Company to perform this service in
subsequent years, the Company's business, operating results and financial
condition would be materially and adversely affected.
SEASONALITY
The Company's revenue generally reflects the seasonality of its
business, which is due primarily to the fact that the majority of federal
and state personal income tax payments are being made on or near April 17
and to the fact that property tax payments are made only once or twice per
year in many jurisdictions.
COMPETITION
Alternative Payment Options
In addition to using the Company's credit card payment services,
consumer users have the following payment options when making payments to
government entities:
o Checks, money orders or cash. Payment by mailing checks,
obtaining money orders and paying in person are the traditional
and currently the most widely used methods for making payments to
government entities.
o Credit card checks. Many of the issuing banks for Visa and
MasterCard distribute cash advance checks to their cardholders.
In March and early April, issuing banks generally promote the use
of these checks to pay taxes. Because these checks are treated as
a cash advance, they are generally a more expensive solution than
the Company's services. The typical terms for a cash advance
include a fee, and the advance starts to accrue interest
immediately at the issuing bank's applicable rate. In addition,
many issuing banks apply the consumer's payments to other less
expensive balances first. Moreover, cash advances typically do
not qualify for frequent flyer mileage programs or any other
perquisites. In contrast, payments made through the Company's
systems require a convenience fee, but are treated as purchases
subject to generally lower interest rates, may not immediately
accrue interest, and may qualify for various award programs.
o Direct debit. Consumer users can arrange through their bank or
otherwise to have payments to government entities directly
debited from their checking or savings account. If arranged
through the bank in which a consumer user's checking or savings
account is maintained, this service is often provided free of
charge.
Competing Providers of Credit Card Services for Payments to Government Entities
In selecting a provider of outsourced electronic payment services,
the Company believes government entities consider the following:
o the Company's ability to offer these services at no cost to the
government entity;
o existing relationships and referrals from other government
entities currently using the Company's services;
o the Company's proven technology systems and implementation
know-how;
o consumer usage of the Company's services;
o the greatest possible consumer reach through both Internet and
telephone conduits;
o the Company's relationships with financial institutions and
credit card companies;
o the Company's flexibility in adapting to unique government
procedures;
o quality and convenience of the Company's service;
o marketing and brand name recognition; and
o price of the Company's services to consumers.
A number of competitors currently provide credit card payment
services for making payments to government entities. The Company believes
it has a larger government client base, and has greater name recognition
than its competitors. There are a number of larger credit card payment and
electronic commerce companies with similar technological capabilities who
may become potential competitors of the Company, some of whom have greater
resources than the Company.
For personal federal income tax payments by credit card, the Company
currently has 100% market share for American Express and MasterCard
payments. The only competitor for 1999 and 2000 tax payments is a joint
development effort by Intuit (TurboTax) and Discover card, for which
Discover card, which had approximately 5% of the IRS balance-due credit
card market based on total payment volume in 1999, is the only credit card
accepted. Beginning with balance-due payments in 2001, the IRS has
announced that software developers and credit card processing companies who
offer an integrated personal federal income tax filing and payment program
will be permitted to compete against the Company (and similar standalone
payment processors) without the need to enter into a formal contract with
the IRS, subject to their compliance with certain technical processing
requirements.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Company has registered the service marks 8882paytax.com(sm) and
1-888-2PAY-TAX(sm). The Company protects its intellectual property rights
through a combination of trademark, service mark, copyright and trade
secrets laws. No assurance can be given that the steps taken to protect the
Company's intellectual property rights, however, will be adequate to deter
misappropriation of those rights. The Company may not be able to detect
unauthorized use of and take appropriate steps to enforce its intellectual
property rights. It may also be possible for unauthorized third parties to
copy certain portions of the Company's proprietary information or reverse
engineer the proprietary information used in the Company's services.
In order to limit access to and disclosure of the Company's
proprietary information, all of the Company's employees are subject to
confidentiality and invention assignment arrangements, and the Company
enters into nondisclosure agreements with third parties that are material
to its business.
The Company has been, and from time to time expects to be, subject to
claims by third parties in the ordinary course of business, including
claims of alleged infringement of service marks, trademarks, copyrights,
patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties. Although
there has not been any litigation relating to such claims to date, these
claims and any resultant litigation would subject the Company to
significant liability for damages and could result in the invalidation of
its proprietary rights. In addition, even if the Company prevails, the
litigation could be time-consuming and expensive to defend and could result
in a diversion of time and attention from the business, any of which could
materially and adversely affect its business, operating results and
financial condition. Any claims or litigation from third parties may also
result in limitations on the ability of the Company to use the service
marks, trademarks and other intellectual property subject to these claims
or litigation, unless the Company enters into agreements with the third
parties. However, these agreements may be unavailable on commercially
reasonable terms, or not available at all.
The Company intends to continue to license technology from third
parties, including its Web server and encryption technology. The Company
cannot be certain that these third-party content licenses will be available
to it on commercially reasonable terms or that it will be able to integrate
the technology into the Company's products and services.
The Company licenses its base interactive telephone hardware and
software systems from Alliance Systems Incorporated, which manufactures the
hardware and provides the operating system and other development tools that
the Company uses. The license fee is included in the cost of each system.
Licenses for the processor software that enables the Company to receive
authorizations from credit card companies are obtained from third party
vendors. Each time a new government client account is established, an
additional license is acquired from Artisoft Inc. to allow the Company to
develop its interactive telephone applications. Finally, the Company
obtained a separate license from CyberSource Corp. for credit card
processing software with respect to each government client that is
supported on the Company's Internet conduit.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company's current business operations began in June 1996. The
Company continues to provide enhancements to the IVR platform on an ongoing
basis. The Company also introduced the Internet platform in August 1999.
Total development costs were $2.1 million, $608,000 and $206,000 for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
As of December 31, 1999, the Company has capitalized approximately
$200,000 for costs related to the research and development of new software
products and enhancements to existing software products where technical
feasibility was established.
The Company believes its software and Internet applications teams and
core technologies do not represent a significant competitive advantage.
However, the Company believes a technically skilled and highly productive
development organization is a key component for the success of new product
roll-outs and offerings. The Company must attract and retain highly
qualified employees to further the Company's development efforts. The
Company's business could be seriously harmed if the Company is not able to
hire and retain a sufficient number of these individuals.
GROWTH STRATEGY
The Company's goal is to continue to be the leading provider of, and
further develop the market for, electronic payment services using credit
cards to pay government obligations. The following are key elements of this
strategy.
Leverage IRS Relationship to Obtain Additional State Government Clients
The Company is leveraging its IRS relationship to provide services to
additional state government entities. These efforts have been bolstered by
the fact that the IRS has endorsed the concept of joint federal and state
payments either by phone or through electronic filing. The Company
currently provides, or has recently signed contracts to provide, its
electronic payment conduit for income tax payments to the States of
California, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Minnesota and
the District of Columbia, which experience the Company seeks to promote in
establishing relationships with other states. The Company hired and will
continue hiring new regional sales managers and sales account executives to
extend its coverage of state governments. A key element of the Company's
strategy for obtaining personal state income tax accounts is the
integration of the personal federal and state income tax payment processes.
The Company's integrated solution allows consumers to pay their personal
federal and state income taxes in a single session, which should enhance
consumer convenience and usage. Competitors who do not currently provide
services to the IRS will be unable to offer this integrated service. Once
the Company is providing personal income tax payment services to a
particular state, it will look for opportunities to provide additional
services covering sales and use tax payments, fees collected by departments
of motor vehicles and other payments for that state. For example, the
Company is currently providing services that allow small businesses in
California to remit their sales and use tax payments by credit card.
Leverage IRS and State Government Client Relationships to Obtain Additional
Municipal Clients
As of December 31, 1999, the Company provided services to
approximately 465 municipal clients. Its relationships with the IRS and
state government entities provide an advantage in helping the Company to
establish relationships with additional municipal clients. To further its
strategic marketing position, the Company is creating a geo-demographic
database of consumers who have already used the Company's services. This
database will be used in the selling process to municipalities to show an
existing base of potential consumers in those municipalities. The Company
is targeting municipal clients through direct sales, telemarketing and
targeted newsletters and other mailings.
Internet Services Roll-out
In August 1999, the Company began providing credit card payment
services through the Internet. The Company now makes Internet payment
services available as an option to all of its existing government clients,
in addition to the Company's telephone payment services.
Introduce New Services and Service Enhancements
In addition to processing credit card payments of balance-due
personal federal and state income taxes, in August 1999, the Company began
processing credit card payments of sales and use taxes for the State of
California and in the first quarter of 2000, it has begun processing credit
card payments of estimated and extension personal federal and state income
taxes, as well as business sales taxes (New Jersey) and
delinquent/deficient personal state income taxes (New Jersey and the
District of Columbia). The Company seeks to remain at the forefront of its
industry by continuing to develop additional and complementary services.
The Company is exploring opportunities to process other payments, such as
motor vehicle registration fees, state corporate fees and taxes,
professional license fees, employment withholding taxes, state disability
insurance and university tuition. It is also exploring opportunities to
provide direct debiting and other electronic fund transfer features to
consumers in the future.
Increase Brand Awareness and Consumer Use
The Company has relied on its government clients and credit card
issuers, and will continue to work with them, to publicize the Company's
services through government publications and credit card billing inserts.
In order to increase the number of transactions processed, the Company
intends to increase consumer awareness of its credit card payment services
through increased advertising and public relations campaigns. For example,
the Company recently began a seven-week advertising campaign to highlight
the convenience, cash management and credit card rewards attributes of the
Company's credit card payment services, which will run in national
newspapers and on network and local radio.
The Company's marketing is also focused on promoting additional
payment opportunities to its existing consumers. The Company believes that
once a consumer uses its system, he or she is more likely to use these
services to make other types of payments to government entities. The
Company's Web site and interactive telephone system promote different types
of payments that can be made using the Company's services.
Pursue Strategic Relationships and Acquisitions
The Company has begun providing its payment services to customers of
OrrTax Software Inc., has signed a letter of intent to provide its payment
services to customers of Nationtax Online and is pursuing similar strategic
relationships with other electronic income tax filing providers thereby
allowing customers of such providers to file returns and pay taxes
electronically. The Company also plans to investigate and pursue
relationships with Internet portals and other Internet financial service
providers in order to reach additional Internet users. In November 1999,
the Company formed a strategic alliance with E*Trade Group, Inc., pursuant
to which, prior to the Company's initial public offering on November 23,
1999, E*Trade purchased 512,820 shares of the Company's common stock for
$9.75 per share, resulting in an aggregate purchase price of $5 million. As
part of this alliance, E*Trade and the Company agreed to engage in
cross-marketing and joint promotions targeting the two companies' customer
bases. In addition, Official Payments may pursue opportunistic acquisitions
that will enhance its product offering and technical capabilities,
including companies that provide government client or consumer user
products or services closely related to the Company's, although the Company
currently has not allocated specific proceeds to fund such acquisition
plans.
The Company also has relationships with Bank of America, American
National Bank (Illinois), Union Bank of California, Sun Trust and Discover
Financial Services, Inc. to implement systems for their government clients.
For example, Discover Financial Services was awarded the contract to
provide personal income tax payment services for the State of California
and subcontracted the implementation of the system to the Company. The
Company's product implementation model and revenues as a subcontractor are
identical to a directly contracted account. Official Payments will look for
additional strategic opportunities to provide services to government
entities in conjunction with these and other partners.
REGULATORY MATTERS
By virtue of Imperial Bank's ownership interest in the Company, and
owing to the nature of the Company's business, the Company is subject to
various regulatory requirements. Imperial Bank is a California
state-chartered bank whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). It is not a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System. Imperial Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by
the FDIC, as its primary federal regulator, as well as by the California
Department of Financial Institutions (the "Department"). Imperial Bank, in
turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Imperial Bancorp, a registered bank
holding company, which is subject to the provisions of the federal Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), and which is
regulated and supervised by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (the "Federal Reserve").
As long as Imperial Bank maintains a "controlling interest" in the
Company-in general, 25% or more common stock ownership-the Company will be
subject to examination and supervision by the FDIC as well as by the
Department.
Section 24 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act generally restricts
and prohibits insured state banks, such as Imperial Bank, and their
subsidiaries from engaging in activities and making types of investments
that are not permissible for national banks and their subsidiaries. The
FDIC's regulations under this statute define "activity permissible for a
national bank" to include any activity authorized for national banks under
any statute, as well as activities recognized as permissible for a national
bank in regulations, official circulars, bulletins, orders or written
interpretations issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
(the "OCC").
The Company's business involves processing payments by individuals
and businesses to federal, state and local governments pursuant to
telephonic or electronic instruction. This activity has long been
recognized as part of or incidental to the business of banking, and is
permissible for a national bank and for majority owned subsidiaries of
national banks. The OCC has also broadly allowed national banks to perform,
provide or deliver through electronic means and facilities any activity,
function, product or service that it is otherwise authorized to perform,
provide or deliver, and, in connection with those services, provide
unrelated services arising from excess capacity acquired or developed in
good faith for banking purposes. These activities may be conducted by
national banks directly, as well as through majority owned subsidiaries of
national banks. These activities may also be conducted through subsidiaries
in which the national bank holds less than 50% of the voting stock,
provided, among other things, the bank is able to prevent the subsidiary
from engaging in impermissible activities or may readily divest its
ownership interest if the subsidiary engages in such impermissible
activities. Because the Company believes that all of its current activities
are permissible for national banks, it believes this limitation has no
effect on its business and upon Imperial Bank's ownership interest in the
Company at the present time.
For as long as Imperial Bank owns a voting equity interest in the
Company which equals 25% or more, or may otherwise be deemed by the
regulatory authorities to constitute "control", the Company will also be
subject to certain California State and federal statutes and regulations
that apply to Imperial Bank. For example, the Company will be required to
limit any transactions it may have with "affiliates" of Imperial Bank in
the same manner as Imperial Bank must limit its transactions with its
affiliates. Among other things, all such dealings with affiliates must be
at arms' length.
There is no guarantee that the banking laws will not be amended or
construed differently, or that new laws or regulations will not be adopted,
the effect of which could materially and adversely affect the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition.
The Company is also subject to the laws and regulations relating to
commercial transactions generally, such as the Uniform Commercial Code, and
to the electronic fund transfer rules embodied in Regulation E issued by
the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve's Regulation E implements the
Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which was enacted in 1978. Regulation E
protects consumers engaging in electronic transfers, and sets forth basic
rights, liabilities and responsibilities of consumers who use electronic
money services and of financial institutions that offer these services. For
the Company, Regulation E sets forth disclosure and investigative
procedures. For consumers, Regulation E establishes procedures and time
periods for reporting unauthorized use of electronic money transfer
services and limitations on the consumers' liability if the notification
procedures are followed within prescribed periods. These limitations on the
consumers' liability may result in liability to the Company.
Given the expansion of the Internet commerce market, it is possible
that the Federal Reserve might revise Regulation E or adopt new rules for
electronic funds transfer affecting users other than consumers. Because of
growth in the Internet commerce market, Congress has held hearings on
whether to regulate providers of services and transactions in the Internet
commerce market. It is possible that Congress or individual states could
enact laws regulating the Internet commerce market. The privacy provisions
of the recently-enacted Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act prohibit financial
institutions from disclosing to unaffiliated third parties nonpublic
personal information regarding consumers, subject to certain exceptions,
and require those institutions to develop and disclose consumer privacy
policies. Federal agencies are developing regulations that implement this
new privacy law. In addition, a number of state legislatures are
considering their own consumer privacy laws, which may be more stringent
than the federal provisions. If enacted, these laws, rules and regulations
could be imposed on the Company's business and industry and could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition. Federal, local and state laws and regulations may be
adopted in the future to address issues such as user privacy, pricing,
online content regulation, taxation and the characteristics and quality of
online products and services.
Any new law or regulation relating to the Internet could have a
material and adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results
and financial condition.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The information in this report contains 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. Such statements are based upon the current economic environment
and current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, and you are
cautioned that these statements are not guarantees of future performance.
Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts
may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, words such as
"may," "will," "should," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue,"
"strategy," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
The Company's actual results and the timing of certain events may differ
significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statement.
Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but
are not limited to, those discussed below in the section entitled "Risk
Factors" and in "ITEM 7: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS," as well as the risks discussed in the
Company's other Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings,
including the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 declared
effective on November 22, 1999 by the SEC (File No. 333-87325).
RECENT EVENTS
In March 2000, the Company signed a letter of intent to form a
strategic alliance with Nationtax Online, pursuant to which the Company
will make its credit card payment services available to companies who
prepare and file their state business and sales and use (and similar) taxes
through Nationtax Online's service. Nationtax Online currently has official
relationships to process these types of taxes in six states. The Company
and Nationtax Online expect to sign a definitive agreement in the next
several weeks.
In March 2000, the IRS awarded Official Payments a contract to accept
via the Internet and telephone balance-due and estimated tax payments for
the 2000 tax year, as well as estimated payments for the 2001 tax year.
This new contract has a one-year term, with the IRS having the option to
renew the contract for one additional year.
