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UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549 

 

FORM 10-Q 

 

 

Commission File Number: 001-33864 

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CARDTRONICS, INC. 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (832) 308-4000

 

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 þ No o 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes þ No o 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer'' and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

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

 

Common Stock, par value: $0.0001 per share.  Shares outstanding on April 30, 2013: 44,858,110

 

 

 

 

 

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CARDTRONICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 (1) General and Basis of Presentation 

  

General 

 

Cardtronics, Inc., along with its wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") provides convenient consumer financial services through its network of automated teller machines ("ATMs") and multi-function financial services kiosks. As of March 31, 2013, the Company provided services to approximately 62,600 devices across its portfolio, which included approximately 53,700 devices located in all 50 states of the United States ("U.S.") as well as in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, approximately 4,300 devices throughout the United Kingdom ("U.K."), approximately 2,700 devices throughout Mexico, and approximately 1,900 devices throughout Canada. Included in the number of devices in the U.S. are approximately 2,000 multi-function financial services kiosks that, in addition to traditional ATM functions such as cash dispensing and bank account balance inquiries, perform other consumer financial services, including bill payments, check cashing, remote deposit capture (which is deposit taking at ATMs using electronic imaging), and money transfers. Also included in the total count of 62,600 devices are approximately 6,500 devices for which the Company provides various forms of managed services solutions, which may include services such as transaction processing, monitoring, maintenance, cash management, and customer service.

 

Through its network, the Company provides ATM management and equipment-related services (typically under multi-year contracts) to large, nationally-known retail merchants as well as smaller retailers and operators of facilities such as shopping malls and airports. In doing so, the Company provides its retail partners with a compelling automated financial services solution that helps attract and retain customers, and in turn, increases the likelihood that the devices placed at their facilities will be utilized.

 

In addition to its retail merchant relationships, the Company also partners with leading national financial institutions to brand selected ATMs and financial services kiosks within its network, including Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Sovereign Bank, N.A., SunTrust Banks, Inc., PNC Bank, N.A, Frost Bank, The Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotiabank”) in Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, and Grupo Financiero Banorte, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico. As of March 31, 2013,  approximately 18,400 of the Company’s domestic devices and approximately 500 of the Company’s ATMs in Canada were under contract with financial institutions to place their logos on those machines, and to provide convenient surcharge-free access for their banking customers.

 

The Company also owns and operates the Allpoint network, the largest surcharge-free ATM network within the U.S. (based on the number of participating ATMs). The Allpoint network, which has more than 55,000 participating ATMs globally, provides surcharge-free ATM access to customers of participating financial institutions that lack a significant ATM network in exchange for either a fixed monthly fee per cardholder or a set fee per transaction that is paid by the financial institutions who are members of the network.  The Allpoint network includes a majority of the Company’s ATMs in the U.S., U.K., Puerto Rico and Mexico, approximately a  quarter of the Company’s ATMs in Canada, and over 5,000 locations in Australia through a partnership with a local ATM owner and operator in that market. Allpoint also works with financial institutions that manage stored-value debit card programs on behalf of corporate entities and governmental agencies, including general purpose, payroll and electronic benefits transfer (“EBT”) cards. Under these programs, the issuing financial institutions pay Allpoint a fee per issued stored-value card or per transaction in return for allowing the users of those cards surcharge-free access to Allpoint’s participating ATM network.

 

Finally, the Company owns and operates an electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) transaction processing platform that provides transaction processing services to its network of ATMs and financial services kiosks as well as other ATMs under managed services arrangements.

 

Basis of Presentation 

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this "Form 10-Q") has been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") applicable to interim financial information. Because this is an interim period filing presented using a condensed format, it does not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information not misleading. You should read this Form 10-Q along with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012  (the "2012 Form 10-K"), which includes a summary of the Company's significant accounting policies and other disclosures.

