Global Axcess Corp Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Axcess Corp (OTC Bulletin Board: GAXC; the "Company"), an independent provider of self-service kiosk solutions, today announced the financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Financial Highlights for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2009

• Gross margin increased to 47.5% from 43.4% in the same period last year.
• Income from continuing operations increased 17% to $623,300 from $532,700 in the same period last year.
• Interest expense decreased 42.4% to $147,300 from $255,900 in the same period last year primarily due to a decrease in debt balances and refinancing the debt to a lower interest rate.
• Net income increased 72% to $476,000 from $276,800 in the same period last year.
  

Financial Highlights for Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

• Income from continuing operations increased 30% to $2.1 million from $1.6 million in the same period last year.
• Interest expense decreased 34.8% to $509,800 from $782,300 in the same period last year primarily due to a decrease in debt balances and refinancing the debt to a lower interest rate.
• Net cash provided by continuing operating activities increased 52.1% to $3.3 million compared to net cash provided by continuing operating activities of $2.1 million in the year-ago period.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.4% to $3.6 million from $3.5 million in the year-ago period.
• Net income increased 34.6% to $1.1 million from $839,300 in the same period last year.
  

Operational Highlights for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2009

• Signed a new three-year contract, valued at more than $750,000 per year, with a national grocery chain that has 400 locations nationwide; the Company will install, maintain and conduct transaction processing for ATMs in 51 of their retail outlets.
• Signed a five-year contract, valued at more than $550,000 per year, with a new customer that is a regional convenience store chain in the Southeastern United States, for ATMs at 52 locations.
• Successful roll out of the Company's DVD rental kiosk initiative to 24 sites.
  

Financial Results
The Company reported revenues from continuing operations of $5.3 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 compared to $5.7 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008. This 6.0% decrease was partly due to lower transaction volumes during the summer months and elimination of lower profit ATM locations. The Company typically sees an increase in transaction activity during the summer months, but lower vacation travel and the slower economy reduced the positive seasonal impact. However, as the economy has improved, the Company has seen an increase in transaction volumes beyond the stable core levels, and October's activity surpassed the seasonally stronger June levels. Gross profit from continuing operations was $2.5 million, or 47.5% gross margin, for the third quarter 2009 compared to $2.5 million, or 43.4% gross margin, for the same period of 2008. The gross margin percentage increased 410 basis points in the year-over-year period primarily due to the decreased cost of revenues resulting from lower fuel costs, lower interest rates and reduced residual payments for the distributor's client account.

SG&A expenses were $1.4 million, or 25.7% of revenue, for the third quarter 2009 compared to $1.4 million, or 24.2% of revenue, for the same period in 2008. Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased to $505,700 from $522,200 for the same period in 2008. Operating income from continuing operations increased 17% to $623,300 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 compared to $532,700 in the year-ago period. During the third quarter of 2009, the Company recorded net interest expense of $147,300 compared to net interest expense of $255,900 for the same period in 2008. The 42.4% decrease was mainly due to a decrease in debt balances and refinancing the debt to a lower interest rate. EBITDA (earnings before net interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for the third quarter of 2009 was $1.1 million, flat compared to the third quarter of 2008. Adjusted EBITDA (EBITDA before stock compensation expenses) increased to $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2009 from $1.1 million for the third quarter of 2008. EBITDA represents a non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measure. A table reconciling this measure to the appropriate GAAP measure is included in this release.

Net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 increased 72% to $476,000, or $0.02 per share (based on 21.9 and 23.5 million basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, respectively), compared to net income of $276,800, or $0.01 per share (based on 21.0 million basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, respectively), for the same period of 2008.

Mr. George McQuain, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, "This was another successful quarter for Global Axcess, marked by further increases in our profitability on all counts. This is a testament to our focus on long-term, sustainable profitability through our lean operating infrastructure demonstrating the scalability of our business. The positive bottom-line results for the quarter do not reflect any material contribution from the two agreements we announced during the quarter, or any contribution from our DVD kiosk initiative, currently in a pilot program stage. The two contracts we signed during the quarter, which in aggregate we expect to generate $1.3 million annually with the potential for follow-on business, are both expected to ramp during the fourth quarter and contribute significantly to our first quarter 2010 results. In addition, we are continuing to see interest from national and regional chains in our ATM services, and had substantive traffic and information requests following our participation in the National Association of Convenience Stores conference in Las Vegas. The Company has several proposals in the final stages of discussion and we are optimistic that we will announce agreements to further expand our ATM network in the coming months. We are moving to augment our marketing and sales teams to help us grow our top line and we are currently interviewing sales personnel."