In March 2000, Official Payments was awarded new business with the
State of New Jersey, which is incremental to the Company's existing
contract with the state. The Company's previous agreements gave New Jersey
taxpayers the ability to pay their individual return balance-due, extension
and estimated personal state income tax payments by credit card over the
telephone. The new award adds an Internet payment option and two new tax
payment categories: New Jersey Monthly and/or Quarterly Business Sales Tax
and personal state income deficiency taxes.
In January 2000, the Company partnered with an electronic filing
software provider, OrrTax Software Inc., to provide electronic filing and
payment services.
In January 2000, the Company entered into a contract with the State
of Oklahoma to allow the state's residents to pay their 1999 balance-due
personal state income taxes through the Company's Internet system. In
addition, the Company entered into a contract with the State of Minnesota
to allow the state's residents to pay their 1999 balance-due personal state
income taxes through the Company's interactive telephone and Internet
systems.
In January 2000, the Company was awarded additional contracts with
the Franchise Tax Board of California. These new contracts allow California
taxpayers to pay their 1999 balance-due and extension personal state income
taxes through the Company's Internet and interactive telephone systems, in
addition to delinquent and estimated payments. The Company also received
authorization from the District of Columbia to begin processing credit card
payments for past-due personal income taxes for residents of that
jurisdiction, in addition to the balance-due personal income taxes already
being processed by the Company.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1999, the Company had a total of 45 employees,
approximately two-thirds of whom are located at the Company's facility in
San Ramon, California. None of these employees is represented by a
collective bargaining agreement, nor has the Company experienced any work
stoppage. The Company considers its relations with employees to be good.
OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS
In addition to other information in this Form 10-K, the following
factors should be carefully considered in evaluating the Company and its
business because such factors currently may have a significant impact on
the Company's business, operating results and financial condition. As a
result of the factors set forth below and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, and
the risks discussed in the Company's other Securities and Exchange
Commission filings, actual results could differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statements.
RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS
The Company has a history of losses and expects to continue to incur
losses.
The Company has incurred net losses of approximately $11.4 million
for the period from its inception on June 26, 1996 to December 31, 1999.
The Company expects to incur losses from operations for the foreseeable
future.
The Company intends to expend significant resources on increasing its
sales and marketing staff and capabilities and systems development. As a
result, the Company will need to significantly increase its revenues to
achieve and maintain profitability. If the Company's revenues do not
increase sufficiently, the operating results and financial condition of the
Company could be materially and adversely affected.
Deferred stock compensation expenses will reduce the Company's net income
for the next three years.
During 1999 the Company recorded on its balance sheet a deferred
stock compensation expense totaling $42.9 million. As a result, the
Company's net income was reduced by $7.9 million in the year ended December
31, 1999. For every subsequent quarter for the next three years, the
Company's net income will be reduced by $3.2 million. The total amount of
this expense, and the corresponding reduction in the Company's net income
is a result of options granted to certain employees in August, September
and November 1999 with exercise prices at less than the fair value of the
underlying common stock.
Because the Company's business model is unproven and evolving, it is
difficult to evaluate the Company's business.
The use of credit cards to make payments to government agencies is
relatively new and evolving. To date, the Company's business has consisted
primarily of providing credit card payment options for the payment of
balance-due federal and state personal income taxes, property taxes and
fines for traffic violations and parking citations. Because the Company has
only a limited operating history, it is difficult to evaluate its business
and prospects and the risks, expenses and difficulties that the Company may
face in implementing its business model. The Company's success will depend
on maintaining its relationship with the IRS and on developing additional
relationships with state and local government agencies, especially state
taxing authorities, and their respective constituents. There are no
assurances that the Company will be able to develop new relationships or
maintain existing relationships, and the failure to do so could have a
material and adverse effect on the business, operating results and
financial condition of the Company.
The Company's future growth depends on the acceptance of its payment
systems as a method for making payments to government entities.
The Company works with government entities to allow it to provide
credit card payment services to the government entities' constituents.
While many government entities have initiatives or legislative mandates in
place to foster the growth of electronic payments, the business, operating
results and financial condition of the Company would suffer if there were a
reduction in these initiatives. Traditionally, individuals and small
businesses have made substantially all payments to government entities by
check or money order. The Company is providing its payment services through
its interactive telephone conduit and has developed and will continue to
expand the availability of its Internet conduit. However, there are no
assurances that the Company will be successful in attracting enough
additional consumers to use its Internet and interactive telephone conduits
to make their payments to the Company's government clients. The lack of
meaningful growth in the market for credit card payments to government
entities could have a material adverse effect on the business, operating
results and financial condition of the Company.
If consumers are unwilling to pay convenience fees for the Company's
services, its business model will fail.
The Company's business model is based on consumers' willingness to
pay a convenience fee in addition to their required government payment for
the use of the Company's credit card payment option. If consumers are not
receptive to paying a convenience fee, demand for the Company's services
will decline or fail to grow, which could jeopardize the implementation of
the Company's business plan and would have a material and adverse effect on
the business, operating results and financial condition of the Company.
If credit card associations change their rules and do not allow the Company
to charge convenience fees, operating results of the Company would be
materially and adversely affected.
Credit card association rules governing the use of Visa and
MasterCard at merchant locations generally prohibit merchants from charging
a convenience fee for cardholder purchases. The Company and Imperial Bank,
the Company's majority stockholder, have worked with these credit card
associations to permit the Company to charge convenience fees for credit
card payments for government services and taxes. To date, Visa permits a
convenience fee, but only if it is a flat amount for a particular
government service and will not allow fees that are variable in amount
depending on the kind of service provided or the amount involved. If the
Company's ability to charge convenience fees is limited or eliminated, the
business, operating results and financial condition of the Company would be
materially and adversely affected.
The IRS currently accounts for a significant portion of the Company's
revenues, and the loss of the IRS as a client would materially and
adversely impact the Company's operating results.
In the year ended 1999, convenience fees from payments to the IRS
accounted for approximately 49% of the Company's total revenues. The IRS
has selected the Company to provide electronic payment services with
respect to balance-due and extension tax payments for the 2000 tax year, as
well as estimated tax payments for the 2001 tax year (with the IRS having
the option to renew the Company's services for an additional year). If the
IRS does not continue to select the Company to perform this service in
subsequent years, the business, operating results and financial condition
of the Company would be materially and adversely affected.
Most of the Company's contracts with government clients are not exclusive
or long-term contracts and, as a result, large government clients may
terminate their relationships with the Company on short notice.
Most of the Company's agreements with government clients are
non-exclusive, short-term contracts or memoranda of understanding and can
be terminated without cause on short notice, generally 30 to 90 days. In
addition, a government client may choose not to renew its contract with the
Company or may not choose the Company's proposal in response to a
government request for proposals. If one of the Company's larger existing
government clients chooses to terminate its contract or memorandum of
understanding with the Company, or does not choose the Company's proposal,
the business, operating results and financial condition of the Company
could be materially and adversely affected.
Increased competition in the market for payment services to government
entities could result in lower operating margins and decreased market
share.
The Company's credit card payment services face competitive pressures
from various card- issuing banks for Visa and MasterCard, which send out
checks that function as cash advances and can be used for payments to
government entities. In addition, a number of data and bill processing
companies have the technical capability and other resources to commence
providing credit card payment services, and have indicated an intent to do
so. Increased competition from other providers of payment options to
government entities could have a material and adverse effect on the
business, operating results and financial condition of the Company.
Many of the Company's current and potential competitors have
significantly greater financial, marketing, technical, sales, customer
support and other resources than the Company. In addition, some of these
competitors may be able to devote greater resources to the development,
promotion and sale of their services, adopt more aggressive pricing
strategies and devote substantially more resources to the development of
technology and systems than the Company will be able to devote or adopt.
Increased competition may result in lower operating margins and loss of
market share. The Company may not be able to compete successfully against
current and future competitors, and competitive pressures could have a
material and adverse effect on the business, operating results and
financial condition of the Company.
If the Company's services do not function as designed, the Company may
incur significant liability for the processing of fraudulent or erroneous
transactions.
The Company's electronic payment services are designed to provide
payment management functions and to limit its government clients' risk of
fraud or loss in effecting transactions with their constituents. As
electronic services become more critical to the Company's government
clients, there is the potential for significant liability claims for the
processing of fraudulent or erroneous transactions. In addition, defects or
programming errors in the software the Company uses could cause service
interruptions. The Company's services depend on complex software that is
both internally developed and licensed from third parties. Although the
Company conducts extensive testing, complex software may contain defects or
programming errors, or may not properly interface with third party systems,
particularly when first introduced or when new versions are released. In
April 1999, the Company encountered an incident where a date coding error
in a pilot program resulted in approximately 13,700 transactions being
posted for tax year 1999 rather than 1998, which required reposting by the
IRS to the correct year. In addition, duplicate transactions by consumers
and processing errors by the Company during 1999 resulted in duplicate
payments to the IRS. To the extent that defects or errors are undetected in
the future and cannot be resolved satisfactorily or in a timely manner, the
Company's business could suffer. If a liability claim or claims were
brought against the Company, even if not successful, their defense would
likely be time consuming and costly and could damage the Company's
reputation. Any such liability or claim could have a material and adverse
effect on the business, operating results and financial condition of the
Company.
If the Company's system security is breached, it may be liable to
government clients and consumer users for damages resulting from the
breach.
The Company's failure to prevent system security breaches could have
a material and adverse effect on the business, operating results and
financial condition of the Company. A fundamental requirement for
electronic payment services is the secure transmission of confidential
information over public communication networks. Third parties may attempt
to breach the Company's system security or that of the Company's government
clients or consumer users. If they are successful, the Company may be
liable to its government clients or consumer users for any damages
resulting from a breach in the Company's system security, and any breach
could harm the Company's reputation. The Company may be required to expend
significant capital and other resources to license additional encryption
and other technologies to protect against system security breaches or to
alleviate problems caused by any such breaches.
If the Company's systems fail, it may not be able to provide adequate
service, and the Company's operations could be damaged.
The Company's success depends on the efficient and uninterrupted
operation of its computer and communications systems. The majority of the
Company's computer and communications systems are located in San Ramon and
San Francisco, California. The Company's systems and operations are
vulnerable to damage or interruption from:
o telecommunication failures;
o power loss;
o earthquakes, fires or floods;
o computer viruses;
o physical and electronic break-ins; and
o acts of sabotage, vandalism and similar events.
Any failure of the Company's systems could impede the timely
processing of consumer user payments and other data and the day-to-day
management of the business. Despite any precautions the Company takes, a
natural disaster or other unanticipated problem that leads to the
corruption or loss of data at the Company's facilities could result in an
interruption of services. Service interruptions could have a material and
adverse effect on the reputation, business, operating results and financial
condition of the Company and would have a significant adverse effect if
they occurred on or near April 17.
A constraint in the Company's capacity to process transactions could impair
the quality and availability of the Company's service.
Capacity constraints may cause unanticipated system disruptions,
impair quality and lower the level of the Company's service, all of which
could have a material and adverse effect on the business, operating results
and financial condition of the Company. Although the Company believes that
it has sufficiently expanded its system capacity to accommodate expected
additional personal federal income tax payments and other anticipated
growth, there are no assurances that the Company will not suffer capacity
constraints caused by a sharp increase in the use of its services. Due to
the large number of tax payments made in March and early April, there is an
increased risk that the Company will suffer a capacity constraint during
that period, which would have an adverse effect on the business, operating
results and financial condition of the Company.
If the Company fails to respond to rapid technological change, its systems
and services could be rendered obsolete.
The electronic payment industry is characterized by rapid
technological change. If the Company cannot adapt or respond in a
cost-effective and timely manner to technological changes, the business,
operating results and financial condition of the Company will be materially
and adversely affected, and the Company's technology and systems, and thus
its services, could be rendered obsolete. The development of the Company's
technologies and necessary service enhancements entails significant
technical and business risks and requires substantial lead-time and
expenditures. The Company may not be able to keep pace with the latest
technological developments, successfully identify and meet the demands of
its government clients and consumer users, use new technologies
effectively, or adapt its services to emerging industry standards or to its
government clients' or consumer users' requirements.
The Company's operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to
quarter, which may negatively impact the Company's stock price.
The Company believes its quarterly operating results will fluctuate
significantly in the future as a result of a variety of factors, many of
which are outside of the Company's control. These factors include:
o the seasonality of the Company's business, which is due
primarily to the fact that the majority of federal and state
personal income tax payments is being made on or near April 17
and to the fact that property tax payments are made only once
or twice per year in most jurisdictions;
o the amount and timing of costs related to the Company's sales and
marketing efforts and other initiatives; and
o the Company's ability to upgrade, enhance and maintain its systems
and infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Because of these factors, the Company believes that comparisons of
its quarterly operating results are not necessarily meaningful. In
addition, it is possible that in some future quarters the Company's
operating results will be below the expectations of research analysts and
investors, in which case the price of the Company common stock is likely to
decline.
If government clients and credit card issuers cease to publicize the
Company's services, consumer use of its services may slow, and the Company
would suffer a large increase in advertising costs.
Currently, the Company's government clients and credit card issuers
provide most of the publicity for its services, without any cost to the
Company. If these entities cease to publicize the Company's services, or
charge the Company for this publicity, advertising costs will increase
substantially, which could have a material and adverse effect on the
business, operating results and financial condition of the Company. The
Company's government clients and credit card issuers have no obligation to
continue to provide this publicity, and there are no assurances that they
will continue to do so. In addition, the government clients may publicize
other services, including those of its competitors.
If the Company does not expand its sales and marketing and other staff and
capabilities or effectively manage its internal growth, the Company may not
be able to expand its business.
The Company is currently experiencing a period of rapid expansion. In
order to manage the Company's expected growth, accommodate its needs and
take advantage of new opportunities in its market, the Company will need to
attract additional key personnel in the near future. The Company also will
need to expand its sales and marketing, technical, finance, administrative,
systems and operations staff. This expansion involves a number of risks,
including:
o the Company's ability to hire and retain qualified personnel in a
competitive environment; and
o the Company's ability to successfully integrate new personnel
with its existing personnel.
There are no assurances that the Company's current and planned
personnel levels, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to
support its future operations. If inadequate, the Company may not be able
to exploit existing and potential strategic relationships and market
opportunities. Any delays or difficulties the Company encounters could
impair its ability to attract new, and enhance its relationships with
existing, government clients and consumer users. If the Company is
unsuccessful in hiring, integrating and retaining new personnel, or unable
to effectively manage its internal growth, the business, operating results
and financial condition of the Company could be materially and adversely
affected.
A number of members of the Company's management team have little experience
working together; the Company depends on a few key employees.
The Company's future success will depend upon the continued service
of key management and technical personnel. Thomas Evans, the Company's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, joined the Company in August 1999,
and a number of other executive officers joined the Company in September
and October 1999. Given their limited experience with the Company's
business and other members of management, it is possible that they may not
integrate well into the business of the Company. The failure of key
personnel to integrate well would have a material and adverse effect on the
business, operating results and financial condition of the Company.
The Company currently does not maintain key man life insurance
policies on any of its employees. The loss of the services of any key
employees or the inability to hire and retain additional key employees
would have a material and adverse effect on the business, operating results
and financial condition of the Company.
The Company may not be able to protect its intellectual property rights,
which may result in damages to the Company, or the Company may infringe on
the rights of others, which may subject it to liability for damages caused
to third parties.
The Company protects its intellectual property rights through a
combination of trademark, service mark, copyright and trade secrets laws.
There are no assurances, however, that the steps the Company has taken to
protect its intellectual property rights will be adequate to deter
misappropriation of those rights. The Company does not have any proprietary
technology or patent protections. In addition, the Company cannot be
certain that its services do not infringe on valid patents, copyrights and
intellectual property rights held by third parties. The Company may be
subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time in the ordinary
course of its business, including claims of alleged infringement of the
intellectual property rights of third parties. Intellectual property
litigation is expensive and time- consuming and could divert management's
attention away from running the business.
The Company may not be able to license technologies, including Web server
and encryption technologies, from third parties on favorable terms, and the
Company may not be able to utilize these technologies successfully.
The Company intends to continue to license technology from third
parties, including its Web server and encryption technology. The Company's
business is evolving, and it may need to license additional technologies to
remain competitive or adequately protect the security of its systems. The
Company may not be able to license these technologies on commercially
reasonable terms or at all. In addition, the Company may fail to
successfully integrate any licensed technology into its services. These
third party licenses may fail to generate revenues sufficient to offset
associated acquisition and maintenance costs, or may divert the Company's
resources from the development of its own proprietary technology. The
Company's inability to obtain any of these licenses could delay product and
service development until equivalent technology can be identified, licensed
and integrated. Any such delays in services could cause the business and
operating results of the Company to suffer.
The Company substantially depends on Imperial Bank's sponsorship to
maintain its status as a credit card member service provider; and the
Company's status in each credit card association could be suspended or
terminated if it cannot comply with standards or if the associations change
their membership rules.
