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ACI Worldwide, Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2021

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a leading global provider of real-time digital payment software, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

“ACI delivered a solid third quarter, continuing a string of quarterly financial results within our guidance range,” said Odilon Almeida, president and CEO of ACI Worldwide.

“This has been an important year in our transformation. We have streamlined our organization, sharpened our go-to-market, and continued our focus on ensuring customers remain at the center of what we do. As we near the end of 2021, these efforts show positive results, and I am pleased with our progress,” Almeida continued.

“We have increased our full-year guidance, signed 99% of our guided 2021 full-year revenue and expect to achieve the Rule of 40 this year for the first time. All of this gives us high confidence in our increased outlook and indicates that the laser-focused execution of our three-pillar strategy – Fit-for-growth, Focused-on-growth, and Step-change value creation – is working. It sets ACI on a pathway towards predictable and profitable organic growth, shows consistent delivery of our financial promises, and makes us increasingly optimistic about our future growth prospects,” Almeida concluded.

THREE-PILLAR STRATEGY PROGRESS

Fit-for-Growth:

Throughout 2020 and 2021, the company’s fit-for-growth pillar was about cementing the next steps in its evolution by changing its business approach, streamlining its organization, sharpening its go-to-market strategy, and focusing on discipline around costs and profitability improvement in an environment of COVID-19 pressures.

In optimizing the organization, ACI sourced annual cost savings of $60 million and bolstered the commercial function, increasing its customer-facing salesforce. The revamped salesforce is already generating success. For example, roughly one-third of the company’s pipeline in the Bill Payment segment originates from recent hires.

These actions contributed to adjusted EBITDA growth of 17% and increased net adjusted EBITDA margin by more than 450 basis points in 2020.

Focused-on-Growth

The company’s focused-on-growth initiatives prioritize investments in digital transformation aligned with the payment modernization agendas of customers. These initiatives continue to focus on real-time payments and investments in “last mile”, global merchants with a particular focus on innovation in Omni-commerce, and emerging markets.

These efforts have boosted sales bookings, with net new ARR bookings up 50% from the third quarter of 2021. The ARR in the Americas nearly doubled from the previous year. The company has already signed 96% of its expected revenue for the fourth quarter or 99% of the guided revenue for the full year. The company’s revised guidance projects 5% organic revenue growth and 6-7% EBITDA growth in 2021.

Step-Change, Value Creation

The company’s endeavors in its third pillar, step-change value creation through M&A, are also ongoing. The company continues to review its business portfolio and M&A opportunities with a focus on exploring all options to maximize shareholder value in the short and long term.

Q3 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Net new ARR bookings were up 50% from the third quarter last year, with wins recorded in all three business segments across multiple geographies. Many of these wins are from established global, regional, and national organizations -- from corporations to central governments. Fintech companies, including cryptocurrency and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) providers, are also procuring ACI services.

Recurring revenue was $245 million, up 1% from Q3 2020. Total revenue in the quarter was $317 million, up slightly from Q3 2020.

  • Bank segment recurring revenue increased 2% and Bank segment adjusted EBITDA decreased 6%, versus Q3 2020.
  • Merchant segment recurring revenue increased 11% and Merchant segment adjusted EBITDA decreased 25%, versus Q3 2020.
  • Biller segment recurring revenue declined 2%, and Biller segment adjusted EBITDA decreased 6%, versus Q3 2020.

Total adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $74 million compared to $87 million in Q3 2020, primarily due to the timing of non-recurring, high-margin license renewals. Net adjusted EBITDA margin was 32% in the quarter, compared to 38% in Q3 2020. Net income in the quarter of $14 million declined compared to $16 million in Q3 2020.

Cash flows from operating activities in the quarter were $40 million, down from $67 million in Q3 2020. ACI ended the quarter with $141 million in cash on hand and nearly $500 million available on its credit facility after paying down $35 million in debt in the quarter.

INCREASING 2021 GUIDANCE

For the full year of 2021, ACI now expects revenue to be in a range of $1.355 billion to $1.360 billion, up from a range of $1.335 billion to $1.345 billion. The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $380 million to $385 million, which is at the higher end of the previous guidance range.

CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS FINANCIAL RESULTS

Management will host a conference call at 8:30 am ET today to discuss these results. Interested persons may access a real-time webcast of the teleconference at http://investor.aciworldwide.com/ or use the following number for dial-in participation: toll-free (866) 914-7436. Please provide your name, the conference name of ACI Worldwide, Inc., and conference ID 4968688.