 

The financial statements as of March 31, 2013 and for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 are unaudited. The Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012 was derived from the audited balance sheet filed in the 2012 Form 10-K. In management's opinion, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's interim and prior period results have been made. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. Additionally, the financial statements for prior periods include certain minor reclassifications. Those reclassifications did not impact the Company's total reported net income or stockholders' equity.

 

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The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cardtronics, Inc. and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Because the Company owns a majority (51.0%) interest in, and realizes a majority of the earnings and/or losses of, Cardtronics Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (“Cardtronics Mexico”), this entity is reflected as a consolidated subsidiary in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, with the remaining ownership interests not held by the Company being reflected as noncontrolling interests.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could be material to the financial statements.

 

Cost of ATM Operating Revenues and Gross Profit Presentation 

 

The Company presents Cost of ATM operating revenues and Gross profit within its Consolidated Statements of Operations exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense related to ATMs and ATM-related assets. The following table sets forth the amounts excluded from Cost of ATM operating revenues and Gross profit for the periods indicated:

 

 

(2) Acquisitions 

 

On March 7, 2013, the Company completed the acquisition of i-design group plc (“i-design”), a Scotland-based provider and developer of marketing and advertising software and services for ATM owners. The acquisition of i-design did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations during the quarter ended March 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had not yet completed its analysis to assign the purchase consideration for this acquisition since it is still in the process of determining the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired, including intangible assets. The Company expects to complete this work during its second quarter of 2013, and as a result of the completion of the work, the Company’s preliminary allocation of the purchase consideration to the net assets acquired may change.

 

(3) Stock-Based Compensation 

 

The Company calculates the fair value of stock-based awards granted to employees and directors on the date of grant and recognizes the calculated fair value, net of estimated forfeitures, as compensation expense over the requisite service periods of the related awards. The following table reflects the total stock-based compensation expense amounts included in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated: 

 

 

 

The increase in stock-based compensation expense during the three months ended March 31, 2013 was due to the issuance of additional shares of restricted stock awards ("RSAs") and restricted stock units ("RSUs") to certain of the Company's employees and directors during the last twelve months and additional expense recognition associated with grants of certain awards to employees who have met the qualified retirement provisions of our RSUs. All grants during the periods above were made under the Company's Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2007 Stock Incentive Plan").

  

Restricted Stock Awards.  The number of the Company's outstanding RSAs as of March 31, 2013, and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2013, are presented below:

 

 

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As of March 31, 2013, the unrecognized compensation expense associated with all outstanding restricted share grants was approximately $7.1 million,  which will be recognized on a straight-line basis over a remaining weighted-average vesting period of approximately 2.2 years.

 

Restricted Stock Units.  In the first quarters of each year since 2011, the Company granted RSUs under its respective year’s Long Term Incentive Plans ("LTIPs"), which are equity programs under the 2007 Plan. The ultimate number of RSUs to be earned and outstanding are approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee"), and are based on the Company's achievement of certain performance levels during the calendar year of its grant. The majority of these grants have both a performance-based and a service-based vesting schedule (“Performance-RSUs”), and the Company recognizes the related compensation expense based on the estimated performance levels that management believes will ultimately be met. Starting with the grants made in 2013, a portion of the awards have only a service-based vesting schedule (“Time-RSUs”), for which the associated expense is recognized ratably over four years.  Performance-RSUs and Time-RSUs are convertible into the Company’s common stock after the passage of the vesting periods, which are 24,  36, and 48 months from January 31 of the grant year, at the rate of 50%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. Performance-RSUs will be earned only if the Company achieves certain performance levels. Although the RSUs are not considered to be earned and outstanding until at least the minimum performance metrics are met, the Company recognizes the related compensation expense over the requisite service period (or to an employee’s qualified retirement date, if earlier) using a graded vesting methodology.

 

The number of the Company's non-vested RSUs as of March 31, 2013, and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2013, are presented below:

 

 

 

The above table only includes earned RSUs; therefore, the Performance-RSUs granted in 2013 but not yet earned are not included, but the Time-RSUs are included as granted.