Termination of the Company's member service provider registrations or
any changes in the rules of the credit card associations that limit the
Company's ability to provide processing and marketing services, could have
a material adverse effect on the business, operating results and financial
condition of the Company. As a nonbank processor, in order to process
credit card transactions, the Company must be authorized by American
Express and Discover Financial Services and be sponsored by a financial
institution that is a principal member of Visa and MasterCard. Through
Imperial Bank, the Company's majority stockholder, the Company is
registered with Visa and MasterCard as a member service provider. The
Company is a merchant agent for American Express and is authorized to
accept Discover Card transactions. The Company's status in each association
and with American Express and Discover Financial Services depends on its
compliance with their standards, which may change and may vary from
association to association, and could be suspended or terminated if the
Company is unable to comply. There are no assurances that the credit card
associations will maintain the Company's registrations or authorizations or
keep their current rules in effect. Additionally, some of the member
financial institutions that set the rules for each credit card association
are the Company's or Imperial Bank's competitors, and may help effect rules
that are less favorable to the Company.
The Company's failure to successfully integrate any future acquisitions
could strain its managerial, operational and financial resources.
As part of the Company's business strategy, it intends to pursue
opportunistic acquisitions that would provide additional technologies,
products, services or experienced personnel. Acquisitions present a number
of potential risks that could have a material and adverse effect on the
business, operating results and financial condition of the Company,
including:
o difficulty in assimilating the acquired company's personnel,
operations and technologies;
o entrance into markets in which the Company has limited or no
prior experience;
o the potential loss of key employees of the acquired company;
o the distraction of its management's attention from other business
concerns; and
o the potentially dilutive issuance of the Company's common stock,
the use of significant amounts of cash or the incurrence of
substantial amounts of debt.
RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY'S INDUSTRY
If the growth in the use and capacity of the Internet does not continue, or
the Internet is not secure, the growth of the Company's business will be
negatively impacted.
The growth of the Company's business would be materially and
adversely affected if Internet usage does not continue to grow rapidly.
Internet usage may be inhibited for a number of reasons, including:
o concerns about the security of confidential information;
o lack of reliability and ease of access;
o lack of cost-effective, high-speed service;
o inconsistent quality and interruption of service;
o inadequate network infrastructure; and
o adoption of onerous laws or governmental regulations.
The Internet infrastructure may not be able to support the demands
placed on it by increased usage and its performance and reliability may
decline. Internet Web sites have experienced interruptions and delays in
their service as a result of outages occurring throughout the Internet
network infrastructure. If these outages or delays occur frequently in the
future, Internet usage, as well as the use of the Company's Internet
payment service, could grow more slowly than projected or decline. In
addition, because a number of the Company's services involve the transfer
of confidential information, the business, operating results and financial
condition of the Company could be materially and adversely affected if
Internet users significantly reduce their use of the Internet due to
security concerns.
The Company may become subject to Federal Reserve Board licensing laws or
to expanded electronic fund transfer rules, which could increase the
Company's operating costs and restrict its business activities.
The Company's management believes that it is not required to be
licensed by the Federal Reserve Board, or other federal or state agencies
that regulate or monitor banks or other types of providers of electronic
commerce services. There are no assurances that a federal or state agency
will not attempt, either now or in the future, to require that providers of
services like the Company's be licensed. This would impede the Company's
ability to do business in the areas within the regulator's jurisdiction.
In conducting several aspects of the Company's business, the Company
is subject to various laws and regulations relating to commercial
transactions generally, such as the Uniform Commercial Code. The Company is
also subject to the electronic fund transfer rules embodied in Regulation E
issued by the Federal Reserve Board. Given the expansion of the electronic
commerce market, it is possible that the Federal Reserve Board might revise
Regulation E or adopt new rules for electronic fund transfers affecting
users other than consumers. It is possible that Congress or individual
states could enact laws regulating the electronic commerce market. If
enacted, these laws, rules and regulations could be imposed on the
Company's business and industry and could have a material and adverse
effect on the business, operating results and financial condition of the
Company.
Because of Imperial Bank's ownership of the Company's shares, the Company
is subject to federal and state banking laws, which, if changed, could
further restrict its business activities or increase its operating cost.
The Company is subject to federal and state banking laws and
regulations because of Imperial Bank's ownership of the Company's stock. In
order to allow Imperial Bank to comply with applicable laws and
regulations, the Company is restricted from entering into certain business
activities. These restrictions limit the Company's discretion in operating
its business. There are no assurances that the banking laws and regulations
will not be amended, replaced or construed differently, the effect of which
could materially and adversely affect the business, operating results and
financial condition of the Company.
If there are changes in tax laws which decrease the amount, the methods or
the frequency of consumer tax payments, the Company's revenues could
decrease.
Congress, as well as individual states and municipalities, regularly
consider a wide array of tax proposals. These tax proposals may result in a
reduction of federal, state or local tax rates, collection of a greater
percentage of taxes through withholding or other changes that could result
in a decrease in the number and amount of payments that consumer users have
to make directly to a government entity. In addition, some of these
proposals may result in taxation of credit card perquisites, such as
frequent flyer miles. If any of these proposals were to be passed, it may
reduce the number and amount of tax payments effected through the Company's
services and the dollar amount of the Company's revenue derived from the
convenience fees charged to consumer users. If enacted, these laws could
have a material and adverse effect on the business, operating results and
financial condition of the Company.
If there is a general economic downturn, the amount of income tax paid
could decrease, which would reduce the Company's operating results.
Income taxes are dependent on the amount of income earned by tax
paying citizens. A significant economic downturn could reduce the per
capita income of citizens, and thus reduce the amount of income tax
payments consumer users have to make to a government entity, which may
reduce the Company's revenues from convenience fees. If the United States
experiences an economic downturn, it could have a material and adverse
effect on the business, operating results and financial condition of the
Company.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's corporate headquarters, technical personnel and
customer service operations are located in San Ramon, California in
approximately 8,600 square feet of office space. The lease for this space
expires in 2005. In addition, the Company currently leases approximately
1,400 square feet of office space in New York, New York for administrative
and marketing personnel, which lease expires on April 30, 2000.
In order to accommodate the Company's recent growth and estimated
future space needs, the Company has entered into an agreement to lease for
five years commercial office space in Stamford, Connecticut consisting of
approximately 13,800 square feet. This new leased space, which will replace
the current New York, New York offices, will house the Company's corporate
headquarters, as well as its marketing and administrative personnel.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company currently is not involved in any material legal
proceedings.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this Annual
Report on Form 10-K, there were no matters submitted to a vote of security
holders through a solicitation of proxies or otherwise.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's common stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol "OPAY." The Company's initial public offering of stock
commenced on November 23, 1999 at $15.00 per share. The price range per
share reflected in the table below, is the highest and lowest sale price
for the Company's stock as reported by The Nasdaq National Market during
the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form
10-K. The Company's present policy is to retain earnings, if any, to
finance future growth. The Company has never paid cash dividends and has no
present intention to pay cash dividends.
November 23, 1999
to
December 31, 1999
------------------
Price range per share:
Low.............................. $17.25
High............................. $57.37
As of March 16, 2000, there were approximately 2,500 stockholders of
record of the Company's common stock, although the Company believes that
there is a significantly larger number of beneficial owners of its common
stock. As of March 16, 2000, the last sale price of the common stock as
reported on The Nasdaq National Market was $43.50.
On November 29, 1999, the Company completed the initial public
offering of its common stock. The managing underwriters in the offering
were Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, CIBC World Markets and DLJdirect Inc.
The shares of the common stock sold in the offering were registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on a Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (No. 333-87325). The Securities and Exchange Commission declared the
Registration Statement effective on November 22, 1999.
The offering commenced on November 23, 1999 and was completed on
November 29, 1999 after the Company had sold all of the 5,750,000 shares of
common stock registered under the Registration Statement (including 750,000
shares sold in connection with the exercise of the underwriters' over-
allotment option). The initial public offering price was $15.00 per share,
resulting in gross proceeds from the initial public offering of $86.2
million.
The Company paid a total of $6.0 million in underwriting discounts
and commissions and approximately $1.5 million has been or will be incurred
for costs and expenses related to the offering. None of the costs and
expenses related to the offering were paid directly or indirectly to any
director or officer of the Company or their associates, persons owning 10
percent or more of any class of equity securities of the Company or an
affiliate of the Company.
After deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the
offering expenses the estimated net proceeds to the Company from the
offering were approximately $78.7 million. The net offering proceeds have
been used to purchase computer equipment to expand transaction processing
capabilities; for increased sales, marketing and promotional activities;
for the build-out of the Company's new headquarters offices in Stamford,
Connecticut; and for general corporate purposes. In the future, the Company
may also use a portion of its net proceeds to acquire or invest in
businesses, technologies, products or services (which amount has not been
specifically allocated as of the date hereof). Unused proceeds are invested
in short-term marketable securities and other cash equivalents.
SALES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK PRIOR TO ITS INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
On August 24, 1999, the Company issued 2,400 shares of its common
stock to Imperial Bank for a total consideration of $8.00 and 600 shares of
common stock to Beranson Holdings, Inc. for a total consideration of $2.00.
The Company relied on the exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, because it was an offer made by an issuer not
involving a public offering. In connection with the merger of U.S.
Audiotex, LLC into the Company, which was effected as of September 30,
1999, the limited liability company interests of Imperial Bank and Beranson
Holdings, Inc. in U.S. Audiotex, LLC were exchanged for 11,997,600 and
2,999,400 shares of the Company's common stock, respectively. The merger
was an internal corporate reorganization solely involving the existing
members of U.S. Audiotex, LLC in order to convert the Company's corporate
form into a C corporation in anticipation of its initial public offering.
On November 5, 1999, the Company sold 512,820 shares of its common stock to
E*TRADE Group, Inc. for $9.75 per share - resulting in total consideration
of $5 million. E*TRADE Group, Inc. is a sophisticated qualified
institutional buyer.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements and the notes to the financial statements and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," which are included elsewhere in this report. The statement of
operations data for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1999, and the balance sheet data at December 31, 1999, 1998,
and 1997, are derived from the Company's audited financial statements,
which are included elsewhere in this report.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- --------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
Transaction fees................... $ 8,592 $ 2,076 935
Other revenues..................... 249 293 267
-------- -------- --------
Total Revenues................ 8,841 2,369 1,202
-------- -------- --------
Cost of revenues:
Cost of transaction fees........... 4,263 494 259
Cost of transaction fees to related party 2,069 515 153
Cost of other revenues............. 204 71 284
-------- -------- --------
Total cost of revenues........ 6,536 1,080 696
-------- -------- --------
Gross profit............................ 2,305 1,289 506
-------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing................ 3,551 356 330
Development costs.................. 2,121 608 206
General and administrative......... 7,239 595 446
Allocated expenses from related party 151 -- 20
-------- -------- --------
Total operating expenses...... 13,062 1,559 1,002
-------- -------- --------
Income (loss) from operations........... (10,757) (270) (496)
Other income (expense), net............. 357 (55) (6)
-------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)....................... $(10,400) $ (325) $ (502)
======== ======== ========
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share $ (0.66) $ (0.02) $ (0.03)
======== ======== ========
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net
income (loss) per share................. 15,677 15,000 15,000
======== ======== ========
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and short-term investments.... $ 80,514 $ 631 $ 182
Working capital (deficit).......... 80,150 392 (221)
Total assets....................... 84,300 1,747 764
Total debt including current portion 597 810 389
Stockholders' equity (deficit)..... 81,561 184 (91)
- ----------
See note 1 of Notes to Financial Statements for an explanation of the
determination of the number of shares used to compute basic and
diluted net income (loss) per share.
</TABLE>
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company should be read in conjunction with
"Selected Financial Data" and the Company's financial statements and
related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and
analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. The actual results may differ materially
from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of
certain factors, including but not limited to, those set forth under "Risk
Factors" and the risks discussed in the Company's other SEC filings
including the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 declared
effective on November 22, 1999 by the SEC (File No. 333-87325).
OVERVIEW
Official Payments is the leading provider of electronic payment
options to government entities, enabling consumers to use their credit
cards to pay, by internet or the telephone, personal federal and state
income taxes, sales and use taxes, property taxes and fines for traffic
violations and parking citations. The use of credit cards to make payments
to government entities is relatively new and evolving. The Company
commenced current operations on June 26, 1996, initially offering its
credit card payment services for the payment of fines for traffic
violations, parking citations and property taxes. As of December 31, 1999,
the Company offered these services to approximately 465 municipalities. In
mid-1998, Official Payments signed a credit card payment contract with the
IRS and in 1999 began providing its services for the balance-due payment of
personal federal income taxes. Starting in January 2000, the Company began
offering its services for the balance-due and extension payment of personal
federal income taxes that are due on April 17, 2000 and estimated tax
payments for the 2000 tax year.
The Company started providing services for the payment of personal
state income taxes in California in December 1998 and in New Jersey and the
District of Columbia in 1999. In 1999, the Company also signed contracts to
provide similar services in Illinois and Connecticut, beginning in January
2000. The Company has recently signed contracts to provide personal state
income tax payment services in Oklahoma and Minnesota. Consumers can make
payments through the Company's toll-free interactive telephone system.
Beginning in 1999, consumers have also been able to make certain payments
through the Company's Web site at www.8882paytax.com and at
www.officialpayments.com.
The Company's revenues consist primarily of convenience fees, which
are transaction fees paid by consumers for using its credit card payment
services. For the year ended December 31, 1999, the average convenience
fees ranged from 2.5% to 10.2% of the amount paid per transaction. For
processing personal federal and state income tax payments, sales and use
tax payments and property tax payments, the convenience fee charged is
variable based on the payment amount. For processing fines for traffic
violations and parking citations, a fixed amount is charged per ticket. The
Company also derives a small amount of other revenues from sales of its
systems to government entities and other miscellaneous fees such as for
maintenance and consulting. In these cases, revenues are recognized upon
installation of the software for system sales. Total revenues have
increased significantly since the Company started providing services in
January 1999 for personal federal income tax payments.
The Company's primary cost of revenues are the merchant discount fees
paid to its credit card processors, which, during the year ended December
31, 1999, ranged from 1.5% to 3.0% of the total amount paid by the
consumer, depending on the credit card used and the type of transaction.
The Company also incurs telecommunications costs of approximately $0.50 per
completed transaction through its telephone conduit. Although there are no
telecommunications costs associated with payments made through the Internet
conduit, the Company pays a third party license fee of $0.15 per completed
transaction for certain technology used in its Internet conduit. The
Company also pays referral fees for transactions completed as a result of
referrals by third parties. The Company's total cost of revenues has
increased significantly since January 1999 because of the large number of
personal federal income tax payments processed, which has a lower gross
margin as compared to other payment services.
Processing fines for traffic violations and parking citations produce
a higher gross margin than processing income tax, sales and use tax and
property tax payments because the convenience fee as a percentage of fines
processed is significantly higher.
Operating expenses include sales and marketing expenses, development
costs, general and administrative expenses, and allocated expenses from
related party. The largest component of these expenses was related to the
amortization of deferred stock compensation, which amounted to $7.9 million
in the year ended December 31, 1999. Sales and marketing expenses consist
primarily of salaries and commissions for sales and marketing personnel.
Development costs consist primarily of salaries for engineering personnel
and depreciation of computer equipment used to enhance the interactive
telephone system and develop the Internet services. General and
administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries for executive,
customer service, accounting and administrative personnel.
The Company has incurred significant losses since inception and
expects to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. As of
December 31, 1999, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately
$11.4 million. The Company recorded on its balance sheet a deferred stock
compensation expense totaling $42.9 million in the third and fourth
quarters of 1999. This deferred charge consists of an amount of $10.0
million, representing the guaranteed value of options granted to Thomas R.
Evans, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and an amount of
$32.9 million, representing the estimated fair value of the common stock
underlying options granted to certain other officers and employees of the
Company in August, September and November of 1999 in excess of the exercise
price of those options. The $10.0 million deferred charge related to Mr.
Evans' options and $28.4 million of deferred charges related to new options
granted to other officers and employees is being amortized, on a
straight-line basis, over the three-year vesting period of the options,
beginning in the third quarter of 1999. $4.5 million of expenses related to
options granted to certain officers and employees of the Company were
expensed upon completion of the offering on November 29, 1999. See Note 2
to the Company's financial statements.
RECENT EVENTS
In March 2000, the Company signed a letter of intent to form a
strategic alliance with Nationtax Online, pursuant to which the Company
will make its credit card payment services available to companies who
prepare and file their state business and sales and use (and similar) taxes
through Nationtax Online's service. Nationtax Online currently has official
relationships to process these types of taxes in six states. The Company
and Nationtax Online expect to sign a definitive agreement in the next
several weeks.
In March 2000, the IRS awarded Official Payments a contract to accept
via the Internet and telephone balance-due and extension tax payments for
the 2000 tax year, as well as estimated payments for the 2001 tax year.
This new contract has a one-year term, with the IRS having the option to
renew the contract for one additional year.
In March 2000, Official Payments was awarded new business with the
State of New Jersey, which is incremental to the Company's existing
contract with the state. The Company's previous agreements gave New Jersey
taxpayers the ability to pay their individual return balance-due, extension
and estimated personal state income tax payments by credit card over the
telephone. The new award adds an Internet payment option and two new tax
payment categories: New Jersey Monthly and/or Quarterly Business Sales Tax
and personal state income deficiency taxes.
