HARTE HANKS INC - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

 

Table of Contents

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U.S.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

or

☐

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: 001-07120

 

HARTE HANKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	74-1677284
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification Number)

2800 Wells Branch Parkway, Austin, Texas 78728

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(512) 434-1100

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

 

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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	HRTH	OTCQX

 

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 (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit 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 if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes ☐  No ☒

 

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of October 15, 2020 was 6,549,309 shares of common stock, all of one class.

 

 

HARTE HANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q REPORT

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2020

 

		Page
Part I.	Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	(Unaudited)
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) — Three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) — Nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit — Three and Nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	6
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	7
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	25
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	31
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	31
Part II.	Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	33
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	33
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	33
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	33
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosure	33
Item 5.	Other Information	33
Item 6.	Exhibits	34

 

 

		September 30,				December 31,
In thousands, except per share and share amounts		2020				2019
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	29,296			$	28,104
Restricted cash			2,489				6,018
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $766 at September 30, 2020 and $666 at December 31, 2019)			46,006				38,972
Contract assets			400				805
Inventory			54				354
Prepaid expenses			2,848				3,300
Prepaid taxes and income tax receivable			9,062				78
Other current assets			1,490				1,670
Total current assets			91,645				79,301
Property, plant and equipment (less accumulated depreciation of $74,572 at September 30, 2020 and $133,559 at December 31, 2019)			5,080				8,323
Right-of-use assets			14,408				18,817
Other assets			3,529				3,761
Total assets		$	114,662			$	110,202
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	17,629			$	16,917
Accrued payroll and related expenses			5,079				4,215
Deferred revenue and customer advances			5,952				4,397
Customer postage and program deposits			4,971				9,767
Other current liabilities			2,921				2,619
Short-term debt			6,681				—
Short-term lease liabilities			6,803				7,616
Total current liabilities			50,036				45,531
Long-term debt			20,419				18,700
Pensions			68,300				70,000
Deferred tax liabilities, net			77				244
Long-term lease liabilities			10,827				13,078
Other long-term liabilities			4,240				2,609
Total liabilities			153,899				150,162
Preferred Stock, $1 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; 9,926 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, issued and outstanding			9,723				9,723
Stockholders’ deficit
Common stock, $1 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized;12,121,484 shares issued, 6,549,309 and 6,302,936 shares outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively			12,121				12,121
Additional paid-in capital			393,545				447,022
Retained earnings			795,079				797,817
Less treasury stock, 5,572,175 shares at cost at September 30, 2020 and 5,818,548 shares at cost at December 31, 2019			(1,189,465	)			(1,243,509	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(60,240	)			(63,134	)
Total stockholders’ deficit			(48,960	)			(49,683	)
Total liabilities, Preferred Stock and stockholders’ deficit		$	114,662			$	110,202

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except per share amounts		2020				2019
Operating revenues		$	47,702			$	51,414
Operating expenses
Labor			27,041				28,589
Production and distribution			13,176				17,314
Advertising, selling, general and administrative			4,540				5,623
Restructuring expense			1,419				3,080
Depreciation expense			741				1,283
Total operating expenses			46,917				55,889
Operating income (loss)			785				(4,475	)
Other expenses (income), net
Interest expense, net			274				330
Other, net			2,185				1,081
Total other expenses, net			2,459				1,411
Loss before income taxes			(1,674	)			(5,886	)
Income tax (benefit) expense			(53	)			102
Net loss		$	(1,621	)		$	(5,988	)
Less: Preferred Stock dividends			125				125
Loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(1,746	)		$	(6,113	)
Loss per common share
Basic		$	(0.27	)		$	(0.97	)
Diluted		$	(0.27	)		$	(0.97	)
Weighted average shares used to compute loss per share attributable to common shares
Basic			6,523				6,291
Diluted			6,523				6,291
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net loss		$	(1,621	)		$	(5,988	)
Adjustment to pension liability, net:			609				549
Foreign currency translation adjustment			1,129				(660	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$	1,738			$	(111	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	117			$	(6,099	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except per share amounts		2020				2019
Operating revenues		$	129,825			$	165,250
Operating expenses
Labor			76,601				94,034
Production and distribution			36,940				58,130
Advertising, selling, general and administrative			15,582				20,225
Restructuring expense			8,005				10,867
Depreciation expense			2,905				4,022
Total operating expenses			140,033				187,278
Operating loss			(10,208	)			(22,028	)
Other expenses (income), net
Interest expense, net			882				938
Gain on sale from 3Q Digital			—				(5,000	)
Other, net			4,511				4,512
Total other expenses, net			5,393				450
Loss before income taxes			(15,601	)			(22,478	)
Income tax (benefit) expense			(12,863	)			840
Net loss			(2,738	)			(23,318	)
Less: Preferred stock dividends			372				371
Loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(3,110	)		$	(23,689	)
Loss per common share
Basic		$	(0.48	)		$	(3.77	)
Diluted		$	(0.48	)		$	(3.77	)
Weighted-average shares used to compute loss per share attributable to common shares
Basic			6,432				6,277
Diluted			6,432				6,277
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net loss		$	(2,738	)		$	(23,318	)
Adjustment to pension liability			1,827				1,648
Foreign currency translation adjustment			1,067				(311	)
Adoption of ASU 2018-02			—				(11,355	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$	2,894			$	(10,018	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	156			$	(33,336	)

 

