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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from  __________ to ___________

Commission file number: 1-7945
DELUXEENTERPRISELOGOA10.JPG  

DELUXE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
MN
41-0216800
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
3680 Victoria St. N.
Shoreview
MN
55126-2966
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(651) 483-7111
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
DLX
NYSE

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes     No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company
 
 
Emerging Growth Company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) 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    No

The number of shares outstanding of registrant’s common stock as of October 16, 2019 was 42,101,861.

1


PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share par value)
(Unaudited)
 
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
73,472

 
$
59,740

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances for uncollectible accounts
 
142,845

 
173,862

Inventories and supplies
 
42,194

 
46,441

Funds held for customers
 
94,848

 
100,982

Revenue in excess of billings
 
25,745

 
30,458

Other current assets
 
46,612

 
38,563

Total current assets
 
425,716

 
450,046

Deferred income taxes
 
5,494

 
2,886

Long-term investments
 
44,616

 
43,773

Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $376,165 and $367,205, respectively)
 
92,661

 
90,342

Operating lease assets
 
41,739

 

Intangibles (net of accumulated amortization of $591,450 and $535,627, respectively)
 
287,498

 
359,965

Goodwill
 
800,286

 
1,160,626

Assets held for sale
 
1,350

 
1,350

Other non-current assets
 
189,603

 
196,108

Total assets
 
$
1,888,963

 
$
2,305,096

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 
$
97,588

 
$
106,978

Accrued liabilities
 
264,259

 
284,281

Long-term debt due within one year
 

 
791

Total current liabilities
 
361,847

 
392,050

Long-term debt
 
924,000

 
911,073

Operating lease liabilities
 
32,434

 

Deferred income taxes
 
10,257

 
46,680

Other non-current liabilities
 
34,898

 
39,880

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 14 and 15)
 


 


Shareholders' equity:
 
 

 
 

Common shares $1 par value (authorized: 500,000 shares; outstanding: September 30, 2019 – 42,099; December 31, 2018 – 44,647)
 
42,099

 
44,647

Retained earnings
 
540,612

 
927,345

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(57,184
)
 
(56,579
)
Total shareholders’ equity
 
525,527

 
915,413

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
1,888,963

 
$
2,305,096


See Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

2


DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Product revenue
 
$
346,315

 
$
352,767

 
$
1,043,896

 
$
1,076,110

Service revenue
 
147,278

 
140,423

 
442,749

 
397,239

Total revenue
 
493,593

 
493,190

 
1,486,645

 
1,473,349

Cost of products
 
(133,807
)
 
(132,996
)
 
(398,869
)
 
(400,700
)
Cost of services
 
(69,916
)
 
(64,638
)
 
(207,006
)
 
(175,894
)
Total cost of revenue
 
(203,723
)
 
(197,634
)
 
(605,875
)
 
(576,594
)
Gross profit
 
289,870

 
295,556

 
880,770

 
896,755

Selling, general and administrative expense
 
(213,318
)
 
(208,533
)
 
(665,787
)
 
(629,272
)
Restructuring and integration expense
 
(26,255
)
 
(5,135
)
 
(49,089
)
 
(12,915
)
Asset impairment charges
 
(390,980
)
 
(99,170
)
 
(390,980
)
 
(101,319
)
Operating (loss) income
 
(340,683
)

(17,282
)
 
(225,086
)
 
153,249

Interest expense
 
(8,710
)
 
(7,244
)
 
(27,251
)
 
(18,953
)
Other income
 
2,183

 
2,356

 
6,118

 
6,081

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(347,210
)
 
(22,170
)
 
(246,219
)
 
140,377

Income tax benefit (provision)
 
28,717

 
(8,913
)
 
1,498

 
(47,916
)
Net (loss) income
 
$
(318,493
)
 
$
(31,083
)
 
$
(244,721
)
 
$
92,461

Comprehensive (loss) income
 
$
(322,150
)
 
$
(30,902
)
 
$
(245,326
)
 
$
87,936

Basic (loss) earnings per share
 
(7.49
)
 
(0.67
)
 
(5.65
)
 
1.94

Diluted (loss) earnings per share
 
(7.49
)
 
(0.67
)
 
(5.65
)
 
1.93


See Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements


3


DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Common shares
 
Common shares
par value
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
Retained earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Total
Balance, June 30, 2019
 
42,928

 
$
42,928

 
$

 
$
904,748

 
$
(53,527
)
 
$
894,149

Net loss
 

 

 

 
(318,493
)
 

 
(318,493
)
Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
 

 

 

 
(12,977
)
 

 
(12,977
)
Common shares issued
 
51

 
51

 
1,472

 

 

 
1,523

Common shares repurchased
 
(876
)
 
(876
)
 
(6,109
)
 
(32,666
)
 

 
(39,651
)
Other common shares retired
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(200
)
 

 

 
(204
)
Employee share-based compensation
 

 

 
4,837

 

 

 
4,837

Other comprehensive loss
 

 

 

 

 
(3,657
)
 
(3,657
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
42,099

 
$
42,099

 
$

 
$
540,612

 
$
(57,184
)
 
$
525,527


 
 
Common shares
 
Common shares
par value
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
Retained earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Total
Balance, December 31, 2018
 
44,647

 
$
44,647

 
$

 
$
927,345

 
$
(56,579
)
 
$
915,413

Net loss
 

 

 

 
(244,721
)
 

 
(244,721
)
Cash dividends ($0.90 per share)
 

 

 

 
(39,445
)
 

 
(39,445
)
Common shares issued
 
150

 
150

 
3,411

 

 

 
3,561

Common shares repurchased
 
(2,632
)
 
(2,632
)
 
(13,615
)
 
(102,300
)
 

 
(118,547
)
Other common shares retired
 
(66
)
 
(66
)
 
(3,010
)
 

 

 
(3,076
)
Employee share-based compensation
 

 

 
13,214

 

 

 
13,214

Adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 (Note 2)
 

 

 

 
(267
)
 

 
(267
)
Other comprehensive loss
 

 

 

 

 
(605
)
 
(605
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
42,099

 
$
42,099

 
$

 
$
540,612

 
$
(57,184
)
 
$
525,527


See Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

4


DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (continued)
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Common shares
 
Common shares
par value
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
Retained earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Total
Balance, June 30, 2018
 
47,623

 
$
47,623

 
$

 
$
1,076,683

 
$
(49,170
)
 
$
1,075,136

Net loss
 

 

 

 
(31,083
)
 

 
(31,083
)
Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
 

 

 

 
(14,209
)
 

 
(14,209
)
Common shares issued
 
28

 
28

 
1,504

 

 

 
1,532

Common shares repurchased
 
(1,346
)
 
(1,346
)
 
(5,246
)
 
(73,412
)
 

 
(80,004
)
Other common shares retired
 

 

 
(22
)
 

 

 
(22
)
Employee share-based compensation
 

 

 
3,764

 

 

 
3,764

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 
181

 
181

Balance, September 30, 2018
 
46,305

 
$
46,305

 
$

 
$
957,979

 
$
(48,989
)
 
$
955,295


 
 
Common shares
 
Common shares
par value
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
Retained earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Total
Balance, December 31, 2017
 
47,953

 
$
47,953

 
$

 
$
1,004,657

 
$
(37,597
)
 
$
1,015,013

Net income
 

 

 

 
92,461

 

 
92,461

Cash dividends ($0.90 per share)
 

 

 

 
(43,012
)
 

 
(43,012
)
Common shares issued
 
518

 
518

 
18,181

 

 

 
18,699

Common shares repurchased
 
(1,919
)
 
(1,919
)
 
(10,121
)
 
(107,960
)
 

 
(120,000
)
Other common shares retired
 
(247
)
 
(247
)
 
(17,601
)
 

 

 
(17,848
)
Employee share-based compensation
 

 

 
9,541

 

 

 
9,541

Adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09
 

 

 

 
4,966

 

 
4,966

Adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02
 

 

 

 
6,867

 
(6,867
)
 

Other comprehensive loss
 

 

 

 

 
(4,525
)
 
(4,525
)
Balance, September 30, 2018
 
46,305

 
$
46,305

 
$

 
$
957,979

 
$
(48,989
)
 
$
955,295


See Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements


5


DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
 
$
(244,721
)
 
$
92,461

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation
 
12,206

 
12,724

Amortization of intangibles
 
83,224

 
84,199

Operating lease expense
 
15,145

 

Asset impairment charges
 
390,980

 
101,319

Amortization of prepaid product discounts
 
17,861

 
16,976

Deferred income taxes
 
(38,549
)
 
(12,157
)
Employee share-based compensation expense
 
14,580

 
9,481

Loss (gain) on sales of businesses and customer lists
 
224

 
(12,855
)
Other non-cash items, net
 
9,858

 
5,482

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:
 
 

 
 

Trade accounts receivable
 
27,505

 
1,466

Inventories and supplies
 
2,728

 
(2,009
)
Other current assets
 
(3,213
)
 
(13,030
)
Non-current assets
 
(3,346
)
 
(5,116
)
Accounts payable
 
(10,779
)
 
(5,453
)
Prepaid product discount payments
 
(20,370
)
 
(19,125
)
Other accrued and non-current liabilities
 
(45,309
)
 
(35,261
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
208,024

 
219,102

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 

 
 

Purchases of capital assets
 
(49,679
)
 
(42,566
)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
(1,598
)
 
(190,396
)
Purchases of customer funds marketable securities
 
(3,817
)
 
(3,981
)
Proceeds from customer funds marketable securities
 
3,817

 
3,981

Other
 
1,398

 
1,038

Net cash used by investing activities
 
(49,879
)
 
(231,924
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 

 
 

Proceeds from issuing long-term debt
 
203,500

 
1,189,500

Payments on long-term debt
 
(189,500
)
 
(1,009,139
)
Net change in customer funds obligations
 
(8,711
)
 
(58
)
Proceeds from issuing shares under employee plans
 
3,159

 
7,300

Employee taxes paid for shares withheld
 
(3,076
)
 
(7,969
)
Payments for common shares repurchased
 
(118,547
)
 
(120,000
)
Cash dividends paid to shareholders
 
(39,068
)
 
(42,943
)
Other
 
(1,654
)
 
(4,128
)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities
 
(153,897
)
 
12,563

Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
2,604

 
(2,446
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
6,852

 
(2,705
)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of year
 
145,259

 
128,819

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, end of period (Note 3)
 
$
152,111

 
$
126,114


See Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

6

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 1: Consolidated financial statements

The consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019, the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 are unaudited. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States of America. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial statements are included. Adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, except for any discussed in the notes below. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The consolidated financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with instructions for Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in our annual consolidated financial statements and notes. The consolidated financial statements and notes appearing in this report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “2018 Form 10-K”).

In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash. This standard requires the statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. This standard was effective for us on January 1, 2018 and was required to be applied retrospectively. During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, we identified a misstatement in our statement of cash flows presentation under this standard. We concluded that the cash and cash equivalents included in funds held for customers should be included with cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statements of cash flows, in accordance with ASU No. 2016-18. Additionally, we determined that gross redemptions and purchases of marketable debt securities included in funds held for customers should be presented as cash flows from investing activities in the statements of cash flows. This misstatement affected our consolidated statements of cash flows as presented in our 2018 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

We assessed the materiality of this misstatement on prior periods' financial statements in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, codified in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 250, Presentation of Financial Statements. We concluded that the misstatement was not material to any prior interim period and therefore, amendments of previously filed reports were not required. In accordance with ASC 250, we have corrected the misstatement for all prior periods presented by revising the consolidated financial statements appearing herein. The revisions had no impact on total assets, total liabilities, shareholders' equity, net income or net cash provided by operating activities.

The impact of the revisions on our consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Previously reported
 
Adjustment
 
Revised
Purchases of customer funds marketable securities
 
$

 
$
(3,981
)
 
$
(3,981
)
Proceeds from customer funds marketable securities
 

 
3,981

 
3,981

Net cash used by investing activities
 
(231,924
)
 

 
(231,924
)
Net change in customer funds obligations
 

 
(58
)
 
(58
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
 
12,621

 
(58
)
 
12,563

Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
(1,188
)
 
(1,258
)
 
(2,446
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
(1,389
)
 
(1,316
)
 
(2,705
)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of year
 
59,240

 
69,579

 
128,819

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
57,851

 
$
68,263

 
$
126,114





7

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 2: New accounting pronouncements

ASU No. 2016-02 – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leasing. This standard is intended to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for virtually all leases and by requiring the disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. In July 2018, the FASB issued two amendments to this standard: ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, which amended narrow aspects of the guidance in ASU No. 2016-02, and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements, which provided an optional transition method under which comparative periods presented in financial statements in the period of adoption would not be restated. In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-01, Codification Improvements. This standard addressed areas identified as companies prepared to implement ASU No. 2016-02. We adopted all of these standards on January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach and the optional transition method under ASU No. 2018-11. As such, prior periods have not been restated to reflect the new guidance.

We elected the practical expedient package outlined in ASU No. 2016-02 under which we did not have to reassess whether an arrangement contains a lease, we carried forward our previous classification of leases as either operating or capital leases, and we did not reassess previously recorded initial direct costs. Additionally, we made the following policy elections:

we excluded leases with original terms of 12 months or less from lease assets and lease liabilities;
we separated nonlease components, such as common area maintenance charges and utilities, from the associated lease component for real estate leases, based on their estimated fair values; and
we used the accounting lease term when determining the incremental borrowing rate for leases with renewal
options.

Adoption of the standards had a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet, but did not have a significant impact on our consolidated statements of comprehensive loss or our consolidated statement of cash flows. The most significant impact was the recognition of operating lease assets of $50,803, current operating lease liabilities of $13,611 and non-current operating lease liabilities of $37,440 as of January 1, 2019. Our accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged.

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception by considering whether a contract explicitly or implicitly identifies assets deployed in the arrangement and whether we have obtained substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the underlying assets and direct how and for what purpose the assets are used during the term of the contract. Operating leases are included in operating lease assets, accrued liabilities and operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet.

Lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As our lease agreements typically do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Certain of our lease agreements include options to extend or terminate the lease. The lease term takes into account these options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense is included in total cost of revenue and in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income, and interest on finance leases is included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Operating lease expense is recognized on the straight-line basis over the lease term. Information regarding our leases can be found in Note 14.

ASU No. 2016-13 – In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on instruments within its scope, including trade and loans receivable and available-for-sale debt securities. Subsequently, the FASB issued several amendments to this standard. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, which clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of ASU No. 2016-13. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. This standard provides additional guidance on the measurement and presentation of credit losses. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-05, Targeted Transition Relief, which provides transition guidance to entities that elect the fair value option for eligible instruments. All of

8

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

these standards are effective for us on January 1, 2020 and require adoption using a modified retrospective approach. We do not expect the application of these standards to have a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position.
 
ASU No. 2018-13 – In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. This standard removes, modifies and adds certain disclosures related to recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. During 2018, we adopted the provisions of the standard that remove and modify disclosure requirements. The additional disclosures required under the guidance are effective for us on January 1, 2020 and are required to be applied prospectively to fair value measurements completed on or after the effective date.

ASU No. 2018-15 – In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. This standard aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected by the new standard. The guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020 and may be adopted retrospectively or prospectively to eligible costs incurred on or after the date the guidance is first applied. This new guidance will impact our results of operations and financial position as we currently expense these implementation costs as incurred. We plan to adopt the standard prospectively. As such, the impact of the standard on our financial statements will depend on the transactions that occur subsequent to adoption.


Note 3: Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information

Allowance for uncollectible accounts – Changes in the allowance for uncollectible accounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
3,639

 
$
2,884

Bad debt expense
 
3,718

 
2,275

Write-offs, net of recoveries
 
(2,537
)
 
(2,036
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
4,820

 
$
3,123



Inventories and supplies – Inventories and supplies were comprised of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Raw materials
 
$
7,537

 
$
7,543

Semi-finished goods
 
7,396

 
7,273

Finished goods
 
23,719

 
27,608

Supplies
 
3,542

 
4,017

Inventories and supplies
 
$
42,194

 
$
46,441




9

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Available-for-sale debt securities – Available-for-sale debt securities included within funds held for customers were comprised of the following:
 
 
September 30, 2019
(in thousands)
 
Cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
Funds held for customers:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic money market fund
 
$
14,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
14,000

Canadian and provincial government securities
 
8,856

 

 
(199
)
 
8,657

Canadian guaranteed investment certificates
 
7,552

 

 

 
7,552

Available-for-sale debt securities
 
$
30,408

 
$

 
$
(199
)
 
$
30,209


(1) Funds held for customers, as reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019, also included cash of $64,639.

 
 
December 31, 2018
(in thousands)
 
Cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
Funds held for customers:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Domestic money market fund
 
$
16,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
16,000

Canadian and provincial government securities
 
8,485

 

 
(355
)
 
8,130

Canadian guaranteed investment certificates
 
7,333

 

 

 
7,333

Available-for-sale debt securities
 
$
31,818

 
$

 
$
(355
)
 
$
31,463

 
(1) Funds held for customers, as reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, also included cash of $69,519.
 