In January 2000, the Company partnered with an electronic filing
software provider, OrrTax Software Inc., to provide electronic filing and
payment services.
In January 2000, the Company entered into a contract with the State
of Oklahoma to allow the state's residents to pay their 1999 balance-due
personal state income taxes through the Company's Internet system. In
addition, the Company entered into a contract with the State of Minnesota
to allow the state's residents to pay their 1999 balance-due personal state
income taxes through the Company's interactive telephone and Internet
systems.
In January 2000, the Company was awarded additional contracts with
the Franchise Tax Board of California. These new contracts allow California
taxpayers to pay their 1999 balance-due and extension personal state income
taxes through the Company's Internet and interactive telephone systems, in
addition to delinquent and estimated payments. The Company also received
authorization from the District of Columbia to begin processing credit card
payments for past-due personal income taxes for residents of that
jurisdiction, in addition to the balance-due personal income taxes already
being processed by the Company.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the periods illustrated, certain
statements of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenues.
The data has been derived from the financial statements contained in this
report. The operating results for any period should not be considered
indicative of results for any future period. This information should be
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in
this report.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ----
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
Transaction fees................................. 97% 88% 78%
Other revenues................................... 3 12 22
---- ---- ----
Total revenues............................... 100 100 100
Cost of revenues:
Cost of transaction fees......................... 48 21 21
Cost of transaction fees to related party........ 24 22 13
Cost of other revenues........................... 2 3 24
---- ---- ----
Total cost of revenues....................... 74 46 58
---- ---- ----
Gross profit....................................... 26 54 42
---- ---- ----
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing.............................. 40 15 27
Development costs................................ 24 26 17
General and administrative 82 25 37
Allocated expenses from related party............ 2 -- 2
---- ---- ----
Total operating expenses..................... 148 66 83
---- ---- ----
Income (loss) from operations...................... (122) (12) (41)
Other income (expense), net........................ 4 (2) (1)
---- ---- ----
Net income (loss).................................. (118)% (14)% (42)%
==== ==== ====
COMPARISON OF THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND 1998
REVENUES
Total Revenues. Total revenues increased $6.4 million to $8.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 1999 from $2.4 million for the year
ended December 31, 1998, an increase of 267%. This increase is
primarily attributable to revenues generated from first-time
processing of personal, federal and state income tax payments, as
well as increases in revenue from processing property taxes.
Federal Transaction Fees. Revenues from processing federal
payments are solely related to personal federal income tax
payments, a service introduced in January 1999. Federal
transaction fees were $4.3 million for the year ended December
31, 1999, representing 49% of the Company's total revenues. The
Company processed approximately $174.0 million in transactions
during this fiscal year. On average, the Company charged a 2.5%
convenience fee based upon the dollar amount of the IRS payment
for processing personal federal income taxes during this period.
State Transaction Fees. Revenues from processing state payments
consist of personal state income taxes to the states of California,
New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. A significant portion of
revenues earned during the fiscal year related to processing
delinquent personal state tax payments. State revenues were $557,000
for the year ended December 31, 1999, representing 6% of total
revenues.
Local Transaction Fees. Revenues from processing local payments
consist of property taxes, traffic violations, parking citations, fax
filing, and utility payments. Local transaction fees increased $1.6
million to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 1999 from
$2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of
76%. Revenues from processing property tax payments increased $1.0
million to approximately $1.8 million for the year ended December 31,
1999 from $765,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase
of 131%. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in the
number of property tax transactions processed during the year ended
December 31, 1999 and the introduction of the Company's Internet
payment option during the third quarter of 1999. Revenues from
processing fines for traffic violations, moving violations and other
transactions increased $600,000 to $1.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 1999 from $1.3 million for the year ended December 31,
1998, an increase of 46%. The increase is primarily attributable to
an increase in the number of transactions processed and new municipal
clients added during 1999.
Other Revenues. Other revenues decreased $44,000 to $249,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1999 from $293,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1998, a decrease of 15%.
COST OF REVENUES
Cost of Transaction Fees. Cost of transaction fees increased $5.3
million to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 1999 from
$1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of
530%. The largest component of cost of transaction fees, merchant
discount fees, increased $5.1 million to $6.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 1999 from $825,000 for the year ended December 31,
1998, an increase of 618%. The cost of telephone charges for the
Company's toll-free interactive telephone system increased $219,000
to $318,000 for the year ended December 31, 1999 from $99,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of 221%. These increases
were due to the corresponding increase in revenue. Cost of
transaction fees was 72% of total revenues for the year ended
December 31, 1999 compared to 43% for the year ended December 31,
1998. The increase is due to the lower gross margins for personal
federal income tax payment services as compared to other payment
services. The Company anticipates that it will incur increased costs
in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future as a result of
expanding its transaction processing capacity and website facilities
to enhance its payment conduits.
Cost of Other Revenues. Cost of other revenues increased $133,000 to
$204,000 for the year ended December 31, 1999 from $71,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of 187%.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased $3.2
million to $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1999 from
$356,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of 899%.
This increase is primarily attributable to amortization expense
of $2.2 million for deferred stock compensation for options to
purchase shares of the Company's common stock at exercise prices
below their fair market value at the date of grant which were
granted to sales and marketing employees in August, September and
November 1999. As of December 31, 1999, the Company had $11.2
million of unamortized deferred stock compensation relating to
sales and marketing. The increase is also attributable to an
increase in the number of sales and marketing personnel to handle
additional growth in business and in anticipation of future
growth and an increase in commission payments. Sales and
marketing expenses represented 40% of total revenues for the year
ended December 31, 1999 compared to 15% for the year ended
December 31, 1998. The Company anticipates that sales and
marketing expenditures will continue to increase in absolute
dollars for the foreseeable future as it expands its sales and
marketing staff and capabilities, as well as develops and
implements enhanced advertising and promotional campaigns for its
services.
Development Costs. Development costs increased $1.5 million to $2.1
million for the year ended December 31, 1999 from $608,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of 247%. This increase is
primarily attributable to amortization expense of $1.1 million for
deferred stock compensation for options to purchase shares of the
Company's common stock at exercise prices below their fair market
value at the date of grant which were granted to development
employees in August, September, and November 1999. The increase is
also attributable to an increase in the number of engineering
personnel and development of the IVR and Internet conduits.
Development costs represented 24% of total revenues for the year
ended December 31, 1999 compared to 26% for the year ended December
31, 1998. The Company anticipates that its development costs will
increase in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future as it
enhances its Internet and IVR payment conduits and develops new
service offerings.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses
increased $6.6 million to $7.2 million for the year ended December
31, 1999 from $595,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998, an
increase of 1,109%. This increase is primarily attributable to
amortization expense of $4.6 million for deferred stock compensation
for options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at
exercise prices below their fair market value at the date of grant
which were granted to general and administrative employees in August,
September, and November 1999. As of December 31, 1999, the Company
had $23.8 million of unamortized deferred stock compensation relating
to general and administrative activities. The amortization expense of
deferred stock compensation also includes expenses related to the $10
million guaranteed value of the stock options granted to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, Thomas R. Evans. This guarantee is
being amortized, using a straight-line basis, over a three-year
period. The increase is also attributable to the hiring of additional
management personnel and a signing bonus of $500,000 for Mr. Evans.
General and administrative expenses represented 82% of total revenues
for the year ended December 31, 1999 compared to 25% for the year
ended December 31, 1998. The Company anticipates that it will incur
additional administrative expenses in absolute dollars for the
foreseeable future to expand its customer service operations and to
otherwise sustain the growth of its business.
Allocated Expenses from Related Party. Related party expense was
$151,000 for the year ended December 31, 1999, $118,000 of which was
due to Imperial Bank employees providing consulting services related
to the initial public offering in November 1999. The allocated
consulting expense of $118,000 for the year ended December 31, 1999
will not be incurred in the future because effective October 1, 1999,
the same Imperial Bank employees became employees of Official
Payments.
OTHER INCOME, NET
Other income, net, which consists of interest income, interest
expense and other non- operating expenses, increased primarily due to
interest income resulting from investment of proceeds from the
Company's initial public offering.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
The Company incurred operating losses during the period of its
incorporation from September 30, 1999 through December 31, 1999. The
Company has recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of net
deferred tax assets, as the future realization of the tax benefit is
not currently likely.
As of December 31, 1999, the Company had net operating loss
carryforwards for federal tax purposes of approximately $1.1 million
and for California income tax purposes of approximately $534,000.
These federal and California income tax loss carry-forwards are
available to reduce future taxable income and expire at various
dates. The federal net operating loss carryforward expires in year
2019. The California net operating loss carryforward expires in year
2004. Under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, certain
substantial changes in the Company's ownership may limit the amount
of net operating loss carry-forwards that could be utilized annually
in the future to offset taxable income. There have not been any
substantial changes in the Company's ownership through December 31,
1999. Prior to September 30, 1999, the Company was a California
limited liability company. Accordingly, all tax operating losses
prior to September 30, 1999 have been used by the members of such
limited liability company.
COMPARISON OF THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
REVENUES
Total Revenues. Total revenues increased $1.2 million to $2.4 million
for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $1.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 1997, an increase of 100%. This increase is
primarily attributable to higher revenues generated from processing a
greater amount of property tax payments for existing and new clients.
Local Transaction Fees. Revenues from processing local payments
consist of property taxes, traffic violations, parking citations, fax
filing, and utility payments. Total transaction fees consist solely
of local revenues for the fiscal years ending December 31, 1998 and
1997. Revenues from processing property tax payments increased
$587,000 to $765,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998 from
$178,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997, an increase of 330%.
Revenues from processing fines for traffic violations, moving
violations, and other transactions increased $554,000 to $1.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $757,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1997, an increase of 73%. The increase in transaction
fees is primarily driven by the increase in the number of
transactions processed during the year ended December 31, 1998, new
municipal clients added during 1998, and an increase in the average
convenience fee charged during the year ended December 31, 1998.
Other Revenues. Other revenues increased $26,000 to $293,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1998 from $267,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1997, an increase of 10%. The increase in other revenues
was primarily due to additional consulting and maintenance fees
earned related to computer system sales.
COST OF REVENUES
Cost of Transaction Fees. Cost of transaction fees increased $588,000
to $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 1998 from
$412,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997, an increase of
143%. Merchant discount fees increased $554,000 to $825,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1998 from $271,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1997, an increase of 204%. Telecommunications costs
increased $43,000 to $99,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998
from $56,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997, an increase of
77%. These increases were primarily attributable to the
corresponding increase in revenue. Cost of revenues was 43% of
total revenues for the year ended December 31, 1998 compared to
34% for the year ended December 31, 1997.
Cost of Other Revenues. Cost of other revenues decreased $213,000 to
$71,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $284,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1997, a decrease of 75%. This was due to a
one-time reclassification adjustment of $261,000 that was recorded in
1997.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased $26,000
to $356,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $330,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1997. Sales and marketing expenses
represented 15% of total revenues for the year ended December 31,
1998 compared to 27% for the year ended December 31, 1997.
Development Costs. Development costs increased $402,000 to $608,000
for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $206,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1997. This increase was primarily attributable to an
increase in the number of engineering personnel. Development costs
represented 26% of total revenues for the year ended December 31,
1998 compared to 17% for the year ended December 31, 1997.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses
increased $129,000 to $595,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998
from $446,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997, an increase of
29%. This increase is primarily due to an increase in depreciation
expenses due to additional capital expenditures and higher salary
expenses from hiring additional support staff. General and
administrative expenses represented 25% of total revenues for the
year ended December 31, 1998 compared to 37% for the year ended
December 31, 1997.
OTHER EXPENSES, NET
Other expenses, net, which consists of interest income, interest
expense and other non- operating expenses, increased primarily due to
the decrease in interest income.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
During 1998 and 1997, Official Payments was a California limited
liability company. Therefore, all tax operating losses were used by
the members of the limited liability company on their respective
corporate tax returns.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
In November 1999, Official Payments completed the initial public
offering of its common stock and realized net proceeds from the offering of
approximately $78.7 million. Since January 1, 1997 and prior to the
offering the Company financed its operations through private sales of
common stock, with net proceeds of $5.0 million, and through shareholder
loans as described in "ITEM 13 -- CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS." As of December 31, 1999, the Company had $80.5 million in
cash and short-term investments, and $80.2 million in working capital.
Historically, the Company experienced operating losses during most
periods. The Company expects to continue to incur losses from operations
for the foreseeable future. The Company's working capital deficit was
$221,000 at December 31, 1997. In December 1998, there was a capital
contribution of $600,000 and the working capital was $392,000 at December
31, 1998. As a result of the initial public offering, the Company's working
capital at December 31, 1999 was $80.2 million.
Net cash used in operating activities was $2.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 1999. For the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997,
the operating activities used cash of $245,000 and $323,000, respectively.
The cash used in operating activities for the years ended December
31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 was primarily the result of the Company's net loss
and an increase in accounts receivable.
Net cash used in investing activities was $79.9 million, $298,000 and
$139,000 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively. Cash used in investing activities primarily reflects purchase
of short-term investments during the year ended December 31, 1999, and to a
lesser extent, the purchase of property and equipment for all periods
presented.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $83.0 million,
$992,000, and $423,000 for the year ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively. The cash generated in 1999 was primarily related to the
proceeds of initial public offering and the sale of common stock to E*Trade
Group, Inc. Cash generated in 1999 was partially offset by repayments of
bank loans shareholder loans, and capital leases. The cash generated in
1998 and 1997 was due to capital contributions by the Company's
stockholders.
The Company believes that, based on its current business plan,
existing cash and investments will be sufficient to meet operating
activities, capital expenditures and other obligations for at least the
next two years.
YEAR 2000 IMPACT
As of the date of this filing, the Company has not incurred any
significant business disruptions as a result of Year 2000 issues. However,
while no such occurrence has developed, Year 2000 issues that may arise
related to key suppliers and service providers may not become apparent
immediately. The Company has received assurances of Year 2000 compliance
from key suppliers and key service providers such as various financial
institutions and Imperial Bank (which provides various employee benefits
services for the Company) as to their Year 2000 readiness. The Company will
continue to monitor its own systems and business partners to identify and
address any potential risk situations related to the Year 2000. No
assurance can be provided that the Company will not be adversely affected
by these suppliers and service providers due to noncompliance in the
future.
SEASONALITY AND FLUCTUATION OF QUARTERLY RESULTS
The Company has generally experienced fiscal quarter over fiscal
quarter revenue growth with some seasonal fluctuations, primarily in the
second and fourth quarters of 1998 and the second and fourth quarters of
1999. The fiscal quarter-over-fiscal quarter revenue growth is due to an
increase in the number of government clients and payment services and an
increase in utilization rates. The fluctuations in the second and fourth
quarter of 1998 relate primarily to an increase in convenience fees from
processing California property tax payments, which are collected twice a
year - in April and December. The large increase in revenues in the second
quarter of 1999 is due to processing personal federal income tax payments
in April 1999. The Company expects that results for the second quarter of
future years will continue to be impacted by the April 15 deadline for
paying personal federal and state income taxes.
Since the Company did not process personal federal income tax
payments in the third and fourth quarters of 1999, revenues in those
quarters were lower than in the second quarter of 1999.
Cost of revenues as a percentage of total revenues were significantly
higher in the second quarter of 1999 than in previous quarters as a result
of processing personal federal income tax payments, which have
significantly lower margins than certain other payment services. This is
due to the fact that the convenience fee is generally lower as a percentage
of large government payments, such as income taxes, while the primary cost
of sales, which are merchant discount fees, are relatively constant as a
percentage of the payment amount.
The Company anticipates that its operating expenses will continue to
increase significantly due to the expansion of its sales force in order to
obtain additional state and municipal clients and the marketing campaign to
make consumer users aware of its electronic payment option. If revenues in
any quarter do not increase correspondingly with increases in expenses, the
Company's results for that quarter would be materially and adversely
affected. In addition, in the third and fourth quarter of 1999, the Company
recorded amortization of deferred stock compensation expenses in the
aggregate amount of $7.9 million. The Company will continue to incur
significant deferred stock compensation expense for the next three years.
For the foregoing reasons, the Company believes that comparisons of
the its quarterly operating results are not necessarily meaningful and that
the Company's operating results in any particular quarter should not be
relied upon as necessarily indicative of future performance. In addition,
it is possible that in some future quarters operating results will be below
the expectations of research analysts and investors, and in that case, the
price of the Company's common stock is likely to decline.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and
reporting standards for derivative financial instruments and hedging
activities related to those instruments, as well as other hedging
activities. Because the Company does not currently hold any derivative
instruments and does not engage in hedging activities, the Company expects
the adoption of SFAS No. 133 will not have a material impact on its
financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company will
be required to adopt SFAS No. 133 in fiscal 2001.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company's exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates
relates primarily to the Company's investment portfolio. The Company does
not use derivative financial instruments in its investment portfolio. The
primary objective of the Company's investment activities is to preserve
principal while maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk.
This is accomplished by investing in widely diversified investments,
consisting primarily of investment grade securities. Due to the nature of
the Company's investments, the Company believes that there is no material
risk exposure. All investments are carried at market value, which
approximates cost.