About ACI Worldwide

ACI Worldwide is a global software company that provides mission-critical real-time payment solutions. Customers use our proven, scalable and secure solutions to process and manage digital payments, enable omni-commerce payments, present and process bill payments, and manage fraud and risk. We combine our global footprint with local presence to drive the real-time digital transformation of payments and commerce.

© Copyright ACI Worldwide, Inc. 2021.

ACI, ACI Worldwide, ACI Payments, Inc., ACI Pay, Speedpay and all ACI product/solution names are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACI Worldwide, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the United States, other countries or both. Other parties’ trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

To supplement our financial results presented on a GAAP basis, we use the non-GAAP measures indicated in the tables, which exclude significant transaction-related expenses, as well as other significant non-cash expenses such as depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation, that we believe are helpful in understanding our past financial performance and our future results. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to our GAAP results and are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management generally compensates for limitations in the use of non-GAAP financial measures by relying on comparable GAAP financial measures and providing investors with a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures only in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way to view aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. Certain non-GAAP measures include:

  • Adjusted EBITDA: net income (loss) plus income tax expense (benefit), net interest income (expense), net other income (expense), depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation, as well as significant transaction-related expenses. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income (loss).
  • Net Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue net of pass-through interchange revenue. Net Adjusted EBITDA Margin should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income (loss).
  • Diluted EPS adjusted for non-cash and significant transaction related items: diluted EPS plus tax effected significant transaction related items, amortization of acquired intangibles and software, and non-cash stock-based compensation. Diluted EPS adjusted for non-cash and significant transaction related items should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, diluted EPS.
  • Recurring revenue: revenue from software as a service and platform as a service fees and maintenance fees. Recurring revenue should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, total revenue.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Generally, forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may include words or phrases such as “believes,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” and words and phrases of similar impact. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, (i) expectations that 99% of the guided revenue for the full year is already signed and the achievement of the Rule of 40 this year, (ii) our high confidence in our increased outlook, (iii) indications that the laser-focused execution of our three-pillar strategy is working and that it sets ACI on a pathway towards predictable and profitable organic growth, shows consistent delivery of our financial promises, and makes us increasingly optimistic about our future growth prospects, (iv) the company’s pipeline in the Bill Payment segment, (v) the company continues to review its business portfolio and M&A opportunities with a focus on exploring all options to maximize shareholder value in the short and long term, and (vi) expectations regarding our full year 2021 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance.

All of the foregoing forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the risk factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the COVID-19 pandemic, increased competition, business interruptions or failure of our information technology and communication systems, may be subjected to security breaches or viruses, our ability to attract and retain senior management personnel and skilled technical employees, new members of senior management coupled with our headquarters relocation, future acquisitions, strategic partnerships and investments, integration of and achieving benefits from the Speedpay acquisition, implementation and success of our new Three Pillar strategy, impact if we convert some or all on-premise licenses from fixed-term to subscription model, anti-takeover provisions, exposure to credit or operating risks arising from certain payment funding methods, customer reluctance to switch to a new vendor, our ability to adequately defend our intellectual property, litigation, our offshore software development activities, risks from operating internationally, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, adverse changes in the global economy, compliance of our products with applicable legislation, governmental regulations and industry standards, the complexity of our products and services and the risk that they may contain hidden defects, complex regulations applicable to our payments business, our compliance with privacy regulations, exposure to unknown tax liabilities, consolidations and failures in the financial services industry, volatility in our stock price, demand for our products, failure to obtain renewals of customer contracts or to obtain such renewals on favorable terms, delay or cancellation of customer projects or inaccurate project completion estimates, impairment of our goodwill or intangible assets, the accuracy of management’s backlog estimates, the cyclical nature of our revenue and earnings and the accuracy of forecasts due to the concentration of revenue-generating activity during the final weeks of each quarter, restrictions and other financial covenants in our debt agreements, our existing levels of debt, potential adverse effects from the impending replacement of LIBOR, events outside of our control including natural disasters, wars, and outbreaks of disease. For a detailed discussion of these risk factors, parties that are relying on the forward-looking statements should review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our quarter.