Expected maturities of available-for-sale debt securities as of September 30, 2019 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Fair value
Due in one year or less
 
$
24,019

Due in two to five years
 
3,550

Due in six to ten years
 
2,640

Available-for-sale debt securities
 
$
30,209



Further information regarding the fair value of available-for-sale debt securities can be found in Note 8.

Revenue in excess of billings – Revenue in excess of billings was comprised of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Conditional right to receive consideration
 
$
16,032

 
$
19,705

Unconditional right to receive consideration
 
9,713

 
10,753

Revenue in excess of billings
 
$
25,745

 
$
30,458



Assets held for sale – Assets held for sale as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 consisted of 1 small business customer list with a carrying value of $1,350. We are actively marketing this asset, and we expect the selling price will equal or exceed its current carrying value.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we sold the assets of a provider of printed and promotional products, as well as certain small business customer lists. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we also sold the assets of an additional provider of printed and promotional products and a small business distributor, as well as additional small business

10

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

customer lists. We determined that these assets would be better positioned for long-term growth if they were managed by independent distributors. Subsequent to the sales, the assets are owned by independent distributors that are part of our Safeguard® distributor network. As such, our revenue was not impacted by these sales and the impact to our costs was not significant. These sales resulted in aggregate net gains within SG&A expense of $1,765 for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and $12,855 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Intangibles – Intangibles were comprised of the following:
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
(in thousands)
 
Gross carrying amount
 
Accumulated amortization
 
Net carrying amount
 
Gross carrying amount
 
Accumulated amortization
 
Net carrying amount
Amortizable intangibles:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Internal-use software
 
$
417,098

 
$
(334,336
)
 
$
82,762

 
$
388,477

 
$
(308,313
)
 
$
80,164

Customer lists/relationships
 
357,809

 
(190,993
)
 
166,816

 
379,570

 
(170,973
)
 
208,597

Trade names
 
32,361

 
(27,048
)
 
5,313

 
50,645

 
(26,204
)
 
24,441

Technology-based intangibles
 
34,080

 
(19,772
)
 
14,308

 
39,300

 
(14,007
)
 
25,293

Software to be sold
 
36,900

 
(18,601
)
 
18,299

 
36,900

 
(15,430
)
 
21,470

Other
 
700

 
(700
)
 

 
700

 
(700
)
 

Intangibles
 
$
878,948

 
$
(591,450
)

$
287,498


$
895,592


$
(535,627
)

$
359,965



During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, we recorded asset impairment charges related to customer lists/relationships, trade names and technology-based intangibles. Further information regarding these asset impairment charges can be found in Note 8.

Amortization of intangibles was $26,736 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, $28,505 for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, $83,224 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $84,199 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Based on the intangibles in service as of September 30, 2019, estimated future amortization expense is as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Estimated
amortization
expense
Remainder of 2019
 
$
27,463

2020
 
89,907

2021
 
68,423

2022
 
41,251

2023
 
26,533



11

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


The following intangibles were acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
(in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Weighted-average amortization period
(in years)
Internal-use software
 
$
33,370

 
3
Customer lists/relationships(1)
 
11,970

 
8
Acquired intangibles
 
$
45,340

 
5

(1) These asset purchases did not qualify as business combinations.

Goodwill – Changes in goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Small
Business
Services
 
Financial
Services
 
Direct
Checks
 
Total
Balance, December 31, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
$
765,266

 
$
373,421

 
$
148,506

 
$
1,287,193

Accumulated impairment charges
 
(126,567
)
 

 

 
(126,567
)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment charges
 
638,699

 
373,421


148,506


1,160,626

Impairment charges (Note 8)
 
(242,267
)
 
(115,474
)
 

 
(357,741
)
Measurement-period adjustments for prior year acquisitions (Note 6)
 
(340
)
 
(1,427
)
 

 
(1,767
)
Currency translation adjustment
 
(832
)
 

 

 
(832
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
395,260

 
$
256,520

 
$
148,506

 
$
800,286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2019:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Goodwill, gross
 
764,094

 
371,994

 
148,506

 
1,284,594

Accumulated impairment charges
 
(368,834
)
 
(115,474
)
 

 
(484,308
)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment charges
 
$
395,260

 
$
256,520


$
148,506


$
800,286


Other non-current assets – Other non-current assets were comprised of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Loans and notes receivable from Safeguard distributors
 
$
67,924

 
$
78,693

Prepaid product discounts
 
51,748

 
54,642

Postretirement benefit plan asset
 
45,808

 
41,259

Deferred sales commissions(1)
 
10,603

 
6,482

Deferred advertising costs
 
4,089

 
5,746

Other
 
9,431

 
9,286

Other non-current assets
 
$
189,603

 
$
196,108



(1) Amortization of deferred sales commissions was $2,246 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $2,033 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

12

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


Changes in prepaid product discounts during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
54,642

 
$
63,895

Additions(1)
 
15,275

 
11,695

Amortization
 
(17,861
)
 
(16,976
)
Other
 
(308
)
 
(75
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
51,748

 
$
58,539

 
(1) Prepaid product discounts are generally accrued upon contract execution. Cash payments for prepaid product discounts were $20,370 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $19,125 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Accrued liabilities – Accrued liabilities were comprised of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Funds held for customers
 
$
93,337

 
$
99,818

Deferred revenue(1)
 
39,845

 
54,313

Employee profit sharing/cash bonus
 
31,323

 
31,286

Wages
 
13,055

 
6,359

Operating lease liabilities
 
12,840

 

Prepaid product discounts due within one year
 
11,221

 
10,926

Customer rebates
 
9,845

 
9,555

Restructuring and integration (Note 9)
 
6,138

 
3,320

Other
 
46,655

 
68,704

Accrued liabilities
 
$
264,259

 
$
284,281


 
(1) $45,032 of the December 31, 2018 amount was recognized as revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Other non-current liabilities – Other non-current liabilities were comprised of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Prepaid product discounts
 
$
6,860

 
$
12,513

Other
 
28,038

 
27,367

Other non-current liabilities
 
$
34,898

 
$
39,880



Supplemental cash flow information – The reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to the consolidated balance sheets was as follows:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
September 30,
2018
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
73,472

 
$
57,851

Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents included in funds held for customers
 
78,639

 
68,263

Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
$
152,111

 
$
126,114



 

13

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 4: (Loss) earnings per share

The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share. During each period, certain stock options, as noted below, were excluded from the calculation of diluted (loss) earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive. 
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
(Loss) earnings per share – basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
 
$
(318,493
)
 
$
(31,083
)
 
$
(244,721
)
 
$
92,461

Income allocated to participating securities
 
(24
)
 
(53
)
 
(79
)
 
(396
)
(Loss) income available to common shareholders
 
$
(318,517
)
 
$
(31,136
)

$
(244,800
)
 
$
92,065

Weighted-average shares outstanding
 
42,533

 
46,781

 
43,312

 
47,340

(Loss) earnings per share – basic
 
$
(7.49
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(5.65
)
 
$
1.94

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings per share – diluted:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
 
$
(318,493
)
 
$
(31,083
)
 
$
(244,721
)
 
$
92,461

Income allocated to participating securities
 
(24
)
 
(53
)
 
(79
)
 
(394
)
Re-measurement of share-based awards classified as liabilities
 

 
(98
)
 

 
(274
)
(Loss) income available to common shareholders
 
$
(318,517
)
 
$
(31,234
)

$
(244,800
)
 
$
91,793

Weighted-average shares outstanding
 
42,533

 
46,781

 
43,312

 
47,340

Dilutive impact of potential common shares
 

 
22

 

 
178

Weighted-average shares and potential common shares outstanding
 
42,533

 
46,803


43,312

 
47,518

(Loss) earnings per share – diluted
 
$
(7.49
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(5.65
)
 
$
1.93

Antidilutive options excluded from calculation
 
1,422

 
1,037

 
1,422

 
570





14

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 5: Other comprehensive income

Reclassification adjustments Information regarding amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net (loss) income was as follows:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss components
 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Affected line item in consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Realized gain on interest rate swap
 
$
81

 
$

 
$
81

 
$

 
Interest expense
Tax expense
 
(21
)
 

 
(21
)
 

 
Income tax benefit (provision)
Realized gain on interest rate swap, net of tax
 
60

 

 
60

 

 
Net (loss) income
Amortization of postretirement benefit plan items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service credit
 
355

 
355

 
1,066

 
1,066

 
Other income
Net actuarial loss
 
(806
)
 
(721
)
 
(2,417
)
 
(2,163
)
 
Other income
Total amortization
 
(451
)
 
(366
)
 
(1,351
)
 
(1,097
)
 
Other income
Tax benefit
 
70

 
47

 
209

 
447

 
Income tax benefit (provision)
Amortization of postretirement benefit plan items, net of tax
 
(381
)
 
(319
)
 
(1,142
)
 
(650
)
 
Net (loss) income
Total reclassifications, net of tax
 
$
(321
)
 
$
(319
)
 
$
(1,082
)
 
$
(650
)
 
 


Accumulated other comprehensive loss Changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Postretirement benefit plans
 
Net unrealized loss on available-for-sale debt securities(1)
 
Net unrealized loss on cash flow hedge(2)
 
Currency translation adjustment
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Balance, December 31, 2018
 
$
(36,529
)
 
$
(323
)
 
$

 
$
(19,727
)
 
$
(56,579
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 

 
122

 
(1,790
)
 
(19
)
 
(1,687
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
1,142

 

 
(60
)
 

 
1,082

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
 
1,142

 
122

 
(1,850
)
 
(19
)
 
(605
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
(35,387
)
 
$
(201
)
 
$
(1,850
)
 
$
(19,746
)
 
$
(57,184
)


(1) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications is net of income tax expense of $43.

(2) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications is net of an income tax benefit of $635.



15

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 6: Acquisitions

We periodically complete business combinations that align with our business strategy. The assets and liabilities acquired are recorded at their estimated fair values, and the results of operations of each acquired business are included in our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income from their acquisition dates. Transaction costs related to acquisitions are expensed as incurred and are included in SG&A expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Transaction costs were not significant to our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
We did not complete any acquisitions during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $1,598 and related to holdback payments for prior year acquisitions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we completed the following acquisitions within our Small Business Services segment:
In June 2018, we acquired selected assets of Velocity Servers, Inc., doing business as ColoCrossing, a data center solutions, cloud hosting and infrastructure colocation provider of dedicated hosing services.
In March 2018, we acquired all of the equity of Logomix Inc., a self-service marketing and branding platform that helps small businesses create logos and custom marketing products.
We acquired the operations of 3 small business distributors.
In August 2018, we acquired selected assets of REMITCO LLC, the remittance processing business of First Data Corporation. The results of this business are included in our Financial Services segment.
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, included payments of $170,011 for these acquisitions and $20,385 for holdback payments for prior year acquisitions. Further information regarding our 2018 acquisitions can be found under the caption “Note 6: Acquisitions” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded measurement-period adjustments for 2018 acquisitions that decreased goodwill $1,767, with the offset to various assets and liabilities, including a $1,000 increase in customer list intangible assets.


Note 7: Derivative financial instruments

As part of our interest rate risk management strategy, in July 2019, we entered into an interest rate swap, which we designated as a cash flow hedge, to mitigate variability in interest payments on a portion of the amount drawn under our revolving credit facility (Note 13). The interest rate swap, which terminates in March 2023 when our revolving credit facility matures, effectively converts $200,000 of variable rate debt to a fixed rate of 1.798%. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheet and are subsequently reclassified into interest expense as interest payments are made on the variable-rate debt. The fair value of the interest rate swap was $2,506 as of September 30, 2019 and was included in other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of this derivative is calculated based on the prevailing LIBOR rate curve on the date of measurement. The cash flow hedge was fully effective as of September 30, 2019 and its impact on our 2019 statements of comprehensive loss and statement of cash flows was not significant. We also do not expect the amount to be reclassified into interest expense over the next 12 months to be significant.


Note 8: Fair value measurements

Annual asset impairment analyses – We evaluate the carrying value of goodwill as of July 31 of each year and between annual evaluations if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate a possible impairment. Our policy on impairment of indefinite-lived intangibles and goodwill, which is included under the caption "Note 1: Significant accounting policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K, explains our methodology for assessing impairment of these assets.

16

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


2019 annual impairment analyses In completing the 2019 annual impairment analysis of goodwill, we elected to perform a qualitative analysis for 4 of our reporting units and a quantitative assessment for 2 of our reporting units: Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing and Small Business Services Web Services. Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing includes our businesses that provide outsourced marketing campaign targeting and execution and marketing analytics solutions. Small Business Services Web Services includes our businesses that provide hosting and domain name services, logo and web design, search engine marketing and optimization, payroll services and business incorporation and organization services.

The qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the quantitative analyses completed as of July 31, 2017, which indicated that the estimated fair values of the 4 reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximate amounts between $64,000 and $1,405,000, or by amounts between 50% and 314% above the carrying values of their net assets. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstance that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

The quantitative analyses as of July 31, 2019 indicated that the goodwill of our Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit was partially impaired and the goodwill of our Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit was fully impaired. As such, we recorded pretax goodwill impairment charges of $115,474 and $242,267, respectively. Both impairment charges resulted from a combination of triggering events and circumstances, including underperformance against 2019 expectations and the original acquisition business case assumptions, our decision in the third quarter of 2019 to exit certain customer contracts, the loss of certain large customers in the third quarter of 2019 as they elected to in-source some of the services we provide, and the sustained decline in our stock price. The impairment charges were measured as the amount by which the reporting units' carrying values exceeded their estimated fair values, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill. After the impairment charges, $70,914 of goodwill remained in the Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit.

2018 annual impairment analyses Details of our 2018 annual impairment analyses can be found under the caption "Note 8: Fair value measurements" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K. These analyses indicated that the goodwill of the Small Business Services Indirect reporting unit was fully impaired, resulting in a pretax goodwill impairment charge of $78,188 during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. In addition, the assets of this reporting unit included an indefinite-lived trade name intangible asset. Our quantitative analysis of this asset indicated that it was also fully impaired (level 3 fair value measurement), resulting in a pretax asset impairment charge of $19,100.

Other non-recurring asset impairment analyses – Due to certain triggering events, we assessed for impairment the other long-lived assets of our Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing and Small Business Services Web Services reporting units as of July 31, 2019. As a result of the same factors that resulted in the goodwill impairment charge, we recorded pretax asset impairment charges of $31,316 related to certain trade name, customer list and technology-based intangible assets in the Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit. We concluded that the long-lived assets of our Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit were not impaired. During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, we also recorded a pretax asset impairment charge of $1,923 related to an additional Financial Services customer list intangible asset. Due to a change in the related forecasted cash flows associated with the asset, we determined that it was fully impaired as of July 31, 2019. We utilized the discounted value of estimated future cash flows to estimate the fair values of these asset groups (level 3 fair value measurements).

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we recorded pretax asset impairment charges of $1,882 for Financial Services customer list intangible assets related to 2 small distributors we acquired in 2015. Based on higher than anticipated customer attrition, we determined that the customer lists were partially impaired as of July 31, 2018. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, we recorded a pretax asset impairment charge of $2,149 related to a Small Business Services customer list intangible asset. Based on changes in the customer base of one of our small business distributors, we determined that the customer list asset was fully impaired as of March 31, 2018. We utilized the discounted value of estimated future cash flows to estimate the fair values of these asset groups (Level 3 fair value measurements).


17

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Information regarding the impairment analyses completed during each year was as follows:
 
 
 
 
Fair value measurements using
 
 
 
 
Fair value as of measurement date
 
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
 
Significant other observable inputs
 
Significant unobservable inputs
 
Impairment charge
(in thousands)
 
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
2019 analyses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade names (Small Business Services)
 
$
1,834

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,834

 
$
14,441

Customer lists (Small Business Services)
 
4,405

 

 

 
4,405

 
11,655

Technology-based (Small Business Services)
 

 

 

 

 
5,220

Customer list (Financial Services)
 

 

 

 

 
1,923

Goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
357,741

Total impairment charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
390,980

2018 analyses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indefinite-lived trade name (Small Business Services)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
19,100

Customer list (Small Business Services)
 

 
$

 

 

 
2,149

Customer lists (Financial Services)(1)
 
4,223

 

 

 
4,223

 
1,882

Goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
78,188

Total impairment charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
101,319



(1) The fair value presented is for the entire asset group that includes the impaired customer lists.

Recurring fair value measurements – The fair value of accrued contingent consideration is remeasured each reporting period. Increases or decreases in projected revenue or operating income, as appropriate, and the related probabilities of achieving the forecasted results, may result in a higher or lower fair value measurement. Changes in fair value resulting from changes in the timing, amount of, or likelihood of contingent payments are included in SG&A expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Changes in fair value resulting from accretion for the passage of time are included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.