 

As of March 31, 2013, the unrecognized compensation expense associated with earned RSUs was approximately $7.8 million, which will be recognized using a graded vesting schedule for Performance-RSUs and a straight-line vesting schedule for Time-RSUs, over a remaining weighted-average vesting period of approximately 2.5 years. 

 

Options.  The number of the Company's outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2013, and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2013, are presented below: 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2013, the unrecognized compensation expense associated with outstanding options was approximately $48,000,  which will be recognized on a straight-line basis over a remaining weighted-average vesting period of approximately 0.7 years.  

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(4) Earnings per Share 

 

The Company reports its earnings per share under the two-class method. Under this method, potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share (as well as their related impact on the statements of operations) when their impact on net income available to common stockholders is anti-dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 included all outstanding stock options and shares of restricted stock, which were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for these periods.

 

Additionally, the shares of restricted stock issued by the Company have a non-forfeitable right to cash dividends, if and when declared by the Company.  Accordingly, restricted shares are considered to be participating securities and, as such, the Company has allocated the undistributed earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 among the Company's outstanding shares of common stock and issued but unvested restricted shares, as follows:

 

Earnings per Share (in thousands, excluding share and per share amounts): 

 

 

The computation of diluted earnings per share excluded potentially dilutive common shares related to restricted stock (including both RSAs and RSUs) of 480,284 and 672,627 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, because the effect of including these shares in the computation would have been anti-dilutive.

 

(5) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net is displayed as a separate component of Stockholders' equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table presents the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net:  

 

 

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The Company records unrealized losses related to its interest rate swaps net of estimated taxes in the Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net line item within Stockholders' equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets since it is more likely than not that the Company will be able to realize the benefits associated with its net deferred tax asset positions in the future.

 

The Company currently believes that the unremitted earnings of its foreign subsidiaries will be reinvested for an indefinite period of time. Accordingly, no deferred taxes have been provided for the differences between the Company's book basis and underlying tax basis in these subsidiaries or on the foreign currency translation adjustment amounts.

 

(6) Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

 

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had $13.4 million recorded for an insurance recovery receivable related to a loss sustained as a result of the misappropriation of cash in February 2010 by the president and principal owner of Mount Vernon Money Center ("MVMC"), one of the Company's former third-party armored service providers in the Northeast U.S.  The Company collected this entire amount from its insurer in January 2013.

 

(7) Intangible Assets 

 

Intangible Assets with Indefinite Lives 

 

The following table presents the net carrying amount of the Company's intangible assets with indefinite lives as of March 31, 2013, as well as the changes in the net carrying amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2013, by segment:

 

 

 

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Intangible Assets with Definite Lives 

 

The following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets that were subject to amortization:

 

 

 

 

(8) Accrued Liabilities 

 

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

 

(9) Long-Term Debt 

 

The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:

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Revolving Credit Facility 

 

As of March 31, 2013, the Company's revolving credit facility provided for $250.0 million in borrowings and letters of credit (subject to the covenants contained within the facility), had a termination date of July 2016, and contained a feature that allows the Company to expand the facility up to $325.0 million, subject to the availability of additional bank commitments by existing or new syndicate participants. 

 

This revolving credit facility includes a $15.0 million swing-line facility, a $60.0 million foreign currency sub-limit, and a $20.0 million letter of credit sub-limit. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at a variable rate, based upon the Company's total leverage ratio and the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or Alternative Base Rate (as defined in the agreement) at the Company's option. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. Substantially all of the Company's assets, including the stock of its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries and 66% of the stock of its foreign subsidiaries, are pledged to secure borrowings made under the revolving credit facility. Furthermore, each of the Company's domestic subsidiaries has guaranteed the Company's obligations under the revolving credit facility. There are currently no restrictions on the ability of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends directly to us. 

 

As of March 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants and ratios under the facility, which were described in the 2012 Form 10-K.