ACI WORLDWIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

September 30,
2021

December 31,
2020

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

141,482

$

165,374

Receivables, net of allowances

299,336

342,879

Settlement assets

510,477

605,008

Prepaid expenses

29,820

24,288

Other current assets

30,420

17,365

Total current assets

1,011,535

1,154,914

Noncurrent assets

Accrued receivables, net

196,676

215,772

Property and equipment, net

61,689

64,734

Operating lease right-of-use assets

49,438

41,243

Software, net

166,936

196,456

Goodwill

1,280,226

1,280,226

Intangible assets, net

292,659

321,983

Deferred income taxes, net

64,775

57,476

Other noncurrent assets

60,556

54,099

TOTAL ASSETS

$

3,184,490

$

3,386,903

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$

35,318

$

41,223

Settlement liabilities

512,980

604,096

Employee compensation

46,689

48,560

Current portion of long-term debt

40,967

34,265

Deferred revenue

105,725

95,849

Other current liabilities

61,806

81,612

Total current liabilities

803,485

905,605

Noncurrent liabilities

Deferred revenue

32,912

33,564

Long-term debt

1,033,353

1,120,742

Deferred income taxes, net

31,951

40,504

Operating lease liabilities

45,354

39,958

Other noncurrent liabilities

41,881

39,933

Total liabilities

1,988,936

2,180,306

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity

Preferred stock

Common stock

702

702

Additional paid-in capital

683,044

682,431

Retained earnings

1,021,810

1,003,490

Treasury stock

(411,684

)

(387,581

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(98,318

)

(92,445

)

Total stockholders’ equity

1,195,554

1,206,597

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

3,184,490

$

3,386,903

ACI WORLDWIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenues

Software as a service and platform as a service

$

191,456

$

190,369

$

583,530

$

563,892

License

54,454

56,773

110,383

135,038

Maintenance

53,519

53,049

159,037

159,078

Services

17,485

15,692

50,819

49,270

Total revenues

316,914

315,883

903,769

907,278

Operating expenses

Cost of revenue (1)

158,712

158,579

476,811

471,762

Research and development

35,248

33,573

104,791

108,175

Selling and marketing

33,413

22,154

90,211

76,692

General and administrative

29,717

37,000

89,429

102,684

Depreciation and amortization

31,845

33,395

95,434

98,928

Total operating expenses

288,935

284,701

856,676

858,241

Operating income

27,979

31,182

47,093

49,037

Other income (expense)

Interest expense

(11,208

)

(12,925

)

(33,943

)

(44,238

)

Interest income

2,834

2,927

8,553

8,781

Other, net

(1,088

)

1,356

(1,036

)

(6,361

)

Total other income (expense)

(9,462

)

(8,642

)

(26,426

)

(41,818

)

Income before income taxes

18,517

22,540

20,667

7,219

Income tax expense

4,753

6,674

2,347

1,705

Net income

$

13,764

$

15,866

$

18,320

$

5,514

Income per common share

Basic

$

0.12

$

0.14

$

0.16

$

0.05

Diluted

$

0.12

$

0.13

$

0.15

$

0.05

Weighted average common shares outstanding

Basic

117,512

116,558

117,574

116,217

Diluted

118,540

117,804

118,817

117,644

(1) The cost of revenue excludes charges for depreciation but includes amortization of purchased and developed software for resale.

ACI WORLDWIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$

13,764

$

15,866

$

18,320

$

5,514

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:

Depreciation

5,130

6,260

15,838

18,012

Amortization

28,250

29,230

84,528

86,992

Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets

2,752

5,344

7,752

14,145

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs

1,168

1,197

3,525

3,613

Deferred income taxes

(2,184

)

(5,798

)

(11,742

)

(10,540

)

Stock-based compensation expense

6,367

8,061

20,790

22,943

Other

(463

)

2,567

(27

)

4,339

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Receivables

(20,801

)

12,208

55,953

41,261

Accounts payable

(2,540

)

(4,607

)

(5,080

)

1,680

Accrued employee compensation

7,261

5,408

(1,140

)

13,585

Deferred revenue

10,042

(7,875

)

10,339

14,361

Other current and noncurrent assets and liabilities

(9,064

)

(1,332

)

(51,158

)

(23,847

)

Net cash flows from operating activities

39,682

66,529

147,898

192,058

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

(4,893

)

(3,476

)

(12,968

)

(14,091

)

Purchases of software and distribution rights

(4,389

)

(6,499

)

(20,041

)

(21,556

)

Net cash flows from investing activities

(9,282

)

(9,975

)

(33,009

)

(35,647

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

878

959

2,526

2,853

Proceeds from exercises of stock options

208

5,396

7,252

6,518

Repurchase of stock-based compensation awards for tax withholdings

(37

)

(26

)

(14,833

)

(11,150

)

Repurchases of common stock

(39,411

)

(28,881

)