Changes in accrued contingent consideration during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Balance, December 31, 2018
 
$
2,396

Change in fair value
 
213

Payments
 
(1,284
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
1,325



Funds held for customers included cash equivalents and available-for-sale debt securities (Note 3). The cash equivalents consisted of a money market fund investment that is traded in an active market. Because of the short-term nature of the underlying investments, the cost of this investment approximates its fair value. Available-for-sale debt securities consisted of a mutual fund investment that invests in Canadian and provincial government securities and investments in Canadian guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) with maturities of 1 year or less. The mutual fund is not traded in an active market and its fair value is determined by obtaining quoted prices in active markets for the underlying securities held by the fund. The

18

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

fair value of the GICs approximated cost due to their relatively short duration. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. The cost of securities sold is determined using the average cost method. Realized gains and losses are included in revenue on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income and were not significant for the quarters or nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

Information regarding the fair values of our financial instruments was as follows:
 
 
 
 
Fair value measurements using
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
 
Significant other observable inputs
 
Significant unobservable inputs
(in thousands)
 
Carrying value
 
Fair value
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Measured at fair value through net (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued contingent consideration
 
$
(1,325
)
 
$
(1,325
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(1,325
)
Measured at fair value through comprehensive (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents (funds held for customers)
 
14,000

 
14,000

 
14,000

 

 

Available-for-sale debt securities (funds held for customers)
 
16,209

 
16,209

 

 
16,209

 

Derivative liability (Note 7)
 
(2,506
)
 
(2,506
)
 

 
(2,506
)
 

Amortized cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
73,472

 
73,472

 
73,472

 

 

Cash (funds held for customers)
 
64,639

 
64,639

 
64,639

 

 

Loans and notes receivable from Safeguard distributors
 
71,189

 
64,506

 

 

 
64,506

Long-term debt
 
924,000

 
924,000

 

 
924,000

 




19

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
 
 
 
Fair value measurements using
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
 
Significant other observable inputs
 
Significant unobservable inputs
(in thousands)
 
Carrying value
 
Fair value
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Measured at fair value through net (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued contingent consideration
 
$
(2,396
)
 
$
(2,396
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(2,396
)
Measured at fair value through comprehensive (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents (funds held for customers)
 
16,000

 
16,000

 
16,000

 

 

Available-for-sale debt securities (funds held for customers)
 
15,463

 
15,463

 

 
15,463

 

Amortized cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
59,740

 
59,740

 
59,740

 

 

Cash (funds held for customers)
 
69,519

 
69,519

 
69,519

 

 

Loans and notes receivable from Safeguard distributors
 
81,560

 
60,795

 

 

 
60,795

Long-term debt(1)
 
910,000

 
910,000

 

 
910,000

 



(1) Amounts exclude capital lease obligations.


Note 9: Restructuring and integration expense

Restructuring and integration expense consists of costs related to the integration of acquired businesses into our systems and processes. It also includes costs related to the consolidation and migration of certain applications and processes, including our human resources management system and certain of our sales and financial systems. These costs primarily consist of information technology consulting and project management services, internal labor, training and travel. In addition, we recorded employee severance costs related to these initiatives, as well as our ongoing cost reduction initiatives, across functional areas. Our restructuring and integration activities have increased in 2019, as we are currently pursuing several initiatives designed to focus our business behind our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency.

Restructuring and integration expense for each period consisted of the following components:
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands, except number of employees)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Severance accruals
 
$
5,124

 
$
2,118

 
$
10,270

 
$
6,766

Severance reversals
 
(91
)
 
(1,157
)
 
(476
)
 
(1,387
)
Operating lease obligations
 

 
291

 

 
291

Net accruals
 
5,033

 
1,252


9,794


5,670

Other costs
 
22,641

 
3,852

 
41,660

 
8,127

Restructuring and integration expense
 
$
27,674

 
$
5,104


$
51,454


$
13,797

Number of employees included in severance accruals
 
180

 
75

 
270

 
180



20

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Restructuring and integration expense is reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income as follows:
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Total cost of revenue
 
$
1,419

 
$
(31
)
 
$
2,365

 
$
882

Operating expenses
 
26,255

 
5,135

 
49,089

 
12,915

Restructuring and integration expense
 
$
27,674

 
$
5,104


$
51,454


$
13,797



Restructuring accruals of $6,138 as of September 30, 2019 are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as accrued liabilities. Accruals of $3,461 as of December 31, 2018 are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as accrued liabilities of $3,320 and other non-current liabilities of $141. The majority of the related employee reductions are expected to be completed by the end of 2019, and we expect most of the related severance payments to be paid by mid-2020. As of September 30, 2019, approximately 130 employees had not yet started to receive severance benefits.

Restructuring accruals, summarized by year, were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
2019
 initiatives
 
2018
 initiatives
 
2017
initiatives
 
Total
Balance, December 31, 2018
 
$

 
$
3,448

 
$
13

 
$
3,461

Charges
 
9,919

 
351

 

 
10,270

Reversals
 
(155
)
 
(308
)
 
(13
)
 
(476
)
Payments
 
(3,886
)
 
(2,949
)
 

 
(6,835
)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02(1)
 

 
(282
)
 

 
(282
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
5,878

 
$
260

 
$

 
$
6,138

Cumulative amounts:
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Charges
 
$
9,919

 
$
8,487

 
$
7,355

 
$
25,761

Reversals
 
(155
)
 
(1,720
)
 
(726
)
 
(2,601
)
Payments
 
(3,886
)
 
(6,225
)
 
(6,629
)
 
(16,740
)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02(1)
 

 
(282
)
 

 
(282
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
5,878


$
260

 
$

 
$
6,138



(1) Upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leasing, on January 1, 2019 (Note 2), our operating lease obligations accrual was reversed and the related operating lease asset was analyzed for impairment in accordance with the new guidance.


21

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The components of our restructuring accruals, by segment, were as follows:
 
 
Employee severance benefits
 
Operating lease obligations
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
 
Corporate(1)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Total
Balance, December 31, 2018
 
$
1,326

 
$
1,397

 
$

 
$
456

 
$
282

 
$

 
$
3,461

Charges
 
3,309

 
2,449

 
168

 
4,344

 

 

 
10,270

Reversals
 
(140
)
 
(108
)
 
(1
)
 
(227
)
 

 

 
(476
)
Payments
 
(1,944
)
 
(2,570
)
 
(107
)
 
(2,214
)
 

 

 
(6,835
)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02(2)
 

 

 

 

 
(282
)
 

 
(282
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
2,551

 
$
1,168


$
60


$
2,359


$

 
$

 
$
6,138

Cumulative amounts:(3)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Charges
 
$
7,848

 
$
8,615

 
$
311

 
$
8,367

 
$
329

 
$
291

 
$
25,761

Reversals
 
(744
)
 
(1,315
)
 
(6
)
 
(465
)
 

 
(71
)
 
(2,601
)
Payments
 
(4,553
)
 
(6,132
)
 
(245
)
 
(5,543
)
 
(47
)
 
(220
)
 
(16,740
)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02(2)
 

 

 

 

 
(282
)
 

 
(282
)
Balance, September 30, 2019
 
$
2,551

 
$
1,168


$
60


$
2,359


$

 
$

 
$
6,138


(1) As discussed in Note 17, corporate costs are allocated to our business segments. As such, the net corporate charges are reflected in the business segment operating (loss) income presented in Note 17 in accordance with our allocation methodology.

(2) Upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leasing, on January 1, 2019 (Note 2), our operating lease obligations accrual was reversed and the related operating lease asset was analyzed for impairment in accordance with the new guidance.

(3) Includes accruals related to our integration and cost reduction initiatives for 2017 through 2019.


Note 10: Chief Executive Officer transition costs

In April 2018, we announced the retirement of Lee Schram, our former Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Schram remained employed under the terms of a transition agreement through March 1, 2019. Under the terms of this agreement, we provided certain benefits to Mr. Schram, including a transition bonus in the amount of $2,000 that was paid in March 2019, accelerated vesting of certain restricted stock unit awards, and continued vesting and settlement of a pro-rata portion of outstanding performance share awards to the extent such awards were earned based on the attainment of performance goals. The modifications to Mr. Schram's share-based payment awards resulted in expense of $2,088, which was largely recognized in 2018.

In conjunction with the CEO transition, we offered retention agreements to certain members of our management team under which each employee will be entitled to receive a cash bonus equal to his or her annual base salary or up to 1.5 times his or her annual base salary if he or she remains employed during the retention period, generally from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, and complies with certain covenants. The retention bonus will be paid to an employee if his or her employment is terminated without cause before the end of the retention period. In addition to these expenses, we incurred certain other costs related to the CEO transition process, including executive search, legal, travel and board of directors fees in 2018. During 2019, we incurred consulting fees related to the evaluation of our strategic plan and we expensed the majority of the current CEO's signing bonus in 2019. CEO transition costs are included in SG&A expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income and were $1,145 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, $2,622 for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, $8,539 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $4,152 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Accruals for CEO transition costs were $3,925 as of September 30, 2019 and were included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Accruals for CEO transition costs as of December 31, 2018 were $1,972 within accrued liabilities and $1,808 within other non-current liabilities.



22

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


Note 11: Income tax benefit (provision)

The effective tax rate on pre-tax (loss) income reconciles to the United States federal statutory rate of 21% as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
 
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Income tax at federal statutory rate
 
21.0
%
 
21.0
%
Goodwill impairment charges (Note 8)
 
(22.0
%)
 
7.1
%
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit
 
4.9
%
 
3.0
%
Foreign deferred tax valuation allowance
 
(3.4
%)
 

Foreign tax rate differences
 
1.2
%
 
0.4
%
Net tax impact of share-based compensation
 
(0.7
%)
 
(0.8
%)
Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
 

 
(0.8
%)
Other
 
(0.4
%)
 
(0.3
%)
Effective tax rate
 
0.6
%
 
29.6
%


During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, we recorded asset impairment charges related to certain intangible assets located in Australia. As a result, we placed a full valuation allowance on the intangible-related deferred tax asset of $8,432, as we do not expect that we will realize the benefit of this deferred tax asset.


Note 12: Postretirement benefits

We have historically provided certain health care benefits for a large number of retired United States employees. In addition to our retiree health care plan, we also have a supplemental executive retirement plan in the United States. Further information regarding our postretirement benefit plans can be found under the caption “Note 14: Postretirement benefits” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K.

Postretirement benefit income is included in other income on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income and consisted of the following components:
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Interest cost
 
$
682

 
$
656

 
$
2,046

 
$
1,969

Expected return on plan assets
 
(1,740
)
 
(1,934
)
 
(5,218
)
 
(5,802
)
Amortization of prior service credit
 
(355
)
 
(355
)
 
(1,066
)
 
(1,066
)
Amortization of net actuarial losses
 
806

 
721

 
2,417

 
2,163

Net periodic benefit income
 
$
(607
)
 
$
(912
)
 
$
(1,821
)
 
$
(2,736
)



23

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 13: Debt

Debt outstanding was comprised of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Amount drawn on revolving credit facility
 
$
924,000

 
$
910,000

Capital lease obligations(1)
 

 
1,864

Long-term debt, principal amount
 
924,000

 
911,864

Less current portion of long-term debt
 

 
(791
)
Long-term debt
 
924,000

 
911,073

Current portion of capital lease obligations(1)
 

 
791

Long-term debt due within one year
 

 
791

Total debt
 
$
924,000

 
$
911,864



(1) Upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leasing, on January 1, 2019 (Note 2), we reclassified our capital lease obligations, now known as finance lease obligations, to accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

There are currently no limitations on the amount of dividends and share repurchases under the terms of our credit agreement. However, if our leverage ratio, defined as total debt less unrestricted cash to EBITDA, should exceed 2.75 to 1, there would be an annual limitation on the amount of dividends and share repurchases.

As of December 31, 2018, we had a revolving credit facility in the amount of $950,000. In January 2019, we increased the credit facility by $200,000, bringing the total availability to $1,150,000, subject to increase under the credit agreement to an aggregate amount not exceeding $1,425,000. The credit facility matures in March 2023. Our quarterly commitment fee ranges from 0.175% to 0.35%, based on our leverage ratio. Amounts drawn under the credit facility had a weighted-average interest rate of 3.29% as of September 30, 2019 and 3.79% as of December 31, 2018. In July 2019, we executed an interest rate swap to convert $200,000 of the amount drawn under the credit facility to fixed rate debt. Further information can be found in Note 7.

Borrowings under the credit agreement are collateralized by substantially all of our personal and intangible property. The credit agreement governing our credit facility contains customary covenants regarding limits on levels of subsidiary indebtedness and capital expenditures, liens, investments, acquisitions, certain mergers, certain asset sales outside the ordinary course of business, and change in control as defined in the agreement. The agreement also requires us to maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum leverage ratio of 3.5 and a minimum ratio of consolidated earnings before interest and taxes to consolidated interest expense, as defined in the credit agreement, of 3.0.

Daily average amounts outstanding under our credit facility were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2018
Revolving credit facility:
 
 
 
 
Daily average amount outstanding
 
$
933,934

 
$
731,110

Weighted-average interest rate
 
3.69
%
 
3.24
%
Term loan facility:(1)
 
 
 
 
Daily average amount outstanding
 
$

 
$
63,638

Weighted-average interest rate
 

 
2.97
%

 
(1) During 2018, we had borrowings outstanding under a variable rate term loan facility. These amounts were repaid in March 2018.


24

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

As of September 30, 2019, amounts were available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Total
available
Revolving credit facility commitment
 
$
1,150,000

Amount drawn on revolving credit facility
 
(924,000
)
Outstanding letters of credit(1)
 
(5,733
)
Net available for borrowing as of September 30, 2019
 
$
220,267



(1) We use standby letters of credit to collateralize certain obligations related primarily to our self-insured workers’ compensation claims, as well as claims for environmental matters, as required by certain states. These letters of credit reduce the amount available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility.


Note 14:  Leases

We have entered into operating leases for the majority of our facilities. These real estate leases have remaining terms of up to 10.0 years, with a weighted-average remaining term of 5.5 years as of September 30, 2019. We utilize leases for these facilities to limit our exposure to risks related to ownership, such as fluctuations in real estate prices, and to maintain flexibility in our real estate utilization. We have also entered into operating leases for certain equipment, primarily production printers and data center equipment. Certain of our leases include options to extend the lease term. The impact of renewal periods was not significant to the amounts recorded for operating lease assets and liabilities.

We have entered into finance leases for certain information technology hardware. The net book value of the related lease assets was $1,164 as of September 30, 2019 and the related lease liabilities were $1,545. The lease obligations are due through December 2022 and do not have a significant impact on our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income or our consolidated statements of cash flows.
 
Operating lease expense was $6,363 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and $15,145 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Additional information regarding our operating leases was as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Operating cash outflows
 
$
12,329

Lease assets obtained during the period in exchange for lease obligations
 
5,501

 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2019
Operating lease assets
 
$
41,739

 
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
12,840

Operating lease liabilities
 
32,434

Total operating lease liabilities
 
$
45,274

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
 
5.2

Weighted-average discount rate
 
3.6
%



25

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


Maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
Operating leases
Remainder of 2019
 
$
3,332

2020
 
14,626

2021
 
10,954

2022
 
7,593

2023
 
3,731

Thereafter
 
11,334

Total lease payments
 
51,570

Less imputed interest
 
(6,296
)
Present value of lease payments
 
$
45,274




Note 15:  Other commitments and contingencies

Indemnifications – In the normal course of business, we periodically enter into agreements that incorporate general indemnification language. These indemnification provisions generally encompass third-party claims arising from our products and services, including, without limitation, service failures, breach of security, intellectual property rights, governmental regulations and/or employment-related matters. Performance under these indemnities would generally be triggered by our breach of the terms of the contract. In disposing of assets or businesses, we often provide representations, warranties and/or indemnities to cover various risks, including, for example, unknown damage to the assets, environmental risks involved in the sale of real estate, liability to investigate and remediate environmental contamination at waste disposal sites and manufacturing facilities, and unidentified tax liabilities and legal matters related to periods prior to disposition. We do not have the ability to estimate the potential liability from such indemnities because they relate to unknown conditions. However, we do not believe that any liability under these indemnities would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, annual results of operations or annual cash flows. We have recorded liabilities for known indemnifications related to environmental matters.

Environmental matters – We are currently involved in environmental compliance, investigation and remediation activities at some of our former sites, primarily printing facilities of our Financial Services and Small Business Services segments that have been sold. Remediation costs are accrued on an undiscounted basis when the obligations are either known or considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Remediation or testing costs that result directly from the sale of an asset and that we would not have otherwise incurred are considered direct costs of the sale of the asset. As such, they are included in our measurement of the carrying value of the asset sold.

Accruals for environmental matters were $2,272 as of September 30, 2019 and $2,755 as of December 31, 2018. These accruals are included in accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Accrued costs consist of direct costs of the remediation activities, primarily fees that will be paid to outside engineering and consulting firms. Although recorded accruals include our best estimates, our total costs cannot be predicted with certainty due to various factors, such as the extent of corrective action that may be required, evolving environmental laws and regulations and advances in environmental technology. Where the available information is sufficient to estimate the amount of the liability, that estimate is used. Where the information is only sufficient to establish a range of probable liability and no point within the range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the range is recorded. We do not believe that the range of possible outcomes could have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Environmental expense was not significant for the quarters or nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

We maintain an insurance policy that covers up to $10,000 of third-party pollution claims through 2032 at certain owned, leased and divested sites. We also maintain a policy that covers up to $15,000 of third-party pollution claims through April 2022 at certain other sites. These policies cover liability for claims of bodily injury or property damage arising from pollution events at the covered facilities, as well as remediation coverage should we be required by a governing authority to perform remediation activities at the covered sites. No accruals have been recorded in our consolidated financial statements for any of the events contemplated in these insurance policies. We do not anticipate significant net cash outlays for environmental matters during 2019.