 

As of March 31, 2013, $151.4 million was outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Additionally, the Company has posted a $2.0 million letter of credit serving to secure the overdraft facility of its U.K. subsidiary (further discussed below) and a $0.1 million letter of credit serving to secure a third-party processing contract in Canada. These letters of credit, which the applicable third-parties may draw upon in the event the Company defaults on the related obligations, reduce the Company’s borrowing capacity under the facility. As of March 31, 2013, the Company’s available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility totaled approximately $96.5 million.

 

$200.0 Million 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2018

 

The $200.0 million 8.25% senior subordinated notes due September 2018 (the "2018 Notes"), which are guaranteed by all of the Company's domestic subsidiaries, contain no maintenance covenants and only limited incurrence covenants, under which the Company has considerable flexibility. Interest under the 2018 Notes is paid semi-annually in arrears on March 1st and September 1st of each year. As of March 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants required under the 2018 Notes. 

 

Other Borrowing Facilities

 

Cardtronics Mexico equipment financing agreements. Between 2007 and 2010, Cardtronics Mexico entered into several separate five-year equipment financing agreements with a single lender, of which four agreements have outstanding balances as of March 31, 2013. These agreements, which are denominated in pesos and bear interest at an average fixed rate of 10.04%, were utilized for the purchase of ATMs to support the growth of the Company’s Mexico operations. As of March 31, 2013,  approximately $31.8 million pesos ($2.6 million U.S.) were outstanding under the agreements. Pursuant to the terms of the loan agreements, the Company has issued guarantees for 51.0% of the obligations under these agreements (consistent with its ownership percentage in Cardtronics Mexico). As of March 31, 2013, the total amount of these guarantees was $16.2 million pesos ($1.3 million U.S.).

 

Bank Machine overdraft facility.  Bank Machine, Ltd. (“Bank Machine”) has a £1.0 million overdraft facility. This overdraft facility, which bears interest at 1.0% over the bank’s base rate (0.5% as of March 31, 2013) and is secured by a letter of credit posted under the Company’s revolving credit facility as discussed above in the Revolving Credit Facility section, is utilized for general corporate purposes for the Company’s U.K. operations. As of March 31, 2013, there were no amounts outstanding under the overdraft facility.

 

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(10) Asset Retirement Obligations 

 

Asset retirement obligations consist primarily of costs to deinstall the Company's ATMs and costs to restore the ATM sites to their original condition, which are estimated based on current market rates. In most cases, the Company is contractually required to perform this deinstallation and restoration work. For each group of ATMs, the Company has recognized the fair value of the asset retirement obligation as a liability on its balance sheet and capitalized that cost as part of the cost basis of the related asset. The related assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over five years, which is the estimated average time period that an ATM is installed in a location before being deinstalled, and the related liabilities are accreted to their full value over the same period of time. As reflected in the table below, during the quarter ended March 31, 2013, the Company revised its estimated future liabilities based on recent actual experience, changes in certain customer-specific estimates and other cost estimate changes. The changes in estimated future costs were recorded as a reduction in the carrying amount of the remaining unamortized asset and will reduce the Company’s depreciation and accretion expense amounts in future periods.

 

The following table is a summary of the changes in the Company's asset retirement obligation liability for the three months ended March 31, 2013 (in thousands): 

 

 

See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements for additional disclosures on the Company's asset retirement obligations with respect to its fair value measurements.

 

(11) Other Liabilities 

 

Other liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

 

(12) Derivative Financial Instruments 

 

Cash Flow Hedging Strategy 

 

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including interest rate risk associated with its vault cash rental obligations and, to a lesser extent, borrowings under its revolving credit facility.  The Company is also exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to its investments in its foreign subsidiaries, most notably its investment in Bank Machine in the U.K.  While the Company does not currently utilize derivative instruments to hedge its foreign currency exchange rate risk, it does utilize interest rate swap contracts to manage the interest rate risk associated with its vault cash rental obligations in the U.S. and the U.K.  The Company does not currently utilize any derivative instruments to manage the interest rate risk associated with its vault cash rental obligations in Mexico or Canada, nor does it utilize derivative instruments to manage the interest rate risk associated with borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility. 