Mr. McQuain continued, "In addition to our success on the ATM side of the business, we are simultaneously focused on adding additional services to accelerate our growth. Our goal is to leverage our ability to deploy, manage, maintain and process transactions from a wider range of self-service kiosks beyond the traditional ATM. Our DVD rental kiosks pilot program has been a success operationally. We are now focused on growing the rental traffic at the kiosks and are making various adjustments to better optimize the initiative. We remain excited about this opportunity but recognize that we have work to do to effectively deploy this solution on a broader scale. Interest in this offering at the National Association of Convenience Stores conference was tremendous, and we are building a robust database of potential locations should we expand this program during 2010."

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, total revenue was $16.1 million, a decrease of $927,800, or 5.4%, compared to $17.0 million in the year-ago period. Gross profit for the nine-month period was $7.6 million, reflecting a gross margin of 47.5%, compared to gross profit of $7.4 million, reflecting a gross margin of 43.7%, for the comparable 2008 period. SG&A expenses for the nine-month period were $4.0 million or 24.8% of revenue compared to $4.0 million, or 23.4% of revenue for the prior-year period. Operating income from continuing operations for the nine-month period increased 30% to $2.1 million compared to $1.6 million in the year-ago period. Net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 increased 34.6% to $1.1 million, or $0.05 per share (based on 21.6 million basic and 22.4 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, respectively) compared to net income for the comparable prior-year period of $839,300, or $0.04 per share (based on 21.0 million basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, respectively). EBITDA decreased to $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $3.3 million from the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA (EBITDA before stock compensation expenses and loss on early extinguishment of debt) increased 5.4% to $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $3.5 million in the year-ago period.

Net cash provided by continuing operating activities during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 was $3.3 million compared to net cash provided by continuing operating activities of $2.1 million in the year-ago period, representing a 52.1% increase year over year. Shareholders' equity increased 10.2% to $14.8 million from $13.5 million at December 31, 2008.

Michael J. Loiacono, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, stated, "Global Axcess was successful in expanding our profitability and significantly increasing our cash flow from continuing operations, despite a slight decrease in revenue. We expect further increases in our profitability and growing cash flows through careful expense management and the focus on higher margin sites and agreements. The growth in our ATM network, both from contracts already announced and potential new agreements should help us to grow our top line and accelerate our profitability."

Conference Call Information
The conference call will take place at 10 a.m. Eastern to discuss the Company's financial results for third quarter 2009. Anyone interested in participating should call (888) 609-5668 and enter pass code 1846282 if calling within the United States, or (913) 312-1516 and pass code 1846282 if calling internationally, approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to 10 a.m. There will be a playback available until November 12, 2009. To listen to the playback, please call (888) 203-1112 if calling within the United States or (719) 457-0820 if calling internationally. Please use pass code 1846282 for the replay. A transcription of the call can be accessed at the Company's website at http://www.GlobalAxcess.biz. The transcription will be available through February 4, 2010.

About Global Axcess Corp
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Global Axcess Corp was founded in 2001 with a mission to emerge as the leading independent provider of self-service kiosk services in the United States. The Company provides turnkey ATM and other self-service kiosk management solutions that include cash and inventory management, project and account management services. Global Axcess Corp currently owns, manages or operates over 4,500 ATMs and other self-service kiosks in its national network spanning 43 states. For more information on the Company, please visit http://www.globalaxcess.biz.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking terminology such as: "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," or "anticipates," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Various important risks and uncertainties may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. For a list and description of the risks and uncertainties the Company faces, please refer to Part I, Item 1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2009, and other filings that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and such statements are current only as of the date they are made.

- tables follow -

                         GLOBAL AXCESS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                           (Unaudited)           (Audited)
                                       September 30, 2009   December 31, 2008
    ASSETS
    Current assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                $1,898,483          $1,560,910
      Automated teller machine
       vault cash                                 250,000                   -
      Accounts receivable, net
       of allowance of $8,027 in
       2009 and $9,799 in 2008                    802,352             848,373
      Inventory, net of allowance for
       obsolescence of $101,260 in
       2009 and $54,033 in 2008                   235,489             276,731
      Deferred tax asset - current                615,332             615,332
      Prepaid expenses and other
       current assets                             118,382             164,968
          Total current assets                  3,920,038           3,466,314

    Fixed assets, net                           5,194,853           4,723,138

    Other assets
      Merchant contracts, net                  10,821,793          11,331,126
      Intangible assets, net                    4,090,923           4,118,426
      Restricted cash                             800,000                   -
      Other assets                                 30,307               9,232

    Total assets                              $24,857,914        $ 23,648,236


    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities
      Accounts payable and accrued
       liabilities                             $2,767,008          $2,527,396
      Automated teller machine vault
       cash payable                               250,000                   -
      Notes payable - related parties
       - current portion, net                      26,017              24,010
      Notes payable - current portion              19,213                   -
      Senior lenders' note payable
       - current portion, net                   1,428,571             606,705
      Capital lease obligations
       - current portion                          704,791             779,990
          Total current liabilities             5,195,600           3,938,101

    Long-term liabilities
      Notes payable - related parties
       - long-term portion, net                 1,294,016           1,304,595
      Notes payable - long-term portion            78,336                   -
      Senior lenders' note payable
       - long-term portion, net                 2,857,143           4,240,086
      Capital lease obligations
       - long-term portion                        316,804             425,582
      Deferred tax liability
       - long-term portion                        275,532             275,532
    Total liabilities                          10,017,431          10,183,896


    Stockholders' equity
      Preferred stock; $0.001 par value;
       5,000,000 shares authorized,
       no shares issued and outstanding                 -                   -
      Common stock; $0.001 par value;
       45,000,000 shares authorized,
       21,021,786 shares issued and
       21,883,924 and 20,973,924 shares
       outstanding                                 21,932              21,022
      Additional paid-in capital               22,858,820          22,613,424
      Accumulated deficit                      (8,028,303)         (9,158,140)
      Treasury stock; 47,862 shares of
       common stock at cost                       (11,966)            (11,966)
          Total stockholders' equity           14,840,483          13,464,340
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                   $24,857,914         $23,648,236

                      GLOBAL AXCESS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)

                                             For the Three Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Revenues                                 $5,314,857            $5,652,977

    Cost of revenues                          2,787,699             3,199,906
      Gross profit                            2,527,158             2,453,071

    Operating expenses
      Depreciation expense                      303,864               329,061
      Amortization of intangible
       merchant contracts                       201,790               193,173
      Selling, general and administrative     1,367,182             1,367,572
      Stock compensation expense                 30,979                30,540
        Total operating expenses              1,903,815             1,920,346
      Operating income from continuing
       operations before items shown below      623,343               532,725

    Interest expense, net                      (147,299)             (255,900)
    Net Income                                 $476,044              $276,825

    Income per common share - basic:
    Net Income per common share                   $0.02                 $0.01

    Income per common share - diluted:
    Net Income per common share                   $0.02                 $0.01

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding:
    Basic                                    21,883,924            20,973,924
    Diluted                                  23,471,284            21,043,567

                       GLOBAL AXCESS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                     (Unaudited)

                                              For the Nine Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Revenues                                $16,098,699           $17,026,465

    Cost of revenues                          8,457,522             9,578,552
      Gross profit                            7,641,177             7,447,913

    Operating expenses
      Depreciation expense                      863,206             1,108,318
      Amortization of intangible
       merchant contracts                       590,474               577,502
      Selling, general and administrative     3,994,416             3,987,978
      Stock compensation expense                 86,064               152,564
        Total operating expenses              5,534,160             5,826,362
      Operating income from continuing
       operations before items shown below    2,107,017             1,621,551

    Interest expense, net                      (509,789)             (782,281)
    Loss on early extinguishment of debt       (467,391)                    -
    Net Income                               $1,129,837              $839,270

    Income per common share - basic:
    Net Income per common share                   $0.05                 $0.04

    Income per common share - diluted:
    Net Income per common share                   $0.05                 $0.04

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding:
    Basic                                    21,579,475            20,973,924
    Diluted                                  22,442,190            20,998,495

                       GLOBAL AXCESS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                    (Unaudited)