26

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Self-insurance – We are self-insured for certain costs, primarily workers' compensation claims and medical and dental benefits for active employees and those employees on long-term disability. The liabilities associated with these items represent our best estimate of the ultimate obligations for reported claims plus those incurred, but not reported, and totaled $7,596 as of September 30, 2019 and $6,627 as of December 31, 2018. These accruals are included in accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Our workers' compensation liability is recorded at present value. The difference between the discounted and undiscounted liability was not significant as of September 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

Our self-insurance liabilities are estimated, in part, by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors and other actuarial assumptions. The estimated accruals for these liabilities could be significantly affected if future events and claims differ from these assumptions and historical trends.

Litigation – Recorded liabilities for legal matters, as well as related charges recorded in each period, were not material to our financial position, results of operations or liquidity during the quarters or nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and we do not believe that any of the currently identified claims or litigation will materially affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity, upon resolution. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, it may cause a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity in the period in which the ruling occurs or in future periods.


Note 16: Shareholders’ equity

In October 2018, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500,000 of our common stock. This authorization has no expiration date. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we repurchased 2.6 million shares for $118,547. As of September 30, 2019, $301,452 remained available for repurchase under the authorization.


Note 17: Business segment information

As of September 30, 2019, we operated 3 reportable business segments: Small Business Services, Financial Services and Direct Checks. Our business segments are generally organized by type of customer served and reflect the way we currently manage the company. Small Business Services promotes and sells products and services to small businesses via direct response mail and internet advertising; referrals from financial institutions, telecommunications clients and others; networks of Safeguard distributors and independent dealers; a direct sales force that focuses on selling to and through enterprise accounts; and an outbound telemarketing group. Financial Services' products and services are sold primarily through a direct sales force that executes product and service supply contracts with our financial institution clients, including banks, credit unions and financial services companies. Direct Checks sells products and services directly to consumers using direct marketing, including print advertising and search engine marketing and optimization strategies. All 3 segments operate primarily in the United States. Small Business Services also has operations in Canada, Australia and portions of Europe, and Financial Services has operations in Canada.

Our product and service offerings are comprised of the following:

Marketing solutions and other services (MOS) – We offer products and services designed to meet our customers' sales and marketing needs, as well as various other service offerings. Our MOS offerings generally consist of the following:

Small business marketing solutions – Our marketing products utilize digital printing and web-to-print solutions to provide printed marketing materials and promotional solutions, such as postcards, brochures, retail packaging supplies, apparel, greeting cards and business cards.

Treasury management solutions – These Financial Services solutions include remote deposit capture, receivables management, payment processing, and paperless treasury management, as well as software, hardware and digital imaging solutions.


27

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Web services – These service offerings include hosting and domain name services, logo and web design, search engine marketing and optimization, email marketing, payroll services and business incorporation and organization services.

Data-driven marketing solutions – These Financial Services offerings include outsourced marketing campaign targeting and execution and marketing analytics solutions that help our customers grow revenue through strategic targeting, lead optimization, retention and cross-selling services.

Fraud, security, risk management and operational services – These service offerings include fraud protection and security services, electronic checks and deposits ("ePayments") and digital engagement solutions, including loyalty and rewards programs and finacial management tools.

Checks – We remain one of the largest providers of personal and business checks in the United States.

Forms, accessories and other products – Our Small Business Services segment provides printed forms to small businesses, including deposit tickets, billing forms, work orders, job proposals, purchase orders, invoices and personnel forms, as well as computer forms compatible with accounting software packages commonly used by small businesses. Small Business Services also offers other customized products, including envelopes, office supplies, ink stamps and labels. Our Financial Services and Direct Checks segments offer deposit tickets, check registers, checkbook covers, labels and ink stamps.

The following tables present revenue disaggregated by our product and service offerings:
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2019
(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Consolidated
Marketing solutions and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small business marketing solutions
 
$
68,258

 
$

 
$

 
$
68,258

Treasury management solutions
 

 
45,836

 

 
45,836

Web services
 
40,906

 

 

 
40,906

Data-driven marketing solutions
 

 
39,889

 

 
39,889

Fraud, security, risk management and operational services
 
6,171

 
12,749

 
3,144

 
22,064

Total MOS
 
115,335

 
98,474

 
3,144

 
216,953

Checks
 
115,392

 
53,111

 
24,330

 
192,833

Forms, accessories and other products
 
79,484

 
3,014

 
1,309

 
83,807

Total revenue
 
$
310,211

 
$
154,599

 
$
28,783

 
$
493,593



28

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Consolidated
Marketing solutions and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small business marketing solutions
 
$
203,192

 
$

 

 
$
203,192

Treasury management solutions
 

 
136,782

 

 
136,782

Web services
 
125,856

 

 

 
125,856

Data-driven marketing solutions
 

 
115,469

 

 
115,469

Fraud, security, risk management and operational services
 
18,339

 
37,278

 
9,899

 
65,516

Total MOS
 
347,387

 
289,529

 
9,899

 
646,815

Checks
 
349,116

 
165,778

 
75,587

 
590,481

Forms, accessories and other products
 
235,268

 
9,779

 
4,302

 
249,349

Total revenue
 
$
931,771

 
$
465,086

 
$
89,788

 
$
1,486,645


 
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2018
(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Consolidated
Marketing solutions and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small business marketing solutions
 
$
69,490

 
$

 
$

 
$
69,490

Treasury management solutions
 

 
35,833

 

 
35,833

Web services
 
41,973

 

 

 
41,973

Data-driven marketing solutions
 

 
39,808

 

 
39,808

Fraud, security, risk management and operational services
 
6,383

 
12,953

 
3,460

 
22,796

Total MOS
 
117,846

 
88,594

 
3,460

 
209,900

Checks
 
117,918

 
54,800

 
25,874

 
198,592

Forms, accessories and other products
 
79,835

 
3,377

 
1,486

 
84,698

Total revenue
 
$
315,599

 
$
146,771

 
$
30,820

 
$
493,190

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Consolidated
Marketing solutions and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small business marketing solutions
 
$
205,694

 
$

 
$

 
$
205,694

Treasury management solutions
 

 
93,591

 

 
93,591

Web services
 
120,199

 

 

 
120,199

Data-driven marketing solutions
 

 
114,275

 

 
114,275

Fraud, security, risk management and operational services
 
19,487

 
37,856

 
10,761

 
68,104

Total MOS
 
345,380

 
245,722

 
10,761

 
601,863

Checks
 
360,637

 
170,442

 
81,425

 
612,504

Forms, accessories and other products
 
243,638

 
10,563

 
4,781

 
258,982

Total revenue
 
$
949,655

 
$
426,727

 
$
96,967

 
$
1,473,349




29

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following tables present our revenue disaggregated by geography, based on where items are shipped or services are performed.
(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Total
Quarter Ended September 30, 2019:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
286,025

 
$
149,575

 
$
28,783

 
$
464,383

Foreign, primarily Canada and Australia
 
24,186

 
5,024

 

 
29,210

Total revenue
 
$
310,211

 
$
154,599

 
$
28,783

 
$
493,593

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
857,759

 
$
451,126

 
$
89,788

 
$
1,398,673

Foreign, primarily Canada and Australia
 
74,012

 
13,960

 

 
87,972

Total revenue
 
$
931,771

 
$
465,086

 
$
89,788

 
$
1,486,645


(in thousands)
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Total
Quarter Ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
290,752

 
$
141,979

 
$
30,820

 
$
463,551

Foreign, primarily Canada and Australia
 
24,847

 
4,792

 

 
29,639

Total revenue
 
$
315,599

 
$
146,771

 
$
30,820

 
$
493,190

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
871,574

 
$
411,185

 
$
96,967

 
$
1,379,726

Foreign, primarily Canada and Australia
 
78,081

 
15,542

 

 
93,623

Total revenue
 
$
949,655

 
$
426,727

 
$
96,967

 
$
1,473,349



The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2018 Form 10-K. We allocate corporate costs for our shared services functions to our business segments, including costs of our executive management, human resources, supply chain, real estate, finance, information technology and legal functions. Where costs incurred are directly attributable to a business segment, those costs are charged directly to that segment. Those costs not directly attributable to a business segment, primarily certain human resources costs, are allocated to the segments based on the number of employees in each segment. Corporate assets are not allocated to the segments and consisted primarily of long-term investments and assets related to our corporate shared services functions of manufacturing, information technology and real estate, including property, plant and equipment; internal-use software; operating lease assets; and inventories and supplies.

We are an integrated enterprise, characterized by substantial intersegment cooperation, cost allocations and sharing of assets. Therefore, we do not represent that these segments, if operated independently, would report the operating (loss) income and other financial information shown.


30

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following is our segment information as of and for the quarters ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
 
 
 
 
Reportable Business Segments
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Corporate
 
Consolidated
Total revenue from external customers:
 
2019
 
$
310,211

 
$
154,599

 
$
28,783

 
$

 
$
493,593

 
 
2018
 
315,599

 
146,771

 
30,820

 

 
493,190

Operating (loss) income:
 
2019
 
(243,193
)
 
(105,691
)
 
8,201

 

 
(340,683
)
 
 
2018
 
(45,254
)
 
17,612

 
10,360

 

 
(17,282
)
Depreciation and amortization expense:
 
2019
 
14,497

 
15,220

 
777

 

 
30,494

 
 
2018
 
17,173

 
15,424

 
809

 

 
33,406

Asset impairment charges:
 
2019
 
273,583

 
117,397

 

 

 
390,980

 
 
2018
 
97,288

 
1,882

 

 

 
99,170

Total assets:
 
2019
 
809,058

 
560,405

 
155,487

 
364,013

 
1,888,963

 
 
2018
 
1,056,086

 
753,240

 
157,806

 
300,235

 
2,267,367

Capital asset purchases:
 
2019
 

 

 

 
17,335

 
17,335

 
 
2018
 

 

 

 
14,526

 
14,526

The following is our segment information as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reportable Business Segments
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Small Business Services
 
Financial Services
 
Direct Checks
 
Corporate
 
Consolidated
Total revenue from external customers:
 
2019
 
$
931,771

 
$
465,086

 
$
89,788

 
$

 
$
1,486,645


 
2018
 
949,655

 
426,727

 
96,967

 

 
1,473,349

Operating (loss) income:
 
2019
 
(163,805
)
 
(86,134
)
 
24,853

 

 
(225,086
)
 
 
2018
 
72,288

 
49,565

 
31,396

 

 
153,249

Depreciation and amortization expense:
 
2019
 
47,730

 
45,231

 
2,469

 

 
95,430


 
2018
 
48,765

 
45,740

 
2,418

 

 
96,923

Asset impairment charges:
 
2019
 
273,583

 
117,397

 

 

 
390,980

 
 
2018
 
99,437

 
1,882

 

 

 
101,319

Total assets:
 
2019
 
809,058

 
560,405

 
155,487

 
364,013

 
1,888,963

 
 
2018
 
1,056,086

 
753,240

 
157,806

 
300,235

 
2,267,367

Capital asset purchases:
 
2019
 

 

 

 
49,679

 
49,679

 
 
2018
 

 

 

 
42,566

 
42,566




Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated unaudited financial statements and related notes included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial statements are included. Adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, except for any discussed herein. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Our MD&A includes the following sections:

Executive Overview that discusses what we do, our operating results at a high level and our financial outlook for the year;

31


Consolidated Results of Operations; Restructuring, Integration and Other Costs; CEO Transition Costs and Segment Results that include a more detailed discussion of our revenue and expenses;
Cash Flows and Liquidity, Capital Resources and Other Financial Position Information that discusses key aspects of our cash flows, capital structure and financial position;
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Guarantees and Contractual Obligations that discusses our financial commitments; and
Critical Accounting Policies that discusses the policies we believe are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments underlying our financial statements.

Please note that this MD&A discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the "2018 Form 10-K") outlines known material risks and important information to consider when evaluating our forward-looking statements and is incorporated into this Item 2 of this report on Form 10-Q as if fully stated herein. Updates to the risk factors discussed in the 2018 Form 10-K are included in Part II, Item 1A of this report on Form 10-Q. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act") provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We make the following cautionary statement in connection with the Reform Act. When we use the words or phrases “should result,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “are expected to,” “targeted,” “will continue,” “will approximate,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” "forecast" or similar expressions in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press releases, investor presentations and in oral statements made by our representatives, they indicate forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act.

This MD&A includes financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). In addition, we discuss adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide useful information to assist investors in analyzing our current period operating performance and in assessing our future period operating performance. For this reason, our internal management reporting also includes adjusted diluted EPS, which should be considered in addition to, and not as superior to or as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. We strongly encourage investors and shareholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Our measure of adjusted diluted EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and therefore, may not result in useful comparisons. The detailed reconciliation of diluted EPS to adjusted diluted EPS can be found in Consolidated Results of Operations.

Our unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 has been revised to correct a misstatement associated with the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents included in funds held for customers on our consolidated balance sheet. Further information regarding this misstatement can be found under the caption "Note 1: Consolidated financial statements" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.


EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

As of September 30, 2019, we operated 3 reportable business segments: Small Business Services, Financial Services and Direct Checks. Our business segments are generally organized by type of customer served and reflect the way we currently manage the company. Further information regarding our segments and our product and service offerings can be found under the caption "Note 17: Business segment information" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Net loss for the first nine months of 2019 of $244.7 million, as compared to net income of $92.5 million for the first nine months of 2018, reflected an increase in asset impairment charges of $289.7 million (as described below), an increase in restructuring and integration expense of $37.7 million in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, as well as continued volume reductions in personal and business checks and forms, due primarily to the secular decline in check and forms usage. Additionally, medical costs increased approximately $11.0 million, interest expense increased $8.3 million, organic web services and treasury management revenue declined, and the Small Business Services commission rate increased. Stock-based compensation increased $5.6 million, driven by an increase in the level of equity awards in 2019, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) transition costs increased $4.4 million, and check pricing allowances within Financial Services continued. We also recognized gains from sales of businesses and customer lists within Small Business Services of $12.9 million in the first nine months of 2018. These increases in net loss were partially offset by a benefit of approximately $35.0 million from continuing initiatives to reduce our cost structure, primarily within our sales, marketing and fulfillment organizations, the benefit of Small Business Services price increases and incremental earnings from businesses acquired in 2018.

32



Diluted loss per share for the first nine months of 2019 of $5.65, as compared to diluted EPS of $1.93 for the first nine months of 2018, reflects the decrease in net income described in the preceding paragraph, partially offset by lower average shares outstanding in 2019.

Adjusted diluted EPS for the first nine months of 2019 was $4.88, compared to $5.01 for the first nine months of 2018, and excludes the impact of items that we believe are not indicative of ongoing operations. A reconciliation of diluted (loss) earnings per share to adjusted diluted EPS can be found in Consolidated Results of Operations.

Asset impairment charges – Net loss for the first nine months of 2019 was driven by the impact of pretax asset impairment charges in the third quarter of 2019 of $391.0 million, or $7.92 per share. The impairment charges related to the goodwill of our Small Business Services Web Services and Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting units, as well as amortizable intangible assets, primarily in our Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit. Further information regarding these impairment charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies. This compares to asset impairment charges of $101.3 million, or $1.95 per share, in the first nine months of 2018. Further information regarding the 2018 asset impairment charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies in the MD&A section of the 2018 Form 10-K.

"New Deluxe" Strategy

Throughout the past several years, as the use of checks and forms has continued to decline, we have focused on opportunities to increase revenue and operating income and to diversify our revenue streams and customer base. These opportunities have included new product and service offerings, brand awareness and positioning initiatives, investing in technology for our service offerings, enhancing our information technology capabilities and infrastructure, improving customer segmentation, extending the reach of our sales channels, and reducing costs. In addition, we invested in various acquisitions that extended the range of products and services we offer to our customers. Information about our acquisitions can be found under the caption "Note 6: Acquisitions" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K.

We have moved beyond diversification as part of our transformation into a Trusted, Tech-Enabled Solutions CompanyTM. Our growth strategy focuses on organic growth, supplemented by acquisitions, rather than being dependent on acquisitions for growth. The shift in our strategic focus requires us to fundamentally change our go-to-market strategy, operating model and organizational design. We expect that fully integrating past acquisitions and consolidating and standardizing our technology platforms will enable us to operate as one Deluxe, selling all of our products and services to any customer. We plan to invest between $40.0 million and $45.0 million in 2019 and between $30.0 million and $60.0 million in 2020 to build out our technology platforms, including sales technology that will enable a single view of our customer, providing for deeper cross-sell opportunities. We are also investing in our human capital management and financial management and planning systems to enable integration and replacement of duplicative and aging collaboration tools and platforms. Strategically, we believe these enhancements will make it easier for us to quickly integrate any future acquisitions. These investments will consist of capital and expense items, which we plan to fund from structural cost savings and free cash flow. However, we expect that timing differences will impact our ability to self-fund through efficiency savings alone.