Proceeds from revolving credit facility

30,000

Repayment of revolving credit facility

(25,000

)

(40,000

)

(55,000

)

(109,000

)

Repayment of term portion of credit agreement

(9,737

)

(9,737

)

(29,212

)

(29,212

)

Payments on or proceeds from other debt, net

(1,915

)

(5,358

)

(10,187

)

(10,044

)

Net cash flows from financing activities

(35,603

)

(48,766

)

(138,865

)

(148,916

)

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash

472

(3,166

)

84

4,952

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(4,731

)

4,622

(23,892

)

12,447

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

146,213

129,223

165,374

121,398

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

141,482

$

133,845

$

141,482

$

133,845 

Adjusted EBITDA (millions)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Net income

$

13.8

$

15.9

$

18.3

$

5.5

Plus:

Income tax expense

4.7

6.7

2.3

1.7

Net interest expense

8.4

10.0

25.4

35.5

Net other (income) expense

1.1

(1.4

)

1.0

6.4

Depreciation expense

5.1

6.3

15.9

18.0

Amortization expense

28.2

29.2

84.5

87.0

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

6.4

8.1

20.8

22.9

Adjusted EBITDA before significant transaction-related expenses

67.7

74.8

168.2

177.0

Significant transaction-related expenses:

Employee related actions

4.4

8.0

8.1

16.2

Facility closures

1.9

3.7

Other

1.6

2.4

2.5

5.9

Adjusted EBITDA

$

73.7

$

87.1

$

178.8

$

202.8

Revenue, net of interchange:

Revenue

$

316.9

$

315.9

$

903.8

$

907.3

Interchange

87.8

88.2

262.6

251.8

Revenue, net of interchange

$

229.1

$

227.7

$

641.2

$

655.5

Net Adjusted EBITDA Margin

32

%

38

%

28

%

31

%

Segment Information (millions)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenue

Banks

$

131.7

$

125.7

$

341.7

$

356.9

Merchants

39.0

40.8

115.1

109.9

Billers

146.2

149.4

447.0

440.5

Total

$

316.9

$

315.9

$

903.8

$

907.3

Recurring Revenue

Banks

$

63.6

$

62.2

$

189.6

$

187.0

Merchants

35.2

31.7

106.0

95.5

Billers

146.2

149.5

446.9

440.4

Total

$

245.0

$

243.4

$

742.6

$

723.0

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

Banks

$

67.6

$

71.7

$

159.3

$

182.5

Merchants

14.2

19.0

42.0

38.2

Billers

32.0

33.9

100.6

98.4

EPS Impact of Non-cash and Significant
Transaction-related Items (millions)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

EPS Impact

$ in Millions
(Net of Tax)

EPS Impact

$ in Millions
(Net of Tax)

GAAP net income

$

0.12

$

13.8

$

0.13

$

15.9

Adjusted for:

Significant transaction-related expenses

0.04

4.5

0.08

9.3

Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

0.06

7.0

0.06

7.1

Amortization of acquisition-related software

0.05

6.0

0.07

8.2

Non-cash stock-based compensation

0.04

4.8

0.05

6.1

Total adjustments

0.19

22.3

0.26

30.7

Diluted EPS adjusted for non-cash and
significant transaction-related items

$

0.31

$

36.1

$

0.39

$

46.6

EPS Impact of Non-cash and Significant
Transaction-related Items (millions)

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

EPS Impact

$ in Millions
(Net of Tax)

EPS Impact

$ in Millions
(Net of Tax)

GAAP net income

$

0.15

$

18.3

$

0.05

$

5.5

Adjusted for:

Significant transaction-related expenses

0.07

8.0

0.17

19.7

Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles

0.18

21.1

0.18

21.1

Amortization of acquisition-related software

0.16

19.1

0.21

24.3

Non-cash stock-based compensation

0.13

15.8

0.15

17.4

Total adjustments

0.54

64.0

0.71

82.5

Diluted EPS adjusted for non-cash and
significant transaction-related items

$

0.69

$

82.3

$

0.76

$

88.0

Recurring Revenue (millions)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

SaaS and PaaS fees

$

191.5

$

190.4

$

583.5

$

563.9

Maintenance fees

53.5

53.0

159.1

159.1

Recurring Revenue

$

245.0

$

243.4

$

742.6

$

723.0

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) Bookings
(millions)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

ARR bookings

$

22.4

$

15.0

$

49.7

$

49.9

Contacts:

Investors
John Kraft
john.kraft@aciworldwide.com

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