																						Accumulated
										Additional												Other				Total
		Preferred				Common				Paid-in				Retained				Treasury				Comprehensive				Stockholders’
In thousands		Stock				Stock				Capital				Earnings				Stock				Loss				Deficit
Balance at December 31, 2018		$	9,723			$	12,115			$	453,868			$	812,704			$	(1,251,388	)		$	(46,483	)		$	(19,184	)
Cumulative effect of accounting change			—				—				—				11,377				—				(11,355	)			22
Stock-based compensation			—				—				151				—				—				—				151
Treasury stock issued			—				—				(1,968	)			—				1,984				—				16
Net loss			—				—				—				(13,527	)			—				—				(13,527	)
Other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				522				522
Balance at March 31, 2019		$	9,723			$	12,115			$	452,051			$	810,554			$	(1,249,404	)		$	(57,316	)			(32,000	)
Stock Option activities			—				6				(8	)			—				—				—				(2	)
Stock-based compensation			—				—				239				—				—				—				239
Treasury stock issued			—				—				(345	)			—				343				—				(2	)
Net loss			—				—				—				(3,803	)			—				—				(3,803	)
Other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				926				926
Balance at June 30, 2019		$	9,723			$	12,121			$	451,937			$	806,751			$	(1,249,061	)		$	(56,390	)		$	(34,642	)
Stock-based compensation			—				—				312				—				—				—				312
Treasury stock issued			—				—				(5,005	)			—				5,005				—				—
Net loss			—				—				—				(5,988	)			—				—				(5,988	)
Other comprehensive loss			—				—				—				—				—				(111	)			(111	)
Balance at September 30, 2019		$	9,723			$	12,121			$	447,244			$	800,763			$	(1,244,056	)		$	(56,501	)		$	(40,429	)

																						Accumulated
										Additional												Other				Total
		Preferred				Common				Paid-in				Retained				Treasury				Comprehensive				Stockholders’
In thousands		Stock				Stock				Capital				Earnings				Stock				Loss				Deficit
Balance at December 31, 2019		$	9,723			$	12,121			$	447,022			$	797,817			$	(1,243,509	)		$	(63,134	)		$	(49,683	)
Stock-based compensation			—				—				223				—				—				—				223
Treasury stock issued			—				—				(29,667	)			—				29,667				—				—
Net income			—				—				—				5,118				—				—				5,118
Other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				51				51
Balance at March 31, 2020		$	9,723			$	12,121			$	417,578			$	802,935			$	(1,213,842	)		$	(63,083	)		$	(44,291	)
Stock-based compensation			—				—				81				—								—				81
Treasury stock issued			—				—				(7,416	)			—				7,416				—				—
Net loss			—				—				—				(6,235	)			—				—				(6,235	)
Other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				1,105				1,105
Balance at June 30, 2020		$	9,723			$	12,121			$	410,243			$	796,700			$	(1,206,426	)		$	(61,978	)		$	(49,340	)
Stock-based compensation			—				—				277				—								—				277
Treasury stock issued			—				—				(16,975	)			—				16,961				—				(14	)
Net loss			—				—				—				(1,621	)			—				—				(1,621	)
Other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				1,738				1,738
Balance at September 30, 2020		$	9,723			$	12,121			$	393,545			$	795,079			$	(1,189,465	)		$	(60,240	)		$	(48,960	)

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands		2020				2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(2,738	)		$	(23,318	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Depreciation expense			2,905				4,022
Restructuring			3,113				5,812
Stock-based compensation			590				739
Net pension cost			736				1,501
Deferred income taxes			(776	)			426
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net and contract assets			(6,752	)			15,039
Decrease in inventory			300				41
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses, income tax receivable and other assets			(7,603	)			20,131
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued expenses			692				(12,591	)
Increase in accrued payroll, deferred revenue, lease liabilities and other long-term liabilities			(1,900	)			(2,427	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(11,433	)			9,375
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(1,374	)			(1,655	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			1,891				15
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			517				(1,640	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings			10,000				4,500
Repayment of borrowings			(1,600	)			—
Debt financing costs			(517	)			(477	)
Issuance of common stock			—				(2	)
Issuance of treasury stock			(14	)			14
Payment of finance leases			(357	)			(603	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			7,512				3,432
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			1,067				(311	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash			(2,337	)			10,856
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period			34,122				20,882
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	31,785			$	31,738
Supplemental disclosures
Cash paid for interest		$	547			$	643
Cash received for income taxes, net of payments		$	3,295			$	19,329
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable		$	1,651			$	489
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and inventory included in accounts receivable		$	302				—

 

Note A - Overview and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Background

 

Harte Hanks, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“Harte Hanks,” “Company”, “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a purveyor of data-driven, omni-channel marketing and customer relationship solutions and logistics. The Company has robust capabilities that offer clients the strategic guidance they need across the customer data landscape as well as the executional know-how in database build and management, data analytics, digital media, direct mail, customer contact, client fulfillment and marketing and product logistics. Harte Hanks solves marketing, commerce and logistical challenges for some of the world’s leading brands in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

 

The Company operates as one reportable segment. Our Chief Executive Officer is our chief operating decision maker.  He reviews our operating results on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance.

 

The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) on all aspects of its business. In connection with the pandemic, some of our customers have reduced the amount of work we provide to them while other customers have requested accommodations including extensions of payment or restructuring of agreements.  In addition, some of our customers have declared bankruptcy and we expect additional customers to file for bankruptcy in the coming months.  We have also seen a number of wins for our contact centers solutions services as well as increased volume for existing customers as a result of the environment caused by the pandemic including an increased need for contact center services. While the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material adverse impact on the Company’s operations to date, the pandemic has caused significant volatility in the global markets and has caused many companies to slow production or find alternative means for employees to perform their work. It is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic, the measures taken by governments around the globe, which as a result of increasing infection rates have become more restrictive, and the resulting economic impact may materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position as well as the financial stability of its customers. The COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate other risks discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results. Refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion on COVID-19 and the risks the Company currently faces.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

From 2016 until October 2020, we conducted business with Wipro LLC (“Wipro”), whereby Wipro provided us with a variety of technology-related services. We have since terminated all service agreements.  

 

Effective January 30, 2018, Wipro became a related party when it purchased 9,926 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock (which are convertible at Wipro’s option into 1,001,614 shares, or 16% of our common stock as of January 30, 2018), for aggregate consideration of $9.9 million. For information pertaining to the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, See Note E, Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

In the third quarter of 2019, we entered into a business relationship with Snap Kitchen, the founder of which is a 9% owner of Harte Hanks. We recorded $164,000 of revenue earned from Snap Kitchen in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

Accounting Principles 

 

Our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the Harte Hanks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “ 2019 10-K”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 19, 2020.

 

Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Harte Hanks, Inc. and subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 

 

 

Interim Financial Information

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results and outcomes could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, estimates related to lease accounting; pension accounting; fair value for purposes of assessing long-lived assets for impairment; income taxes; stock-based compensation; and contingencies. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances could result in revised estimates and assumptions.

 

Operating Expense Presentation in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The “Labor” line in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) includes all employee payroll and benefits costs, including stock-based compensation, along with temporary labor costs. The “Production and distribution” and “Advertising, selling, general and administrative” lines do not include labor, depreciation, or amortization expense.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue upon the transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for such products or services based on the relevant contract. We apply the following five-step revenue recognition model:

 

•

Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer

•

Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

•

Determination of the transaction price

•

Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

•

Recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation

 

Certain client programs provide for adjustments to billings based upon whether we achieve certain performance criteria. In these circumstances, revenue is recognized when the foregoing conditions are met. We record revenue net of any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Any payments received in advance of the performance of services or delivery of the product are recorded as deferred revenue until such time as the services are performed or the product is delivered. Costs incurred for search engine marketing solutions payable to the engine host and postage costs of mailings are billed to our clients and are not directly reflected in our revenue.

 

Revenue from agency and digital services, direct mail, logistics, fulfillment and contact center is recognized as the work is performed. Fees for these services are determined by the terms set forth in each contract. These fees are typically set at a fixed price or rate by transaction occurrence, service provided, time spent, or product delivered.

 

For arrangements requiring design and build of a database, revenue is not recognized until client acceptance occurs. Up-front fees billed during the setup phase for these arrangements are deferred and direct build costs are capitalized. Pricing for these types of arrangements is typically based on a fixed price determined in the contract. Revenue from other database marketing solutions is recognized ratably over the contractual service period. Pricing for these services is typically based on a fixed price per month or per contract.

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in valuation methodologies into three levels:

 

Level 1

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2

Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

Level 3

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

Because of their maturities and/or variable interest rates, certain financial instruments have fair values approximating their carrying values. These instruments include cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, accounts receivable, trade payable, and long-term debt.  

 

Leases

 

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at its inception. Operating and finance leases are included in the lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and in the current portion and long-term portion of lease obligations on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. ROU 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 ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of each lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date of each lease to determine the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease, which are included in the lease ROU assets when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For certain real estate leases, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we modified the terms of some of our existing leases.  We accounted for such changes as lease modifications under ASC Topic 842 which resulted in the re-measurement of the related ROU assets and lease liabilities.

 

See Note B, Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Recently adopted accounting pronouncements.

 

Note B - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

 

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance, including requirements such as a tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, ownership changes in investments, and interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law. The standard will be effective for us in the fiscal year 2021, although early adoption is permitted. We have not elected early adoption and we do not expect that the adoption of this accounting standard update (“ASU”) will have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14,Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans  (“ASU 2018-14”), which modified the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans.  ASU 2018-14 is effective for fiscal years ending December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted.  As we did not elect to adopt ASU 2018-14 early, we are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-14 on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

 

Reference Rate Reform

 

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting Summary”.  This ASU provides temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other inter-bank offered rates are widely used benchmarks or reference rates in the United States and globally.  With global capital markets expected to move away from LIBOR and other inter-bank offered rates and toward more observable or transaction-based rates that are less susceptible to manipulation, the FASB launched a broad project in late 2018 to address potential accounting challenges expected to arise from the transition.  The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued.  This ASU is effective March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022.  We adopted this ASU on March 12, 2020 and it did not have a  material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Income taxes

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows for reclassification of stranded tax effects on items resulting from the change in the corporate tax rate as a result of H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Reform Act”), from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Tax effects unrelated to H.R. 1 are permitted to be released from accumulated other comprehensive income using either the specific identification approach or the portfolio approach, based on the nature of the underlying item. ASU 2018-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2018-02 in the first quarter of 2019. See Note I, Income Taxes, for a discussion of the impacts of this ASU.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to nonemployee share-based payment accounting, which supersedes ASC 505-50, Accounting for Distributions to Shareholders with Components of Stock and Cash, and expands the scope of ASC 718 to include all share-based payment arrangements related to the acquisition of goods and services from both non-employees and employees. As a result, most of the guidance in ASC 718 associated with employee share-based payments, including most of its requirements related to classification and measurement, applies to non-employee share-based payment arrangements. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and the interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted after the entity has adopted ASC 606. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2019 and did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

Leases

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and subsequent amendment ASU 2018-11, which requires all operating leases to be recorded on the balance sheet unless the practical expedient is elected for short-term operating leases. The lessee will record a liability for its lease obligations (initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments not yet paid over the lease term), and an asset for its right to use the underlying asset equal to the lease liability, adjusted for lease payments made at or before lease commencement). This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. This change is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. Full retrospective application is prohibited. In July 2018, the FASB approved an optional transition method to initially account for the impact of the adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the January 1, 2019, rather than the January 1, 2017, financial statements. This would eliminate the need to restate amounts presented prior to January 1, 2019.