As we move forward, we intend to focus on growth businesses with recurring revenue streams, scalable business models, attractive cost structures, data-rich business models and strong price-to-earnings ratios. We will first focus on accelerating revenue growth organically and then supplement growth with selective, strategic acquisitions. While we will continue to sell to enterprise, small business, financial services and individual customers, our business will not be organized by customer type in the future. Instead, we intend to focus our efforts on 4 primary business areas: Payments, Cloud, Promotional Products and Checks. We expect to reinvest free cash flow into the 2 areas we view as our primary platforms for growth: Payments and Cloud. Our intent is to realign our business segments and have the capability to report our operating results under the new structure, both internally and externally, in early 2020. During the transition period, we plan to implement our new strategy while delivering on our annual plan and consistently paying a dividend to shareholders.

Outlook for 2019

We anticipate that consolidated revenue will be at the low end of our previous outlook range of $2.005 billion to $2.045 billion for 2019, compared to $1.998 billion for 2018. We expect that 2019 adjusted diluted EPS will be at the low end of our previous outlook range of $6.65 to $6.95, compared to $6.88 for 2018.

We continue to anticipate that net cash provided by operating activities will be between $270.0 million and $285.0 million in 2019, compared to $339.3 million in 2018, driven primarily by increased restructuring and integration activities in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, the continuing secular decline in check and forms usage, the

33


payment of certain legal-related expenses, including $12.5 million accrued in the prior year and paid in the first quarter of 2019, and higher interest payments, partially offset by benefits from our cost savings initiatives and lower income tax payments. We believe that cash generated by operating activities, along with availability under our revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to support our operations for the next 12 months, including capital expenditures of approximately $75.0 million, dividend payments, required interest payments, and periodic share repurchases, as well as possible acquisitions. As of September 30, 2019, $220.3 million was available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility. We expect to maintain a disciplined approach to capital deployment that focuses on our need to continue investing in initiatives to drive revenue growth, both organically and through acquisitions. We anticipate that our board of directors will maintain our current dividend level. However, dividends are approved by the board of directors on a quarterly basis, and thus are subject to change. To the extent we generate excess cash, we expect to opportunistically repurchase common shares and/or reduce the amount outstanding under our credit facility.


CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Revenue
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per order amounts)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Total revenue
 
$
493,593

 
$
493,190

 
0.1
%
$
1,486,645

 
$
1,473,349

 
0.9
%
Orders(1)
 
11,925

 
11,595

 
2.8
%
35,295

 
35,555

 
(0.7
%)
Revenue per order
 
$
41.39

 
$
42.53

 
(2.7
%)
$
42.12

 
$
41.44

 
1.6
%

(1) Orders is our company-wide measure of volume and includes both products and services.
 
The slight increase in total revenue for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, was driven primarily by incremental revenue of approximately $11.3 million from businesses acquired in 2018, as well as Small Business Services price increases and an increase of approximately $5.0 million related to 1 additional business day in 2019. Information regarding our acquisitions can be found under the caption "Note 6: Acquisitions" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K. These increases in revenue were partially offset by the continuing decline in order volume for both personal and business checks, as well as forms and accessories sold by Small Business Services. In addition, Small Business Services web services volume, excluding incremental revenue from a business acquired in 2018, declined approximately $2.0 million. Revenue was also negatively impacted during the third quarter of 2019 by continued check pricing allowances within Financial Services.

The increase in total revenue for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was driven primarily by incremental revenue of approximately $62.2 million from businesses acquired in 2018, as well as Small Business Services price increases. Information regarding our acquisitions can be found under the caption "Note 6: Acquisitions" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K. These increases in revenue were partially offset by the continuing decline in order volume for both personal and business checks, as well as forms and accessories sold by Small Business Services. In addition, Small Business Services web services and Financial Services treasury management volume, excluding incremental revenue from businesses acquired in 2018, declined approximately $6.0 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Revenue was also negatively impacted during the first nine months of 2019 by continued check pricing allowances within Financial Services.

The number of orders increased in the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, as the impact of growth in marketing solutions and other services (MOS) revenue, including the impact of our 2018 acquisitions, exceeded the impact of the continuing secular decline in check and forms usage. The number of orders decreased for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, due primarily to the continuing secular decline in check and forms usage, partially offset by growth in MOS, including the impact of our 2018 acquisitions. The decrease in revenue per order for the third quarter of 2019 and the increase in revenue per order for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, were primarily driven by the mix of product and service revenue in each period, as well as the benefit of Small Business Services price increases and the negative impact of continued check pricing allowances in Financial Services.

34



Service revenue represented 29.8% of total revenue for the first nine months of 2019 and 27.0% for the first nine months of 2018. As such, the majority of our revenue is generated by product sales. We do not manage our business based on product versus service revenue. Instead, we analyze our revenues based on the following categories:
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Marketing solutions and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small business marketing solutions
 
13.8
%
 
14.1
%
 
13.7
%
 
14.0
%
Treasury management solutions
 
9.3
%
 
7.3
%
 
9.2
%
 
6.3
%
Web services
 
8.3
%
 
8.5
%
 
8.4
%
 
8.2
%
Data-driven marketing solutions
 
8.1
%
 
8.1
%
 
7.8
%
 
7.8
%
Fraud, security, risk management and operational services
 
4.4
%
 
4.6
%
 
4.4
%
 
4.6
%
Total MOS
 
43.9
%
 
42.6
%
 
43.5
%
 
40.9
%
Checks
 
39.1
%
 
40.3
%
 
39.7
%
 
41.5
%
Forms, accessories and other products
 
17.0
%
 
17.1
%
 
16.8
%
 
17.6
%
Total revenue
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%

Consolidated Cost of Revenue
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Total cost of revenue
 
$
203,723

 
$
197,634

 
3.1
%
 
$
605,875

 
$
576,594

 
5.1
%
Total cost of revenue as a percentage of total revenue
 
41.3
%
 
40.1
%
 
1.2
 pts.
 
40.8
%
 
39.1
%
 
1.7
 pts.

Cost of revenue consists primarily of raw materials used to manufacture our products, shipping and handling costs, third-party costs for outsourced products and services, payroll and related expenses, information technology costs, depreciation and amortization of assets used in the production process and in support of digital service offerings, and related overhead.

The increases in total cost of revenue for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, were primarily attributable to incremental costs of businesses acquired in 2018 of $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2019 and $31.4 million for the first nine months of 2019, as well as increased shipping and material rates and higher medical costs in 2019. In addition, restructuring and integration expense increased $1.5 million for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2019. Partially offsetting these increases in total cost of revenue was the impact of the lower order volume for both personal and business checks, as well as forms and accessories sold by Small Business Services. In addition, manufacturing efficiencies and other benefits resulting from our continued cost reduction initiatives resulted in a reduction in total cost of revenue of approximately $3.0 million for the third quarter of 2019 and $8.0 million for the first nine months of 2019. Total cost of revenue as a percentage of total revenue increased in both periods as compared to 2018, in large part due to the increase in service revenues, including the impact of our 2018 acquisitions, as well as the increased shipping, materials, medical, restructuring and integration costs, partially offset by Small Business Services price increases.

Consolidated Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) Expense
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
SG&A expense
 
$
213,318

 
$
208,533

 
2.3
%
 
$
665,787

 
$
629,272

 
5.8
%
SG&A expense as a percentage of total revenue
 
43.2
%
 
42.3
%
 
0.9
 pts.
 
44.8
%
 
42.7
%
 
2.1
 pts.

The increase in SG&A expense for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, was driven by incremental costs of $4.9 million from businesses acquired in 2018, including acquisition amortization. In addition, information technology costs related to infrastructure investments increased, we incurred business transformation costs of $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2019, share-based compensation expense increased approximately $2.0 million, driven by an

35


increase in the level of equity awards in 2019, and medical costs continued to increase. Also, during the third quarter of 2018, we recognized gains from sales of businesses and customer lists within Small Business Services of $1.8 million. Further information regarding these asset sales can be found under the caption "Note 3: Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report. These increases in SG&A expense were partially offset by various expense reduction initiatives of approximately $9.0 million, primarily within our sales and marketing organizations. Also, amortization expense related to acquisitions prior to 2018 decreased approximately $5.0 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018.

The increase in SG&A expense for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was driven by incremental costs of $26.1 million from businesses acquired in 2018, including acquisition amortization, medical costs increased approximately $6.0 million, information technology costs related to infrastructure investments and the average Small Business Services commission rate increased, and share-based compensation expense increased approximately $5.0 million, driven by an increase in the level of equity awards in 2019. In addition, CEO transition costs increased $4.4 million, and legal-related expenses increased approximately $4.0 million. Also, during the first nine months of 2018, we recognized gains from sales of businesses and customer lists within Small Business Services of $12.9 million. Further information regarding these asset sales can be found under the caption "Note 3: Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report. These increases in SG&A expense were partially offset by various expense reduction initiatives of approximately $27.0 million, primarily within our sales and marketing organizations. Also, amortization expense related to acquisitions prior to 2018 decreased approximately $9.5 million for the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018.

Restructuring and Integration Expense
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Restructuring and integration expense
 
$
26,255

 
$
5,135

 
$
21,120

 
$
49,089

 
$
12,915

 
$
36,174


Restructuring and integration expense increased for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, as we are currently pursuing several initiatives designed to focus our business behind our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency. Further information can be found under Restructuring, Integration and Other Costs.

Asset Impairment Charges
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Asset impairment charges
 
$
390,980

 
$
99,170

 
$
291,810

 
$
390,980

 
$
101,319

 
$
289,661


During the third quarter of 2019, we recorded pretax asset impairment charges of $391.0 million related to goodwill and certain trade name, customer list and technology intangible assets. Further information regarding these charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies.

During the third quarter of 2018, we recorded pretax asset impairment charges of $99.2 million related to Small Business Services goodwill and an indefinite-lived trade name, as well as certain customer list intangible assets within Financial Services related to 2 small business distributors we acquired in 2015. During the first quarter of 2018, we recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $2.1 million related to a Small Business Services customer list intangible asset. Further information regarding these charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies in the MD&A section of the 2018 Form 10-K.

Interest Expense
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Interest expense
 
$
8,710

 
$
7,244

 
20.2
%
 
$
27,251

 
$
18,953

 
43.8
%
Weighted-average debt outstanding
 
931,092

 
841,151

 
10.7
%
 
933,934

 
767,045

 
21.8
%
Weighted-average interest rate
 
3.5
%
 
3.2
%
 
0.3
 pts.
 
3.7
%
 
3.1
%
 
0.6
 pts.


36


The increases in interest expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, were primarily driven by our higher weighted-average interest rate in both periods, as well as the higher weighted-average debt level arising, in part, from our share repurchase activity and financing for acquisitions completed throughout 2018.

Income Tax (Benefit) Provision
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Income tax (benefit) provision
 
$
(28,717
)
 
$
8,913

 
(422.2%)
 
$
(1,498
)
 
$
47,916

 
(103.1%)
Effective income tax rate
 
8.3
%
 
(40.2
%)
 
48.5 pts.
 
0.6
%
 
34.1
%
 
(33.5) pts.

The changes in our effective income tax rate for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, were driven primarily by the nondeductible portion of the goodwill impairment charges in each period, combined with the impact of asset impairment charges on pretax (loss) income in each period. The nondeductible portion of the goodwill impairment charges resulted in tax expense of $54.2 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to $15.9 million in the third quarter of 2018. In addition, during the third quarter of 2019, we placed a full valuation allowance of $8.4 million on the intangible-related deferred tax asset generated by the impairment of intangible assets located in Australia. Further information regarding our effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2019 as compared to our 2018 annual effective tax rate can be found under the caption: "Note 11: Income tax benefit (provision)" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Diluted EPS
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Diluted EPS
 
$
(7.49
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
1,017.9
%
 
$
(5.65
)
 
$
1.93

 
(392.7
%)
Adjusted diluted EPS
 
1.71

 
1.74

 
(1.7
%)
 
4.88

 
5.01

 
(2.6
%)

The increase in diluted loss per share for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, was driven primarily by the $291.8 million increase in asset impairment charges in the third quarter of 2019, a $22.6 million increase in restructuring and integration expense in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, continued volume reductions in checks, forms and accessories and increased information technology costs related to infrastructure investments, as well as an increase in business transformation costs, share-based compensation expense and medical costs. These increases in diluted loss per share were partially offset by lower shares outstanding in 2019, benefits from our cost reduction initiatives of approximately $12.0 million, Small Business Services price increases and a $4.0 million decrease in acquisition-related amortization, including the impact of our 2018 acquisitions.

The decrease in diluted EPS for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was driven primarily by the $289.7 million increase in asset impairment charges in 2019, a $37.7 million increase in restructuring and integration expense in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, continued volume reductions in checks, forms and accessories, and the gain on sales of Small Business Services businesses and customer lists of $12.9 million in 2018. Additionally, medical costs increased approximately $11.0 million, interest expense increased $8.3 million, organic web services and treasury management revenue declined, and information technology costs related to infrastructure investments and the Small Business Services commission rate increased. Stock-based compensation increased $5.6 million, driven by an increase in the level of equity awards in 2019, CEO transition costs increased $4.4 million, and check pricing allowances within Financial Services continued. These decreases in diluted EPS were partially offset by lower shares outstanding in 2019, benefits from our cost reduction initiatives of approximately $35.0 million, the benefit of Small Business Services price increases and incremental earnings from businesses acquired in 2018.

37



The decreases in adjusted diluted EPS for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, were driven primarily by the continuing decline in checks, forms and accessories, increased medical costs and interest expense, lower organic web services and treasury management revenue, increased information technology costs related to infrastructure investments, a higher average Small Business Services commission rate, continued check pricing allowances within Financial Services and increased material and shipping rates. These decreases in adjusted diluted EPS were partially offset by lower shares outstanding in 2019, benefits from our cost reduction initiatives, Small Business Services price increases and incremental earnings from businesses acquired in 2018.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

We believe that adjusted diluted EPS provides useful comparable information for investors by excluding the impact of items that we believe are not indicative of ongoing operations. It is reasonable to expect that one or more of these excluded items will occur in future periods, but the amounts recognized will vary significantly.

Diluted EPS reconciles to adjusted diluted EPS as follows:
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2018
Diluted EPS
 
$
(7.49
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(5.65
)
 
$
1.93

 
$
3.16

Asset impairment charges
 
8.06

 
1.93

 
7.92

 
1.95

 
1.96

Acquisition amortization
 
0.49

 
0.33

 
1.13

 
0.88

 
1.23

Restructuring, integration and other costs
 
0.53

 
0.09

 
0.93

 
0.22

 
0.34

CEO transition costs
 
0.02

 
0.04

 
0.15

 
0.07

 
0.11

Share-based compensation
 
0.10

 
0.05

 
0.29

 
0.16

 
0.21

Certain legal-related expense
 

 
0.03

 
0.11

 
0.03

 
0.15

Acquisition transaction costs
 

 

 

 
0.01

 
0.02

Gain on sales of businesses and customer lists
 

 
(0.03
)
 

 
(0.22
)
 
(0.27
)
Loss on debt retirement
 

 

 

 
0.01

 
0.01

Impact of federal tax reform
 

 
(0.03
)
 

 
(0.03
)
 
(0.04
)
Adjusted diluted EPS
 
$
1.71

 
$
1.74

 
$
4.88

 
$
5.01

 
$
6.88


Note that we have not reconciled adjusted diluted EPS outlook guidance for full year 2019 to diluted EPS because we do not provide outlook guidance on diluted EPS or the reconciling items between diluted EPS and this non-GAAP financial measure. Because of the substantial uncertainty and variability surrounding certain of these forward-looking reconciling items, including asset impairment charges, restructuring, integration and other costs, and certain legal-related expenses, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook guidance to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. The probable significance of certain of these items is high and, based on historical experience, could be material.


RESTRUCTURING, INTEGRATION AND OTHER COSTS

Restructuring and integration expense consisted of costs related to the integration of acquired businesses into our systems and processes. It also includes costs related to the consolidation and migration of certain applications and processes, including our human resources management system and certain of our sales and financial systems. These costs primarily consisted of information technology consulting and project management services, internal labor, training and travel. In addition, we recorded employee severance costs related to these initiatives, as well as our ongoing cost reduction initiatives, primarily within our sales, marketing and fulfillment functions. Our restructuring and integration activities have increased in 2019, as we are currently pursuing several initiatives designed to focus our business behind our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency. Further information regarding restructuring and integration expense can be found under the caption "Note 9: Restructuring and integration expense" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report. In addition to restructuring and integration expense, we also recognized certain business transformation

38


expenses related to optimizing our business processes in line with our growth strategies. These costs totaled $2.0 million for the third quarter of 2019 and $2.2 million for the first nine months of 2019.