 

The interest rate swap contracts entered into with respect to the Company's vault cash rental obligations serve to mitigate the Company's exposure to interest rate risk by converting a portion of the Company's monthly floating rate vault cash rental obligations to a fixed rate.  The Company has contracts in varying notional amounts through December 31, 2018 for the Company's U.S. vault cash rental obligations.  By

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converting such amounts to a fixed rate, the impact of future interest rate changes (both favorable and unfavorable) on the Company's monthly vault cash rental expense amounts has been reduced.  The interest rate swap contracts typically involve the receipt of floating rate amounts from the Company's counterparties that match, in all material respects, the floating rate amounts required to be paid by the Company to its vault cash providers for the portions of the Company's outstanding vault cash obligations that have been hedged.  In return, the Company typically pays the interest rate swap counterparties a fixed rate amount per month based on the same notional amounts outstanding.  At no point is there an exchange of the underlying principal or notional amounts associated with the interest rate swaps. Additionally, none of the Company's existing interest rate swap contracts contain credit-risk-related contingent features. 

 

For each derivative instrument that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedge transaction affects earnings.  Gains and losses on the derivative instrument representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components that are excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in earnings.  However, because the Company currently only utilizes fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps in which the underlying pricing terms agree, in all material respects, with the pricing terms of the Company’s vault cash rental obligations, the amount of ineffectiveness associated with such interest rate swap contracts has historically been immaterial.  Accordingly, no ineffectiveness amounts associated with the Company’s effective cash flow hedges have been recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations during the current period.

  

 The notional amounts, weighted average fixed rates, and terms associated with the Company's interest rate swap contracts accounted for as cash flow hedges that are currently in place (as of the date of the issuance of these financial statements) are as follows:  

 

Accounting Policy 

 

The Company recognizes all of its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value (e.g., gains or losses) of those derivative instruments depends on (1) whether these instruments have been designated (and qualify) as part of a hedging relationship and (2) the type of hedging relationship actually designated. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company designates the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a cash flow hedge, a fair value hedge, or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation. 

 

The Company has designated all of its interest rate swap contracts as cash flow hedges of the Company’s forecasted vault cash rental obligations.  Accordingly, changes in the fair values of the related interest rate swap contracts have been reported in the Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net line item within stockholders’ equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will be able to realize the benefits associated with its domestic net deferred tax asset positions in the future.  Therefore, the Company records the unrealized losses related to its domestic interest rate swaps net of estimated tax benefits in the Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net line item within Stockholders' equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

 

Tabular Disclosures 

 

The following tables depict the effects of the use of the Company's derivative contracts on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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Balance Sheet Data 

 

 

Statements of Operations Data

 

 

The Company does not currently have any derivative instruments that have been designated as fair value or net investment hedges.  The Company has not historically, and does not currently anticipate terminating its existing derivative instruments prior to their expiration dates.  If the Company concludes that it is no longer probable that the anticipated future vault cash rental obligations that have been hedged will occur, or if changes are made to the underlying terms and conditions of the Company's vault cash rental agreements, thus creating some amount of ineffectiveness associated with the Company's current interest rate swap contracts, any resulting gains or losses will be recognized within the Other expense (income) line item of the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

As of March 31, 2013, the Company expected to reclassify $23.4 million of net derivative-related losses contained within accumulated OCI into earnings during the next twelve months concurrent with the recording of the related vault cash rental expense amounts.

 

See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements for additional disclosures on the Company's interest rate swap contracts in respect to its fair value measurements.