The table below represents principal amounts and related
weighted-average interest rates by year of maturity for the Company's
investment portfolio.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FY2000 FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 Thereafter Total
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Money market fund and cash $ 1,643 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 1,643
Average interest rate 4.45% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Investments 78,871 - - - - - 78,871
Average interest rate 6.11% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
------- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- -------
Total cash and investment $80,514 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $80,514
======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ======== =======
</TABLE>
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Company's financial statements and the related notes thereto,
together with the Report of the Independent Auditor, are included or
incorporated by reference elsewhere herein. Reference is made to the "Index
to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule" following the
signature pages hereto.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The directors and executive officers of the Company and their ages as
of March 1, 2000 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION(S)
- ---- --- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Thomas R. Evans 45 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Kenneth Stern 52 President and Director
Brian W. Nocco 47 Chief Financial Officer and Director
Michael P. Presto 46 Chief Operating Officer
Michael Barrett 37 Chief Internet and Sales Officer
Bruce Zanca 39 Senior Vice President, Communications and Administration
Mitchell H. Gordon 34 Vice President, General Counsel
Andrew Cohan 45 Director
Christos M. Cotsakos 51 Director
George L. Graziadio, Jr. 80 Director
Vernon R. Loucks, Jr. 65 Director
Lee E. Mikles 44 Director
Bruce Nelson 48 Director
</TABLE>
Thomas R. Evans has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and
a Director since August 1999. From April 1998 to May 1999, Mr. Evans was
the President and Chief Executive Officer of GeoCities, Inc., which was
acquired by Yahoo! Inc. in May 1999. From 1991 to April 1998, Mr. Evans
served as President and Publisher of U.S. News & World Report, a magazine
that reports on domestic and international current events. From January
1997 to April 1998, Mr. Evans also served as President and Publisher of The
Atlantic Monthly, a magazine that features articles on art, literature,
politics and technology. In addition, from May 1995 to April 1998, Mr.
Evans served as President and Publisher of Fast Company, a magazine that
showcases business people and ideas. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Evans served as
Vice President, Advertising Director of U.S. News and World Report.
Kenneth Stern, the Company's founder, has served as President and a
Director since 1986, and is responsible for the Company's operations,
product designs and sales support. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Stern held a
senior management position in software development at Integral Systems.
From 1976 to 1984, Mr. Stern was Vice President of Systems Development at
Tessereact Corporation.
Brian W. Nocco has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer
and Director since September 30, 1999. From May 1998 until joining the
Company, Mr. Nocco was Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at
Imperial Bank, where he was involved in the Company's management and
initial public offering process. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Nocco served as
Senior Vice President and Manager of Audit and Compliance for The Chubb
Corporation, an insurance company headquartered in Warren, New Jersey. From
1977 to 1994, Mr. Nocco served in various lending and financial management
positions, including Treasurer, at Continental Bank in Chicago, Illinois.
Michael P. Presto has served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer
since September 1999, and is responsible for technology, customer service
and business operations of the Company. Mr. Presto was Senior Vice
President, Circulation and Business Development at Curtis Circulation
Company from April 1998 to September 1999, where he was responsible for
worldwide circulation sales and marketing strategies. From January 1993 to
April 1998, Mr. Presto was Vice President of Consumer Marketing and Senior
Vice President of Consumer Marketing and Distribution for The New York
Daily News during which time he also served as President of Data Comm
Services Inc., an affiliate telemarketing/fulfillment customer service
business. In addition, Mr. Presto has held executive management positions
at U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek.
Michael Barrett has served as the Company's Chief Internet and Sales
Officer since September 1999. Mr. Barrett is responsible for marketing,
sales, business development and strategic partnerships with respect to the
Company's Internet initiative. From May 1999 to September 1999, Mr. Barrett
worked as an e-commerce consultant for Yahoo!, Inc., and from September
1997 to May 1999, Mr. Barrett was Senior Vice President of Sales and
Strategic Partnerships at GeoCities, Inc. In addition, from November 1995
to September 1997, Mr. Barrett was Vice President of Advertising for Disney
Online, and he served as Publisher of Family PC Magazine for Ziff Davis
Publishing. Previously, he held sales management positions at Newsweek and
Meredith Publishing.
Bruce Zanca oversees the Company's corporate communications, public
relations and investor relations efforts. He also manages the Company's
business administration infrastructure. From September 1998 to June 1999 he
was Vice President of Communications at GeoCities, Inc., where he was
responsible for public affairs, media relations, government affairs and
investor relations. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Zanca was Vice President of
Corporate Communications at the U.S. News & World Report Magazine Group. In
the past, Mr. Zanca served as a White House press secretary under Marlin
Fitzwater and a public relations advisor to President George Bush. He has
held senior communications positions at the U.S. Justice Department and
U.S. Commerce Department, and has served on the staff of the Vice President
of the United States.
Mitchell H. Gordon has served as the Company's General Counsel since
February 2000, and is responsible for managing the Company's legal affairs,
including supervising the Company's internal legal staff and outside legal
counsel. From September 1995 to February 2000, Mr. Gordon was an attorney
at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, concentrating on mergers and
acquisitions and general corporate law.
Andrew Cohan has served as a Director of the Company since November 1999.
Mr. Cohan has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Artist Marketing
Corp., a marketing company for artists and entertainment/celebrity figures
since September 1999. From August 1997 to September 1999, Mr. Cohan was
Senior Vice President, Worldwide Entertainment, Licensing and Marketing for
Sony Signature, an entertainment licensing and marketing company. From
January 1996 to July 1997, Mr. Cohan was Senior Vice President, Chief
Merchandising Officer for Beverages and More, a start-up beverages
retailer. Before that, Mr. Cohan was Vice President, Merchandising for
Emerson Radio Corporation from February 1994.
Christos M. Cotsakos has served as a Director of the Company since
November 1999. Mr. Cotsakos is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer of E*TRADE Group, Inc., an electronic
broker/dealer. Prior to joining E*TRADE, he served as President, Co-Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of A.C. Nielsen,
Inc. from March 1995 to January 1996, as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Nielsen International from September 1993 to March 1995, and as
President and Chief Operating Officer of Nielsen Europe, Middle East and
Africa from March 1992 to September 1993. Mr. Cotsakos joined Nielsen after
19 years with the Federal Express Corporation, where he held a number of
senior positions. Mr. Cotsakos also serves as a director of several
technology companies in both the public and private sector.
George L. Graziadio, Jr. has served as a Director of the Company since
November 1999. Mr. Graziadio has been the Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Bancorp, a bank holding company,
since 1969. Mr Graziadio is engaged as an owner or partner in many other
business activities, primarily in the real estate industry. He also serves
on the board of directors of various subsidiaries of Imperial Bancorp,
including the board of directors of Imperial Bank, the Company's majority
stockholder. Mr. Graziadio is the uncle of Lee E. Mikles, another director.
Vernon R. Loucks Jr. has served as a Director of the Company since
November 1999. Mr. Loucks is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Baxter International Inc., a developer, distributor and manufacturer of
health care products and services, and previously served as Baxter's Chief
Executive Officer from 1980 through 1998. Mr. Loucks also serves as a
director of Affymetrix, Inc., Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation, Emerson Electric Company and The Quaker Oats
Company.
Lee E. Mikles has served as a Director of the Company since November
1999. Mr. Mikles is the Chairman of Mikles/Miller Management Inc., an
investment advisor, and Chairman of Mikles/Miller Securities, LLC, a
registered broker/dealer. He has been a director of Imperial Bancorp since
1996 and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Imperial Bank, since 1993. Mr. Mikles
also serves on the board of directors of Coastcast Corp., Boss Holdings,
Inc., Center Span Communications Corp. and The National Education Loan
Network, Inc. ("NelNet"). Mr. Mikles is the nephew of George L. Graziadio,
Jr., another director.
Bruce Nelson has served as a Director of the Company since November
1999. Mr. Nelson is currently serving as a marketing and advertising
consultant to the Company (see ITEM 13--"CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS") and most recently was Vice Chairman of Young & Rubicam Inc.
Prior to that position, he worked at McCann-Erickson Worldwide for 19 years
in various positions, including as Director of Worldwide Accounts, Director
of Strategy for Worldwide Accounts and Creative Director for Worldwide
Accounts.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class
of the Company's common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Officers, directors and greater than ten percent owners are required to
furnish the Company with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on the Company's review of the copies of such forms it
has received and representations from certain reporting persons that they
were not required to file Form 5's for 1999, the Company believes that all
its officers, directors, and greater than ten percent beneficial owners
complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to
transactions during 1999.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by
or paid to the person serving as the Company's Chief Executive Officer on
December 31, 1999, as well as the three other individuals who served as
chief executive officer of the Company during 1999, for services rendered
in all capacities to the Company during 1999 and 1998, as applicable.
Except as set forth below, perquisites and other personal benefits,
securities and property did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the
total annual salary and bonus reported for the named executive officers. No
other executive officer of the Company received salary and bonus in 1999
which in the aggregate exceeded $100,000.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
---------------------------------- ------------
AWARDS
-----------
NAME AND OTHER ANNUAL OPTIONS ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($) COMPENSATION($) (#) COMPENSATION($)(D)
- ------------------ ---- --------- -------- --------------- ----------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas R. Evans 1999 76,955 500,000 - 1,370,328 -
Chairman and Chief 1998 - - - - -
Executive Officer
Kenneth Stern (a) 1999 198,046 - 32,058 219,252 9,728
President 1998 144,000 - - - -
Brian W. Nocco (b) 1999 50,000 - - 411,098 2,628
Chief Financial Officer 1998 - - - - -
George L. Graziadio, Jr.(c) 1999 - - - 75,000 -
Director and former Chief 1998 - - - - -
Executive Officer
</TABLE>
(a) Mr. Stern served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company for fiscal
year 1998 and through April 15, 1999.
(b) Mr. Nocco served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from July
15, 1999 to August 26, 1999.
(c) Mr. Graziadio, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Imperial Bancorp, concurrently served as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company from April 16, 1999 to July 15, 1999 and
received no compensation from the Company for such service. The option
award indicated in the table above was granted to Mr. Graziadio in
consideration of his service as a non-employee director of the Company
beginning after his service as Chief Executive Officer concluded.
See "Director Compensation."
(d) "All Other Compensation" in 1999 represents the amount of
contributions made by the Company to two employee benefit plans
offered by the Company's parent to eligible Company employees: the
Imperial Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan and the Imperial Bank
Profit Sharing Plan.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table discloses information concerning individual
grants of stock options made during the last completed fiscal year to the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT ASSUMED
---------------------------------------- ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL PRICE APPRECIATION
SECURITIES OPTIONS FOR OPTION TERM
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE ---------------------------------
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION 0% 5% 10%
NAME GRANTED (FISCAL YEAR ($/SHASE) DATE ($)(A) ($)(A) ($)(A)
- ---- ---------- ------------ --------- ---------------- ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas R. Evans 1,370,328 22.3 $1.33 8/26/09, 9/30/09 $12,135,494 $20,913,625 $34,381,000
11/22/09
Kenneth Stern 219,252 3.6 $1.33 8/31/09, 9/30/09 $1,941,673 $ 3,346,170 $ 5,500,944
11/22/09
Brian W. Nocco 411,098 6.7 $1.33 9/30/09 & $4,479,814 $ 9,497,770 $12,490,879
11/22/09
George L. Graziadio, Jr. 75,000 1.2 $15.00 11/23/09 N/A $707,506 $ 1,792,960
- ----------
(a) These amounts represent hypothetical gains that could be achieved for
the options if they are executed at the end of their respective terms.
The assumed 5% and 10% rates of stock price appreciation are mandated
by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They do not
represent the Company's estimate or projection of future prices of the
Company's common stock.
</TABLE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUES
The table set forth below discloses certain information concerning
the number and value of unexercised options for the last completed fiscal
year by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
None of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table
exercised options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock during
the last completed fiscal year.
AGGREGATED FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
NUMBER OF SECURITY VALUE OF UNEXERCISED)
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
OPTIONS AT FY-END(#) AT FY-END($)(A)
---------------------- ---------------------
EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
Thomas R. Evans.......... 1,370,328/0(b) $69,434,520/0
Kenneth Stern............ 219,252/0 $11,109,499/0
Brian W. Nocco........... 411,098/0(b) $20,840,470/0
George L. Graziadio, Jr.. 75,000/0 $2,775,000/0
- ----------
(a) The value of unexercised options was determined using the closing price
of the Company's common stock on December 31, 1999.
(b) This amount represents non-qualified stock options granted under the
Company's 1999 Incentive Stock Plan, which options are immediately
exercisable but subject to a right of repurchase by the Company, which
right lapses over a three-year period in accordance with the terms of
such plan.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who are not employees of the Company receive an annual
retainer of $20,000. Directors are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with their service as directors. In addition, each
non-employee director, except for Andrew Cohan and Bruce Nelson, received,
upon consummation of the Company's initial public offering, options to
purchase 75,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price
per share equal to $15.00. Messrs. Cohan and Nelson received 93,750 and
95,000 options, respectively, to purchase the Company's common stock at an
exercise price per share equal to $15.00. Mr. Nelson also received options
to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise
price per share equal to $1.33. Directors who are officers or employees of
the Company do not receive any additional compensation for their services
as directors.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Thomas R. Evans. The Company has entered into an employment agreement
with Thomas R. Evans, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000. In
addition, under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Evans will receive a
one-time bonus of $500,000, $250,000 of which has been paid to date, and
$250,000 of which will be paid no later than the first anniversary of the
commencement of his employment with the Company. Mr. Evans was also granted
options to purchase 1,370,328 shares of the Company's common stock at $1.33
per share under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. Under the terms of the
employment agreement, Imperial Bank has guaranteed that the "value"--as
defined in the agreement--of Mr. Evans' vested options will be $10,000,000
on or before the third anniversary of the date of the agreement, or
Imperial Bank will pay Mr. Evans an amount equal to the difference between
$10,000,000 and the highest value of the vested options on or before the
third anniversary. If Mr. Evans' employment is terminated by the Company
without "cause" or if he terminates his employment for "good reason,"
including a "change in control," as these terms are defined in the
agreement, the Company will be required to pay him his base salary and
benefits for one year, and all of his options will vest immediately. If Mr.
Evans' employment is terminated by the Company with cause, the Company will
be required to pay him any compensation, benefits or reimbursements accrued
through the date of termination. Mr. Evans' employment under the agreement
may be terminated by the Company on 30 days' notice without cause, or
immediately upon notice with cause, and may be terminated by Mr. Evans on
60 days' notice without good reason, or immediately for good reason.
Kenneth Stern. The Company has entered into an employment agreement
with Kenneth Stern, pursuant to which Mr. Stern has agreed to serve as
President of the Company and a member of the Company's board of directors
until August 23, 2006. The employment agreement provides for an annual base
salary of $215,000 and a minimum annual bonus of $100,000. Mr. Stern has
the right to take early retirement at any time after the third anniversary
of the date of the agreement, upon which the Company would be required to
pay him his base salary and bonus through August 23, 2006. If Mr. Stern's
employment is terminated by the Company without "cause" or if he terminates
his employment for "good reason," as these terms are defined in the
agreement, the Company will be required to pay him his base salary and
bonus through August 23, 2006, and provide benefits through December 31,
2002 or for one year from the date of termination, whichever is later.
Additionally, Mr. Stern would be entitled to retain his position as a
director through August 23, 2006, provided that he and Beranson Holdings,
Inc. own or control an aggregate of 10% of the Company's outstanding common
stock. If Mr. Stern's employment is terminated by the Company with cause,
the Company will be required to pay him any compensation, benefits or
reimbursements accrued through the date of termination. Mr. Stern's
employment under the agreement may be terminated by the Company on 30 days'
notice without cause, or immediately upon notice with cause, and may be
terminated by Mr. Stern on 120 days' notice without good reason, or
immediately for good reason.
Brian W. Nocco. The Company has entered into an employment agreement
with Brian W. Nocco, pursuant to which Mr. Nocco has agreed to serve as the
Company's Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors.
The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000, as
well as reimbursement for relocation expenses. In addition, under the terms
of the agreement, Mr. Nocco will receive a minimum bonus of $100,000 in
2000. Mr. Nocco was also granted options to purchase 411,098 shares of the
Company's common stock at $1.33 per share under the 1999 Stock Incentive
Plan. In addition, the Company has a written agreement to grant Mr. Nocco
options to purchase up to 0.5% of the common stock outstanding, on a fully
diluted basis, immediately following completion of the Company's initial
public offering, including the options described in the immediately
preceding sentence. These additional options would be granted to Mr. Nocco
on the earliest to occur of the following future dates:
o November 1, 2000;
o the date the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer determines
Mr. Nocco has achieved certain pre-determined performance goals; or
o the date the Company signs a definitive agreement that would result in
a "change in control."
One-half of these options would be granted with an exercise price of $1.33
per share, and the balance would be granted with an exercise price equal to
$15.00. These options would become fully exercisable within three years
after the date of grant. If Mr. Nocco's employment is terminated by the
Company without "cause" or if he terminates his employment for "good
reason," including a "change in control," as these terms are defined in the
employment agreement, the Company will be required to pay him his base
salary and benefits for one year, and all of his existing options will vest
immediately. Mr. Nocco's future options will also vest upon a "change of
control." If Mr. Nocco's employment is terminated by the Company with
cause, the Company will be required to pay him any compensation, benefits
or reimbursements accrued through the date of termination. Mr. Nocco's
employment under the agreement may be terminated by the Company on 30 days'
notice without cause, or immediately upon notice with cause, and may be
terminated by Mr. Nocco on 60 days' notice without good reason, or
immediately for good reason.
Michael P. Presto. The Company has entered into an employment
agreement with Michael P. Presto, the Company's Chief Operating Officer.
The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000. In
addition, under the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Presto will
receive a minimum bonus of $100,000 in 2000. Mr. Presto was also granted
options to purchase 685,164 shares of the Company's common stock at $1.33
per share under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (which represented 2.5% of
the Company's outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis,
immediately following completion of the Company's initial public offering).
If Mr. Presto's employment is terminated by the Company without "cause" or
if he terminates his employment for "good reason," including a "change in
control," as these terms are defined in the agreement, the Company will be
required to pay him his base salary and benefits for one year, and all of
his options will vest immediately. If Mr. Presto's employment is terminated
by the Company with cause, the Company will be required to pay him any
compensation, benefits or reimbursements accrued through the date of
termination. Mr. Presto's employment under the agreement may be terminated
by the Company on 60 days' notice without cause, or immediately upon notice
with cause, and may be terminated by Mr. Presto on 60 days' notice without
good reason, or immediately for good reason.
Michael Barrett. The Company has entered into an employment agreement
with Michael Barrett, the Company's Chief Internet and Sales Officer. The
employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000. In
addition, under the terms of his agreement, Mr. Barrett will receive a
minimum bonus of $100,000 in 2000. Mr. Barrett was also granted options to
purchase 822,196 shares of the Company's common stock at $1.33 per share
under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (which represented 3% of the Company's
outstanding common stock, on a fully diluted basis, immediately following
completion of the Company's initial public offering). If Mr. Barrett's
employment is terminated by the Company without "cause" or if he terminates
his employment for "good reason," including a "change in control," as these
terms are defined in the agreement, the Company will be required to pay him
his base salary and benefits for one year, and all of his options will vest
immediately. If Mr. Barrett's employment is terminated by the Company with
cause, the Company will be required to pay him any compensation, benefits
or reimbursements accrued through the date of termination. Mr. Barrett's
employment under the agreement may be terminated by the Company on 30 days'
notice without cause, or immediately upon notice with cause, and may be
terminated by Mr. Barrett on 60 days' notice without good reason, or
immediately for good reason.
All of the employment agreements generally contain confidentiality
provisions and covenants not to compete during the term of employment and
for one year after termination of employment.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Company's board of directors created a Compensation Committee
composed solely of following outside directors: Messrs. Cohan and Loucks.
During the year ended December 31, 1999, none of the Company's executive
officers served:
o as a member of the compensation committee (or other board
committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of
any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another
entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Company's
compensation committee (or other board committee performing
equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee,
the entire board of directors);
o as a director of another entity, one of whose executive
officers served on the Company's compensation committee (or
other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in
the absence of any such committee, the entire board of
directors);
o as a member of the compensation committee (or other board
committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of
any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another
entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of
the Company.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The information set forth on the following table is furnished as of
March 1, 2000 (unless otherwise specified) with respect to any person
(including any "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) who is known to the Company to
be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's common stock, and
with respect to those shares of the Company's common stock and the common
stock of Imperial Bancorp, the Company's parent, beneficially owned by each
of the Company's directors, certain of its executive officers, and all of
its executive officers and directors as a group. None of the Company's
directors or executive officers own any shares of Imperial Bancorp's 9.98%
Series B Capital Securities of Imperial Capital Trust I due 2026.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OF THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED,
TOTAL AMOUNT OF SHARES WHICH MAY PERCENT
SHARES BENEFICIALLY BE ACQUIRED OF COMMON
NAME TITLE AND CLASS OF SECURITY OWNED(a) WITHIN 60 DAYS(b) STOCK OWNED
- ----------------------- --------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS:
Imperial Bank.......... Company Common Stock 12,000,00(c) N/A 56.2%
9920 South La Cienega Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90301
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
Thomas R. Evans..... Company Common Stock 1,370,328(d) 1,370,328 6.0%
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock - - *
Kenneth Stern....... Company Common Stock 3,194,252(e) 219,252 15.0%
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock 3,254(f) 2,903 *
Brian W. Nocco...... Company Common Stock 411,298 411,098 1.9%
Imperial Bancorp Common 13,263 - *
Andrew Cohan........ Company Common Stock 93,750 93,750 *
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock - - *
Christos Cotsakos... Company Common Stock 75,000 - *
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock - - *
George L. Graziadio, Company Common Stock 90,000 75,000 *
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock 4,647,208(g) 640,373 10.3%
Vernon Loucks....... Company Common Stock 75,000 75,000 *
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock - - *
Lee E. Mikles....... Company Common Stock 77,000 75,000 *
Imperial Bancorp Common 74,239(h) 52,778 *
Bruce Nelson........ Company Common Stock 110,000 110,000 *
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock - - *
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS A
GROUP (13 individual Company Common Stock 7,356,553 4,290,853 25.6%
Imperial Bancorp Common Stock 4,737,964 696,054 10.5%
</TABLE>
- ------------------
* Less than 1%
(a)Information with respect to beneficial ownership is based upon
information furnished by each director or officer. Except as noted
below, all directors and officers have sole voting and investment power
over the shares beneficially owned by them.
(b)Consists of shares deemed beneficially owned under regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission because such shares may be acquired
within 60 days after March 1, 2000, through the exercise of options
granted under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.
(c)Based on information contained in its Schedule 13D, dated December 10,
1999, Imperial Bank beneficially owned 12,000,000 shares of the
Company's common stock with sole power to vote and dispose of all such
shares.
(d)Consists of 1,370,328 shares of the Company's common stock underlying
presently exercisable options. For a discussion of Mr. Evans' options,
see "Employment Agreements."
(e)Consists of 219,252 shares of the Company's common stock underlying
presently exercisable options and 2,975,000 shares of the Company's
common stock held by Beranson Holdings, Inc., a California corporation
controlled by Kenneth Stern and his wife Michaella Stern (as joint
tenants), with Lauren Stern (a minor and the daughter of Mr. Stern) as
the only other stockholder. For a discussion of Mr. Stern's options, see
"Employment Agreements."
(f)Consists of 1,749 shares of Imperial Bancorp common stock held by
Beranson Holdings, Inc.; 1,154 shares of Imperial Bancorp common stock
held by Kenneth Stern and Michaella Stern as joint tenants; and 352
shares held by Kenneth Stern through the Imperial Bank Employee Stock
Ownership Plan.
(g)Consists of 640,373 shares of Imperial Bancorp's common stock underlying
presently exercisable options; 897,314 shares directly held by Mr.
Graziadio; 1,191 shares held through the Imperial Bank Employee Stock
Ownership Plan; 611 shares held through Imperial Bancorp's 401(k) Plan;
127 shares held through Imperial Bancorp's Profit Sharing Plan; and
3,107,592 shares held by Graziadio Investment Company, a California
limited partnership, of which the Graziadio Investment Corp. is the
general partner. Mr. Graziadio is the controlling shareholder of
Graziadio Investment Corp.
(h)Consists of 52,778 shares of Imperial Bancorp's common stock underlying
presently exercisable options and 21,461 shares directly held by Mr. Mikles.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings, Inc., a company affiliated with
Kenneth Stern, the Company's President, have from time to time made
advances to the Company to bridge temporary cash shortages and fund certain
capital expenditures, particularly purchases of equipment and other
technology required to support the expansion of the Company's relationship
with the IRS and state income tax authorities. These advances were made
under lines of credit from Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings, Inc. in the
combined amount of $2.8 million and were evidenced by promissory notes
bearing interest at a floating rate equal to Imperial Bank's prime rate
plus 2% per annum. The Company repaid the balance of all promissory notes
outstanding, together with the accrued interest, prior to completing the
initial public offering.
During the past year, the Company has received the following advances
from the Company's stockholders:
o August 1999: $1,305,600 from Imperial Bank and $326,400 from
Beranson Holdings, Inc.
o October 1999: $560,000 from Imperial Bank and $140,000 from
Beranson Holdings, Inc.
In January 1998, Imperial Bank agreed to increase its ownership
interest of U.S. Audiotex LLC from 20% to 80% by purchasing a 60%
membership interest, or 75% of Beranson Holdings, Inc.'s membership
interest, from Beranson Holdings, Inc. for $3,010,000, of which $2,510,000
was immediately payable to Beranson Holdings, Inc. The purchase price
balance of $500,000 was payable according to the following structure:
o In order to fund the Company's cash flow needs, Imperial Bank
made a capital contribution of $500,000 to the Company, bearing
interest at 10% per annum, in return for a preferred membership
interest.
o Imperial Bank's preferred membership interest was subject to
mandatory redemption upon the formation of Official Payments
Corporation.
o Imperial Bank was obligated to forward any redemption payments it
received from the Company to Beranson Holdings, Inc. as an
additional payment for its purchase of the membership interest.
For accounting purposes, Imperial Bank's preferred membership
interest was treated by the Company as a loan from Beranson Holdings, Inc.
to the Company. Upon the Company's formation on August 24, 1999, the
mandatory redemption of Imperial Bank's preferred membership interest was
triggered and this "loan," including $82,000 of accrued interest, was
repaid to Beranson Holdings, Inc. out of the proceeds of the advances made
to the Company on that date by Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings, Inc.
Imperial Bank is one of the merchant banks the Company uses to
process credit card transactions and perform traditional merchant credit
card settlement services. The Company has an agreement with Imperial Bank
in which Imperial Bank agrees to sponsor the Company as an independent
service provider, and the Company agrees to use its best efforts to use
Imperial Bank as a provider of credit card settlement services at customary
market rates. Under the agreement with Imperial Bank for processing and
settlement services, Imperial Bank is paid from the Company's sales
revenues customary merchant discount fees usually charged for similar
processing services, on a product by product basis as negotiated between
the Company and Imperial Bank. Both parties have agreed to negotiate in
good faith as to the discount per product. During 1998 and 1999, the
Company paid Imperial Bank approximately $515,000 and $2.1 million,
respectively, for performing these processing and settlement services,
which represent 62% and 33%, respectively, of the total merchant discount
fees paid by the Company during those periods. During 1998 and 1999, the
merchant discount fees paid by the Company to Imperial Bank ranged from
1.92% to 2.68% and 1.85% to 2.73%, respectively, of the total amount paid
by the consumer. The Company believes Imperial Bank is providing these
services on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained
from unaffiliated third parties.
Imperial Bank has provided human resource services and other
assistance to the Company. These services and assistance include payroll
processing and benefits administration, including the administration of the
Company's 401(k) plan and other benefit programs, and employee recruiting.
Like all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries of Imperial Bank, the
Company pays a pass-through charge, based on the total number of employees,
for these services. During 1999, the Company paid Imperial Bank a fee of
$33,000 for these services. The Company did not pay any fees to Imperial
Bank for these services in 1998. The Company believes Imperial Bank is
providing these services on terms no less favorable to the Company than
could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
Imperial Bank guarantees the performance of the Company's obligations
under six equipment leases. These leases are comprised of a master lease
agreement with one lessor for five leases for various furniture and
computer equipment and a separate lease agreement for network equipment.
Imperial Bank will continue to guarantee the six leases until the leases
expire.
Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings, Inc. were parties to a
stockholders agreement which contains the terms of the Company's
reorganization from a limited liability company to a corporation and sets
forth the number and exercise price of options to be granted to Thomas R.
Evans, other employees and outside directors under the 1999 Stock Incentive
Plan. The stockholders agreement terminated upon completion of the
Company's initial public offering.
In August 1999, prior to his employment with the Company and in order
to finance the purchase of a home in California in connection with his
beginning employment with Imperial Bank, Brian W. Nocco (now the Company's
Chief Financial Officer) received a $900,000 bridge loan from Imperial
Bancorp, Imperial Bank's parent holding company. This loan requires monthly
interest payments at an annual interest rate of Prime plus 1% and matures
in August 2000, at which time the entire principal amount will be due and
payable.
The Company was originally organized as a California limited
liability company (the "LLC"). In anticipation of the initial public
offering, the Company merged the LLC with and into a Delaware corporation,
as a result of which all the assets and liabilities of the LLC were
transferred to the corporation. Prior to the merger, Imperial Bank and
Beranson Holdings, Inc. were the only members of the LLC and owned
membership interests representing 80% and 20%, respectively, in the LLC.
Upon the merger, Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings, Inc. held a
corresponding percentage ownership interest in the Company, with Imperial
Bank owning 12,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock and Beranson
Holdings, Inc. owning 3,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. Upon
consummation of the sale of 512,820 shares of the Company's common stock to
E*TRADE Group, Inc. on November 5, 1999, the percentage ownership interests
of Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings Inc. in the Company were reduced to
77.4% and 19.3%, respectively.
The Company has entered into an agreement with Bruce Nelson, one of
the Company's directors, pursuant to which, among other things, Mr. Nelson
provides services in connection with the Company's marketing and
advertising campaign, analyst and other presentations and corporate
positioning strategy. This agreement is renewable on a yearly basis and
provides for an annual base salary of $50,000. In connection with his
services, Mr. Nelson also received options to purchase 15,000 shares of the
Company's common stock at an exercise price of $1.33 per share, as well as
options to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company's common stock at $15.00
per share. These options will vest over three years, one-third of which
will vest after the first year and the remaining two-thirds of which will
vest in equal monthly installments over the remaining two years.
Executive officers, directors and employees of the Company may
utilize the Company's credit card payment services in order to pay federal,
state and/or municipal tax or other obligations in the ordinary course of
business, and the Company provides these persons a discount from the
convenience fee charged to unaffiliated third parties utilizing similar
services.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON
FORM 8-K
(a) 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE NUMBER
------------
Independent Auditors' Report................................ F-2
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998............. F-3
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1999,
1998 and 1997......................................... F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended Decemb
1998 and 1997......................................... F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1999
1998, and 1997........................................ F-6
Notes to Financial Statements............................... F-7
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following financial statement schedule of the Company for each of
the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 should be read in
conjunction with the Financial Statements, and related notes thereto,
of the Company.
PAGE NUMBER
-----------
Schedule II--Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.............. S-1
Schedules other than the one listed above have been omitted since
they are either not required, not applicable, or the information has
otherwise been included.
3. EXHIBITS
The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits are filed
as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
No current reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of
the period covered by this report.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 30, 2000
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas R. Evans
---------------------------------
Thomas R. Evans
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 30, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ Thomas R. Evans Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
- ----------------------------------------- Officer
Thomas R. Evans
/s/ Brian W. Nocco Chief Financial Officer and Director
- ----------------------------------------- (Principal Financial Officer)
Brian W. Nocco
/s/ Kenneth Stern President and Director
- -----------------------------------------
Kenneth Stern
/s/ Hyunjin F. Lerner Controller
- -----------------------------------------
Hyunjin F. Lerner
/s/ Andrew Cohan Director
- -----------------------------------------
Andrew Cohan
/s/ Christos Cotsakos Director
- -----------------------------------------
Christos Cotsakos
/s/ George L. Graziadio, Jr. Director
- -----------------------------------------
George L. Graziadio, Jr.
/s/ Vernon Loucks Jr. Director
- -----------------------------------------
Vernon Loucks Jr.
/s/ Lee E. Mikles Director
- -----------------------------------------
Lee E. Mikles
/s/ Bruce Nelson Director
- -----------------------------------------
Bruce Nelson
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- ------------------ ----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
2.1 Merger Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1999, between U.S.
Audiotex, LLC and U.S. Audiotex Corporation incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1, declared effective on November 22, 1999, and
amendments thereto (No. 333-87325).*
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-87325)).*
3.1.1 Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Registrant, filed as Exhibit 3.1.1 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-
87325).*
4.1 Common Stock Specimen, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-
87325).*
4.2 Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of November 3,
1999 between Official Payments Corporation and
E*TRADE Group, Inc, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
333-87325).*
4.2.2 Amendment No. 1 to Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
November 8,1999 among Official Payments Corporation,
E*TRADE Group, Inc. and Imperial Bank, filed as Exhibit 4.2.2 to
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-
87325).*
4.3 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 15, 1999
between Imperial Bank and U.S. Audiotex Corporation, filed as
Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(No. 333-87325).*
4.4 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 15, 1999
between Beranson Holdings, Inc. and U.S. Audiotex Corporation,
filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.1 Amended Employment Agreement, dated as of September 14, 1999,
by and among U.S. Audiotex Corporation, Imperial Bank and
Thomas R. Evans, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.2 Employment Agreement, dated August 24, 1999, between U.S.
Audiotex Corporation and Kenneth Stern, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-
87325).*
10.3 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
333-87325).*
10.3.1 Amendment No. 1 to 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.4 Stockholders Agreement, dated August 24, 1999, by and among
U.S. Audiotex Corporation, U.S. Audiotex, Inc. and Imperial Bank,
filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.5 Electronic Tax Administration Memorandum of Agreement
between the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Audiotex, LLC,
filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.5.1 Electronic Tax Administration Memorandum of Agreement
Between the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Audiotex
Corporation, dated October 4, 1999, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-
1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.6 Subcontract with Novus Services, Inc., dated November 30, 1998,
of the IVR Services Agreement with the California Franchise Tax
Board, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.7 Processing Agreement, dated as of July 16, 1995, by and between
Imperial Bank and U.S. Audiotex LLC, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(No. 333-87325).*
10.8 Contract with the Internal Revenue Service for Integrated Electronic
Filing and Payment of Individual Income Tax by Credit Card, dated
September 30, 1999, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-
87325).*
10.9 Employment Agreement, dated September 30, 1999, between U.S.
Audiotex Corporation and Brian Nocco, incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.9.1 Form of Amendatory Agreement, dated as of
November 1, 1999 between Brian Nocco and Official
Payments Corporation, incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.11.1 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.10 Employment Agreement, dated September 30, 1999, between U.S.
Audiotex Corporation and Michael Presto, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.11 Employment Agreement, dated September 30, 1999, between U.S.
Audiotex Corporation and Michael Barrett, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.12 Letter Agreement from Imperial Bank to E*TRADE Group, Inc,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
10.13 Contract between National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois and U.S.
Audiotex Corporation, dated as of October 1, 1999, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (No. 333-87325).*
23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
- -------------
* Previously filed
</TABLE>
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE
NUMBER
------
Independent Auditors' Report....................................... F-2
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998.................... F-3
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1999,
1998 and 1997.................................................... F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997................................. F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1999,
1998, and 1997................................................... F-6
Notes to Financial Statements...................................... F-7
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Official Payments Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Official Payments
Corporation as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related statements of
operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999. In connection with
our audit of the financial statements, we also have audited the financial
statement schedule as listed in the accompanying index. These financial
statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Official
Payments Corporation at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement
schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements
taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth therein.
/s/ KPMG LLP
San Francisco, California
January 26, 2000
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1999 1998
----------- -----------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash............................... $ 1,643 $ 631
Short-term investments............. 78,871 --
Accounts receivable, net of allowance 1,135
for doubtful accounts of $52,000
and $5,000 in 1999 and 1998....... 1,135 554
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 849 29
--------- ---------
Total current assets.......... 82,498 1,214
Property and equipment, net....... 1,802 533
--------- ---------
Total assets.................. $ 84,300 $ 1,747
========= =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable................... $ 176 $ 217
Accrued merchant discount fees..... 419 212
Accrued payroll.................... 551 52
Accrued expenses................... 931 173
Deferred revenue................... 65 99
Current portion of notes payable and
obligations.................. 206 69
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities.... 2,348 822
Long-term portion of notes payable and
capital lease obligations.............. 391 241
Notes payable to related party.......... -- 500
--------- ---------
Total liabilities............ 2,739 1,563
--------- ---------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 150,000,000
shares authorized; 21,262,820
and 15,000,000 shares issued and
outstanding and as of December
31, 1999 and 1998............ 213 150
Additional paid-in capital........ 127,707 1,028
Deferred stock compensation....... (34,965) --
Accumulated deficit............... (11,394) (994)
--------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity 81,561 184
--------- ---------
Total liabilities and stockholder $ 84,300 $ 1,747
========= =========
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1999 1998 1997
-------------------------------
Revenues:
Transaction fees.............. $ 8,592 $ 2,076 $ 935
Other revenues................ 249 293 267
--------- --------- ---------
Total revenues........... 8,841 2,369 1,202
--------- --------- ---------
Cost of revenues:
Cost of transaction fees...... 4,263 494 259
Cost of transaction fees to related
party....................... 2,069 515 153
Cost of other revenues........ 204 71 284
--------- --------- ---------
Total cost of revenues... 6,536 1,080 696
--------- --------- ---------
Gross profit....................... 2,305 1,289 506
--------- --------- ---------
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing........... 3,551 356 330
Development costs............. 2,121 608 206
General and administrative.... 7,239 595 446
Allocated expenses from related party 151 -- 20
--------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses. 13,062 1,559 1,002
--------- --------- ---------
Loss from operations............... (10,757) (270) (496)
Other income (expense), net........ 357 (55) (6)
--------- --------- ---------
Net loss........................... (10,400) $ (325) $ (502)
========= ========= =========
Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.66) $ (0.02) $ (0.03)
========= ========= =========
Shares used in computing basic and diluted
net loss per share................. 15,677 15,000 15,000
========= ========= =========
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NOTE TOTAL
COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL DEFERRED RECEIVABLE STOCKHOLDERS'
------------- PAID-IN STOCK FROM STOCK- ACCUMULATED EQUITY
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL COMPENSATION HOLDER (DEFICIT) (DEFICIT)
------ ------ ---------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at December 31, 1996...... 15,000 $ 150 $ 506 $ -- $ (500) $ (167) $ (11)
Distribution of note receible
stockholder................... -- -- (98) -- -- -- (98)
Repayment of note receivable...... -- -- -- -- 500 -- 500
Services performed by
stockholder....................... -- -- 20 -- -- -- 20
Net income (loss)................. -- -- -- -- -- (502) (502)
------ ------- ------- ------------ ----------- ----------- --------------
Balance at December 31, 1997....... 15,000 150 428 -- -- (669) (91)
Capital contribution............... -- -- 600 -- -- -- 600
Net (loss)......................... -- -- -- -- -- (325) (325)
------ ------- ------- ------------ ----------- ----------- --------------
Balance at December 31, 1998....... 15,000 150 1,028 -- -- (994) 184
Deferred stock compensation........ -- -- 42,905 (42,905) -- -- --
Amortization of stock-based
compensation................... -- -- -- 7,940 -- -- 7,940
Services performed by
stockholder........................ -- -- 118 -- -- -- 118
Issuance of common stock........... 513 5 4,995 -- -- -- 5,000
IPO proceeds, net of issuance
costs of $7,532.................... 5,750 58 78,661 -- -- -- 78,719
Net income (loss).................. -- -- -- -- -- (10,400) (10,400)
------ ------- ------- ------------ ----------- ----------- --------------
Balance at December 31, 1999....... 21,263 $ 213 $127,707 $(34,965) $ -- $(11,394) $ 81,561
====== ======= ======= ============ =========== =========== ==============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss).................................... $ (10,400) $ (325) $ (502)
Adjustments to reconcile net income
(loss) to net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization............. 288 57 29
Bad debt expense.......................... 47 5 --
Amortization of stock-based stock
compensation.............................. 7,940 -- --
Services performed by related party....... 118 -- 20
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
Accounts receivable................ (628) (294) (101)
Prepaid expenses and other assets.. (820) 25 (35)
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses........................... 1,423 250 235
Deferred revenue................... (34) 37 31
--------- -------- --------
Net cash (used in investing
activities.................. (2,066) (245) (323)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of short-term investments................... (78,871) -- --
Capital expenditures................................. (1,054) 0 (139)
--------- -------- --------
Net cash (used in operating
activities.................. (79,925) (298) (139)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of common stock................... 83,719 -- --
Capital contribution................................. -- 600 --
Repayment of notes payable to related party.......... (3,300) -- --
Notes payable to related party....................... (2,800 500 --
Repayment of notes payable and capital leases........ (216) (108) (77)
Repayment of note receivable from shareholder....... -- -- 500
--------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by financing
activities.................. 83,003 992 423
--------- -------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash...................... 1,012 449 (39)
Cash at the beginning of the year.................... 631 182 221
--------- -------- --------
Cash at the end of the year.......................... $ 1,643 $ 631 $ 182
========= ======== ========
Supplemental disclosure of noncash activity:
Deferred stock compensation.............. $ 42,905 -- --
========= ======== ========
Interest paid............................ $ 185 $ 38 $ 46
========= ======== ========
Taxes paid............................... $ 138 $ 73 $ 60
========= ======== ========
Assets acquired through capital leases... $ 503 $ 41 $ --
========= ======== ========
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Official Payments Corporation (the "Company") was formed as U.S.
Audiotex, LLC, a California limited liability company (the "LLC"), on June
26, 1996. U.S. Audiotex Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), was formed on August 24, 1999. Effective September 30,
1999, the LLC merged with and into the Corporation. On October 20, 1999,
the Company changed its name to Official Payments Corporation. On November
23, 1999, the Company commenced the initial public offering of its common
stock, which was completed on November 29, 1999 after the Company had sold
5,750,000 shares of common stock at $15.00 per share, resulting in gross
proceeds from the initial public offering of $86.2 million. Imperial Bank,
a California State chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Imperial
Bancorp, beneficially owns approximately 56% of the outstanding common
stock of the Company. The Company provides credit card payment options for
consumers to pay their personal federal and state income taxes, sales and
use taxes, property taxes and fines for traffic violations and parking
citations.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles 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 reported results of operations during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH
Cash consists of demand deposits and money market funds.
In December 1999, the Company entered into a letter of credit
agreement to secure a facilities operating lease. As part of this
agreement, the Company is required to hold a certificate of deposit as a
form of security for the letter of credit. As of December 31, 1999, the
certificate of deposit amounted to $138,000, and this amount is included in
cash.
INVESTMENTS
As of December 31, 1999, the Company had investments of $78.9
million. The Company classifies its investments as "available-for-sale."
Financial instruments classified as investments include government
securities and commercial paper, with remaining maturity dates of less than
six months. Such investments are recorded at fair value based on quoted
market prices, with unrealized gains and losses recorded as other
comprehensive income (loss) until realized.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a
concentration of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable.
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its government clients
and generally does not require collateral. Uncollectible accounts have been
insignificant to date. The Company had no client that accounted for greater
than 10% of accounts receivable at December 31, 1999 and 1998.
In the year ended December 31, 1999 transaction fees from IRS payments
accounted for 49% of total revenues. The Company's agreement with the IRS
covered credit card payments for 1998 tax returns filed during the 1999
filing season. The agreement was renewed for an additional one-year period
by mutual consent of both parties.
In 1999, duplicate transactions by consumers and processing errors
resulted in overpayment to the Internal Revenue Service. The Internal
Revenue Service acknowledged overpayments and agreed to reimburse the
Company. As of December 31, 1999, the Internal Revenue Service owed the
Company approximately $110,000.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company's financial instruments, including cash, investments,
accounts receivable, accounts payable, and long-term debt are carried at
cost which approximates fair market value.
CAPITALIZED SOFTWARE
Costs related to the research and development of new software
products and enhancements to existing software products are expensed as
incurred until technological feasibility (in the form of a working model)
of the product has been established, at which time such costs are
capitalized, subject to expected recoverability. As of December 31, 1999,
the Company has capitalized approximately $200,000. The Company amortizes
this cost on a straight line basis over an estimated useful life of three
years, which is determined to be the greater of the amount computed using
the straight-line method and the ratio that current gross revenues from the
capitalized software bear to current and anticipated future revenues from
the capitalized software. The net book value of capitalized software is
approximately $94,000 as of December 31, 1999.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated
depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the property and equipment, generally
three years for purchased software and office equipment and five years for
furniture and fixtures and interactive voice response systems. Leasehold
improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter
of the respective lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset.
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and
used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of any asset to
future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets
are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured
by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceed the fair
value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of
the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company uses the intrinsic value method of accounting for all of
its employee stock-based compensation plans. Expense associated with
stock-based compensation is being amortized on a straight- line basis over
the vesting period of the individual award consistent with the method
described in Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The Company has no components of other comprehensive income (loss).
REVENUE RECOGNITION
Transaction fees are derived from convenience fees paid by consumers
for credit card payment services provided by the Company. Convenience fees
are charged based on the amount of the payment processed and the type of
payment. Revenue is recognized in the month the services are provided.
Other revenues consist of the sale of customized systems which
include implementation services, training and post contract support related
to these system sales. As vendor specific objective evidence does not exist
for each element of the contract, revenues are recognized, under the
completed contract method, upon customer acceptance of the software which
occurs after installation of the system and the completion of training.
Maintenance revenues are deferred based on vendor specific objective
evidence and recognized ratably over the contractual term of the
maintenance agreement, generally one year.
ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective
tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to
apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences
are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets
and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the
period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded
to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount whose realization is more likely
than not.
The Company had elected to be treated as a partnership for tax
purposes for the period the Company was operating as a limited liability
company (LLC). Effective September 30, 1999, the Company as a limited
liability company, merged with and into the Subchapter C Corporation now
doing business as Official Payments Corporation. Net operating losses
incurred prior to September 30, 1999 are not available to reduce future
income subject to income taxes as they flowed through to the LLC members.
ADVERTISING EXPENSE
The cost of advertising is expensed as incurred. Such costs are
included in selling and marketing expense and totaled approximately
$69,000, $28,000, and $28,000 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998,
and 1997, respectively.
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed using the
weighted-average number of outstanding shares of common stock. Diluted net
loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of
common stock outstanding and, when dilutive, potential common shares from
options to purchase common stock using the treasury stock method.
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net
loss per common share as of December 31 (in thousands, except share and per
share data):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
--------- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net loss...................................... $ (10,400) $ (325) $ (502)
--------- -------- -----------
Weighted-average shares used in computing basic
and diluted net loss per common share... 15,677,000 15,000,000 15,000,000
========= ======== ==========
Basic and diluted net loss per common share... $ (0.66) $ (0.02) $ (0.03)
========= ======== ==========
</TABLE>
Basic and diluted net loss per share are computed using the weighted
average number of outstanding shares of common stock. Net loss per share
for the year ended December 31, 1999 does not include the effect of
approximately 6,146,743 stock options with a weighted average exercise
price of $4.66 per share because its effects are anti-dilutive.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA NET INCOME PER SHARE
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net
loss per common share assuming that the Company's IPO occurred at the
beginning of the current fiscal year. The pro forma net loss does not
consider adjustments to net interest income which would have resulted from
the increase of cash and cash equivalents in the beginning of the period.
(Amounts are presented in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
Year Ended
December 31,
1999
-----------
Pro-forma net loss.................................... $ (10,400)
-----------
Weighted-average pro-forma shares used in computing basic
and diluted net loss per common share.............. 21,263,000
===========
Pro-forma basic and diluted net loss per common share. $ (0.49)
===========
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and
reporting standards for derivative financial instruments and hedging
activities related to those instruments, as well as other hedging
activities. Because the Company does not currently hold any derivative
instruments and does not engage in hedging activities, the Company expects
the adoption of SFAS No. 133 will not have a material impact on its
financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company will
be required to adopt SFAS No. 133 in fiscal 2001.
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT COMPONENTS
INVESTMENTS
The following is a summary of available for sale securities (in
thousands):
DECEMBER 31, 1999
-------------------------
AMORTIZED COSTFAIR VALUE
----------- -----------
Commercial paper................................ $ 78,859 $ 78,859
Government money market fund.................... 12 12
----------- -----------
$ 78,871 $ 78,871
=========== ===========
Included in short-term investments.............. $ 78,871 $ 78,871
----------- -----------
$ 78,871 $ 78,871
=========== ===========
The following is a summary of contractual maturities of the Company's
available for sale securities as of December 31 (in thousands):
1999
--------
Amount maturing within one year......... $ 78,871
Amount maturing greater than one year... --
--------
Securities available for sale........... $ 78,871
========
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following as of December 31
(in thousands):
1999 1998
-------- --------
Computer Equipment...................... $ 1,836 $ 768
-------- --------
Furniture and fixtures.................. 485 66
2,321 834
Less: Accumulated depreciation and
amortization.......................... 519 301
-------- --------
$ 1,802 $ 533
======== ========
Certain computer equipment, software and office equipment are
recorded under capital leases that aggregated $567,000 and $64,000 as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Accumulated amortization on the
assets recorded under capital leases aggregated $62,000 and $20,000 as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
AMORTIZATION OF STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Amortization of stock-based compensation consists of the following in
the year ended December 31 (in thousands):
1999
--------
Sales and marketing..................... $ 2,250
Development costs....................... 1,089
General and administrative.............. 4,601
$ 7,940
========
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
Other income (expense), net, consists of the following (in
thousands):
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------
1999 998 1997
--------- -------- --------
Interest income............... $ 46 $ 16 $ 66
Interest expense.............. (135) (38) (44)
Other income (expense)........ 24 (33) (28)
--------- -------- --------
$ 357 $ (55) $ (6)
========= ======== ========
3. DEBT AND OTHER COMMITMENTS
The Company leases certain equipment under capital leases, extending
through 2003. Notes payable were as follows (in thousands):
YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
Line of credit.......................... $ -- $ 151
Term loan............................... -- 121
Capital lease obligation................ 597 38
-------- --------
597 310
Less current portion.................... 206 69
-------- --------
Notes payable, less current portion..... $ 391 $ 241
======== ========
The Company is in compliance with all financial covenants under these
leases as of December 31, 1999.
Future minimum debt and capital lease payments as of December 31,
1999 were as follows (in thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2000.................................... $ 206
2001.................................... 200
2002.................................... 163
2003.................................... 132
--------
Total minimum lease payments............ 701
Less: Amount representing imputed
interest..................... 104
--------
Present value of minimum lease payments. 597
Less: current portion.................. 206
--------
Minimum lease payments, less current portion $ 391
========
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases
as of December 31, 1999 were as follows (in thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2000.................................... $ 201
2001.................................... 224
2002.................................... 229
2003.................................... 235
2004.................................... 240
Thereafter.............................. 162
--------
Total minimum lease payments under operating
leases.................................. $ 1,291
========
Rental expense under operating leases for the years ended December
31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 was $206,000, $75,000, and $64,000, respectively.
4. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
In January 1998, Imperial Bank for $3,010,000 purchased 9 million
shares of common stock or 75% of the 12 million shares of common stock in
the Company owned by Beranson Holdings, Inc. In addition, Imperial
Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Imperial Bank, transferred its 3
million shares of common stock in the Company to Imperial Bank.
Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings were the holders of 80% and 20%
of the Company's common stock, respectively, as of December 31, 1998.
In August 1999, the Company issued 2,400 shares of common stock to
Imperial Bank for an aggregate consideration of $8.00 and 600 shares of
common stock to Beranson Holdings for an aggregate consideration of $2.00.
In connection with the merger of U.S. Audiotex, LLC into U.S. Audiotex
Corporation, the limited liability company interests of Imperial Bank and
Beranson Holdings in U.S. Audiotex, LLC were exchanged for 11,997,600 and
2,999,400 shares of the Company's common stock, respectively. Share
information has been restated for all periods presented to reflect a
three-for-one stock split.
In November 1999, the Company sold to E*Trade Group, Inc. (E*TRADE)
512,820 shares of common stock at a price of $9.75 per share for a total
consideration of approximately $5 million.
On November 29, 1999, the Company completed the initial public
offering of its common stock. The Company sold 5,750,000 shares of common
stock, including 750,000 shares sold in connection with the exercise of the
underwriters' over-allotment option. The initial public offering price was
$15.00 per share for an aggregate initial public offering of $86.2 million.
The Company paid a total of $6.0 million in underwriting discounts and
commissions and approximately $1.5 million has been incurred for other
offering expenses. After deducting the underwriting discounts and
commissions and the offering expenses the estimated net proceeds to the
Company from the offering were approximately $78.7 million.
STOCK SPLIT
In October 1999, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a
three-for-one split of all the outstanding shares of the Company's common
stock. Shares and per share information has been restated for all periods
presented to give effect to this stock split.
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company's Board of Directors adopted the 1999 Stock Incentive
Plan (the Incentive Plan) in August 1999. The Incentive Plan provides for
the grant of nonstatutory stock options to employees or outside directors.
A total of 6,900,000 shares of the Company's common stock are reserved for
issuance under the Incentive Plan, 900,000 of which are available for
grants to outside directors.
Options granted under the Incentive Plan may be designated as
incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options at the discretion of
Company's Board of Directors, with exercise prices for incentive stock
options of not less than the fair value of the underlying stock at the date
of grant. Options granted under the Incentive Plan vest annually over a
maximum three-year period and expire ten years from the date of grant.
The Company uses the intrinsic value method to account for the
Incentive Plan. Accordingly, compensation cost is recognized for stock
options when, on the date of grant, the current market value of the
underlying common stock exceeds the exercise price of the stock options at
the date of grant. In the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company
recorded deferred compensation expense of approximately $42.9 million for
options granted to employees to purchase approximately 4,654,923 shares of
the Company's common stock.
A summary of the Company's stock plans is as follows for the year
ended December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999
--------------------------------
WEIGHTED-
AVERAGE
SHARES EXERCISE PRICE
-------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of period -- $ --
Granted at fair value.................... 1,495,820 $ 15.12
Granted at less than fair value.......... 4,654,923 $ 1.33
Exercised................................ -- $ --
Forfeited................................ -- $ --
--------------
Outstanding at end of period................... 6,150,743 $ 4.68
==============
Exercisable at end of period................... 685,161 $ 1.33
==============
Weighted-average fair value of options granted
during the period at fair value.................................$ 9.72
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during
the period at less than fair value............................ $ 10.24
The following table summarizes information about stock options
outstanding as of December 31, 1999:
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OUTSTANDING EXERCISABLE
-------------------------------------- ------------------------
WEIGHTED-
AVERAGE WEIGHTED- WEIGHTED-
REMAINING AVERAGE AVERAGE
NUMBER OF CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE NUMBER OF EXERCISE
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES SHARES LIFE (YEARS) PRICE SHARES PRICE
- ------------------------ ---------- ------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 1.33 - $ 2.00..... 4,654,923 9.30 $ 1.33 685,161 $1.33
$15.00 - $30.00...... 1,488,820 9.90 $15.00 -- --
$33.12 - $45.66...... 7,000 9.97 $40.29 -- --
---------- ------------
6,150,743 9.45 $ 4.68 685,161 $1.33
========== ============
</TABLE>
ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company uses the intrinsic value-based method of accounting for
its employee stock-based compensation plans. Accordingly, no compensation
cost is recognized for any of its stock options when the exercise price of
each option equals or exceeds the fair value of the underlying common stock
as of the grant date for each stock option.
Had compensation cost been determined in accordance with the fair
value approach set forth by SFAS No. 123 for all of the Company's
stock-based compensation plans, net loss and net loss per share would have
been as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
----------------------------------
Net loss:
As reported.........................$ (10,400) $ (325) $ (502)
Pro forma...........................$ (12,824) $ (325) $ (502)
Basic and diluted net loss per share:.....
As reported.........................$ (0.66) $(0.02) $ (0.03)
Pro forma...........................$ (0.82) $(0.02) $ (0.03)
For all option grants that were granted prior to the Company's
initial public offering in November 1999, the fair value of these options
was determined using the minimum value method, which assumes no volatility,
and the following weighted-average assumptions: no dividend yield,
risk-free interest rate of 5%, and expected lives of 4 years. The fair
value for the options granted subsequent to the Company's initial public
offering was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option
pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: no dividend
yield, expected volatility of 85%, risk-free interest rate of 5%, and
expected lives of 4 years.
5. INCOME TAXES
The 1999 and 1998 income tax expense differed from the amounts
computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 34% to pretax
income as a result of the following:
December 31,
----------------------
1999 1998
---------- ----------
Federal tax at statutory rate...................... $(3,535,500) $ --
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit..... 500 --
NOLs and temporary differences..................... 825,300 --
Permanent differences.............................. 2,709,700 --
---------- ----------
Total tax expense.................................. $ -- $ --
========== ==========
The types of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are set out
below.
December 31,
-----------------------
1999 1998
----------- ----------
Deferred tax assets:
Accruals and reserves........................... $ 304,600 $ --
State income taxes.............................. 300 --
Other........................................... -- --
Net operating loss (January 1, 1999 through
December 31,1999)............................. 689,100 --
Net operating loss - LLC (January 1, 1999 through
September 30, 1999)........................... (278,600) --
----------- ----------
Gross deferred tax assets.......................... 715,400 --
Valuation allowance................................ (662,700) --
----------- ----------
Total deferred tax assets.......................... 52,700 --
Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment............................. (52,700) --
----------- ----------
Total deferred tax liabilities..................... (52,700) --
----------- ----------
Net deferred tax assets............................ $ -- $ --
=========== ==========
The permanent differences of $2.7 million is the result of the
amortization of stock-based compensation in the amount of $7.9 million in
1999. The Company has a gross deferred tax asset of $715,000 as of December
31, 1999, consisting primarily of net operating loss carryforwards. The
deferred tax asset was fully offset by valuation allowance. A full
valuation allowance has been recorded against the deferred tax assets as a
result of uncertainties regarding their realization.
The Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal and
California income tax purposes of approximately $1,069,000 and $534,000,
respectively, available to reduce future income subject to income taxes.
The Company can carryforward the net operating loss arising from the
Subchapter C Corporation period, which began October 1, 1999. For the
period the Company operated as a limited liability company, the Company had
elected to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes. Therefore, net
operating losses incurred as a flow-through entity prior to September 30,
1999 are not available to reduce future income subject to income taxes.
The federal net operating loss carryforward expires in 2019. The
California net operating loss carryforward expires in 2004.
The U.S. Tax Reform Act of 1986 contains provisions that limit the
net operating loss carryforwards available to be used in any given year
upon the occurrence of certain events, including a significant change of
ownership.
6. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company has adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 131, Disclosures
About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, in fiscal 1999.
SFAS No. 131 supercedes SFAS No. 14, Financial Reporting for Segments of a
Business Enterprise, and establishes standards for reporting information
about operating segments, products and services, geographic areas, and
major customers. The method for determining which information to report is
based on the way that management organizes the operating segments within
the Company for making operating decisions and assessing financial
performance.
The Company operates in a single operating segment. The Chief
Executive Officer ("CEO") has been identified as the Chief Operating
Decision Maker because he has final authority over resource allocation
decisions and performance assessment. The CEO reviews financial information
by disaggregated revenues by product for purposes of making operating
decisions and assessing financial performance. The financial information
reviewed by the CEO is consistent with the information presented in the
accompanying statements of operations.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
--------- --------- ---------
Revenues by product are:
Transaction fees:
Federal................ $ 4,343 $ -- $ --
State.................. 557 -- --
Local.................. 3,692 2,076 935
Other revenues.............. 249 293 267
--------- --------- ---------
Total revenues.............. $ 8,841 $ 2,369 $ 1,202
========= ========= =========
7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In January 1998, Imperial Bank increased its ownership interest of
U.S. Audiotex LLC from 20% to 80% by purchasing a 60% membership interest,
or 75% of Beranson Holdings, Inc.'s membership interest, from Beranson
Holdings, Inc. for $3,010,000, of which $2,510,000 was immediately payable
to Beranson Holdings, Inc. Upon the Company's formation on August 24, 1999,
the balance of $500,000 and $82,000 of accrued interest, was paid to
Beranson Holdings, Inc.
In 1999 Imperial Bank and Beranson Holdings, Inc. made advances to
the Company under lines of credit in the combined amount of $2.8 million
which bears interest at a floating rate equal to Imperial Bank's prime rate
plus 2% per annum. The Company repaid the balance of all amounts
outstanding, together with the accrued interest, prior to completing the
initial public offering.
Imperial Bank is one of the merchant banks the Company uses to
process credit card transactions and perform traditional merchant credit
card settlement services. During 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company paid
Imperial Bank approximately $2.1 million, $515,000 and $153,000,
respectively, for performing these processing and settlement services,
which represent 33%, 51% and 37%, respectively, of the total merchant
discount fees paid by the Company during those periods.
Imperial Bank has provided other services to the Company. These
services included payroll processing, benefits administration and employee
recruiting. During 1999, the Company paid Imperial Bank a fee of $151,000
for these services. The Company did not pay any fees to Imperial Bank for
these services in 1998. The Company believes Imperial Bank is providing
these services on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be
obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
Imperial Bank guarantees the performance of the Company's obligations
under six equipment leases. These leases are comprised of a master lease
agreement with one lessor for five leases for various furniture and
computer equipment and a separate lease agreement for network equipment.
Imperial Bank will continue to guarantee the six leases until the leases
expire.
8. SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
In August 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Thomas R. Evans, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The employment
agreement as amended as of September 14, 1999 provides for an annual base
salary of $200,000 and a one-time bonus of $500,000. Mr. Evans was granted
options to purchase 1,370,328 shares of common stock at $1.33 per share.
The Company may exercise a repurchase right at any time during the 30-day
period following Mr. Evans' termination of employment for reasons other
than death, disability or a change in control. The Company's repurchase
right will expire with respect to one-third of the 1,370,328 option shares
on the first anniversary of his employment date. Thereafter, the Company's
right will expire on a cumulative basis with respect to 38,064 shares per
month during the next 24 consecutive months.
Under the terms of the employment agreement, Imperial Bank has
guaranteed that the value (as defined in the agreement) of Mr. Evans'
1,370,328 options will be worth $10.0 million based upon the number of
options vested on or before the third anniversary of the date of the
agreement, or Imperial Bank will pay Mr. Evans an amount equal to the
difference between $10.0 million and the highest value of the vested
options on or before the third anniversary. As part of the $42.9 million in
deferred stock compensation recorded by the Company in the year ended
December 31, 1999 the Company recorded $10.0 million of deferred stock
compensation based upon this guarantee. This $10.0 million of deferred
stock compensation is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the
vesting period of the options which is 36 months.
In August 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement with
Kenneth Stern, pursuant to which Mr. Stern has agreed to serve as the
Company's President and a member of the board of directors until August 23,
2006. The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of
$215,000 and a minimum annual bonus of $100,000. Mr. Stern has the right to
take early retirement at any time after the third anniversary of the date
of the agreement, upon which the Company would be required to pay him his
base salary and bonus through August 23, 2006.
In September 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Brian W. Nocco, pursuant to which Mr. Nocco has agreed to serve as the
Company's Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Company's board of
directors. The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of
$200,000, and a minimum annual bonus of $100,000 in 2000. In addition, the
Company has a written agreement to grant Mr. Nocco options to purchase up
to 0.5% of the common stock outstanding, on a fully diluted basis,
immediately following completion of the Company's initial public offering,
including the options described in the immediately preceding sentence.
These additional options would be granted to Mr. Nocco on the earliest to
occur of the following future dates:
o November 1, 2000;
o the date the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
determines Mr. Nocco has achieved certain pre-determined
performance goals; or
o the date the Company signs a definitive agreement that would
result in a "change in control."
One-half of these options would be granted with an exercise price of $1.33
per share, and the balance would be granted with an exercise price equal to
$15.00. These options would become fully exercisable within three years
after the date of grant. If Mr. Nocco's employment is terminated by the
Company without "cause" or if he terminates his employment for "good
reason," including a "change in control," as these terms are defined in the
written employment agreement, the Company will be required to pay him his
base salary and benefits for one year, and all of his existing stock
options will vest immediately.
In September 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Michael P. Presto, pursuant to which Mr. Presto has agreed to serve as
the Company's Chief Operating Officer. The employment agreement provides
for an annual base salary of $200,000, and a minimum annual bonus of
$100,000 in 2000. If Mr. Presto's employment is terminated by the Company
without "cause" or if he terminates his employment for "good reason,"
including a "change in control," as these terms are defined in the written
employment agreement, the Company will be required to pay him his base
salary and benefits for one year, and all of his existing stock options
will vest immediately.
In September 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Michael Barrett, pursuant to which Mr. Barrett has agreed to serve as
the Company's Chief Internet and Sales Officer. The employment agreement
provides for an annual base salary of $200,000, and a minimum annual bonus
of $100,000 in 2000. If Mr. Barrett's employment is terminated by the
Company without "cause" or if he terminates his employment for "good
reason," including a "change in control," as these terms are defined in the
written employment agreement, the Company will be required to pay him his
base salary and benefits for one year, and all of his existing stock
options will vest immediately.
9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In January 2000, the Company entered into an agreement to lease for
five years, a commercial office space in Stamford, Connecticut, starting in
May 2000. The annual lease commitment is approximately $331,000. This new
leased space will replace the Company's current New York, New York offices.
OFFICIAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION
SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999, 1998 AND 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BALANCE AT
BALANCE AT END OF
CLASSIFICATION BEGINNING OF COSTS AND WRITE-OFFS CLASSIFICATION
PERIOD EXPENSES DEDUCTIONS PERIOD
----------- ----------- ---------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1999 Allowance
for doubtful accounts.......... $5,000 $47,000 $-- $52,000
Year ended December 31, 1998 Allowance
for doubtful accounts.......... -- 5,000 -- 5,000
Year ended December 31, 1997 Allowance
for doubtful accounts.......... -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Official Payments
Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-95825) of our
report dated January 26, 2000, relating to the balance sheets of Official
Payments Corporation as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the related
statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows for
each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 1999, and the
related schedule, which report appears in the December 31, 1999 Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Official Payments Corporation.
/s/ KPMG LLP
San Francisco, California
March 30, 2000
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<CASH> 1,643
<SECURITIES> 78,871
<RECEIVABLES> 1,187
<ALLOWANCES> 52
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 82,498
<PP&E> 2,321
<DEPRECIATION> 519
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 84,300
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,348
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 213
<OTHER-SE> 81,348
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 84,300
<SALES> 8,592
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 8,841
<CGS> 6,332
<TOTAL-COSTS> 6,536
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 13,062
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 468
<INCOME-PRETAX> (10,400)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (10,400)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (10,400)
<EPS-BASIC> (0.66)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.66)
</TABLE>
[LETTERHEAD OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP]
March 30, 2000
VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Filing Desk
Re: Official Payments Corporation
Annual Report on Form 10-K
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of Official Payments Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), transmitted herewith for filing under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the General Rules and Regulations
thereunder, is the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including all
exhibits and attachments thereto (the "Form 10- K").
If you have any questions or require any further information
with respect to the Form 10-K or any matters relating to this filing,
please contact the undersigned at (212) 735-3519.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Brian S. Higgins
---------------------
Brian S. Higgins
Attachment