 

We adopted the standard effective January 1, 2019, and we elected the optional transition method and the practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the standard. Accordingly, we accounted for our existing operating leases as operating leases under the new guidance, without reassessing (a) whether the contracts contain a lease under ASC Topic 842, (b) whether classification of the operating leases would be different in accordance with ASC Topic 842, or (c) whether the unamortized initial direct costs before transition adjustments (as of December 31, 2019) would have met the definition of initial direct costs in ASC Topic 842 at lease commencement.

 

The standard had a material impact on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, but did not have an impact on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) or cash flows from operations. The cumulative effect of the changes on our retained earnings was $22,000 associated with capital gain. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases. Our accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged. See Note D, Leases for further discussion.

 

Restricted Cash

 

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, which enhances and clarifies the guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows and requires additional disclosures about restricted cash balances.  The adoption of ASU 2016-18 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 

 

Note C - Revenue from Contracts with Customers

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that are within the scope of the new standard, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The new standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new standard also includes criteria for the capitalization and amortization of certain contract acquisition and fulfillment costs.

 

Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Our contracts with customers state the terms of sale, including the description, quantity, and price of the product or service purchased. Payment terms can vary by contract, but the period between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our contracts do not include any significant financing components.

 

Consistent with legacy GAAP, we present sales taxes assessed on revenue-producing transactions on a net basis.

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

We disaggregate revenue by vertical market and key revenue stream. The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 by our key vertical markets:

 

 

The nature of the services offered by each key revenue stream is different. The following tables summarize revenue from contracts with customers for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 by our four major revenue streams and the pattern of revenue recognition:

 

 

 

 

 

Our contracts with customers may consist of multiple performance obligations. If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) basis unless the transaction price is variable and meets the criteria to be allocated entirely to a performance obligation or to a distinct good or service that forms part of a single performance obligation. For most performance obligations, we determine SSP based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. Although uncommon, if the SSP is not observable through past transactions, we estimate the SSP taking into account available information such as market conditions and internally approved pricing guidelines related to the performance obligations. Further discussion of other performance obligations in each of our major revenue streams follows:

 

 

Agency & Digital Services

 

Our agency services include full-service, customer engagement agencies specializing in direct and digital communications for both consumer and business-to-business markets. Our digital solutions integrate online services within the marketing mix and include: search engine management, display, digital analytics, website development and design, digital strategy, social media, email, e-commerce, and interactive relationship management. Our contracts may include a promise to purchase media or acquire search engine marketing solutions on behalf of our clients; in such cases, we have determined we are an agent rather than a principal, and therefore recognize the net consideration as revenue.

 

Most agency and digital services performance obligations are satisfied over time and often offered on a project basis. We have concluded that the best approach to measure the progress toward completion of the project-based performance obligations is the input method, which is based on either the costs or labor hours incurred to date depending upon whether costs or labor hours more accurately depict the transfer of value to the customer.

 

The variable consideration in these contracts primarily relates to time and material-based services and reimbursable out-of-pocket travel costs, both of which are estimated using the expected value method. For time and material-based contracts, we use the “as invoiced” practical expedient.

 

Contact Centers

 

We operate tele-service workstations in the United States, Asia, and Europe to provide advanced contact center solutions such as: speech, voice and video chat, integrated voice response, analytics, social cloud monitoring, and web self-service.

 

Performance obligations are stand-ready obligations and are satisfied over time. With regard to account management and software as a service (“SaaS”), we use a time-elapsed output method to recognize revenue. For performance obligations where we charge customers a transaction-based fee, we use the output method based on transaction quantities. In most cases, our contracts provide us the right to invoice for services provided, therefore, we generally use the “as invoiced” practical expedient to recognize revenue associated with these performance obligations unless significant discounts are offered in a contract and prices for services do not represent their SSPs.

 

The variable consideration in our contracts results primarily from the transaction-based fee structure of some performance obligations with their total transaction quantities to be provided unknown at the onset of a contract, which are estimated using the expected value method.

 

Database Marketing Solutions

 

Our solutions are built around centralized marketing databases with services rendered to build custom databases, database hosting services, customer or target marketing lists and data processing services.

 

These performance obligations, including services rendered to build a custom database, database hosting services, professional services, customer or target marketing lists and data processing services, may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. We provide SaaS solutions to host data for customers and have concluded that they are stand-ready obligations to be recognized over time on a monthly basis. Our promise to provide certain data related services meets the over-time recognition criteria because our services do not create an asset with an alternative use, and we have an enforceable right to payment. For performance obligations recognized over time, we choose either the input (i.e. labor hour) or output method (i.e. number of customer records) to measure the progress toward completion depending on the nature of the services provided. Some of our other data-related services do not meet the over-time criteria and are therefore, recognized at a point-in-time, typically upon the delivery of a specific deliverable.

 

We charge our customers for certain data-related services at a fixed transaction-based rate, e.g., per thousand customer records processed. Because the quantity of transactions is unknown at the onset of a contract, our transaction price is variable, and we use the expected value method to estimate the transaction price. The uncertainty associated with the variable consideration generally resolves within a short period of time since the duration of these contracts is generally less than two months.

 

 

Direct Mail, Logistics, and Fulfillment

 

Our services, delivered internally and with our partners, include: digital printing, print on demand, advanced mail optimization, logistics and transportation optimization, tracking, commingling, shrink wrapping, and specialized mailings. We also maintain fulfillment centers where we provide custom kitting services, print on demand, product recalls, and freight optimization, thereby allowing our customers to distribute literature and other marketing materials.

 

The majority of performance obligations offered within this revenue stream are satisfied over time and utilize the input or output method, depending on the nature of the service, to measure progress toward satisfying the performance obligation. For performance obligations where we charge customers a transaction-based fee, we utilize the output method based on the quantities fulfilled. Services provided through our fulfillment centers are typically priced at a per transaction basis and our contracts provide us the right to invoice for services provided and reflects the value to the customer of the services transferred to date. In most cases, we use the “as invoiced” practical expedient to recognize revenue associated with these performance obligations unless significant discounts are offered in a contract and prices for services do not represent their standalone selling prices. For our direct mail revenue stream, our contracts may include a promise to purchase postage on behalf of our clients; in such cases, we have determined we are an agent, rather than principal and therefore recognize net consideration as revenue.