 

(13) Fair Value Measurements 

 

The following table provides the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2013 using the fair value hierarchy prescribed by U.S. GAAP. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs, and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant non-observable inputs. An asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  

 

 

 

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Additions to asset retirement obligation liability. The Company estimates the fair value of additions to its asset retirement obligation liability using expected future cash outflows discounted at the Company’s credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Liabilities added to the Asset retirement obligations line item in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets are measured at fair value at the time of the asset installations on a non-recurring basis using Level 3 inputs, and are only reevaluated periodically based on current fair value.  Amounts added to the asset retirement obligation liability during the three months  ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 totaled  $0.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

 

Below are descriptions of the Company's valuation methodologies for assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The methods described below may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

 

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other current liabilities. These financial instruments are not carried at fair value, but are carried at amounts that approximate fair value due to their short-term nature and generally negligible credit risk.

 

Interest rate swaps. The fair value of the Company's interest rate swaps was a net liability of $98.9 million as of March 31, 2013. These financial instruments are carried at fair value, calculated as the present value of amounts estimated to be received or paid to a marketplace participant in a selling transaction. These derivatives are valued using pricing models based on significant other observable inputs (Level 2 inputs), while taking into account the creditworthiness of the party that is in the liability position with respect to each trade. See Note 12, Derivative Financial Instruments for additional disclosures on the valuation process of this liability. 

 

Acquisition-related contingent consideration. Liabilities from acquisition-related contingent consideration are estimated by the Company using a discounted cash flow model.  Acquisition-related contingent consideration liabilities are classified as Level 3 liabilities, because the Company uses unobservable inputs to value them, based on its best estimate of operational results upon which the payment of these obligations are contingent. Unrealized gains and losses related to the contingent consideration associated with acquisitions are included in other (income) expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.  

 

Long-term debt. The carrying amount of the long-term debt balance related to borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility approximates fair value due to the fact that any borrowings are subject to short-term floating interest rates. As of March 31, 2013, the fair value of the Company's 2018 Notes (see Note 9, Long-Term Debt) totaled $220.5 million, based on the quoted market price (Level 1 input) for the 2018 Notes as of that date.

 

(14) Commitments and Contingencies 

 

Legal Matters 

 

Automated Transactions. On August 16, 2010, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “District Court”) entitled Automated Transactions LLC (“ATL”) v. IYG Holding Co., et al. 10 Civ. 0691 (D. Del.) (the "2010 Lawsuit"). The 2010 Lawsuit names the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Cardtronics USA, Inc. (“Cardtronics USA”), as one of the defendants. The 2010 Lawsuit alleges that Cardtronics USA and the other defendants infringed upon seven of the plaintiff's patents by providing retail transactions to consumers through their ATMs. The plaintiff, ATL, is seeking a permanent injunction, damages, treble damages and costs, including attorney's fees and expenses. The allegations raised by the plaintiff in this suit are similar to the allegations made by the same plaintiff in a suit filed in 2006 (the "2006 Lawsuit") against 7-Eleven, Inc. (“7-Eleven”) concerning six of the same seven patents. In July 2007, when the Company acquired the 7-Eleven portfolio, the Company became subject to the 2006 Lawsuit. The ATM supplier in that case agreed to indemnify 7-Eleven against the plaintiff's claims. That indemnity was assigned by 7-Eleven to the Company, and the supplier acknowledged that assignment. 

 

The 2010 Lawsuit was initially stayed by order of the District Court pending the outcome of the 2006 Lawsuit.  In the 2006 Lawsuit, following the Company’s submission for summary judgment the District Court found that the defendants did not infringe the claims asserted in any of the plaintiff's five patents (the allegations as to the sixth patent having been dismissed earlier). In addition, the District Court granted the defendants partial summary judgment, concluding that the plaintiff's patent claims were, in part, invalid and rendered other findings so as

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to materially weaken the plaintiff's case. In addition, on January 28, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences ("BPAI") issued a decision affirming the rejection on the grounds of obviousness of all the claims of one of the patents asserted by the plaintiff in both the 2006 Lawsuit and the 2010 Lawsuit. The plaintiff appealed both of these rulings to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Court of Appeals”). On April 23, 2012, the Court of Appeals rendered a decision that affirmed both the District Court’s rulings and the BPAI decision (the “Appeals Decision”).  ATL’s request for rehearing of the Appeals Decision was denied.  As a consequence, the 2006 Lawsuit has been effectively resolved in the Company’s favor pending entry of a formal final judgment.  Furthermore, though the Appeals Decision in the 2006 Lawsuit does not formally terminate the 2010 Lawsuit, the findings set forth in the Appeals Decision should also resolve in favor of the Company all of the claims made involving the same patents as had been asserted in the 2006 Lawsuit. The Appeals Decision should also materially weaken the plaintiff’s claims in the two remaining patents in the 2010 Lawsuit, which has been consolidated with the 2006 Lawsuit and resumed.   

 

Notwithstanding the outcome of the 2006 Lawsuit, ATL initiated several new patent infringement lawsuits against other companies, based on “child” patents of the parent patent in the 2006 Lawsuit and the 2010 Lawsuit.  The asserted claims of the parent patent were already held invalid in the Appeals Decision. Two of those new cases were brought in New York federal courts and named as defendants the customers of the Company under ATM placement agreements pursuant to which the Company operates ATMs alleged to infringe ATL’s child patents. Until resolved, these cases implicate the Company in defending its customers where these ATMs are placed and could involve ATL alleging new claims against the Company. The Company has joined as a defendant in one of those cases and asserted counterclaims against ATL for invalidity, non-infringement and requesting costs and attorneys’ fees for improperly bringing such a suit. On January 17, 2013, the Court in that case agreed with the Company’s request to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court in Delaware because of that Court’s familiarity with the patents in suit.

 

On April 1, 2013, a panel for the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, over ATL’s objection, transferred eight other suits involving ATL’s parent patent and 12 child patents and several different types of ATMs to the U.S. District Court in Delaware to be consolidated or coordinated before the Judge who had previously decided the 2006 lawsuit against ATL. In addition, the other action still pending in New York federal court against the Company’s customer, noted above, was also transferred to that Judge, along with other ATL cases deemed to be “tag along” actions to the cases already transferred. The Delaware District Court has scheduled a status and scheduling conference for early June 2013 to assess how best to proceed on all of these cases.

 

The Company believes that these ATL lawsuits have no merit, primarily because the asserted child patents have patent claims or limitations previously held invalid or not infringed by the Appeals Decision. Accordingly, the Company does not expect that the remaining lawsuits will have a material impact on its financial condition or results of operation, and the Company will continue to vigorously defend its position. 

 

National Federation of the Blind. Through its acquisition of the E*Trade ATM portfolio, the Company became the sole defendant in the 2003 lawsuit filed by the National Federation of the Blind, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et. al. and certain individuals representing a class of similarly situated persons (the "Plaintiffs") against E*Trade Access, Inc., et al. in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts: Civil Action No. 03-11206-NMG (the “Lawsuit”).  The Plaintiffs sought to require, among other things, that ATMs deployed by E*Trade be voice-guided. In December 2007, the Company and Plaintiffs entered into a settlement agreement (as modified in November 2010, the "Settlement Agreement").  In 2011, the Plaintiffs filed a motion of contempt with the District Court alleging that the Company had failed to fully comply with the requirements of the Settlement Agreement.  On December 15, 2011, the District Court issued an order that required the Company to bring all of its ATMs in compliance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement by March 15, 2012.  In August 2012, the Plaintiffs filed their second motion of contempt, which alleged, among other things, that the Company had failed to meet the District Court’s deadline and sought a fine of $50 per ATM for each month that the District Court determined the Company was not in compliance.  The Company filed its response on September 28, 2012, in which it asserted that while the Company’s ATMs are in substantial compliance with the accessibility rules issued under the American with Disabilities Act, as amended (the "ADA"), compliance with certain terms of the Settlement Agreement would conflict with the requirements of the ADA.  The Company also asked the District Court to appoint a special master to assist the Company and the Plaintiffs in resolving these conflicting requirements.  In April 2013, the District Court held a hearing in which it indicated that it would appoint a special master to assist the District Court in determining what, if any, fine should be imposed upon the Company, but also to assist the parties in resolving the remaining issues in the case.  The District Court gave the parties until May 1, 2013 to either submit a joint proposal (or in the event the parties could not agree, separate submissions) indicating their acceptance or rejection of the proposed special master as well as the proposed duties and responsibilities of the special master. The Company is uncertain of the ultimate outcome of this matter, but does not believe it will have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s financial statements.    