                                              For the Nine Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Income from continuing operations      $1,129,837              $839,270
      Adjustments to reconcile net income
       from continuing operations to net
       cash provided by continuing
       operating activities:
        Stock based compensation                 86,064               152,564
        Stock options issued to
         consultants in lieu of cash
         compensation                            16,063                     -
        Loss on early extinguishment
         of debt                                467,391                     -
        Depreciation expense                    863,206             1,108,318
        Amortization of intangible
         merchant contracts                     590,474               577,502
        Amortization of capitalized
         loan fees                               21,706                34,824
        Allowance for doubtful accounts          (1,707)              (13,220)
        Allowance for inventory obsolescence     47,227                     -
        Non-cash interest expense (income)
         on swap agreement with senior
         lender                                  (7,921)               14,300
        Accretion of discount on notes
         payable                                 47,211               124,491
      Changes in operating assets and
       liabilities:
        Change in automated teller
         machine vault cash                    (250,000)                    -
        Change in accounts receivable            47,728               (47,197)
        Change in inventory                    (247,818)               24,097
        Change in prepaid expenses and
         other current assets                    40,186               (10,735)
        Change in other assets                  (21,075)                5,907
        Change in intangible assets, net        (70,696)                  633
        Change in accounts payable
         and accrued liabilities                247,533              (671,047)
        Change in automated teller
         machine vault cash payable             250,000                     -
          Net cash provided by continuing
           operating activities               3,255,409             2,139,707

    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Costs of acquiring merchant contracts     (81,141)              (39,483)
      Purchase of property and equipment       (628,365)             (178,725)
          Net cash used in investing
           activities                          (709,506)             (218,208)

    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Proceeds from issuance of common stock      9,100                     -
      Proceeds from senior lenders'
       notes payable                          5,000,000                39,028
      Proceeds from notes payable                69,905                     -
      Change in restricted cash                (800,000)                    -
      Principal payments on senior lenders'
       notes payable                         (5,814,286)             (552,658)
      Principal payments on notes payable        (7,208)              (25,000)
      Principal payments on notes payable
       - related parties                        (17,139)              (15,299)
      Principal payments on capital
       lease obligations                       (648,702)             (779,993)
          Net cash used in financing
           activities                        (2,208,330)           (1,333,922)
    Increase in cash                            337,573               587,577
    Cash, beginning of period                 1,560,910               540,161
    Cash, end of the period                  $1,898,483            $1,127,738

    Cash paid for interest                     $447,764              $603,579

    The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income from
    continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations for the three
    months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

                                             For the Three Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Net income from continuing
     operations                                $476,044              $276,825
    Interest expense, net                       147,299               255,900
    Depreciation expense                        303,864               329,061
    Amortization of intangible
     merchant contracts                         201,790               193,173
    EBITDA from continuing operations        $1,128,997            $1,054,959



    The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income from
    continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations before stock
    compensation expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt ("Adjusted
    EBITDA") for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

                                             For the Three Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Net income from continuing
     operations                                $476,044              $276,825
    Interest expense, net                       147,299               255,900
    Depreciation expense                        303,864               329,061
    Amortization of intangible
     merchant contracts                         201,790               193,173
    Stock compensation expense                   30,979                30,540
    Adjusted EBITDA                          $1,159,976            $1,085,499



    The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income from
    continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations for the nine
    months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

                                              For the Nine Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Net income from continuing
     Operations                              $1,129,837             $839,270
    Interest expense, net                       509,789              782,281
    Depreciation expense                        863,206            1,108,318
    Amortization of intangible
     merchant contracts                         590,474              577,502
    EBITDA from continuing operations        $3,093,306           $3,307,371



    The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income from
    continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations before stock
    compensation expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt ("Adjusted
    EBITDA")  for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

                                              For the Nine Months Ended
                                     September 30, 2009    September 30, 2008

    Net income from continuing
     Operations                              $1,129,837              $839,270
    Interest expense, net                       509,789               782,281
    Depreciation expense                        863,206             1,108,318
    Amortization of intangible
     merchant contracts                         590,474               577,502
    Stock compensation expense                   86,064               152,564
    Loss on early extinguishment
     of debt                                    467,391                     -
    Adjusted EBITDA                          $3,646,761            $3,459,935