The majority of the employee reductions included in our restructuring accruals are expected to be completed in 2019, and we expect most of the related severance payments to be paid by mid-2020. As a result of our employee reductions, we expect to realize cost savings of approximately $2.5 million in total cost of revenue and $15.0 million in SG&A expense in 2019, in comparison to our 2018 results of operations, which represents a portion of the total net cost reductions we expect to realize in 2019.


CEO TRANSITION COSTS

In April 2018, we announced the retirement of Lee Schram, our former CEO. Mr. Schram remained employed under the terms of a transition agreement through March 1, 2019. Under the terms of this agreement, we provided certain benefits to Mr. Schram, including a transition bonus in the amount of $2.0 million that was paid in March 2019. In addition, modifications were made to certain of his share-based payment awards. In conjunction with the CEO transition, we offered retention agreements to certain members of our management team under which each employee is entitled to receive a cash bonus equal to his or her annual base salary or up to 1.5 times his or her annual base salary if he or she remains employed during the retention period, generally from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, and complies with certain covenants. In addition to these expenses, we incurred certain other costs related to the CEO transition process, including executive search, legal, travel and board of directors fees in 2018. During the first nine months of 2019, we incurred consulting fees related to the evaluation of our strategic plan and we expensed the majority of the current CEO's signing bonus. CEO transition costs are included in SG&A expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income and were $1.1 million for the third quarter of 2019, $2.6 million for the third quarter of 2018, $8.5 million for the first nine months of 2019 and $4.2 million for the first nine months of 2018. We estimate that these costs will total approximately $9.0 million for 2019, compared to $7.2 million for 2018. We anticipate that the remaining management retention bonuses will be paid in the first quarter of 2020. Accruals for CEO transition costs were included within accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and were $3.9 million as of September 30, 2019.


SEGMENT RESULTS

Additional financial information regarding our business segments appears under the caption “Note 17: Business segment information” in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Small Business Services

Results for our Small Business Services segment were as follows:
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Total revenue
 
$
310,211

 
$
315,599

 
(1.7%)
 
$
931,771

 
$
949,655

 
(1.9%)
Operating (loss) income
 
(243,193
)
 
(45,254
)
 
437.4%
 
(163,805
)
 
72,288

 
(326.6%)
Operating margin
 
(78.4
%)
 
(14.3
%)
 
(64.1) pts.
 
(17.6
%)
 
7.6
%
 
(25.2) pts.

The decrease in total revenue for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, was driven by lower order volume, primarily related to checks, forms and accessories, as secular check and forms usage continues to decline. In addition, web services volume decreased approximately $2.0 million, excluding the effect of a 2018 acquisition, due primarily to a reduction in search and email marketing volume. These decreases in revenue were partially offset by the benefit of price increases and revenue of approximately $4.0 million due to one additional business day in 2019, as well as incremental revenue of approximately $1.8 million from the acquisition of My Corporation Business Services, Inc. in December 2018. Information about this acquisition can be found under the caption "Note 6: Acquisitions" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K.

The decrease in total revenue for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was driven by lower order volume, primarily related to checks, forms and accessories, as secular check and forms usage continues to decline. Web services volume also decreased approximately $6.0 million, excluding the effect of 2018 acquisitions, due

39


primarily to a reduction in search and email marketing and web hosting volume. In addition, revenue was negatively impacted $4.0 million by foreign currency exchange rate changes. These decreases in revenue were partially offset by incremental revenue of approximately $14.7 million from businesses acquired in 2018, as well as the benefit of price increases. Information about our acquisitions can be found under the caption "Note 6: Acquisitions" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K.

The increase in operating loss for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, was driven primarily by an increase in asset impairment charges of $176.3 million and a $16.6 million increase in restructuring and integration expense in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, as well as the lower order volume for checks, forms and accessories. Further information regarding the asset impairment charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies. In addition, medical costs and material and shipping rates increased in 2019. Also, during the third quarter of 2018, we recognized gains from sales of businesses and customer lists of $1.8 million. Partially offsetting these increases in operating loss were price increases and benefits of our cost reduction initiatives.

The increase in operating loss for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was driven primarily by an increase in asset impairment charges of $174.1 million and a $27.7 million increase in restructuring and integration expense in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, as well as the lower order volume for checks, forms and accessories and an increase in the average commission rate. Further information regarding the asset impairment charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies. In addition, CEO transition costs allocated to this segment increased $2.4 million, share-based compensation expense increased, driven by an increase in the level of equity awards in 2019, and medical costs and material and shipping rates all increased in 2019. Also, during the first nine months of 2018, we recognized gains from sales of businesses and customer lists of $12.9 million. Partially offsetting these increases in operating loss were price increases and benefits of our cost reduction initiatives.

Financial Services

Results for our Financial Services segment were as follows:
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Total revenue
 
$
154,599

 
$
146,771

 
5.3%
 
$
465,086

 
$
426,727

 
9.0%
Operating (loss) income
 
(105,691
)
 
17,612

 
(700.1%)
 
(86,134
)
 
49,565

 
(273.8%)
Operating margin
 
(68.4
%)
 
12.0
%
 
(80.4) pts.
 
(18.5
%)
 
11.6
%
 
(30.1) pts.

The increase in total revenue for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, was driven by incremental treasury management revenue from the acquisition of REMITCO LLC in August 2018 of approximately $9.5 million for the third quarter of 2019 and $47.5 million for the first nine months of 2019. Partially offsetting this increase in revenue, was a decrease in treasury management volume of approximately $4.0 million for the first nine months of 2019, excluding the incremental revenue from the acquisition, due to a customer electing to bring its services in-house, as well as a reduction in software maintenance revenue. In addition, revenue was negatively affected by lower check order volume, due primarily to the continued secular decline in check usage, as well as continued check pricing allowances.

The increase in operating loss for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018, was primarily due to a $115.5 million increase in asset impairment charges in 2019 and a $4.6 million increase in restructuring and integration expense in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, as well as increased information technology costs related to infrastructure investments, lower check order volume and continued check pricing allowances. Further information regarding the asset impairment charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies. In addition, medical costs and material and shipping rates increased in 2019. Partially offsetting these increases in operating loss were benefits of our continuing cost reduction initiatives.

The increase in operating loss for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was primarily due to a $115.5 million increase in asset impairment charges in 2019, a $7.4 million increase in restructuring and integration expense in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, a $5.0 million increase in legal-related expenses in 2019, increased information technology costs related to infrastructure investments, lower check order volume and continued check pricing allowances. Further information regarding the asset impairment charges can be found in Critical Accounting Policies. In addition, share-based compensation expense increased, driven by an increase in the level of equity awards in 2019, and medical costs and material and shipping rates increased in 2019. Also, CEO transition costs allocated to this segment increased $1.9 million in 2019. Partially offsetting these increases in operating loss were benefits of our

40


continuing cost reduction initiatives and a contribution of approximately $4.4 million from the REMITCO LLC acquisition, including acquisition amortization.

Direct Checks

Results for our Direct Checks segment were as follows:
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Total revenue
 
$
28,783

 
$
30,820

 
(6.6%)
 
$
89,788

 
$
96,967

 
(7.4%)
Operating income
 
8,201

 
10,360

 
(20.8%)
 
24,853

 
31,396

 
(20.8%)
Operating margin
 
28.5
%
 
33.6
%
 
(5.1) pts.
 
27.7
%
 
32.4
%
 
(4.7) pts.

The decrease in revenue for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, was primarily due to the reduction in orders stemming from the continued secular decline in check usage. In addition, revenue per order was slightly lower in each period driven by unfavorable order channel mix and lower fraud services revenue.

The decreases in operating income and operating margin for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, as compared to the same periods in 2018, were due primarily to the revenue decline, increased medical costs, and increased material and shipping rates in 2019. In addition, restructuring and integration expense increased $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2019 and $2.5 million for the first nine months of 2019 in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency. These decreases in operating income and operating margin were partially offset by benefits from our cost reduction initiatives, including lower advertising expense driven by advertising print reduction initiatives.


CASH FLOWS AND LIQUIDITY

As of September 30, 2019, we held cash and cash equivalents of $73.5 million, as well as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents included in funds held for customers of $78.6 million. The following table shows our cash flow activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated statements of cash flows appearing in Item 1 of this report.
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
208,024

 
$
219,102

 
$
(11,078
)
Net cash used by investing activities
 
(49,879
)
 
(231,924
)
 
182,045

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities
 
(153,897
)
 
12,563

 
(166,460
)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
2,604

 
(2,446
)
 
5,050

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents
 
$
6,852

 
$
(2,705
)

$
9,557


The $11.1 million decrease in net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2019, as compared to the first nine months of 2018, was due primarily to the continuing secular decline in check and forms usage, the payment of certain legal-related expenses, including $12.5 million accrued in the prior year and paid in the first quarter of 2019, increased restructuring and integration activities in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, increased medical costs, an $8.2 million increase in interest payments, and the timing of accounts payable payments. These decreases in operating cash flow were partially offset by a $32.7 million reduction in income tax payments in 2019, as well as benefits of our cost reduction initiatives, the timing of accounts receivable collections and annual billings in certain of our businesses, and Small Business Services price increases.


41


Included in net cash provided by operating activities were the following operating cash outflows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Income tax payments
 
$
47,378

 
$
80,063

 
$
(32,685
)
Interest payments
 
26,110

 
17,919

 
8,191

Performance-based compensation payments(1)
 
23,454

 
21,778

 
1,676

Prepaid product discount payments
 
20,370

 
19,125

 
1,245

Severance payments
 
6,835

 
5,327

 
1,508


(1) Amounts reflect compensation based on total company performance.

Net cash used by investing activities for the first nine months of 2019 was $182.0 million lower than the first nine months of 2018, driven primarily by a decrease of $188.8 million in payments for acquisitions. We did not complete any acquisitions during the first nine months of 2019. Information about our 2018 acquisitions can be found under the caption “Note 6: Acquisitions” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K.

Net cash used by financing activities for the first nine months of 2019 was $166.5 million higher than the first nine months of 2018, due primarily to a net decrease in borrowings on long-term debt of $166.4 million and a net change in customer funds obligations of $8.7 million. These increases in cash used by financing activities were partially offset by a decrease of $4.9 million in employee taxes paid for shares withheld, as fewer stock options were exercised and fewer restricted stock unit awards vested in 2019.

Significant cash transactions, excluding those related to operating activities, for each period were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired(1)
 
$
(1,598
)
 
$
(190,396
)
 
$
188,798

Payments for common shares repurchased
 
(118,547
)
 
(120,000
)
 
1,453

Purchases of capital assets
 
(49,679
)
 
(42,566
)
 
(7,113
)
Cash dividends paid to shareholders
 
(39,068
)
 
(42,943
)
 
3,875

Net change in customer funds obligations
 
(8,711
)
 
(58
)
 
(8,653
)
Employee taxes paid for shares withheld
 
(3,076
)
 
(7,969
)
 
4,893

Net change in debt
 
14,000

 
180,361

 
(166,361
)
Proceeds from issuing shares under employee plans
 
3,159

 
7,300

 
(4,141
)

(1) No acquisitions were completed during the first nine months of 2019. The amount paid in 2019 represents holdback payments for prior year acquisitions.

We continue to anticipate that net cash provided by operating activities will be between $270.0 million and $285.0 million in 2019, compared to $339.3 million in 2018, driven primarily by increased restructuring and integration activities in support of our growth strategies and to increase our efficiency, the continuing secular decline in check and forms usage, the payment of certain legal-related expenses, including $12.5 million accrued in the prior year and paid in the first quarter of 2019, and higher interest payments, partially offset by benefits from our cost savings initiatives and lower income tax payments. We expect that net cash provided by operating activities in 2019, along with availability under our revolving credit facility, will be utilized for capital expenditures of approximately $75.0 million, dividend payments, required interest payments and periodic share repurchases, as well as possible acquisitions. We intend to focus our capital spending on key revenue growth initiatives, investments in sales and financial technology and information technology infrastructure. As of September 30, 2019, $220.3 million was available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility. To the extent we generate excess cash, we expect to opportunistically repurchase common shares and/or reduce the amount outstanding under our credit facility agreement.

As of September 30, 2019, our foreign subsidiaries held cash and cash equivalents of $64.9 million. Deferred income taxes have not been recognized on unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, as these amounts are intended to be reinvested indefinitely in the operations of those subsidiaries. If we were to repatriate all of our foreign cash and cash equivalents into the United States at one time, we estimate we would incur a withholding tax liability of approximately $3.0 million.


42


We believe that cash generated by operating activities, along with availability under our revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to support our operations for the next 12 months, including capital expenditures of approximately $75.0 million, dividend payments, required interest payments, and periodic share repurchases, as well as possible acquisitions.


CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our total debt was $924.0 million as of September 30, 2019, an increase of $12.1 million from December 31, 2018. Further information concerning our outstanding debt can be found under the caption “Note 13: Debt” in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Our capital structure for each period was as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Weighted-
average interest rate
 
Amount
 
Weighted-
average interest rate
 
Change
Fixed interest rate(1)
 
$
200,000

 
3.2
%
 
$
1,864

 
2.0
%
 
$
198,136

Floating interest rate
 
724,000

 
3.3
%
 
910,000

 
3.8
%
 
(186,000
)
Total debt
 
924,000

 
3.3
%
 
911,864

 
3.8
%
 
12,136

Shareholders’ equity
 
525,527

 
 

 
915,413

 
 

 
(389,886
)
Total capital
 
$
1,449,527

 
 

 
$
1,827,277

 
 

 
$
(377,750
)

(1) The fixed interest rate amount as of September 30, 2019 represents the amount drawn under our revolving credit facility that is subject to an interest rate swap agreement. The related interest rate includes the fixed rate under the swap of 1.798% plus the credit facility spread due on all amounts outstanding under the credit facility agreement. The fixed interest rate amount as of December 31, 2018 represents amounts outstanding under capital lease obligations. Upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leasing, on January 1, 2019, we reclassified our capital lease obligations, now known as finance lease obligations, to accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

In October 2018, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500.0 million of our common stock. This authorization has no expiration date. During the first nine months of 2019, we repurchased 2.6 million shares for $118.5 million. As of September 30, 2019, $301.5 million remained available for repurchase under the authorization. Information regarding changes in shareholders' equity can be found in the consolidated statements of shareholders' equity appearing in Item 1 of this report.

As of December 31, 2018, we had a revolving credit facility in the amount of $950.0 million. In January 2019, we increased the credit facility by $200.0 million, bringing the total availability to $1.15 billion, subject to increase under the credit agreement to an aggregate amount not exceeding $1.425 billion. The credit facility matures in March 2023. Our quarterly commitment fee ranges from 0.175% to 0.35%, based on our leverage ratio.

Borrowings under our credit agreement are collateralized by substantially all of our personal and intangible property. The credit agreement governing the credit facility contains customary covenants regarding limits on levels of subsidiary indebtedness and capital expenditures, liens, investments, acquisitions, certain mergers, certain asset sales outside the ordinary course of business, and change in control as defined in the agreement. The agreement also requires us to maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum leverage ratio of 3.5 and a minimum ratio of consolidated earnings before interest and taxes to consolidated interest expense, as defined in the credit agreement, of 3.0. We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of September 30, 2019, and we expect to remain in compliance with all debt covenants throughout the next 12 months.


43


As of September 30, 2019, amounts were available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility as follows:
(in thousands)
Total
available
Revolving credit facility commitment
$
1,150,000

Amount drawn on revolving credit facility
(924,000
)
Outstanding letters of credit(1)
(5,733
)
Net available for borrowing as of September 30, 2019
$
220,267


(1) We use standby letters of credit to collateralize certain obligations related primarily to our self-insured workers’ compensation claims, as well as claims for environmental matters, as required by certain states. These letters of credit reduce the amount available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility.


OTHER FINANCIAL POSITION INFORMATION

Information concerning items comprising selected captions on our consolidated balance sheets can be found under the caption "Note 3: Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Operating lease assets and liabilities – On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leasing, and related amendments. Adoption of these standards had a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet, but did not have a significant impact on our consolidated statements of comprehensive loss or our consolidated statement of cash flows. The most significant impact was the recognition of operating lease assets of $50.8 million, current operating lease liabilities of $13.6 million and non-current operating lease liabilities of $37.4 million as of January 1, 2019. Prior periods were not restated upon adoption of these standards. Further information can be found under the caption "Note 2: New accounting pronouncements" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Prepaid product discounts – Other non-current assets include prepaid product discounts of our Financial Services segment. These costs are recorded as non-current assets upon contract execution and are generally amortized on the straight-line basis as reductions of revenue over the related contract term. Changes in prepaid product discounts during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 can be found under the caption "Note 3: Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information" in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report. Cash payments for prepaid product discounts were $20.4 million for the first nine months of 2019 and $19.1 million for the first nine months of 2018.

The number of checks being written has been declining, which has contributed to increased competitive pressure when attempting to retain or acquire clients. Both the number of financial institution clients requesting prepaid product discount payments and the amount of the payments has fluctuated from year to year. Although we anticipate that we will selectively continue to make these payments, we cannot quantify future amounts with certainty. The amount paid depends on numerous factors, such as the number and timing of contract executions and renewals, competitors’ actions, overall product discount levels and the structure of up-front product discount payments versus providing higher discount levels throughout the term of the contract.