 

In addition to the above items, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company has provided reserves where necessary for all claims and the Company's management does not expect the outcome in any of these legal proceedings, individually or collectively, to have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the Company currently expenses all legal costs as they are incurred. 

 

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Other Commitments 

 

Asset Retirement Obligations. The Company's asset retirement obligations consist primarily of deinstallation costs of the ATM and costs to restore the ATM site to its original condition. In most cases, the Company is legally required to perform this deinstallation and restoration work. The Company had $39.2 million accrued for these liabilities as of March 31, 2013. For additional information, see Note 10, Asset Retirement Obligations.

 

(15) Income Taxes 

 

Income tax expense based on the Company's income before income taxes was as follows:

 

 

The Company's effective tax rate during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012 was slightly higher than the combined total of the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% and the Company's estimated effective state tax rate of 2.53%, primarily due to operating losses in the Company’s foreign operations for which it does not record a tax benefit, as a result of carrying a valuation allowance on those deferred tax assets. The slight rate increase from the three months ended March 31, 2012 to the three months ended March 31, 2013 is mostly attributable to an increase in operating losses in foreign operations for which the Company does not record a tax benefit, as a result of carrying a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets. The Company continues to maintain valuation allowances for its local net deferred tax asset positions in the U.K. and Mexico, as the Company currently believes that it is more likely than not that these benefits will not be realized. The Company released its valuation allowance related to its Canada operations in the fourth quarter of 2012, as it believes it will be able to realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets in Canada.

 

The deferred taxes associated with the Company's unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments have been reflected within the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(16) Segment Information

 

As of March 31, 2013, the Company's operations consisted of its U.S., U.K., and Other International segments. The Company's operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are included in its U.S. segment. The Other International segment currently is comprised of the Company’s operations in Mexico and Canada. While each of these reporting segments provides similar kiosk-based and/or ATM-related services, each segment is currently managed separately as they require different marketing and business strategies.

 

Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, along with other U.S. GAAP-based measures, to assess the operating results and effectiveness of its segments. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure because it allows management to more effectively evaluate operating performance and compare its results of operations from period to period without regard to financing method or capital structure. The Company excludes depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense as these amounts can vary substantially depending upon book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect acquisition-related costs and the Company's obligations for the payment of income taxes, loss on disposal of assets, interest expense, certain other non-operating items or other obligations such as capital expenditures.

 

 Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies and is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In evaluating the Company's performance as measured by Adjusted EBITDA, management recognizes and considers the limitations of this measurement. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA is only one of the measurements that management utilizes. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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Below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to controlling interests:

 

The following tables reflect certain financial information for each of the Company's reporting segments for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.  

 

 

 

 

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Identifiable Assets:

 

 

 

(17) New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Adopted 

 

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This update requires entities to disclose items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and into net income in a single location within the financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2013-02 as of January 1, 2013, and now reports this information in Note 5, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net.

 

(18) Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information

 

The Company's 2018 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by all of the Company's 100% owned domestic subsidiaries. The following information sets forth the condensed consolidating statements of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 of (1) Cardtronics, Inc., the parent company and issuer of the 2018 Notes ("Parent"); (2) all of the Company's 100% owned domestic subsidiaries on a combined basis (collectively, the "Guarantors"); and (3) the Company's international subsidiaries on a combined basis (collectively, the "Non-Guarantors"):

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

 

 

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets — continued

 

 

 

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows — continued