 

The variable consideration in our contracts results primarily from the transaction-based fee structure of some performance obligations with their total transaction quantities to be provided unknown at the onset of a contract, which is estimated using the expected value method.

    

Upfront Non-Refundable Fees

 

We may receive non-refundable upfront fees from customers for implementation of our SaaS database solutions products or for providing training in connection with our contact center solutions. These activities are not deemed to transfer a separate promised service and therefore, represent advanced payments. As we do not deem these activities as transferring a separate promised service, the receipt of such fees represents advanced payments. Where customers have an option to renew a contract, the customer is not required to pay similar upfront fees upon renewal. As a result, we have determined that these renewal options provide for the purchase of future services at a reduced rate and therefore, provide a material right. These upfront non-refundable fees are recognized over the period of benefit which is generally consistent with estimated customer life (four to five years for database solutions contracts and six months to one year for contact center contracts). The balance of upfront non-refundable fees collected from customers was immaterial as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations 

 

We have elected to apply certain optional exemptions that limit the disclosure requirements over remaining performance obligations at period end to exclude: performance obligations that have an original expected duration of one year or less, transactions using the “as invoiced” practical expedient, or when a performance obligation is a series and we have allocated the variable consideration directly to the services performed. As of September 30, 2020, we had no transaction prices allocated to unsatisfied or partially satisfied performance obligations.

 

Contract Balances

 

We record a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing when we have an unconditional right to consideration (only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due) and a contract asset when the right to payment is conditional upon our future performance such as delivery of an additional good or service (e.g. customer contract requires customer’s final acceptance of custom database solution or delivery of final marketing strategy presentation before customer payment is required). If invoicing occurs prior to revenue recognition, the unearned revenue is presented on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a contract liability, referred to as deferred revenue. The following table summarizes our contract balances as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

 

Revenue recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from amounts included in deferred revenue at December 31, 2019 was approximately $4.3 million. 

 

Costs to Obtain and Fulfill a Contract

 

We recognize an asset for the direct costs incurred to obtain and fulfill contracts with customers to the extent that we expect to recover these costs and if the benefit is longer than one year. These costs are amortized to expense over the expected period of the benefit in a manner that is consistent with the transfer of the related goods or services to which the asset relates. We capitalized a portion of commission expense, implementation and other costs that represents the cost to obtain a contract. The remaining unamortized contract costs were $1.6 million as of September 30, 2020. For the periods presented, no impairment was recognized.

 

 

 

Note D - Leases

 

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective approach with optional transition method. The Company recorded operating lease assets (right-of-use assets) of $22.8 million and operating lease liabilities of $23.9 million. There was minimal impact to retained earnings upon adoption of Topic 842. 

 

We have operating and finance leases for corporate and business offices, service facilities, call centers and certain equipment. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are generally not recorded on the balance sheet, unless the arrangement includes an option to purchase the underlying asset, or an option to renew the arrangement, that we are reasonably certain to exercise (short-term leases). Our leases have remaining lease terms of one year to six years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to an additional five years, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within one year.

 

We sublease our Fullerton, Jacksonville and Manila facilities. Our current subleases have lease terms ranging from five to 35 months, which will each expire at various dates by fiscal year 2023.

 

As of September 30, 2020, assets recorded under finance and operating leases were approximately $1.0 million and $13.4 million respectively, and accumulated depreciation associated with finance leases was $0.5 million. Operating lease right of use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The discount rate used to determine the commencement date present value of lease payment is the interest rate implicit in the lease, or when that is not readily determinable, we utilized our incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term at an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid or incentives received.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we modified the terms of some of our existing leases which resulted in the re-measurement of the related ROU assets and lease liabilities. We also exercised early termination options and impaired a lease for a facility we were vacating. The resulting impairment and early termination charges are included in our restructuring expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.  Please refer to Note O - Restructuring Activities for more details.

 

The following table presents supplemental balance sheet information related to our financing and operating leases:

 

 

 

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the components of lease expense were as follows:

 

 

 

 

Other information related to leases was as follows:

 

 

 

The maturities of the Company’s finance and operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2020 are as follows: 

 

 

As of September 30, 2020, we have one operating lease for our new fulfillment center in Kansas City that has not yet commenced.

 

 

 

Note E - Convertible Preferred Stock

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue 1.0 million shares of preferred stock. On January 30, 2018, we issued 9,926 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock to Wipro at an issue price of $1,000 per share, for gross proceeds of $9.9 million pursuant to a Certificate of Designation filed with the State of Delaware on January 29, 2018. We incurred $0.2 million of transaction fees in connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock which are netted against the gross proceeds of $9.9 million on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Series A Preferred Stock has the following rights and privileges:

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding down of the Company or a Fundamental Transaction (defined in the Certificate of Designation for the Series A Preferred Stock), whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, prior to and in preference to the holders of common stock, from the assets of the Company available for distribution, an amount equal to the greater of (i) the original issue price, plus any dividends accrued but unpaid thereon, and (ii) such amount as would have been payable to Wipro had all shares of Series A Preferred Stock been converted into common stock immediately before such liquidation.

 

Upon liquidation, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of common stock.

 

Dividends

 

Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding down of the Company, or a Fundamental Transaction (collectively, a “Liquidation”), shares of Series A Preferred Stock which have not been otherwise converted to common stock, shall be entitled to receive dividends that accrue at a rate of (i) 5.0% each year, or (ii) the rate that cash dividends are paid in respect of shares of common stock (with Series A Preferred Stock being paid on an as-converted basis in such case) for such year if such rate is greater than 5.0%. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are cumulative and accrue to the holders thereof whether or not declared by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). Dividends are payable solely upon a Liquidation, and only if prior to such Liquidation such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have not been converted to common stock. As of September 30, 2020, cumulative dividends payable to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon a Liquidation totaled $1.3 million or $133.46 per share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Conversion

 

At the option of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be converted into common stock at a rate of 100.91 shares of common stock for one share of Series A Preferred Stock, subject to certain future adjustments.

 

Voting and Other Rights

 

The Series A Preferred Stock does not have voting rights, except as otherwise required by law. Other rights afforded the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, under defined circumstances, include the election and removal of one member of the Board as a separate voting class, the ability to approve certain actions of the Company prior to execution, and preemptive rights to participate in any future issuance of new securities. In addition, under certain circumstances, the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to appoint an observer to our Board. The holder of the Series A Preferred Stock has elected to exercise its observer appointment rights but has not exercised its right to appoint the board member.

 

We determined that the Series A Preferred Stock has contingent redemption provisions allowing redemption by the holder upon certain defined events. As the event that may trigger the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock is not solely within our control, the Series A Preferred Stock is classified as mezzanine equity (temporary equity) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2020.

 

 

 

Note F — Long-Term Debt

 

 

Credit Facility

 

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had $17.1 million and $18.7 million borrowings outstanding under the Texas Capital Credit Facility (as defined below), respectively. As of September 30, 2020, we had the ability to borrow an additional of $0.1 million under the facility.

 

On April 17, 2017, we entered into a secured credit facility with Texas Capital Bank, N.A (“Texas Capital Bank”), that provided a $20.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Texas Capital Credit Facility”) and for letters of credit issued by Texas Capital Bank up to $5.0 million. The Texas Capital Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the Company’s and its material domestic subsidiaries’ assets. The Texas Capital Credit Facility is guaranteed by HHS Guaranty, LLC, an entity formed to provide credit support for Harte Hanks by certain members of the Shelton family (descendants of one of our founders).

 

Under the Texas Capital Credit Facility, we can elect to accrue interest on outstanding principal balances at either LIBOR plus 1.95% or prime plus 0.75%. Unused commitment balances accrue interest at 0.50%. We are required to pay a quarterly fee of 0.5% as consideration for the guarantee to HHS Guaranty, LLC of the value of the collateral it actually pledged to secure the facility, which for the three months ended September 30, 2020 amounted to $0.1 million.

 

The Texas Capital Credit Facility is subject to customary covenants requiring insurance, legal compliance, payment of taxes, prohibition of second liens, and secondary indebtedness, as well as the filing of quarterly and annual financial statements. The Company has been in compliance of all the requirements.

 

The Texas Capital Credit Facility originally had an expiration date of April 17, 2019, at which point all outstanding amounts would have been due. On January 9, 2018, we entered into an amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility that increased the borrowing capacity to $22.0 million and extended the maturity by one year to April 17, 2020. On May 7, 2019, we entered into a second amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility which further extended the maturity of the facility by one year to April 17, 2021. On May 11, 2020, we entered into a third amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility which further extended the maturity of the facility by one year to April 17, 2022 and decreased the borrowing capacity to $19.0 million. The Texas Capital Credit Facility remains secured by substantially all of our assets and continues to be guaranteed by HHS Guaranty, LLC.

 

At September 30, 2020, we had letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $1.8 million. No amounts were drawn against these letters of credit at September 30, 2020. These letters of credit exist to support insurance programs relating to workers’ compensation, automobile liability, and general liability.

 

On April 14, 2020, the Company entered into a promissory note with Texas Capital Bank,  for an unsecured loan with a principal amount of $10.0 million made to the Company pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP Term Note”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The PPP Term Note is guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration.

 

The PPP Term Note bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 1.00%, with interest deferred for the first six months. Beginning in November 2020, the Company will be required to make 18 equal monthly payments of principal and interest with the final payment due in April 2022, unless the loan is forgiven as described below. The PPP Term Note may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default.

 

The proceeds may be used to maintain payroll or make certain covered interest payments, lease payments and utility payments. Under the terms of the CARES Act, the Company can be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of the loan granted under the Paycheck Protection Program, with such forgiveness to be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of the loan proceeds for permitted expenses.

 

At this time, the Company anticipates forgiveness of the entire amount of the PPP Term Note; however, we are not in a position to estimate the timing of the completion of the forgiveness process. We expect to apply for forgiveness of the PPP Term Note in the fourth quarter of 2020. We have elected to classify the principal balance of the PPP Term Note within both Short-term and Long-term debt, net, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020. Under the existing terms of the PPP Term Note, if no forgiveness is granted, approximately $6.7 million of the principal amount of the PPP Term Note would be due within twelve months from September 30, 2020.

 

 

Note G — Stock-Based Compensation

 

We maintain stock incentive plans for the benefit of certain officers, directors, and employees, including the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). We recently established our 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2020 Plan") which has taken the place of the 2013 Plan going forward. Any shares of common stock that remain eligible for issuance under the 2013 Plan are now eligible for issuance under the 2020 Plan. Our stock incentive plans provide for the ability to issue stock options, cash stock appreciation rights, performance stock units, phantom stock units and cash performance stock units. Our cash stock appreciation rights, phantom stock units and cash performance stock units settle solely in cash and are treated as a liability, which are adjusted each reporting period based on changes in our stock price.

 

Compensation expense for stock-based awards is based on the fair values of the awards on the date of grant and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award in the “Labor” line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). We recognized $0.3 million and $0.3 million of stock-based compensation expense during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We recognized $0.6 million and $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 

 

 

Note H — Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

Prior to January 1, 1999, we provided a defined benefit pension plan for which most of our employees were eligible to participate (the “Qualified Pension Plan”).  In conjunction with significant enhancements to our 401(k) plan, we elected to freeze benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan as of December 31, 1998.