Liabilities for prepaid product discounts are recorded upon contract execution. These obligations are monitored for each contract and are adjusted as payments are made. Prepaid product discount payments due within the next year are included in accrued liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. These accruals were $11.2 million as of September 30, 2019 and $10.9 million as of December 31, 2018. Accruals for prepaid product discount payments included in other non-current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets were $6.9 million as of September 30, 2019 and $12.5 million as of December 31, 2018.


OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

It is not our general business practice to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements or to guarantee the performance of third parties. In the normal course of business, we periodically enter into agreements that incorporate general indemnification language. These indemnification provisions generally encompass third-party claims arising from our products and services, including, without limitation, service failures, breach of security, intellectual property rights, governmental regulations and/or employment-related matters. Performance under these indemnities would generally be triggered by our breach of terms of the contract. In disposing of assets or businesses, we often provide representations, warranties and/or indemnities to cover various

44


risks, including, for example, unknown damage to the assets, environmental risks involved in the sale of real estate, liability to investigate and remediate environmental contamination at waste disposal sites and manufacturing facilities, and unidentified tax liabilities and legal matters related to periods prior to disposition. We do not have the ability to estimate the potential liability from such indemnities because they relate to unknown conditions. However, we do not believe that any liability under these indemnities would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, annual results of operations or annual cash flows. We have recorded liabilities for known indemnifications related to environmental matters. Further information regarding our environmental liabilities, as well as liabilities related to self-insurance and litigation, can be found under the caption “Note 15: Other commitments and contingencies” in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the Item 1 of this report.

We are not engaged in any transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other third parties that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our liquidity or on our access to, or requirements for, capital resources. In addition, we have not established any special purpose entities nor did we enter into any material related party transactions during the first nine months of 2019 or during 2018.

A table of our contractual obligations was provided in the MD&A section of the 2018 Form 10-K. During the first nine months of 2019, we entered into certain software-as-a-service and professional services contracts. These contracts require minimum payments of $49.8 million, with $5.6 million payable in 2019 and a total of $33.6 million payable in 2020 and 2021. The remainder is payable through 2024. In addition, in September 2019, we executed an additional professional services contract that requires total minimum payments of approximately $30.0 million. The specific payment terms for this agreement are currently being negotiated, but we expect that this amount will likely be paid through 2026.


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A description of our critical accounting policies was provided in the MD&A section of the 2018 Form 10-K. There were no changes in these policies during the first nine months of 2019.

Annual impairment analysis of goodwill – Our policy on impairment of indefinite-lived intangibles and goodwill, which is included under the caption "Note 1: Significant accounting policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2018 Form 10-K, explains our methodology for assessing impairment of these assets.

During the third quarter of 2019, we completed the annual impairment analysis of goodwill. We elected to perform a qualitative analysis for 4 of our reporting units and a quantitative assessment for 2 of our reporting units: Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing and Small Business Services Web Services. Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing includes our businesses that provide outsourced marketing campaign targeting and execution and marketing analytics solutions. Small Business Services Web Services includes our businesses that provide hosting and domain name services, logo and web design, search engine marketing and optimization, payroll services and business incorporation and organization services.

The qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the quantitative analyses completed as of July 31, 2017, which indicated that the estimated fair values of the 4 reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximate amounts between $64.0 million and $1.4 billion, or by amounts between 50% and 314% above the carrying values of their net assets. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstance that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

The quantitative analyses as of July 31, 2019 indicated that the goodwill of our Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit was partially impaired and the goodwill of our Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit was fully impaired. As such, we recorded pretax goodwill impairment charges of $115.5 million and $242.3 million, respectively. Both impairment charges resulted from a combination of triggering events and circumstances, including underperformance against 2019 expectations and the original acquisition business case assumptions, our decision in the third quarter of 2019 to exit certain customer contracts, the loss of certain large customers in the third quarter of 2019 as they elected to in-source some of the services we provide, and the sustained decline in our stock price. The impairment charges were measured as the amount by which the reporting units' carrying values exceeded their estimated fair values, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill. After the impairment charges, $70.9 million of goodwill remained in the Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit.

Our impairment assessments are sensitive to changes in forecasted revenues and expenses, as well as our selected discount rate. For the Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit, holding all other assumptions constant, if we

45


assumed revenue in each year was 10% higher than we estimated, our impairment charge would have been approximately $16.0 million less, and if we assumed revenue in each year was 10% lower than we estimated, our impairment charge would have been approximately $17.0 million more. If we assumed our expenses, as a percentage of revenue, were 200 basis points lower in each year, our impairment charge would have been approximately $28.0 million less, and if we assumed our expenses, as a percentage of revenue, were 200 basis points higher in each year, our impairment charge would have been approximately $30.0 million more. If we assumed our selected discount rate of 12% was 200 basis points lower, our impairment charge would have been approximately $43.0 million less, and if we assumed the discount rate was 200 basis points higher, our impairment charge would have been approximately $28.0 million more.

In the case of the Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit, holding all other assumptions constant, if we assumed revenue in each year was 10% higher than we estimated, our impairment charge would have been approximately $6.0 million less. If we assumed our expenses, as a percentage of revenue, were 200 basis points lower in each year, our impairment charge would have been approximately $35.0 million less, and if we assumed our selected discount rate of 12% was 200 basis points lower, our impairment charge would have been approximately $12.0 million less.

Evaluations of asset impairment require us to make assumptions about future events, market conditions and financial performance over the life of the asset being evaluated. These assumptions require significant judgment and actual results may vary from our assumptions. For example, if our stock price were to further decline over a sustained period, if a downturn in economic conditions were to negatively affect our actual and forecasted operating results, if we were to change our business strategies and/or the allocation of resources, if we were to lose significant customers, if competition were to increase, or if order volume declines for checks and forms were to materially accelerate, these situations could indicate a decline in the fair value of one or more of our reporting units. This may require us to record additional impairment charges for a portion of goodwill or other assets.

New accounting pronouncements – Information regarding the accounting pronouncement adopted during the first quarter of 2019 and those not yet adopted can be found under the caption “Note 2: New accounting pronouncements” in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Item 1 of this report.


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of the borrowing activities used to support our capital structure, maintain liquidity and fund business operations. We do not enter into financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The nature and amount of debt outstanding can be expected to vary as a result of future business requirements, market conditions and other factors. As of September 30, 2019, our total debt was comprised of $924.0 million drawn under our revolving credit facility at a weighted-average interest rate of 3.3%. The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets for amounts drawn under our revolving credit facility approximates fair value because our interest rates are variable and reflect current market rates. Amounts drawn on our revolving credit facility mature in March 2023.

As part of our interest rate risk management strategy, in July 2019, we entered into an interest rate swap, which we designated as a cash flow hedge, to mitigate variability in interest payments on a portion of the amount drawn under our revolving credit facility. The interest rate swap, which terminates in March 2023 when our revolving credit facility matures, effectively converts $200.0 million of variable rate debt to a fixed rate of 1.798%. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheet and are subsequently reclassified into interest expense as interest payments are made on the variable-rate debt.

Based on the daily average amount of outstanding debt, a one percentage point change in our weighted-average interest rates would have resulted in a $5.4 million change in interest expense for the first nine months of 2019.

We are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Investments in, loans and advances to foreign subsidiaries and branches, as well as the operations of these businesses, are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily Canadian and Australian dollars. The effect of exchange rate changes is not expected to have a significant impact on our earnings and cash flows, as our foreign operations represent a relatively small portion of our business. We have not entered into hedges against changes in foreign currency exchange rates.



46


Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

(a)  Disclosure Controls and Procedures – As of the end of the period covered by this report, September 30, 2019 (the "Evaluation Date"), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with our evaluation during the quarter ended September 30, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II – OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We record accruals with respect to identified claims or lawsuits when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Claims and lawsuits are reviewed quarterly and provisions are taken or adjusted to reflect the status of a particular matter. We believe the recorded reserves in our consolidated financial statements are adequate in light of the probable and estimable outcomes. Recorded liabilities were not material to our financial position, results of operations or liquidity, and we do not believe that any of the currently identified claims or litigation will materially affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity upon resolution. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, it may cause a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity in the period in which the ruling occurs or in future periods.


Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

Our risk factors are outlined in Item 1A of the 2018 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to these risk factors since we filed the 2018 Form 10-K. Due to the announcement of our "New Deluxe" strategy, as discussed in the Executive Overview section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in Part I, Item 2 of this report, we have identified additional risk factors that should be considered when investing in our common stock.

Our recently announced strategic plan to implement a new go-to-market strategy and more integrated operations, transforming us into a Trusted, Tech-Enabled Solutions CompanyTM, is dependent upon our ability to successfully implement our strategic and tactical initiatives. If we are unsuccessful in achieving this transformation in a timely manner, our financial results could be adversely affected.

Our recently announced strategic plan contemplates that our strategic and tactical initiatives will result in, among other things, sustained organic revenue growth and strong adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins. We plan to achieve these results through a variety of initiatives, including greater integration of operations, a more streamlined sales process, more targeted cross-selling into our existing customer base, growing that customer base and reducing our cost structure. Our ability to achieve this strategic plan depends upon a variety of factors, including a number of factors that are beyond our control. If we are unable to successfully implement and execute the strategic and tactical initiatives underlying our strategic plan in a timely manner, our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and/or liquidity could be adversely affected.


47


We plan to realign our existing businesses into four new primary focus areas: Payments, Cloud, Promotional Products and Checks. If we are unable to achieve this realignment in a timely and cost-effective manner, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

As we have previously announced, we believe that we can achieve greater operational synergies and reduce overall costs if we realign our existing operations to focus our efforts in four primary areas that we believe are critical to meeting our customers’ needs going forward: Payments, Cloud, Promotional Products and Checks. This realignment will take time, considerable senior management effort, material “buy-in” from our employees, and significant investment. If we are not able to achieve this realignment in a timely and cost-effective manner, our results of operations could be adversely affected.


Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

The following table shows purchases of our own common stock, based on trade date, that were completed during the third quarter of 2019:
Period
 
Total number of shares purchased
 
Average price paid per share
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs
 
Maximum approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
July 1, 2019 –
July 31, 2019
 

 
$

 

 
$
341,103,728

August 1, 2019 –
August 31, 2019
 
681,897

 
44.67

 
681,897

 
310,642,888

September 1, 2019 –
September 30, 2019
 
193,790

 
47.43

 
193,790

 
301,452,391

Total
 
875,687

 
45.28

 
875,687

 
301,452,391


In October 2018, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500.0 million of our common stock. This authorization has no expiration date.

While not considered repurchases of shares, we do at times withhold shares that would otherwise be issued under equity-based awards to cover the withholding taxes due as a result of the exercising or vesting of such awards. During the third quarter of 2019, we withheld 4,650 shares in conjunction with the vesting and exercise of equity-based awards.

 
Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.


Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.


Item 5.  Other Information.

None.




48


Item 6.  Exhibits.
Exhibit Number
 
Description
3.1
 
10.1
 
31.1
 
31.2
 
32.1
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
 
Cover page interactive data file (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
                      
* Denotes compensatory plan or management contract

49



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
DELUXE CORPORATION
            (Registrant)
 
 
Date: October 25, 2019
/s/ Barry C. McCarthy
 
Barry C. McCarthy
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
Date: October 25, 2019
/s/ Keith A. Bush
 
Keith A. Bush
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

50
Exhibit 10.1






DELUXE CORPORATION
SEVERANCE PLAN

FOR CERTAIN EXECUTIVE LEVEL EMPLOYEES


Effective July 30, 2019




Table of Contents
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION
1
SECTION 2 - DEFINITIONS
1
SECTION 3 - ELIGIBILITY FOR AND AMOUNT OF SEVERANCE PAY AND OTHER BENEFITS
4
SECTION 4 - PARTICIPANT RELEASES
4
SECTION 5 - WHEN SEVERANCE PAY WILL BE PAID
4
SECTION 6 - CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
5
SECTION 7 - COOPERATION    
5
SECTION 8 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
5
SECTION 9 ‑ WHAT ELSE A PARTICIPANT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PLAN
7
APPENDIX I
1






SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION
This Deluxe Corporation (“Deluxe” or “the Company”) Severance Plan for Certain Executive Level Employees (the “Plan”) has been established effective July 30, 2019 for the benefit of Eligible Employees (as defined below). The Plan replaces and supersedes all severance agreements, obligations, plans, policies and/or practices of the Company covering any Eligible Employee prior to the date the Eligible Employee becomes a Participant as described in Section 3 below, except that the Plan shall not replace or supersede (i) any equity, incentive or retention award agreement between the Company and the Eligible Employee, (ii) any retention agreement between any Eligible Employee and the Company entered into in 2018 as a result of the transition to a new Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Employment Agreement, dated October 14, 2018, between the Company and Barry C. McCarthy. The Plan does not supersede provisions in individual employment agreements or any prior agreements relating to confidentiality, assignment of inventions, non‑competition or non‑solicitation, or any Company code of business conduct or ethics. The Plan is an “employee welfare benefit plan” for a select group of management or highly compensated employees governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”).

SECTION 2 - DEFINITIONS
Affiliate. Affiliate means a company which is directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlled by or under common control with another company where control shall mean the right, either directly or indirectly, to elect the majority of the directors thereof without the consent or acquiescence of any third party.

Base Pay. Base Pay is an Eligible Employee’s annual salary (excluding any overtime pay, commissions, variable pay or any other bonus or incentive compensation) in effect upon the Employment Termination (disregarding any reduction in pay that constitutes Good Reason). For a sales employee on a sales incentive plan who has 15% or more pay at risk and who receives commissions more than two times per year, Base Pay will be calculated on the employee’s 12-month total cash compensation lookback (or, if the employee does not have 12 months of service, the employee’s total cash compensation annualized).
Cause. Cause means any of the following:

(i)
Continued failure by an Eligible Employee to perform his/her duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after Eligible Employee’s delivery of a written notice to Deluxe’s Chief Executive Officer or General Counsel that Eligible Employee is terminating his/her employment for Good Reason), after a written demand for performance is delivered to Eligible Employee, and the Eligible Employee fails to remedy the event constituting Cause within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the demand;
 
(ii)
An Eligible Employee’s conviction of a felony;

(iii)
An Eligible Employee’s willful engagement in:

a.
other illegal conduct relating to the business or assets of the Company; or
b.
gross misconduct.


1



For purposes of this paragraph, no action or failure to act on Eligible Employee’s part shall be considered “willful,” unless done or omitted to be done by the Eligible Employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.
Company or the Company. The “Company” or the “the Company” means Deluxe Corporation or any of its Affiliates.
Change of Control. A Change of Control means the first to occur of the following events after the effective date hereof:

(i)
Sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including, to the extent they constitute the most substantial assets, a sale of substantially all of the Company’s customer relationships);

(ii)
Consolidation, liquidation, or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of the Company’s outstanding capital stock are converted into cash, securities, or other property, other than a consolidation or merger of the Company in which shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the consolidation or merger hold more than 50% of voting capital stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the consolidation or merger; or

(iii)
The Continuing Directors (as defined below) cease to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors as a result of the election or appointment of sufficient New Directors (as defined below) within a 12‑month period to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors (for purposes of this clause, “Continuing Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who (i) was a member of the Board of Directors on the effective date of this Plan (an “Existing Director”) or (ii) subsequently becomes a member of the Board of Directors, if the initial nomination for election or initial election of such person (the “Approved Director”) to the Board of Directors is recommended or approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors at such time as it consists of a majority of Existing Directors and Approved Directors, and “New Director” shall mean any person who is not a Continuing Director).

Disability. Disability means that the Eligible Employee is suffering from a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, and that as a result of such impairment either: (i) the Eligible Employee has received disability benefits for a period of not less than three months under a long or short-term disability plan or policy (or both), and is eligible for benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Company at the time of such disability; or (ii) in the event that the Eligible Employee is not employed in a classification that is covered by a long-term disability plan of the Company, the Eligible Employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful employment activity.
Eligible Employee. An Eligible Employee includes any employee of the Company who occupies a position identified or described in Appendix I to this Plan as of the date of his/her Employment Termination; provided, however, that an Eligible Employee shall not include any employee of the Company who at any time entered into an individual severance, separation, or settlement agreement pursuant to which the Company has provided payment to the Employee or will provide a payment to Employee upon a future Employment Termination.

