Paysign, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

or

o 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 000-54123

3PEA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)

1700 W Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 201,

Henderson, Nevada 89012

(Address of principal executive offices)

(702) 453-2221

(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)

_______________________________________________________

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

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 x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x

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 under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one.)

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 o

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

State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date: 43,210,765 shares as of May 2, 2017.

3PEA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

FORM 10-Q REPORT

INDEX

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

3PEA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

MARCH 31, 2017 AND DECEMBER 31, 2016

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3PEA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 AND 2016

(UNAUDITED)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3PEA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017

(UNAUDITED)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3PEA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 AND 2015

(UNAUDITED)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

1.     BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES

The foregoing unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all of the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for complete financial statements. These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements furnished herein include all adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period presented.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumption are inherent in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions that could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017.

About 3PEA International, Inc.

3PEA International, Inc. is a vertically integrated provider of innovative prepaid card programs and processing services for corporate, consumer and government applications. Our payment solutions are utilized by our customers as a means to increase customer loyalty, reduce administration costs and streamline operations. Public sector organizations can utilize our solutions to disburse public benefits or for internal payments. We market our prepaid debit card solutions under our PaySign^® brand. As we are a payment processor and debit card program manager, we derive our revenue from all stages of the debit card lifecycle. We provide a card processing platform consisting of proprietary systems and innovative software applications based on the unique needs of our programs. We have extended our processing business capabilities through our proprietary PaySign platform. We provide a variety of services including transaction processing, cardholder enrollment, value loading, cardholder account management, reporting, and customer service.

We have developed prepaid card programs for healthcare reimbursement payments, pharmaceutical co-pay assistance, donor compensation and corporate incentive and rewards. We plan to expand our product offering to include payroll cards, general purpose re-loadable cards, travel cards, and expense reimbursement and per diem cards. Our cards are offered to end users through our relationships with bank issuers.

Our proprietary PaySign^® platform was built on modern cross-platform architecture and designed to be highly flexible, scalable and customizable. The platform allows 3PEA to significantly expand its operational capabilities by facilitating our entry into new markets within the payments space through its flexibility and ease of customization. The PaySign platform delivers cost benefits and revenue building opportunities to our partners.

We manage all aspects of the debit card lifecycle, from managing the card design and approval processes with partners and associations, to production, packaging, distribution, and personalization. We also oversee inventory and security controls, renewals, lost and stolen card management and replacement. We deploy a fully staffed, in-house customer service department which utilizes bi-lingual customer service agents, Interactive Voice Response, (IVR), SMS alerts and two way SMS messaging. 

Principles of consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Restricted cash – Restricted cash is a cash account controlled by the Company which funds are received related to the card programs from our customers. The Company has recorded a corresponding customer card funding liability.

Intangible assets - Internally Developed Software Costs - Computer software development costs are expensed as incurred, except for internal use software or website development costs that qualify for capitalization as described below, and include compensation and related expenses, costs of hardware and software, and costs incurred in developing features and functionality.

For computer software developed or obtained for internal use, costs that are incurred in the preliminary project and post implementation stages of software development are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application and development stage are capitalized. Capitalized costs are amortized using the straight-line method over a three year estimated useful life, beginning in the period in which the software is available for use

For intangible assets, we recognize an impairment loss if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. The carrying amount of the intangible asset is considered not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

Revenue and expense recognition – We recognize revenue when (1) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement existing, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) our price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and (4) collectability of the receivables is reasonably assured. We recognize the costs of these revenues at the time revenue is recognized. Any fees paid up front are deferred until such time such services have been considered rendered. As of March 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no deferred revenues recorded.

We generate the following types of revenues:

The Company records all revenues on gross basis in accordance with ASC 605-45 since it is the primary obligor and establishes the price in the revenue arrangement. The Company is currently under no obligation for refunding any fees or has any obligations for disputed claim settlements.

Earnings (loss) per share - Basic earnings (loss) per share exclude any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible securities. Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding common stocks during the applicable period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is antidilutive.

Reclassification of prior year presentation - Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations. In first quarter of March 31, 2016, the Company concluded that it was appropriate to reclassify its customer service center costs from general and administration expense to cost of sales. This change in classification does not affect previously reported cash flows from operations in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and had no effect on the previously reported net income of the Consolidated Statement of Income for any period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows – Restricted Cash a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.” This standard requires restricted cash and cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows under a retrospective transition approach. The guidance became effective for fiscal years beginning December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has retrospectively adopted ASU 2016-18.

2.     FIXED ASSETS

Fixed assets consist of the following:

3.     INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets consist of the following:

Intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives ranging from periods of 3 to 15 years.

4.     NOTES PAYABLE

Notes payable consist of the following:

5.     COMMON STOCK

At March 31, 2017, the Company's authorized capital stock was 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of that date, the Company had outstanding 43,185,765 shares of common stock, and no shares of preferred stock.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company did not issue any shares.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company issued shares of common stock as follows:

Stock and Warrant Grants:

In November 2016, the Company granted a total of 5,000,000 shares to certain officers and directors of the Company with a total value of $787,950 or $0.15759 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The 5,000,000 shares have a quarterly vesting period of five years with the first vesting period occurring on December 31, 2016. The approximate value vested for 2017 is $39,397, for which a payable has been recorded for the same vested amount as of December 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, none of the shares have been issued.

In November 2016, the Company granted 210,000 shares to a consultant. The shares were valued at $33,094 or $0.15759 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The 210,000 shares have a quarterly vesting period of three years with the first vesting period occurring on December 31, 2016. The approximate value vested for 2016 is $2,758 for which a payable has been recorded for the same vested amount as of December 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, none of the shares have been issued

In March 2015, the Company granted 200,000 shares of common stock along with 200,000 warrants to a consultant. The shares were valued at $30,600 or $0.16 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The warrants were valued at $34,611, using the Black-Scholes options pricing model under the following assumptions: stock price at issuance of $0.18 per share; exercise price of $0.50, 3 year life; discount rate of 2.00%; and volatility rate of 245%. The 200,000 shares and 200,000 warrants granted have a vesting period of six months of which one month, and were fully vested as of March 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, the 200,000 shares have been issued and the warrants for 200,000 shares were granted.

In August 2014, the Company granted 150,000 shares of common stock to a consultant with a total value of $25,500 or $0.17 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The 150,000 shares granted have a vesting period of three years of which thirty two had vested as of March 31, 2017. The approximate value vested for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $2,100 and $2,100, respectively As of March 31, 2017, 100,000 shares granted have been issued.

In September 2014, the Company granted 150,000 shares of common stock along with 150,000 Class A warrants and 150,000 Class B warrants to an advisory board member. The shares were valued at $19,250 or $0.13 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity. The warrants were valued at $42,761, using the Black-Scholes options pricing model under the following assumptions: stock price at issuance of $0.15 per share; exercise price of $0.25 for the Class A warrants and $0.50 for the Class B warrants; 3 year life; discount rate of 2.00%; and volatility rate of 245%. The 150,000 shares and 300,000 warrants granted vest over a 3 year period, at 50,000 shares and 100,000 warrants per year of which nineteen months had vested as of March 31, 2016. The approximate value vested for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $5,100 and $5,100, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, 112,500 of the 150,000 shares and none 300,000 warrants granted has been issued.

In September 2014, the Company granted 200,000 shares of common stock along with 200,000 warrants to a consultant. The shares were valued at $30,600 or $0.16 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The warrants were valued at $34,611, using the Black-Scholes options pricing model under the following assumptions: stock price at issuance of $0.18 per share; exercise price of $0.25; 3 year life; discount rate of 2.00%; and volatility rate of 245%. The 150,000 shares and 200,000 warrants granted had a vesting period of six months and were fully vested as March 31, 2016. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 the company had issued the 200,000 shares and warrant for 200,000 shares of common stock.

In October 2014, the Company granted 150,000 shares of common stock to an advisory board member with a total value of $32,400 or $0.21 per share (including a 10% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The 150,000 shares granted will vest over a 3 year period, at 50,000 shares per year of which eighteen months had vested as of March 31, 2016. The approximate value vested for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $2,700 and $2,700, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, 112,500 of the shares previously vested have been issued.

In November 2014, the Company issued a warrant for 100,000 shares of common stock as part of a debt settlement, whereby the noteholder returned 2,442,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the Company’s satisfaction of all principal and interest due on the note. The warrant has an exercise price of $0.50 and life of three years.

In October 2013, the Company granted 300,000 shares of common stock to an employee of the Company with a total value of $38,250 or $0.15 per share (including a 15% discount of fair market value due to these shares being restricted and lacking market liquidity). The 300,000 shares granted have a vesting period of three years and was fully vested as of October 2016. The approximate value vested for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $0.00 and $3,200, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, all 300,000 shares granted have been issued.

6. LEGAL SETTLEMENT PAYABLE

On August 11, 2015, PSKW, LLC (“PSKW”) served the Company, with a complaint titled PSKW, LLC v. 3Pea International, Inc., filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 5:15-cv-03576-RMW, San Jose Division (the “Action”). In the Action, PSKW asserted claims against the Company for $5,800,000 for marketing fees allegedly due by the Company. The Company contended, among other things, that PSKW breached its agreement with the Company, for which the Company was damaged in an amount in excess of the amount which PSKW claimed was owed by the Company to PSKW. The parties each denied liability, and entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release on October 2, 2015 whereby the Company agreed to pay $2,500,000 to PSKW in full settlement of the Action. The settlement amount is payable by an initial payment of $1,000,000 no later than October 7, 2015, which was paid in October 2015, with the balance of $1,500,000 being payable in equal monthly installments over 18 months with interest at 3% per annum commencing on November 1, 2015. The Court dismissed the Action with prejudice, but retained jurisdiction to enforce the Settlement Agreement. 3Pea Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, guaranteed the amount due under the Settlement Agreement. The Company expensed the entire $2,500,000 settlement during the year ended December 31, 2015 since the principal terms of the Settlement Agreement had been agreed to as of that date. As of March 31, 2017, the remaining unpaid balance of $254,900 was paid in full.

7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In April 2017, the Company issued 12,500 shares to a member of the board of advisors, which had been previously accrued for as a stock payable at March 31, 2017.

In April 2017, the Company issued 12,500 shares to a member of the board of advisors, which had been previously accrued for as a stock payable at March 31, 2017.

Item 2. Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.

Disclosure Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Forward Looking Statements”). All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this report are Forward Looking Statements. In the normal course of our business, we, in an effort to help keep our shareholders and the public informed about our operations, may from time-to-time issue certain statements, either in writing or orally, that contains or may contain Forward-Looking Statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such Forward Looking Statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Generally, these statements relate to business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated benefits or other consequences of such plans or strategies, past and possible future, of acquisitions and projected or anticipated benefits from acquisitions made by or to be made by us, or projections involving anticipated revenues, earnings, levels of capital expenditures or other aspects of operating results. All phases of our operations are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks and other influences, many of which are outside of our control and any one of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect the results of our proposed operations and whether Forward Looking Statements made by us ultimately prove to be accurate. Such important factors (“Important Factors”) and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in this report, including those factors discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” All prior and subsequent written and oral Forward Looking Statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Important Factors described below that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations as set forth in any Forward Looking Statement made by or on behalf of us.

Overview

3PEA International, Inc. is a vertically integrated provider of innovative prepaid card programs and processing services for corporate, consumer and government applications. Our payment solutions are utilized by our corporate customers as a means to increase customer loyalty, reduce administration costs and streamline operations. Public sector organizations can utilize the solutions to disburse public benefits or for internal payments. We market our prepaid debit card solutions under our PaySign brand. As we are a payment processor and debit card program manager, we derive our revenue from all stages of the debit card lifecycle. We provide a card processing platform consisting of proprietary systems and innovative software applications based on the unique needs of our programs. We have extended our processing business capabilities through our proprietary PaySign platform. Through the PaySign platform, we provide a variety of services including transaction processing, cardholder enrollment, value loading, cardholder account management, reporting, and customer service.

The PaySign platform was built on modern cross-platform architecture and designed to be highly flexible, scalable and customizable. The platform has allowed 3PEA to significantly expand its operational capabilities by facilitating our entry into new markets within the payments space through its flexibility and ease of customization. The PaySign platform delivers cost benefits and revenue building opportunities to our partners.

We have developed prepaid card programs for corporate and incentive rewards including, but not limited to healthcare reimbursement payments, pharmaceutical co-pay assistance, donor compensation and automobile dealership incentives. We are expanding our product offering to include additional corporate incentive products, payroll cards, general purpose re-loadable cards, travel cards, and expense reimbursement cards. Our cards are offered to end users through our relationships with bank issuers.

We are a vertically integrated payment processor and debit card program manager offering innovative payment solutions to corporations, government agencies, universities and other organizations. Our payment solutions are utilized by our customers as a means to increase customer loyalty, reduce administration costs and streamline operations. We market our prepaid debit card solutions under our PaySign brand. As we are a payment processor and debit card program manager, we derive our revenue from all stages of the debit card lifecycle. These revenues can include fees from program set-up; customization and development; data processing and report generation; card production and fulfillment; transaction fees derived from card usage; inactivity fees; card replacement fees and program administration fees. We provide an in-house customer service center which includes live bi-lingual phone operators staffed 24/7, for incoming calls. We also provide in house Interactive Voice Response (IVR), SMS alerts and two way SMS messaging platforms.

We are a vertically integrated payment processor and debit card program manager offering innovative payment solutions to corporations, government agencies, universities and other organizations. Our payment solutions are utilized by our customers as a means to increase customer loyalty, reduce administration costs and streamline operations. We market our prepaid debit card solutions under our PaySign brand. As we are a payment processor and debit card program manager, we derive our revenue from all stages of the debit card lifecycle. These revenues can include fees from program set-up; customization and development; data processing and report generation; card production and fulfillment; transaction fees derived from card usage; inactivity fees; card replacement fees and program administration fees. We provide an in-house customer service center which includes live bi-lingual phone operators staffed 24/7, for incoming calls. We also provide in house Interactive Voice Response and two way SMS messaging platforms.

The Company divides prepaid cards into two general categories: corporate and consumer reloadable, and non-reloadable cards.

Reloadable Cards: These types of cards are generally incentive, payroll or considered general purpose reloadable (“GPR”) cards. Payroll cards are issued to an employee by an employer to receive the direct deposit of their payroll. GPR cards can also be issued to a consumer at a retail location or mailed to a consumer after completing an on-line application. GPR cards can be reloaded multiple times with a consumer’s payroll, government benefit, a federal or state tax refund or through cash reload networks located at retail locations. Reloadable cards are generally open loop cards as described below.

Non-Reloadable Cards: These are generally one-time use cards that are only active until the funds initially loaded to the card are spent. These types of cards are gift or incentive cards. These cards may be open loop or closed loop. Normally these types of cards are used for purchase of goods or services at retail locations and cannot be used to receive cash.

These prepaid cards may be open loop, closed loop or semi-closed loop. Open loop cards can be used to receive cash at ATM locations or purchase goods or services by PIN or signature at retail locations. These cards can be used virtually anywhere that the network brand (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, etc.) is accepted. Closed loop cards can only be used at a specific merchant. Semi-closed loop cards can be used at several merchants such as a shopping mall.

The prepaid card market is one of the fastest growing segments of the payments industry in the U.S. This market has experienced significant growth in recent years due to consumers and merchants embracing improved technology, greater convenience, more product choices and greater flexibility. Prepaid cards have also proven to be an attractive alternative to traditional bank accounts for certain segments of the population, particularly those without, or who could not qualify for, a checking or savings account.

We have developed prepaid card programs for healthcare reimbursement payments, corporate and incentive rewards and expense reimbursement cards. We plan to expand our product offering to include payroll cards, general purpose re-loadable cards and travel cards. Our cards are offered to end users through our relationships with bank issuers.

Our products and services are aimed at capitalizing on the growing demand for stored value and reloadable ATM/prepaid card financial products in a variety of market niches. Our proprietary platform is scalable and customizable, delivering cost benefits and revenue building opportunities to partners. We manage all aspects of the debit card lifecycle, from managing the card design and approval processes with banking partners and card associations, to production, packaging, distribution, and personalization. We also oversee inventory and security controls, renewals, lost and stolen card management and replacement.

As part of our platform expansion development process, we evaluate current and emerging technologies for applicability to our existing and future software platform. To this end, we engage with various hardware and software vendors in evaluation of various infrastructure components. Where appropriate, we use third-party technology components in the development of our software applications and service offerings. Third-party software may be used for highly specialized business functions, which we may not be able to develop internally within time and budget constraints. Our principal target markets for processing services include prepaid card issuers, retail and private-label issuers, small third-party processors, and small and mid-size financial institutions in the United States and in emerging international markets.

The Company is devoting more extensive resources to sales and marketing activities as we have added essential personnel to our marketing and sales department. We sell our products directly to customers in the U.S. but may work with a small number of resellers and third parties in international markets to identify, sell and support targeted opportunities.

In order to expand into new markets, we will need to invest additional funds in technology improvements, sales and marketing expenses, and regulatory compliance costs. We are considering raising capital to enable us to diversify into new market verticals. If we do not raise new capital, we believe that we will still be able to expand into new markets using internally generated funds, but our expansion will not be as rapid.

Results of Operations

Three Months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $3,200,895 an increase of $1,019,536 compared to the same period in the prior year, when revenues were $2,181,359. The increase in revenue was primarily due to an increase in the number of new corporate incentive prepaid card products and growth within our existing corporate incentive prepaid card products. As of March 31, 2017, we managed 126 card programs with over 1,150,000 participating cardholders.

Revenue from our card programs is typically impacted by seasonality normally seen in the first quarter. However, we expect our revenues will continue to trend upward during the remaining part of 2017 with the continued growth in our cardholder base.

Cost of revenues (excluding depreciation and amortization) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $1,833,549, an increase of $540,870 compared to the same period in the prior year, when cost of revenues were $1,292,679. Cost of revenues constituted approximately 57% and 59% of total revenues in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Cost of revenues is comprised of transaction processing fees, data connectivity and data center expenses, customer service, network fees, card production costs, and program management expenses, application integration setup and sales expense.

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $1,367,346, an increase of $478,666 compared to the same period in the prior year, when gross profit was $888,680. Our overall gross profit percentage approximated 43% and 41% during the first quarters of 2017 and 2016 which is consistent with our overall expectations.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $814,277, an increase of $100,383 compared to the same period in the prior year, when selling, general and administrative expenses were $713,894.  The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increases in expenses related to an expected accelerated rollout of additional new card programs which are expected to occur later in the year.

Depreciation and amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $215,267, an increase of $91,634 compared to the same period prior year of $123,633. Overall increase in depreciation and amortization was primarily a result of an increase in amortization expense related to additional capitalized platform costs.

In the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recorded operating income of $337,802, as compared to operating income of $51,153 in the same period in the prior year, a change of $286,649 compared to the prior period.

Other income (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $20,096 an increase in net other income (expense) of $31,821 compared to the same period in the prior year when other income (expense) was $(11,725).

Net income before noncontrolling interest for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $354,898, an increase of $315,470 compared to the same period in the prior year of $39,428. The increase in our net income before noncontrolling interest is attributable to the aforementioned factors.

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $14,496, a decrease of $28,016 compared to the same period in the prior year of $42,512. The decrease in net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest is primarily due to a decrease in expenses related to our European subsidiary.

Net income attributable to 3Pea International, Inc. for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $369,394, an increase of $287,454 compared to the same period in the prior year, when we recorded net income of $81,940. The increase in our net income is attributable to the aforementioned factors.

Liquidity and Sources of Capital

The following table sets forth the major sources and uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

Comparison of three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, we financed our operations primarily through internally generated funds.

Operating activities provided $1,470,011 of cash in the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to $331,260 of cash provided by the same period in the prior year. Major non-cash items that affected our cash flow from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2017 were non-cash charges of $215,267 for depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation of $52,001. Our operating assets and liabilities provided $847,845 of cash, most of which resulted from a decrease in accounts payable of $(114,558) and decrease in legal settlements payable of $(254,900), offset by an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $59,642. Major non-cash items that affected our cash flow from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2016 were non-cash charges of $123,633 for depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation of $15,498.  Our operating assets and liabilities in the three months ended March 31, 2015 provided $152,701 of cash, most of which resulted from a decrease in legal settlements payable of $(247,186) and an increase in accounts receivable of $(203,138).

Investing activities used $(244,099) of cash in 2017, as compared to $(186,646) of cash used in 2016, most of which related to the enhancement of the processing platform used in our business.

Financing activities used $(152,060) of cash in the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to $(5,938) of cash used in the three months ended March 31, 2016. In the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 cash used in financing activities consisted of entirely of payments on notes payables totaling $157,998.

Sources of Financing

We believe that our available cash on hand at March 31, 2017 of $1,433,505, combined with revenues and operating earnings anticipated for the remainder of 2017 will be sufficient to sustain our operations for the next twelve months.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of Notes to Financial Statements. At this time, we are not required to make any material estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses.  

Any estimates we make will be based on our experience and our interpretation of economic, political, regulatory, and other factors that affect our business prospects. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Because the Company is a smaller reporting company, it is not required to provide the information called for by this Item.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining our disclosure controls and procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in those reports is accumulated and communicated to the our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of March 31, 2017. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the evaluation date, such controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in internal controls

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are not presently a party to any material litigation, nor to the knowledge of management is any litigation threatened against us, which may materially affect us.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.