 

In 1994, we adopted a non-qualified, unfunded, supplemental pension plan (the “Restoration Pension Plan”) covering certain employees, which provides for incremental pension payments so that total pension payments equal those amounts that would have been payable from the principal pension plan were it not for limitations imposed by income tax regulation. The benefits under the Restoration Pension Plan were intended to provide benefits equivalent to our Qualified Pension Plan as if such plan had not been frozen. We elected to freeze benefits under the Restoration Pension Plan as of April 1, 2014.

 

Net pension cost for both plans included the following components:

 

 

We are required to make a $6.0 million minimum contribution to our Qualified Pension Plan in 2020.

 

We are not required to make, and do not intend to make, any contributions to our Restoration Pension Plan other than to the extent needed to cover benefit payments. We made benefit payments under this supplemental plan of $1.3 million in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.

 

 

Note I - Income Taxes

 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act

 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020. The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“2017 Tax Act”). Under the CARES Act, corporate taxpayers may carryback net operating losses (“ NOLs”) realized during 2018 through 2020 for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the 2017 Tax Act. The CARES Act also eliminates the 80% of taxable income limitations by allowing corporate entities to fully utilize NOL carryforwards to offset taxable income in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Taxpayers may generally deduct interest up to the sum of 50% of adjusted taxable income plus business interest income (30% limit under the 2017 Tax Act) for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and 2020. The CARES Act allows taxpayers with alternative minimum tax credits to claim a refund in 2020 for the entire amount of the credits instead of recovering the credits through refunds over a period of years, as originally enacted by the 2017 Tax Act. In addition, the CARES Act raises the corporate charitable deduction limit to 25% of taxable income and makes qualified improvement property generally eligible for 15-year cost-recovery and 100% bonus depreciation. 

 

Our income tax benefit of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 resulted in an effective income tax rate of 3.2%. Our income tax benefit of $12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 resulted in an effective income tax rate of 82.4%. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0%, primarily due to the change in valuation allowances recorded on our deferred tax assets for federal net operating losses incurred as a result of the enactment of the CARES Act during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. These losses will be carried back to tax years when the federal statutory rate was 35%, resulting in an additional tax benefit.

 

Our income tax expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 resulted in a negative effective income tax rate of 1.7%. Our income tax expense of $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 resulted in a negative effective income tax rate of 3.7%. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0%, primarily due to valuation allowances recorded on our deferred tax assets for current period federal net operating losses incurred, as we have concluded that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

We have in general historically calculated the provision for income taxes during interim reporting periods by applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the full calendar year to ordinary income or loss for the reporting period. However, we have used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 because we determined that our ordinary income or loss cannot be reliably estimated and small changes in estimated ordinary income would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate.

 

Effective January 1, 2019 we adopted ASU 2018-02 which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings of stranded tax effects resulting from the reduction of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate from 35% to 21% due to the enactment of the Tax Reform Act. As a result of the adoption, we reclassified $11.4 million of stranded tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

 

Harte Hanks, or one of our subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, U.S. state, and foreign jurisdictions. For U.S. state returns, we are no longer subject to tax examinations for tax years prior to 2014. For U.S. federal and foreign returns, we are no longer subject to tax examinations for tax years prior to 2016.

 

We have elected to classify any interest expense and penalties related to income taxes within income tax expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). We did not have a significant amount of interest or penalties accrued at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

 

 

 

Note J - Earnings Per Share

 

In periods in which the Company has net income, the Company is required to calculate earnings per share (“EPS”) using the two-class method. The two-class method is required because the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock is considered a participating security with objectively determinable and non-discretionary dividend participation rights. Series A Preferred stockholders have the right to participate in dividends above their five percent dividend rate should the Company declare dividends on its common stock at a dividend rate higher than the five percent (on an as-converted basis). Under the two-class method, undistributed and distributed earnings are allocated on a pro-rata basis to the common and the preferred stockholders. The weighted-average number of common and preferred stock outstanding during the period is then used to calculate EPS for each class of shares.

 

In periods in which the Company has a net loss, basic loss per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. The treasury stock method is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The two-class method is not used, because the calculation would be anti-dilutive.

 

Reconciliations of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:

 

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, the following shares have been excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation: 0.1 million and 0.1 million shares of anti-dilutive market price options; 0.7 million and 0.2 million of anti-dilutive unvested shares; and 1.0 million and 1.0 million shares of anti-dilutive Series A Preferred Stock (as if converted).

 

 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, the following shares have been excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation: 32 thousand and 0.1 million shares of anti-dilutive market price options; 0.4 million and 0.2 million of anti-dilutive unvested shares; and 1.0 million and 1.0 shares of anti-dilutive Series A Preferred Stock (as if converted).

 

 

Note K — Comprehensive income (loss)

 

Comprehensive income (loss) for a period encompasses net income (loss) and all other changes in equity other than from transactions with our stockholders. Our comprehensive income (loss) was as follows:

 

 

 

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component were as follows:

 

 

 

Reclassification amounts related to the defined pension plans are included in the computation of net periodic pension benefit cost (see Note H, Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost).

 

Note L — Litigation and Contingencies

 

In the normal course of our business, we are obligated under some agreements to indemnify our clients as a result of claims that we infringe on the proprietary rights of third parties. The terms and duration of these commitments vary and, in some cases, may be indefinite, and certain of these commitments do not limit the maximum amount of future payments we could become obligated to make thereunder; accordingly, our actual aggregate maximum exposure related to these types of commitments is not reasonably estimable. Historically, we have not been obligated to make significant payments for obligations of this nature, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

We are also subject to various claims and legal proceedings in the ordinary course of conducting our businesses and, from time to time, we may become involved in additional claims and lawsuits incidental to our businesses. We routinely assess the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as ranges of probable losses; to the extent losses are reasonably estimable. Accruals are recorded for these matters to the extent that management concludes a loss is probable and the financial impact, should an adverse outcome occur, is reasonable estimable.

 

In the opinion of management, appropriate and adequate accruals for legal matters have been made, and management believes that the probability of a material loss beyond the amounts accrued is remote. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future developments affecting our pending or future claims and lawsuits. We expense legal costs as incurred, and all recorded legal liabilities are adjusted as required as better information becomes available to us. The factors we consider when recording an accrual for contingencies include, among others: (i) the opinions and views of our legal counsel; (ii) our previous experience; and (iii) the decision of our management as to how we intend to respond to the complaints.

 

 

 

Note M — Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

 

From 2016 until October 2020, we conducted business with Wipro, whereby Wipro provided us with a variety of technology-related services. We have since terminated all service agreements. 

 

Effective January 30, 2018, Wipro became a related party when it purchased 9,926 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock (which are convertible at Wipro’s option into 1,001,614 shares, or 16% of our common stock), for aggregate consideration of $9.9 million. For information pertaining to the Company’s preferred stock, See Note E, Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded no revenue from services we provided to Wipro.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded an immaterial amount of revenue for services we provided to Wipro.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded immaterial amount of expenses for technology-related services Wipro provided to us. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded $2.6 million and $9.5 million of expense, respectively, for technology-related services and lease expense for a facility Wipro provided to us.

 

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had trade payables due to Wipro of $0 and $1.5 million respectively.  As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had no trade receivables due from Wipro.

 

In the third quarter of 2019, we entered into a business relationship with Snap Kitchen, the founder of which is a 9% owner of Harte Hanks. We recorded $164,000 of revenue earned from Snap Kitchen in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

As described in Note F, Long-Term Debt, the Company’s Texas Capital Credit Facility is secured by HHS Guaranty, LLC, an entity formed to provide credit support for the Company by certain members of the Shelton family (descendants of one of our founders). Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Fee, Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement, dated January 9, 2018, between HHS Guaranty, LLC and the Company, HHS Guaranty, LLC has the right to appoint one representative director to the Board and is paid a fee to provide the guarantee. Currently, David L. Copeland serves as the HHS Guaranty, LLC representative on the Board.

 

 

 

Note N — Sale of Direct Mail Assets and Equipment

 

On April 24, 2020, we sold the majority of the production equipment from our Jacksonville facility to Summit Direct Mail Inc. (“Summit”) for $1.5 million.  Subsequent to April 2020, the Company sold or scrapped the remaining supplies and equipment in Jacksonville for additional proceeds of $0.5 million.  In addition to the asset sale, the Company entered into a strategic partnership with Summit, pursuant to which the Company continues to manage client relationships, and may at its discretion and direction, use Summit to perform direct mail campaigns.  We act as principal in these transactions, and will account for the associated revenue on a gross basis.

 

The Company is well positioned to provide the full suite of marketing solutions to Summit customers and will leverage the expanded print and direct mail capabilities provided by the partnership with Summit to grow our business. 

 

As a result of this sale, we booked a $1.9 million impairment charge on our Jacksonville facility and recognized a $1.4 million capital loss and impairment expense from the fixed asset disposal and impairment associated with the Summit deal.  These expenses were included in our restructuring expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

 

Note O — Restructuring Activities

 

In 2019, our management team, along with members of the Board, formed a project committee focused on cost-saving initiatives and other restructuring efforts. This committee reviewed each of our business segments and other operational areas to identify both one-time and recurring cost-saving opportunities. In 2020, our management team continues to review and adjust our cost structure and operating footprint, optimize our operations, and invest in improved technology.

 

During 2020, in an effort to right-size our operating footprint, we terminated leases in Wilkes Barre and Grand Prairie and exited our last direct mail facility in Jacksonville.  We will migrate our fulfillment business from the Grand Prairie operations into a new 300,000 square foot facility in Kansas City by the end of 2020.  The new Kansas City location will be our primary facility in the Midwest. We have successfully reduced the footprint of our Customer Care business by reducing our Austin office location by 50,000 square feet in addition to exiting and subleasing one of our Manila offices since the business is operating effectively in a work-from-home environment. 

 

In the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 we recorded restructuring charges of $1.4 million and $3.1 million respectively.  The charges for the three months ended September 30, 2020 included $0.6 million of severance charges, $0.6 million of facility related and other expenses, and $0.2 million in capital losses from the asset disposal associated with the Summit deal.  The charges for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were primarily related to or comprised of $1.1 million of severance expense, $1.3 million of lease impairment and other charges, and $0.7 million contract termination fee. 

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded restructuring charges of $8.0 million and $10.9 million respectively. The charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 included $3.0 million of lease impairment charges related to the exit from our direct mail facilities, $2.0 million of severance charges, $1.3 million in capital losses from the asset disposal associated with the Summit deal and $2.0 million of facility related and other expenses. The charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were primarily related to or comprised of the $4.0 million write off of our customer databases and $2.8 million contract termination fee, $1.8 million of severance expense, $1.0 million lease impairment charge, and $0.6 million asset impairment charge as well as $0.7 million of facility and other expenses. 

 

The following table summarizes the restructuring charges which are recorded in “Restructuring Expense” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

 

 

The following table summarizes the changes in liabilities related to restructuring activities:

 

 

 

 

 

We expect that in connection with our cost-saving and restructuring initiatives, we will incur total restructuring charges of approximately $21.0 million through the end of 2020. We recognized $8.0 million of restructuring expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and recognized $11.8 million of restructuring expense in the year ended December 31, 2019.  We expect to incur $1.2 million of restructuring charges through the end of 2020.