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Employment Termination. An Employment Termination for purposes of severance benefit eligibility is an Eligible Employee’s termination of employment if such termination of employment is:
(i)
An involuntary employment termination by the Company for any reason other than (a) death, (b) Cause, or (c) Disability; or

(ii)
A voluntary termination by the Eligible Employee for Good Reason, as defined below.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Eligible Employee’s termination due to the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company is not an Employment Termination if the Employee is offered employment with the purchaser in connection with the transaction on terms and conditions that do not constitute Good Reason, and such purchaser agrees to become a successor to the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
Good Reason. Good Reason means the occurrence of any of the following events without an Eligible Employee’s written consent to be given in the Eligible Employee’s discretion:

(i)
The assignment of an Eligible Employee to any position and/or duties which represent or otherwise entail a material diminution in his/her position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution of an Eligible Employee’s position (or positions) with the Company, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of written notice thereof given by the Eligible Employee and excluding any diminution attributable to the fact that Deluxe is no longer a public company;

(ii)
Any material reduction in an Eligible Employee’s aggregate compensation and incentive opportunities, or any failure by the Company to comply with any other written agreement between an Eligible Employee and the Company, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of written notice thereof given by the Eligible Employee;

(iii)
The Company requiring an Eligible Employee to be based at any location more than 50 miles from his/her then current location;

(iv)
Any purported termination by the Company of an Eligible Employee’s employment which is not effected pursuant to a written notice of termination specifying the reasons for his/her termination and the manner by which such reasons constitute “Cause”; or

(v)
Any request or requirement by the Company that an Eligible Employee take any action or omit to take any action that is inconsistent with or in violation of the Company’s ethical guidelines and policies as the same existed within the 120 day period prior to the termination date or any professional ethical guidelines or principles that may be applicable to the Eligible Employee.

Before a termination will constitute an Employment Termination for Good Reason, the Participant must give the Company a notice of termination within thirty (30) calendar days after the occurrence of the event that constitutes Good Reason. Good Reason shall exist only if the Company fails to remedy the event constituting Good Reason within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the notice from the Participant, and the Participant must actually terminate employment upon expiration of such fifteen (15)-day period.

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Participant. An Eligible Employee will become a “Participant” eligible for severance and other benefits under the Plan if: (a) the Employee has had a termination that qualifies as an “Employment Termination”; (b) the Eligible Employee has returned all property of the Company; (c) in the case of an Employment Termination occurring prior to a Change of Control, the Eligible Employee has signed and returned to the Company a separation agreement in a form acceptable to the Company, in its reasonable discretion, on or before the deadline communicated to the Eligible Employee; and (d) any revocation period described in the agreement has expired. An Eligible Employee will no longer be a Participant once all severance and other benefits have been provided to such Eligible Employee under the Plan.
Plan Administrator. The administrator of the Plan shall be the Company. However, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall act on behalf of the Company with respect to the administration of the Plan, including the authority to amend the Plan, and may delegate authority with respect to the administration of the Plan to any committee or any other person or persons as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company deems necessary or appropriate for the administration and operation of the Plan. At any time immediately prior to, upon or following a Change of Control, the individual who, immediately prior to the Change of Control, was the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or, if not so identified, the Company’s highest ranking officer, shall have the sole and exclusive authority (which may not be modified) to appoint any party (including himself or herself) to serve as the “Plan Administrator”.
SECTION 3 - ELIGIBILITY FOR AND AMOUNT OF SEVERANCE PAY AND OTHER BENEFITS
A Participant that is the subject of an Employment Termination shall be eligible for severance pay and other benefits hereunder from the Company as specified in Appendix I, based on the Deluxe salary grade of the position held by the Participant on the date of his/her Employment Termination.
SECTION 4 -SEPARATION AGREEMENT
Except for Employment Terminations occurring on or after a Change of Control, no Eligible Employee shall be eligible to become a Participant and receive a severance benefit unless such Eligible Employee shall have executed a separation agreement containing a comprehensive release of claims relating to the Eligible Employee’s employment and termination, which agreement may also contain other provisions in the Company’s reasonable discretion, including, but not limited to: an agreement not to disparage the Company; an agreement not to solicit employees or vendors of the Company for a period of time; and an assignment of intellectual property the Eligible Employee created or conceived within the scope of the Eligible Employee’s duties with the Company. If a Participant breaches the separation agreement in any material respect, the Participant may be required to repay to the Company the severance benefits provided to the Participant.
SECTION 5 - WHEN SEVERANCE PAY WILL BE PAID
For Employment Terminations occurring prior to a Change of Control, Deluxe will retain the sole discretion to pay cash severance in a lump sum or in installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll payment schedule, beginning on the first regular payday following the expiration of any applicable revocation and rescission periods; provided, however, that if Deluxe determines that all or a portion of the cash severance is deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, payment of the cash severance will be made in installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll payment schedule as described above (and subject to any required delay under Section 8.H., if applicable). For Employment Terminations occurring on or after a Change of Control, Deluxe will pay cash severance in a single lump sum, within ten (10) days following the Change of Control (subject to Section 8.H., if applicable). In the event that a

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Participant who is receiving severance under the Plan is reemployed by the Company, the payment of severance under this Plan shall cease as of the date his or her reemployment begins.
SECTION 6 - CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Eligible Employees may have had access to trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information with regard to the business of the Company. “Confidential information” includes but is not limited to customer and mailing lists, cost and pricing information, employee data, financial data, business plans, sales and marketing plans, business acquisition or divestiture plans, research and development activities relating to existing commercial activities and new products, services and offerings under active consideration, trade secrets and software which the employee may have acquired during the course of his or her employment with Deluxe or its Affiliates.

Eligible Employees acknowledge and agree that during the term of their employment by Deluxe or any of its Affiliates and at all times thereafter, employees shall retain in confidence all proprietary and confidential information concerning Deluxe or any of its Affiliates, and agree to return all copies and extracts thereof (however and on whatever medium recorded, to Deluxe, or as otherwise requested by Deluxe, without keeping any copies thereof). The foregoing obligation does not apply to (i) any information which was known to the employee prior to disclosure to the employee by Deluxe or any of its Affiliates; (ii) any information which was in the public domain prior to its disclosure to the employee; (iii) any information which comes into the public domain through no fault of the employee; (iv) any information which the employee is required to disclose by a court or similar authority or under subpoena, provided that the employee provides Deluxe with notice thereof and assists, at Deluxe’s or its Affiliate’s sole expense, any reasonable Deluxe or Affiliate endeavor by appropriate means to obtain a protective order limiting the disclosure of such information; and (v) any information which is disclosed to the employee by a third party which has a legal right to make such disclosure.
Nothing in this Plan prohibits Eligible Employees from reporting to any governmental authority or attorney information concerning suspected violations of law or regulation, provided that he or she does so consistent with 18 U.S.C. 1833, and (2) Eligible Employees may disclose trade secret information to a government official or to an attorney and use it in certain court proceedings without fear of prosecution or liability, provided that Eligible Employees do so consistent with 18 U.S.C. 1833.
SECTION 7 - COOPERATION
Each Eligible Employee shall cooperate with the Company and its legal counsel in connection with any current or future investigation, regulatory matter or litigation relating to any matter to which the Eligible Employee was involved or of which the Eligible Employee has knowledge, or which occurred during the Eligible Employee’s employment. Such assistance shall include, but not be limited to, depositions and testimony and shall continue until such matters are resolved. In addition, an Eligible Employee shall not in any way disparage the Company or any person associated with the Company to any person, corporation, or other entity, provided, however, that such obligation shall not restrict in any way statements that may be made by an Eligible Employee as part of a government investigation or administrative agency or court proceeding.
SECTION 8 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
A.
Amendment and Termination. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason, except that (i) no amendment or termination may be effected that purports to reduce the benefits described in Appendix I that may become payable

5



to any Eligible Employee who either was employed by the Company as of the effective date of such amendment or termination or incurred an Employment Termination prior to such effective date, and (ii) no amendment may be made to the Plan (other than to increase benefits), nor may the Plan be terminated, at any time within the 12‑month period following a Change of Control.

B.
Severability. If any of the Plan’s provisions are found to be unlawful, such finding will not affect the Plan’s other provisions unless such finding makes impossible or impracticable the Plan’s functioning, in which case appropriate provisions will be adopted so that the Plan may continue to function.

C.
Incompetency. If the Plan Administrator finds that a Participant is unable to care for his/her affairs or is otherwise legally incompetent, and a claim for Plan benefits has not been made by a duly appointed legal representative, such benefits may be paid in any manner the Plan Administrator determines, and such payment will be a complete discharge of liability for Plan benefits to which such Participant was entitled.

D.
Not an Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan is intended to create any the Company liability to retain any Eligible Employee in its service. All Eligible Employees remain subject to termination as if the Plan had not been established, and all employees are considered to be at-will, whose employment may be terminated by Deluxe or any of its Affiliates, at any time with or without prior notice.

E.
Financing. Severance benefits payable under the Plan will be paid out of the general assets of the Company. No Participant’s right to receive payments under the Plan will be secured by any assets of the Company or any the Company.

F.
Non-Transferability. A Participant has no right to assign or otherwise dispose of any interest under the Plan, nor may any right be assigned or transferred by operation of law. Neither the Company nor any other the Company will make any payment under the Plan to a Participant’s assignee or creditor, except as required by law.

G.
Legally‑Required Withholdings. Benefits under the Plan will be subject to all legally‑required withholdings, including tax withholdings.

H.
409A Limitation. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan is intended to qualify as an involuntary separation arrangement that is either exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) or compliant with Section 409A. Each payment made under this Plan shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Specifically, any benefits paid within the Applicable 2‑1/2 Month Period (as defined below) are intended to constitute separate payments (for purposes of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A‑2(b)(2)) that are exempt from Section 409A pursuant to the “short‑term deferral” rule set forth in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A‑1(b)(4). Any provision of reimbursement for reasonable outplacement expenses actually incurred by the Employee is intended to be exempt under Treasury Regulation § 1.409A‑1(b)(9)(v). To the extent that any benefits do not qualify for the foregoing exemptions, such benefits are intended to be exempt from Section 409A under the “involuntary separation pay plan” exception set forth in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A‑1(b)(9)(iii), up to the maximum extent permitted by such exception (generally, two times the lesser of the Employee’s annualized compensation or the compensation limit then in effect under section 401(a)(17) of the Code). The term “Employment Termination” shall be interpreted to mean a “separation from service” as that term is defined under Section 409A to the extent necessary to qualify the arrangement as an involuntary separation arrangement or to comply with Section 409A’s payment rules. Furthermore, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A’s payment rules, an event shall not constitute a “Change of Control” unless such event qualifies as a “change in control event” under Section 409A. “Applicable

6



2‑1/2 Month Period” means the period beginning upon a Participant’s Employment Termination and ending 2‑1/2 months after the later of (i) the end of the calendar year in which the Participant’s Employment Termination occurs, or (ii) the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Participant’s Employment Termination occurs. To the extent any payment subject to Section 409A could be paid in one or more of a Participant’s taxable years depending upon the Participant completing certain employment-related actions, then any such payments will commence or occur in the later taxable year to the extent required by Section 409A. If a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A on the date of the Participant’s Employment Termination, and a payment on account of such Employment Termination is subject to Section 409A, then such payment shall be delayed for the period beginning on the Employment Termination and ending on the date that is six months following the Employment Termination or, if earlier, on the date of the Participant’s death.

SECTION 9 ‑ WHAT ELSE A PARTICIPANT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PLAN
A.
Claims Procedure. An individual who believes he/she is eligible for benefits under the Plan, or believes he/she is eligible for benefits that are different from those being offered to the individual, may submit a written claim with the Plan Administrator. Any such claim must be submitted within 180 days after the employment termination upon which the claim is based, and any claim submitted after that period will be denied as untimely. The claim will be reviewed by one or more individuals appointed by the Plan Administrator to serve as the Claim Administrator under the Plan. The claimant will be informed of the Claim Administrator’s decision regarding the claim within 90 days after it is filed. Under special circumstances, the Claim Administrator may require an additional period of not more than 90 days to review a claim. If this occurs, the claimant will be notified in writing as to the length of the extension, the reason for the extension, and any other information needed in order to process the claim. If a claimant is not notified within the 90-day period (or 180-day period, if so extended), the claimant may consider the claim to be denied. If a claim is denied, in whole or in part, the claimant will be notified in writing of the specific reason(s) for the denial, the Plan provision(s) on which the decision was based, what additional material or information is relevant to the case and what procedure the claimant should follow to get the claim reviewed again. The claimant then has 60 days to appeal the decision to the Claim Administrator. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Claim Administrator. A claimant may request to review pertinent documents and may submit a written statement of issues and comments. A decision as to a claimant’s appeal will be made within 60 days after the appeal is received. Under special circumstances, the Claim Administrator may require an additional period of not more than 60 days to review an appeal. If this occurs, the claimant will be notified in writing as to the length of the extension, not to exceed 120 days from the day on which the appeal was received. If a claimant’s appeal is denied, in whole or in part, the claimant will be notified in writing of the specific reason(s) for the denial and the Plan provision(s) on which the decision was based. The Claim Administrator’s decision on an appeal will be final and binding on all parties and persons affected. If a claimant is not notified within the 60-day (or 120-day, if so extended) period, the claimant may consider the appeal to be denied. The claim procedure in the Plan, including appeals, must be fully exhausted and a final determination made by the Claim Administrator before a claimant may file a lawsuit based on a denial of Plan benefits. Any lawsuit for Plan benefits must be filed within one year after the Claim Administrator’s final determination of the claim for benefits.


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B.
Participants’ Rights Under ERISA. Participants have certain rights and protections under ERISA. ERISA provides that Participants are entitled to:

Examine, without charge, at the Company’s main office and at other specified locations, such as worksites, all documents governing the Plan, including a copy of the annual Form 5500 filed with the Department of Labor.
Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the Plan’s operation, including insurance contracts and collective bargaining agreements, if any, the annual Form5500 filed with the Department of Labor, and an updated summary plan description. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies.

Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries
ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the Plan’s operation. The people who operate the Plan, called Plan “fiduciaries,” have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of Participants and their beneficiaries. No one, including the Company or any other person, may fire a Participant or otherwise discriminate against a Participant in any way to prevent him or her from obtaining a benefit or exercising his or her rights under ERISA.
Enforcement of Rights
If a Participant makes a claim for severance benefits that is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, he or she has a right to know why severance benefits were denied or ignored, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision to deny or ignore severance benefits without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time limits.
Under ERISA, there are steps Participants can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if a Participant requests materials from the Plan Administrator and does not receive them within 30 days, the Participant may file suit in federal court. The court may require the Plan Administrator to provide certain materials and pay the Participant up to $110 per day until the Participant receives the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the Plan Administrator’s control. If a Participant has a claim for severance benefits that is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, he or she may file suit in a state or federal court. If a Participant is discriminated against for asserting his or her rights, he or she may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or he or she may file suit in federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If the Participant is successful, the court may order the person the Participant has sued to pay these costs and fees. If the Participant loses, the court may order him/her to pay these costs and fees.
Assistance With Questions
If a Participant has questions about the Plan, he or she should contact the Plan Administrator. For questions about this document or about a Participant’s rights under ERISA, or if a Participant needs assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, he or she should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in the telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. A Participant may also obtain certain publications about his or her rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
A.
Plan Document. This document constitutes both the plan document and summary plan description.

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B.
Other Important Facts.

THE PLAN’S OFFICIAL NAME: Deluxe Corporation Severance Plan for Certain Executive Level Employees

THE PLAN’S SPONSOR: Deluxe Corporation, 3680 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, Minnesota 55126-2996.

EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN): 41-0216800

TYPE OF PLAN: Employee Welfare Severance Benefit Plan
 
END OF PLAN YEAR: December 31

TYPE OF ADMINISTRATION: Company Administered. Benefits are paid out of the general assets of Deluxe Corporation. This Plan does not have a trust, and, therefore, there are no trustees.

PLAN ADMINISTRATOR: Deluxe Corporation

AGENT FOR SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS: General Counsel, Deluxe Corporation, 3680 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, Minnesota 55126-2996.

EFFECTIVE DATE:     Original Effective Date: July 30, 2019

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APPENDIX I
Classification
Severance
Severance following Change in Control
Outplacement
Lump Sum Payment
Member of the Deluxe Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
An amount equal to twelve (12) months’ pay at the employee’s then-current level of Base Pay.
An amount equal to eighteen (18) months’ pay at the employee’s then-current level of Base Pay
Reimbursement for executive-level outplacement counseling and support services up to a maximum of $25,000.
To assist with other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the employment transition, an additional lump sum payment of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).
Vice President (non-ELT member)
(Salary Grade EX)
An amount equal to nine (9) months’ pay at the employee’s then-current level of Base Pay.
An amount equal to twelve (12) months’ pay at the employee’s then-current level of Base Pay
Reimbursement for executive-level outplacement counseling and support services up to a maximum of $15,000.
To assist with other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the employment transition, an additional lump sum payment of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000).



1




Exhibit 31.1


CEO CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Barry C. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Deluxe Corporation, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Deluxe Corporation;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 
Date:  October 25, 2019
/s/ Barry C. McCarthy
 
Barry C. McCarthy
 
President and Chief Executive Officer 





Exhibit 31.2


CFO CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Keith A. Bush, Chief Financial Officer of Deluxe Corporation, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Deluxe Corporation;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date:  October 25, 2019
/s/ Keith A. Bush
 
Keith A. Bush
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer






Exhibit 32.1


CEO AND CFO CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT

We, Barry C. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Deluxe Corporation (the “Company”), and Keith A. Bush, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1)
the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


Date:  October 25, 2019
/s/ Barry C. McCarthy
 
Barry C. McCarthy
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
/s/ Keith A. Bush
 
Keith A. Bush
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer