Item 1. Business.
Overview
Perficient is a leading digital transformation consulting firm serving Global 2000® and enterprise customers throughout North America. With a broad array of information technology, management consulting, and creative capabilities, Perficient delivers vision, execution, and value with outstanding digital experience, business optimization, and industry solutions. Our work enables clients to improve productivity and competitiveness; grow and strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers and partners; and reduce costs. Our solutions include big data and analytics, technology platform implementations, commerce, enterprise content management, portals and collaboration, management consulting, custom applications, business integration, business process management, and customer relationship management, among others. Our solutions enable our clients to operate a real-time enterprise that dynamically adapts business processes and the systems that support them to meet the changing demands of a global, Internet-driven and competitive marketplace.
Through our experience in developing and delivering solutions for our clients, we believe we have acquired domain expertise that differentiates our firm. We use project teams that deliver high-value, measurable results by working collaboratively with clients and their partners through a user-centered, technology-based and business-driven solutions methodology. We believe this approach enhances return-on-investment for our clients by reducing the time and risk associated with designing and implementing technology solutions.
We serve our clients from locations in multiple markets throughout North America by leveraging a sales team that is experienced and connected through a common service portfolio, sales process, and performance management system. Our sales process utilizes project pursuit teams that include those of our information technology colleagues best suited to address a particular prospective client's needs. Our primary target client base includes companies in North America with annual revenues in excess of $500 million. We believe this market segment can generate the repeat business that is a fundamental part of our growth plan. We primarily pursue solutions opportunities where our domain expertise and delivery track record give us a competitive advantage.
During 2015, we continued to implement a strategy focused on: expanding our relationships with existing and new clients; continuing to make disciplined acquisitions by acquiring substantially all of the assets of Zeon Solutions Incorporated, a Wisconsin corporation, Grand River Interactive LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, and their Indian affiliate, Zeon Solutions Private Limited (collectively, "Zeon") in January, all of the outstanding stock of Market Street Solutions, Inc., a Tennessee corporation ("Market Street"), in September, and substantially all of the assets of The Pup Group, Inc., a Michigan corporation doing business as Enlighten ("Enlighten"), in December; expanding our technical skill and geographic base by expanding our business both organically and through acquisitions; expanding our brand visibility among prospective clients, employees, and software vendors; leveraging our offshore capabilities in China and India; and leveraging our existing (and pursuing new) strategic alliances by targeting leading business advisory companies and technology providers. Approximately 98% of our revenues were derived from clients in the United States during the year ended December 31, 2015 and 99% for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Approximately 94%, 96% and 97% of our total assets were located in the United States as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with the remainder located in China, Canada, the United Kingdom and India.
We have been able to extend or enhance our presence in certain markets through acquisitions, as well as expand or enhance the services and solutions we are able to provide our clients. Our acquisition of Zeon on January 2, 2015 enabled us to broaden and deepen our ecommerce expertise and expand into the Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan markets and to leverage the acquired development center in Nagpur, India. Our acquisition of Market Street strengthens our analytics capabilities and adds a market location in Tennessee and strengthens the Company's southeastern U.S. presence. Our acquisition of Enlighten enhances and expands the Company's digital strategy, creative services and marketing expertise.
We provide services primarily to the healthcare (including pharma and life sciences), financial services (including banking and insurance), retail and consumer goods, automotive and transport products, electronics and computer hardware, telecommunications, manufacturing, energy and utilities, business services, and leisure, and media and entertainment markets, among others.
Our Solutions
We help clients gain competitive advantage by using technology to: make their businesses more responsive to market opportunities; strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners; improve productivity; and reduce information technology costs. Our digital experience, business optimization and industry solutions enable these benefits by developing, integrating, automating, and extending business processes, technology infrastructure and software applications end-to-end within an organization and with key partners, suppliers, and customers. This provides real-time access to critical business applications and information and a scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective technology infrastructure that enables clients to:
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give managers and executives the information they need to make quality business decisions and dynamically adapt their business processes and systems to respond to client demands, market opportunities, or business problems;
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improve the quality and lower the cost of customer acquisition and care through web-based customer self-service and provisioning;
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reduce supply chain costs and improve logistics by flexibly and quickly integrating processes and systems and making relevant real-time information and applications available online to suppliers, partners, and distributors;
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increase the effectiveness and value of legacy enterprise technology infrastructure investments by enabling faster application development and deployment, increased flexibility, and lower management costs; and
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increase employee productivity through better information flow and collaboration capabilities and by automating routine processes to enable focus on unique problems and opportunities.
Our broad spectrum of digital experience and business optimization solutions include the following:
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Big Data and Analytics. We design, develop, and implement business analytics solutions that allow companies to interpret and act upon accurate, timely, and integrated information. Business analytics solutions help our clients make more informed business decisions by classifying, aggregating, and correlating data into meaningful business information. Our business analytics solutions allow our clients to transform data into knowledge for quick and effective decision making and can include information strategy, data warehousing, and business analytics and reporting.
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Platform Implementations. We design, develop, and implement technology platform solutions that allow our clients to establish a robust, reliable Internet-based infrastructure for integrated business applications which extend enterprise technology assets to employees, customers, suppliers, and partners. Our platform services include application server selection, architecture planning, installation and configuration, clustering for availability, performance assessment and issue remediation, security services, and technology migrations.
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Content Management ("CM"). We design, develop, and implement CM solutions that enable the management of all unstructured information regardless of file type or format. Our CM solutions can facilitate the creation of new content and/or provide easy access and retrieval of existing digital assets from other enterprise tools such as enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, or legacy applications.
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Portals and Collaboration. We design, develop, implement, and integrate secure and scalable enterprise portals and collaboration solutions for our clients and their customers, employees, suppliers, partners, members, patients and others. These include searchable data systems, collaborative systems for process improvement, transaction processing, unified and extended reporting, commerce, content management and more. Our award-winning work includes multiple portal types built on many vendor platforms and features integration with a variety of technologies, social capabilities, and mobile sites.
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Cloud Services. Agility, innovation, and rapid time-to-market are critical to maintaining competitive advantage and seizing market opportunities, and cloud computing has emerged as perhaps the key enabler for business efficiency and agility. We help clients leverage cloud technologies from strategy through implementation for maximum business value with cloud services that include: architecture, assessments (business value and health checks), strategy and road maps, and vendor evaluation and selection.
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Enterprise Social. Enterprise social networks allow organizations to dismantle the artificial borders of geography, organizational dynamics, and distinct business units, and connect employees to information, documents, and one another in a conversational, easy-to-use format. We help clients break down these borders with enterprise social solutions that include: ideation and crowdsourcing, mobile apps, employee onboarding, partner and vendor collaboration, user and customer support, expert location/Q&A, and much more.
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Digital Marketing. We leverage client insights and analytical customer data to deliver exceptional results that allow our clients to stay ahead of the competition and to remain at the forefront of everything related to digital marketing. Our expertise includes: search engine marketing (including search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising), user experience and design, and conversion rate optimization.
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Custom Applications. We design, develop, implement, and integrate custom application solutions that deliver enterprise-specific functionality to meet the unique requirements and needs of our clients. Our substantial experience with platforms including J2EE, .NET, and Open-source enables enterprises of all types to leverage cutting-edge technologies to meet business-driven needs.
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Business Integration. We help clients integrate fragmented, non-integrated systems and processes with a coherent architecture on which to rationalize and modernize legacy systems, automate and optimize business processes, and improve data quality and accessibility. We specialize in service-oriented architecture, application program interfaces ("API"), business process management, event-driven architecture, complex event processing, master data management, and enterprise application integration, often using these technologies together to modernize legacy application architecture and support multi-channel user experiences such as portals, B2B APIs, social media and mobility applications.
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Business Process Management ("BPM"). BPM combines people, process and technology to improve organizational performance and customer value. We design, develop, and implement BPM solutions that allow our clients to quickly adapt their business processes to respond to new market opportunities or competitive threats by taking advantage of business strategies supported by flexible business applications and information technology infrastructures.
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Customer Relationship Management ("CRM"). We design, develop, and implement advanced CRM solutions that facilitate customer acquisition, service and support, and sales and marketing by understanding our clients' needs through interviews, requirements-gathering sessions, call center analysis, developing an iterative prototype driven solution, and integrating the solution to legacy processes and applications.
We conceive, build, and implement these solutions through a comprehensive set of services including business strategy, user-centered design, systems architecture, custom application development, technology integration, package implementation, and managed services.
We have developed intellectual property assets, applications, utilities and products, that enable our clients to speed time to delivery and reduce total cost of ownership. In addition, we also sell certain internally developed software packages. These foundational tools include configurable Solution Accelerators and Industry Tools that can be customized to solve specific enterprise challenges. Our Solution Accelerators increase the velocity of solution development across key horizontal disciplines including integration and API's, content management, business process management, enterprise search and tax compliance. Our Industry Tools enable enterprises to address industry-specific business process and workflow challenges. We offer tools for the healthcare, energy and utilities, financial services and retail markets. Our strong network of partnerships and cross-platform capabilities enable us to develop and deliver accelerators across a wide spectrum of solution areas and vendor platforms.
In addition to our technology solution services and intellectual property assets, we offer education and mentoring services to our clients. We conduct IBM and Oracle-certified training, where we provide our clients both a customized and established curriculum of courses and other education services.
Competitive Strengths
We believe our competitive strengths include:
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Domain Expertise. We have acquired significant domain expertise in a core set of technology solutions and software platforms. These solutions include big data and analytics, technology platform implementations, commerce, enterprise content management, portals and collaboration, management consulting, custom applications, business integration, business process management, and customer relationship management, among others. The platforms with which we have significant domain expertise and on which these solutions are built include IBM, Microsoft, Oracle Salesforce, Magento and Adobe, among others.
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Industry Expertise. We serve many of the world's largest and most respected companies with extensive business process experience across a variety of markets. These markets include healthcare (including pharma and life sciences), financial services (including banking and insurance), retail and consumer goods, automotive and transport products, electronics and computer hardware, telecommunications, manufacturing, energy and utilities, business services, and leisure, and media and entertainment markets, among others.
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Delivery Model and Methodology. We believe our significant domain expertise enables us to provide high-value solutions through expert project teams that deliver measurable results by working collaboratively with clients through a user-centered, technology-based, and business-driven solutions methodology. Our methodology includes a proven execution process map we developed, which allows for repeatable, high quality services delivery. The methodology leverages the thought leadership of our senior strategists and practitioners to support the client project team and focuses on transforming our clients' business processes to provide enhanced customer value and operating efficiency, enabled by web technology. As a result, we believe we are able to offer our clients the dedicated attention that small firms usually provide and the delivery and project management that larger firms usually offer.
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Client Relationships. We have built a track record of quality solutions and client satisfaction through the timely, efficient, and successful completion of numerous projects for our clients. As a result, we have established long-term relationships with many of our clients who continue to engage us for additional projects and serve as references for us. For the years ending December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, 88%, 87%, and 86%, respectively, of services revenues were derived from clients who continued to utilize our services from the prior year, excluding any revenues from acquisitions completed in that year.
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Vendor Relationship and Endorsements. We have built meaningful relationships with software providers, whose products we use to design and implement solutions for our clients. These relationships enable us to reduce our cost of sales and sales cycle times and increase win rates by leveraging our partners' marketing efforts and endorsements. We also serve as a sales channel for our partners, helping them market and sell their software products. We are an IBM Premier Business Partner, a Microsoft National Solutions Provider and Gold Certified Partner, an Oracle Platinum Partner, and a Salesforce Platinum Cloud Alliance Partner. In 2015, we received multiple awards and recognition from our partners, including, among others:
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IBM Worldwide Analytics Business Partner of the Year;
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IBM Beacon Award - Outstanding Information Management Solution;
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Microsoft EPG U.S. Partner and Industry Team Partner of the Year;
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Oracle Health Sciences Partner Excellence Award; and
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Magento Spirit of Excellence North America Award.
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Offshore Capability. We serve our clients from locations in multiple markets throughout North America, and, in addition, we operate global development centers in Hangzhou, China and Chennai and Nagpur, India. These facilities are staffed with colleagues who have specializations that include application development, adapter and interface development, quality assurance and testing, monitoring and support, product development, platform migration, and portal development with expertise in IBM, Microsoft Oracle and Magento technologies. In addition to our offshore capabilities, we employ a number of foreign nationals in the United States on H1-B visas. The facility in Chennai, India is also a recruiting and development facility used to continue to grow our base of H1-B foreign national colleagues. As of December 31, 2015, we had 182 colleagues at the Hangzhou, China facility, 139 colleagues at the Chennai, India facility, 295 colleagues at the Nagpur, India facility, and 261 colleagues with H1-B visas. We intend to continue to leverage our existing offshore capabilities to support our growth and provide our clients flexible options for project delivery.
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Onshore Capability. In 2015, we established a domestic delivery center (the "DDC") in Lafayette, Louisiana. The DDC augments our offshore delivery centers in India and China, further optimizing our global network and comprehensive technology, delivery management and industry vertical expertise across North America. With the addition of the DDC, we have increased capabilities and improved service levels that cover the entire spectrum of the software development lifecycle.
Competition
The market for the services we provide is competitive and has low barriers to entry. We believe that our competitors fall into several categories, including:
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small local consulting firms that operate in no more than one or two geographic regions;
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boutique consulting firms, such as Prolifics and Avanade;
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national consulting firms, such as Accenture, Deloitte Consulting, Cognizant, and Sapient/ Publicis;
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in-house professional services organizations of software companies; and
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offshore providers, such as Infosys Technologies Limited and Wipro Limited.
We believe that the principal competitive factors affecting our market include domain expertise, track record and customer references, partner network with leading technology companies, quality of proposed solutions, service quality and performance, efficiency, reliability, scalability and features of the software platforms upon which the solutions are based, and the ability to implement solutions quickly and respond on a timely basis to customer needs. In addition, because of the relatively low barriers to entry into this market, we expect to face additional competition from new entrants. We expect competition from offshore outsourcing and development companies to continue.
Some of our competitors have longer operating histories, larger client bases, greater name recognition, and possess significantly greater financial, technical, and marketing resources than we do. As a result, these competitors may be able to attract customers to which we market our services and adapt more quickly to new technologies or evolving customer or industry requirements.
Employees
As of December 31, 2015, we had 2,678 employees, 2,248 of which were billable (excluding 191 billable subcontractors) and 430 of which were involved in sales, administration, and marketing. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement, and we have never experienced a strike or similar work stoppage. We are committed to the continued development of our employees.
Sales and Marketing. As of December 31, 2015, we had a 107-person direct solutions-oriented sales force. We reward our sales force for developing and maintaining relationships with our clients, seeking follow-up engagements, and leveraging those relationships to forge new relationships in different areas of the business and with our clients' business partners. Approximately 85% of our sales are executed by our direct sales force. In addition to our direct sales team, we also have 41 dedicated sales support employees, 30 general managers and 11 vice-presidents who are engaged in our sales and marketing efforts.
We have sales and marketing partnerships with software vendors including IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, Magento and Adobe, among others. These companies are key vendors of open standards-based software commonly referred to as middleware application servers, enterprise application integration platforms, business process management, cloud computing applications, business activity monitoring and business intelligence applications, and enterprise portal server software. Our direct sales force works in tandem with the sales and marketing groups of our partners to identify potential new clients and projects. Our partnerships with these companies enable us to reduce our cost of sales and sales cycle times and increase win rates by leveraging our partners' marketing efforts and endorsements.
Recruiting. We are dedicated to hiring, developing, and retaining experienced, motivated technology professionals who combine a depth of understanding of current Internet and legacy technologies with the ability to implement complex and cutting-edge solutions. We believe in an employee-centered environment that is built on a culture of respect.
Retention. We firmly believe in the power of partnership and the spirit of innovation and approach every opportunity with these philosophies in mind. We focus on a core set of digital experience, business optimization, and industry solutions, applications, and software platforms and our commitment to our employees' career development through continued training and advancement opportunities sets us apart as an employer of choice.
Compensation. Our compensation philosophy and programs are designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward employees based on performance and results. Our tiered incentive compensation plans help us reach our overall goals by rewarding individuals for their influence on key performance factors and allow for differentiation so that truly stellar performers may be rewarded.
General Information
Our stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "PRFT." Our website can be visited at www.perficient.com. We make available free of charge through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information contained or incorporated in our website is not part of this document.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
You should carefully consider the following factors together with the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K before you decide to buy our common stock. These factors could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, or stock price. Our business is also subject to general risks and uncertainties that may broadly affect companies, including us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, or stock price.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on our clients' businesses and levels of business activity.
Global macroeconomic conditions affect our clients' businesses and the markets they serve. Developments such as economic down turns, recessions, instability and inflationary risks in the United States, Europe, Canada, China and India, among other developments, may have an adverse effect on our clients' businesses and, consequently, on our results of operations, revenue growth and profitability.
Volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions in the markets we serve have undermined, and could in the future undermine, business confidence and cause our clients to reduce or defer their spending on new technologies or initiatives or terminate existing contracts, which would negatively affect our business. Growth in markets we serve could be at a slow rate, or could stagnate, in each case, for an extended period of time. Differing economic conditions and patterns of economic growth and contraction in the geographical regions in which we operate and the markets we serve have affected, and may in the future affect, demand for our services. A material portion of our revenues and profitability is derived from our clients in North America. Weakening demand in this market could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Ongoing economic volatility and uncertainty affects our business in a number of other ways, including making it more difficult to accurately forecast client demand beyond the short term and effectively build our revenue and resource plans, particularly in consulting. This could result, for example, in us not having the level of appropriate personnel where they are needed or having to use involuntary terminations as means to keep our supply of skills and resources in balance.
Economic volatility and uncertainty is particularly challenging because it may take some time for the effects and resulting changes in demand patterns to manifest themselves in our business and results of operations. Changing demand patterns from economic volatility and uncertainty could have a significant negative impact on our results of operations.
Our business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for our services and solutions, and a significant reduction in such demand could materially affect our results of operations.
Our revenue and profitability depend on the demand for our services and favorable margins, which could be negatively affected by numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control and unrelated to our work product. As described above, volatile, negative or uncertain global economic conditions have adversely affected, and could in the future adversely affect, client demand for our services and solutions. In addition, developments in the markets we serve, which may be rapid, could shift demand to services and solutions where we are less competitive, or might require significant investment by us to upgrade, enhance or expand our services and solutions to meet that demand. Companies in the markets we serve sometimes seek to achieve economies of scale and other synergies by combining with or acquiring other companies. If one of our current clients merges or consolidates with a company that relies on another provider for its consulting, systems integration and technology, or outsourcing services, we may lose work from that client or lose the opportunity to gain additional work if we are not successful in generating new opportunities from the merger or consolidation. Many of our consulting contracts are less than 12 months in duration, and these contracts typically permit a client to terminate the agreement with as little as 10 days' notice. If a client is dissatisfied with our services and we are unable to effectively respond to its needs, the client might terminate existing contracts, or reduce or eliminate spending on the services and solutions we provide. Additionally, a client could choose not to retain us for additional stages of a project, try to renegotiate the terms of its contract or cancel or delay additional planned work. When contracts are terminated or not renewed, we lose the anticipated revenues, and it may take significant time to replace the lost revenues. Consequently, our results of operations in subsequent periods could be materially lower than expected. The specific business or financial condition of a client, changes in management and changes in a client's strategy also are all factors that can result in terminations, cancellations or delays. It could also result in pressure to reduce the cost of our services.
If we are unable to keep our supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, our business, the utilization rate of our professionals and our results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Our success depends, in large part, upon our ability to keep our supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand and our ability to attract and retain personnel with the knowledge and skills to lead our business. Experienced personnel in our industry are in high demand, and there is much competition to attract qualified personnel. We must hire, retain and motivate appropriate numbers of talented people with diverse skills in order to serve clients across North America, respond quickly to rapid and ongoing technology, industry and macroeconomic developments and grow and manage our business. For example, if we are unable to hire or continually train our employees to keep pace with the rapid and continuing changes in technology and the markets we serve or changes in the types of services clients are demanding we may not be able to develop and deliver new services and solutions to fulfill client demand. As we expand our services and solutions, we must also hire and retain an increasing number of professionals with different skills and expectations than those of the professionals we have historically hired and retained. Additionally, if we are unable to successfully integrate, motivate and retain these professionals, our ability to continue to secure work for our services and solutions in those markets may decline.
We are dependent upon retaining our senior executives and other experienced managers, and if we are unable to do so, our ability to develop new business and effectively lead our current projects could be jeopardized. We depend upon identifying, developing, and retaining key employees to provide leadership and direction for our businesses. This includes developing talent and leadership capabilities in emerging markets, where the depth of skilled employees is often limited and competition for these resources is great. Our geographic expansion strategy in emerging markets depends on our ability to attract, retain and integrate both local business leaders and people with the appropriate skills.
Similarly, our profitability depends upon our ability to effectively utilize personnel with the right mix of skills and experience to perform services for our clients, including our ability to transition employees to new assignments on a timely basis. If we are unable to effectively deploy our employees on a timely basis to fulfill the needs of our clients, our ability to perform our work profitably could suffer. If the utilization rate of our professionals is too high, it could have an adverse effect on employee engagement and attrition, the quality of the work performed and our ability to staff projects. If our utilization rate is too low, our profitability and the engagement of our employees could suffer. The costs associated with recruiting and training employees are significant. An important element of our global business model is the deployment of our employees around the world, which allows us to move talent as needed. Therefore, if we are not able to deploy the talent we need because of increased regulation of immigration or work visas, including limitations placed on the number of visas granted, limitations on the type of work performed or location in which it can be performed, and new or higher minimum salary requirements, it could be more difficult to staff our employees on client engagements and could increase our costs.
Our equity-based incentive compensation plans are designed to reward high-performing personnel for their contributions and provide incentives for them to remain with us. If the anticipated value of these incentives does not materialize because of volatility or lack of positive performance in our stock price, or if our total compensation package is not viewed as being competitive, our ability to attract and retain the personnel we need could be adversely affected. In addition, if we do not obtain the stockholder approval needed to continue granting equity awards under our share plans in the amounts we believe are necessary, our ability to attract and retain personnel could be negatively affected.
There is a risk that at certain points in time and in certain markets, we will find it difficult to hire and retain a sufficient number of employees with the skills or backgrounds to meet current and/or future demand. In these cases, we might need to redeploy existing personnel or increase our reliance on subcontractors to fill certain labor needs, and if not done effectively, our profitability could be negatively impacted. Additionally, if demand for our services were to escalate at a high rate, we may need to adjust our compensation practices, which could put upward pressure on our costs and adversely affect our profitability if we are unable to recover these increased costs. At certain times, however, we may also have more personnel than we need in certain skill sets or geographies. In these situations, we must evaluate voluntary attrition and use reduced levels of new hiring and increased involuntary terminations as means to keep our supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand in those markets.
The market for the information technology consulting services in which we operate is highly competitive, and we might not be able to compete effectively.
The market for the information technology consulting services we provide is competitive, ever evolving, and subject to rapid technological change. Our competitors include: large multinational providers that offer some or all of the services that we do; offshore service providers in lower-cost locations that offer services similar to those we offer, often at highly competitive prices and on more aggressive contractual terms; niche solution and service providers or local competitors that compete with us in a specific geographic market, industry segment or service area, including companies that provide new or alternative products, service or delivery models; accounting firms that are expanding or building their capabilities to provide certain consulting services, including through acquisitions; and in-house departments of large corporations that use their own resources, rather than engage an outside firm for the types of services we provide.
Many of the larger regional and national information technology consulting firms have substantially longer operating histories, more established reputations and potential vendor relationships, greater financial resources, sales and marketing organizations, market penetration, and research and development capabilities, as well as broader product offerings, greater market presence, and name recognition.
In addition, there are relatively low barriers to entry into this market and therefore new entrants may compete with us in the future. For example, due to the rapid changes and volatility in our market, many well-capitalized companies, including some of our partners that have focused on sectors of the software and services industry that are not competitive with our business may refocus their activities and deploy their resources to be competitive with us.
Our future financial performance is largely dependent upon our ability to compete successfully in the markets we currently serve. If we are unable to compete successfully, we could lose market share and clients to competitors, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations.
In addition, we may face greater competition due to consolidation of companies in the technology sector, through strategic mergers or acquisition. Consolidation activity may result in new competitors with greater scale, a broader footprint, or offerings that are more attractive than ours. We believe that this competition could have a negative effect on our ability to compete for new work and skilled professionals. One or more of our competitors may develop and implement methodologies that result in superior productivity and price reductions without adversely affecting their profit margins. In addition, competitors may win client engagements by significantly discounting their services in exchange for a client's promise to purchase other goods and services from the competitor, either concurrently or in the future. These activities may potentially force us to lower our prices and suffer reduced operating margins. Any of these negative effects could significantly impair our results of operations and financial condition. We may not be able to compete successfully against new or existing competitors.
We could have liability or our reputation could be damaged if we fail to protect client data or information systems or if our information systems are breached.
We are dependent upon information technology networks and systems to process, transmit, and store electronic information and to communicate among our locations and with our partners and clients. Security breaches of this infrastructure could lead to shutdowns or disruptions of our systems and potential unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In providing services to clients, we are also required at times to manage, utilize, and store sensitive or confidential client or employee data. As a result, we are subject to numerous laws and regulations designed to protect this information, such as various U.S. federal and state laws and foreign laws governing the protection of personally identifiable information. If any person, including any of our employees, negligently disregards or intentionally breaches our established controls with respect to such data or otherwise mismanages or misappropriates that data, we could be subject to monetary damages, regulatory enforcement actions, fines, and/or criminal prosecution. Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or employee data, whether through systems failure, employee negligence, fraud or misappropriation could damage our reputation and cause us to lose clients. Similarly, unauthorized access to or through our information systems or those we develop for our clients, whether by our employees or third parties, could result in negative publicity, significant remediation costs, legal liability, and damage to our reputation and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, our liability insurance might not be sufficient in type or amount to cover us against claims related to security breaches, cyber-attacks and other related breaches.
We might not be successful at identifying, acquiring, or integrating other businesses.
We have pursued a disciplined acquisition strategy designed to enhance or add to our offerings of services and solutions, or to enable us to expand in certain markets. Depending upon the opportunities available, we may increase our investment in these acquisitions. In that pursuit, we may not successfully identify suitable acquisition candidates, succeed in completing targeted transactions, or achieve desired results of operations. Furthermore, we face risks in successfully integrating any businesses we acquire. Ongoing business may be disrupted and our management's attention may be diverted by acquisitions, transition or integration activities. In addition, we might need to dedicate additional management and other resources, and our organizational structure could make it difficult for us to efficiently integrate acquired businesses into our ongoing operations and assimilate and retain employees of those businesses into our culture and operations.
We might fail to realize the expected benefits or strategic objectives of any acquisition we make. We might not achieve our expected return on investment, or we may lose money. We may be adversely impacted by liabilities that we assume from a company we acquire, including from that company's known and unknown obligations, intellectual property or other assets, terminated employees, current or former clients, or other third parties, and we may fail to identify or adequately assess the magnitude of certain liabilities, shortcomings or other circumstances prior to acquisition, which could result in unexpected legal or regulatory exposure, unexpected increases in taxes or other adverse effects on our business and profitability. If we are unable to complete the number and kind of acquisitions for which we plan, or if we are inefficient or unsuccessful at integrating any acquired businesses into our operations, we may not be able to achieve our planned rates of growth or improve our market share, profitability, or competitive position in specific markets or services.
International operations subject us to additional political and economic risks that could have an adverse impact on our business.
We maintain global development centers in India and China. We have offices in the United Kingdom and Canada. We are subject to certain risks related to expanding our presence into non-U.S. regions, including risks related to complying with a wide variety of national and local laws, restrictions on the import and export of certain technologies, and multiple and possibly overlapping tax structures. In addition, we may face competition from companies that may have more experience with operations in these countries or with international operations generally. We may also face difficulties integrating new facilities in different countries into our existing operations, as well as integrating employees that we hire in different countries into our existing corporate culture.
Furthermore, there are risks inherent in operating in and expanding into non-U.S. regions, including, but not limited to:
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political and economic instability;
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global health conditions and potential natural disasters;
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unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, including immigration restrictions, tariffs, and other trade barriers and tax regulations, the enforcement of such requirements by applicable governmental authorities and other legal uncertainty;
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limitations on our ability to repatriate cash from our international operations;
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complexities and additional costs in effectively managing our international operations;
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international currency controls and exchange rate fluctuations;
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reduced protection for intellectual property rights; and
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additional vulnerability from terrorist groups targeting U.S. interests abroad.
Any one or more of the factors set forth above could have a material adverse effect on our international operations and, consequently, on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Immigration restrictions related to H1-B visas could hinder our growth and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Approximately 12% of our billable workforce is comprised of skilled foreign nationals holding H1-B visas. We also operate recruiting and development facilities in India and China to continue to grow our base of H1-B foreign national colleagues. The H1-B visa classification enables us to hire qualified foreign workers in positions that require the equivalent of at least a bachelor's degree in the U.S. in a specialty occupation such as technology systems engineering and analysis. The H1-B visa generally permits an individual to work and live in the U.S. for a period of three to six years, with some extensions available. The number of new H1-B petitions approved in any federal fiscal year is limited, making the H1-B visas necessary to bring foreign employees to the U.S. unobtainable in years in which the limit is reached. If we are unable to obtain all of the H1-B visas for which we apply, our growth may be hindered.
Our results of operations could materially suffer if we are not able to obtain favorable pricing.
If we are not able to obtain favorable pricing for our services, our revenues and profitability could materially suffer. The rates we are able to charge for our services are affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:
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general economic and political conditions;
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the competitive environment in our industry, as described below;
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our clients' desire to reduce their costs;
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our ability to accurately estimate, attain, and sustain contract revenues, margins, and cash flows over the full contract period; and
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procurement practices of clients and their use of third-party advisors.
The competitive environment in our industry affects our ability to obtain favorable pricing in a number of ways, any of which could have a material negative impact on our results of operations. The less we are able to differentiate our services and solutions and/or clearly convey the value of our services and solutions, the more risk we have that they will be seen as commodities, with price being the driving factor in selecting a service provider. In addition, the introduction of new services or products by competitors could reduce our ability to obtain favorable pricing for the services or products we offer. Competitors may be willing, at times, to price contracts lower than us in an effort to enter the market or increase market share. Further, if competitors develop and implement methodologies that yield greater efficiency and productivity, they may be better positioned to offer services similar to ours at lower prices.
If our negotiated fees do not accurately anticipate the cost and complexity of performing our work, then our contracts could be unprofitable.
We negotiate fees with our clients by utilizing a range of pricing structures and conditions, including time and materials and fixed fee contracts. Our fees are highly dependent upon our internal forecasts and predictions about the level of effort and cost necessary to deliver such services and solutions, which might be based on limited data and could turn out to be materially inaccurate. If we do not accurately estimate the level of effort or cost, our contracts could yield lower profit margins than planned, or be unprofitable. We could face greater risk when negotiating fees for our contracts that involve the coordination of operations and workforces in multiple locations and/or utilizing workforces with different skill sets and competencies. There is a risk that we will underprice our contracts, fail to accurately estimate the costs of performing the work, or fail to accurately assess the risks associated with potential contracts. In particular, any increased or unexpected costs, delays or failures to achieve anticipated cost savings, or unexpected risks we encounter in connection with the performance of services, including those caused by factors outside our control, could make these contracts less profitable or unprofitable, which could have an adverse effect on our profit margin.
Our business could be materially adversely affected if we incur legal liability in connection with providing our services and solutions.
We could be subject to significant legal liability and litigation expense if we fail to meet our contractual obligations, or otherwise breach obligations, to third parties, including clients, partners, employees and former employees, and other parties with whom we conduct business, or if our subcontractors breach or dispute the terms of our agreements with them and impede our ability to meet our obligations to our clients. We may enter into agreements with non-standard terms because we perceive an important economic opportunity or because our personnel did not adequately follow our contracting guidelines. In addition, the contracting practices of competitors, along with the demands of increasingly sophisticated clients, may cause contract terms and conditions that are unfavorable to us to become new standards in the marketplace. We may find ourselves committed to providing services or solutions that we are unable to deliver or whose delivery will reduce our profitability or cause us financial loss. If we cannot or do not meet our contractual obligations and if our potential liability is not adequately limited through the terms of our agreements, liability limitations are not enforced or a third party alleges fraud or other wrongdoing to prevent us from relying upon those contractual protections, we might face significant legal liability and litigation expense and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected. A failure of a client's system based on our services or solutions could also subject us to a claim for significant damages that could materially adversely affect our results of operations. In addition to expense, litigation can be lengthy and disruptive to normal business operations, and litigation results can be unpredictable. While we maintain insurance for certain potential liabilities, this insurance does not cover all types and amounts of potential liabilities and is subject to various exclusions as well as caps on amounts recoverable. Even if we believe a claim is covered by insurance, insurers may dispute our entitlement to recovery for a variety of potential reasons, which may affect the timing and the amount of our recovery, if any.
Our results of operations and ability to grow could be materially negatively affected if we cannot adapt and expand our services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings by new entrants.
Our success depends upon our ability to continue to develop and implement services and solutions that anticipate and respond to rapid and continuing changes in technology and industry developments and offerings by new entrants to serve the evolving needs of our clients. Current areas of significant change include mobility, cloud-based computing and the processing and analyzing of large amounts of data. Technological developments such as these may materially affect the cost and use of technology by our clients. Our growth strategy focuses on responding to these types of developments by driving innovation for our core business as well as through new business initiatives beyond our core business that will enable us to differentiate our services and solutions. If we do not sufficiently invest in new technology and industry developments, or if we do not make the right strategic investments to respond to these developments and successfully drive innovation, our services and solutions, our results of operations, and our ability to develop and maintain a competitive advantage and continue to grow could be negatively affected.
In addition, we operate in a quickly evolving environment, in which there currently are, and we expect will continue to be, new technology entrants. New services or technologies offered by competitors or new entrants may make our offerings less differentiated or less competitive, when compared to other alternatives, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
The loss of one or more of our significant software vendors could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We have significant relationships with software vendors including IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Salesforce and Magento. Our business relationships with these companies enable us to reduce our cost of acquiring customers and increase win rates through leveraging our vendors' marketing efforts and strong vendor endorsements. The loss of one or more of these relationships and endorsements could increase our sales and marketing costs, lead to longer sales cycles, harm our reputation and brand recognition, reduce our revenues, and adversely affect our results of operations. The financial impact of the loss of one or more software vendors is not reasonably estimable.
Our services could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.
We cannot be sure that our services do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties, and we could have infringement claims asserted against us. These claims may harm our reputation, cause our management to expend significant time in connection with any defense, and cost us money. We may be required to indemnify clients for any expense or liabilities they incur resulting from claimed infringement and these expenses could exceed the amounts paid to us by the client for services we have performed. Any claims in this area, even if won by us, could be costly, time-consuming, and harmful to our reputation.
We have only a limited ability to protect our intellectual property rights, which are important to our success.
Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to protect our proprietary methodologies and other intellectual property. Existing laws of some countries in which we provide services or solutions might offer only limited protection of our intellectual property rights. We rely upon a combination of trade secrets, confidentiality policies, nondisclosure, and other contractual arrangements to protect our intellectual property rights. These laws are subject to change at any time and could further restrict our ability to protect our innovations. Our intellectual property rights may not prevent competitors from independently developing products and services similar to or duplicative of ours. Further, the steps we take in this regard might not be adequate to prevent or deter infringement or other misappropriation of our intellectual property by competitors, former employees or other third parties, and we might not be able to detect unauthorized use of, or take appropriate and timely steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights. Enforcing our rights might also require considerable time, money and oversight and we may not be successful in enforcing our rights.
Depending upon the circumstances, we might need to grant a specific client greater rights in intellectual property developed in connection with a contract than we otherwise generally do. In certain situations, we might forego all rights to the use of intellectual property we help create, which would limit our ability to reuse that intellectual property for other clients. Any limitation on our ability to provide a service or solution could cause us to lose revenue-generating opportunities and require us to incur additional expenses to develop new or modified solutions for future projects.
Our ability to attract and retain business may depend upon our reputation in the marketplace.
We believe the Perficient brand name and our reputation are important corporate assets that help distinguish our services from those of our competitors and also contribute to our efforts to recruit and retain talented employees. However, our corporate reputation is potentially susceptible to material damage by events such as disputes with clients, information technology security breaches or service outages, or other delivery failures. Similarly, our reputation could be damaged by actions or statements of current or former clients, employees, competitors, vendors, as well as members of the investment community and the media. There is a risk that negative information could adversely affect our business. Damage to our reputation could be difficult and time-consuming to repair, could make potential or existing clients reluctant to select us for new engagements or cause existing clients to terminate our services, resulting in a loss of business, and could adversely affect our recruitment and retention efforts. Damage to our reputation could also reduce the value and effectiveness of the Perficient brand name and could reduce investor confidence in us, materially adversely affecting our share price.
Our profitability could suffer if our cost-management strategies are unsuccessful.
Our ability to improve or maintain our profitability is dependent upon our ability to successfully manage our costs. Our cost management strategies include maintaining appropriate alignment between the demand for our services and our resource capacity, optimizing the costs of service delivery and maintaining or improving our sales and marketing and general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenues. These actions and other cost-management efforts may not be successful, our efficiency may not be enhanced and we may not achieve desired levels of profitability. Because of the significant steps taken in the past to reduce costs, we may not be able to continue to deliver efficiencies in our cost management, to the same degree as in the past. If we are not effective in reducing our operating costs in response to changes in demand or pricing, we might not be able to manage significantly larger and more diverse workforces as we increase the number of colleagues and execute our growth strategy, control our costs or improve our efficiency, and our profitability could be negatively affected.
We make estimates and assumptions in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, and any changes to those estimates and assumptions could adversely affect our financial results.
Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The application of these principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions about certain items and future events that affect our reported financial condition, and our accompanying disclosure with respect to, among other things, revenue recognition, contingent consideration and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience, contractual commitments and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances at the time they are made. These estimates and assumptions involve the use of our judgment and are subject to significant uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. If our estimates, or the assumptions underlying such estimates, are not correct, actual results may differ materially from our estimates, and we may need to, among other things, adjust revenues or accrue additional charges that could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain effective internal controls.
The accuracy of our financial reporting is dependent on the effectiveness of our internal controls. We are required to provide a report from management to our shareholders on our internal control over financial reporting that includes an assessment of the effectiveness of these controls. Internal control over financial reporting has inherent limitations, including human error, the possibility that controls could be circumvented or become inadequate because of changed conditions, and fraud. Because of these inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting might not prevent or detect all misstatements or fraud. If we cannot maintain and execute adequate internal control over financial reporting or implement required new or improved controls that provide reasonable assurance of the reliability of the financial reporting and preparation of our financial statements for external use, we could suffer harm to our reputation, fail to meet our public reporting requirements on a timely basis, be unable to properly report on our business and our results of operations, or be required to restate our financial statements, and our results of operations, our share price and our ability to obtain new business could be materially adversely affected.
Changes in our level of taxes, audits, investigations and tax proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. We calculate and provide for income taxes in each tax jurisdiction in which we operate. Tax accounting often involves complex matters and requires our judgment to determine our corporate provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities. We are subject to ongoing tax audits in various jurisdictions. Tax authorities have disagreed, and may in the future disagree, with our judgments, or may take increasingly aggressive positions opposing the judgments we make. We regularly assess the likely outcomes of these audits to determine the appropriateness of our tax liabilities. However, our judgments might not be sustained as a result of these audits, and the amounts ultimately paid could be different from the amounts previously recorded. In addition, our effective tax rate in the future could be adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax laws. Tax rates in the jurisdictions in which we operate may change as a result of macroeconomic or other factors outside of our control. Increases in the tax rate in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate could have a negative impact on our profitability. In addition, changes in tax laws, treaties, or regulations, or their interpretation or enforcement, may be unpredictable and could materially adversely affect our tax position. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Although we report our results of operations in U.S. dollars, a small portion of our revenues is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Unfavorable fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate revenues and expenses, as well as assets and liabilities, into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect during or at the end of each reporting period. Therefore, changes in the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies will affect our net revenues, operating income and the value of balance-sheet items, including intercompany payables and receivables, denominated in other currencies. These changes cause our growth in consolidated earnings stated in U.S. dollars to be higher or lower than our growth in local currency when compared against other periods. Our currency hedging program, which is designed to partially offset the impact on consolidated earnings related to the changes in value of certain balance sheet items, might not be successful.
As we continue to leverage our global delivery model, certain of our expenses are incurred in currencies other than those in which we bill for the related services. An increase in the value of certain currencies, such as the Canadian dollar, Chinese Yuan, Indian Rupee, British Pound and Euro, against the U.S. dollar could increase costs for delivery of services at off-shore sites by increasing labor and other costs that are denominated in local currency. Our contractual provisions or cost management efforts might not be able to offset their impact, and our currency hedging activities, which are designed to partially offset this impact, might not be successful. This could result in a decrease in the profitability of our contracts that are utilizing delivery center resources. Conversely, a decrease in the value of certain currencies, such as the Canadian dollar, Chinese Yuan, Indian Rupee, British Pound and Euro, against the U.S. dollar in which our revenue is recorded could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to service providers that benefit to a greater degree from such a decrease and can, as a result, deliver services at a lower cost. In addition, our currency hedging activities are themselves subject to risk. These include risks related to counterparty performance under hedging contracts, risks related to ineffective hedges and risks related to currency fluctuations. We also face risks that extreme economic conditions, political instability, hostilities or natural disasters could impact or perhaps eliminate the underlying exposures that we are hedging. Such an event could lead to losses being recognized on the currency hedges then in place that are not offset by anticipated changes in the underlying hedge exposure.
If we do not effectively manage expected future growth, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
Our ability to operate profitably with positive cash flows depends partially upon how effectively we manage our expected future growth. In order to create the additional capacity necessary to accommodate an increase in demand for our services, we may need to implement new or upgraded operational and financial systems, procedures and controls, open new offices, and hire additional colleagues. Implementation of these new or upgraded systems, procedures, and controls may require substantial management efforts and our efforts to do so may not be successful. The opening of new offices (including international locations) or the hiring of additional colleagues may result in idle or underutilized capacity. We continually assess the expected capacity and utilization of our offices and colleagues. We may not be able to achieve or maintain optimal utilization of our offices and colleagues. If demand for our services does not meet our expectations, our revenues and cash flows may not be sufficient to offset these expenses and our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
If we are unable to collect our receivables or unbilled services, our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows could be adversely affected.
Our business depends on our ability to successfully obtain payment from our clients of the amounts they owe us for work performed. We evaluate the financial condition of our clients and usually bill and collect on relatively short cycles. We have established allowances for losses of receivables and unbilled services. Actual losses on client balances could differ from those that we currently anticipate and as a result we might need to adjust our allowances. We might not accurately assess the credit worthiness of our clients. Macroeconomic conditions could also result in financial difficulties for our clients, including bankruptcy and insolvency. This could cause clients to delay payments to us, request modifications to their payment arrangements that could increase our receivables balance, or default on their payment obligations to us. Recovery of client financing and timely collection of client balances also depends upon our ability to complete our contractual commitments and bill and collect our contracted revenues. If we are unable to meet our contractual requirements, we might experience delays in collection of and/or be unable to collect our client balances, and if this occurs, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected. In addition, if we experience an increase in the time to bill and collect for our services, our cash flows could be adversely affected.
Our stock price and results of operations could fluctuate and be difficult to predict.
Our stock price has fluctuated in the past and could continue to fluctuate in the future in response to various factors. These factors include:
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changes in macroeconomic or political factors unrelated to our business;
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general or industry-specific market conditions or changes in financial markets;
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announcements by us or competitors about developments in our business or prospects;
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projections or speculation about our business or that of competitors by the media or investment analysts; and
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our ability to meet our growth and financial objectives, including with respect to our overall revenue growth, revenue growth for our priority emerging markets and earnings per share growth.
Our results of operations have varied in the past and could vary significantly from quarter to quarter in the future, making them difficult to predict. Some of the factors that could cause our results of operations to vary include:
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the business decisions of our clients to begin to curtail or reduce the use of our services, including in response to changes in macroeconomic or political conditions unrelated to our business or general market conditions;
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periodic differences between our clients' estimated and actual levels of business activity associated with ongoing work, as well as the stage of completion of existing projects and/or their termination or restructuring;
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contract delivery inefficiencies, such as those due to poor delivery or changes in forecasts;
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our ability to transition employees quickly from completed to new projects and maintain an appropriate headcount in each of our workforces;
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acquisition, integration and operational costs related to businesses acquired;
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the introduction of new products or services by us, competitors or partners;
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changes in our pricing or competitors' pricing;
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our ability to manage costs, including those for our own or subcontracted personnel, travel, support services and severance;
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our ability to limit and manage the incurrence of pre-contract costs, which must be expensed without corresponding revenues, which are then recognized in later periods without the corresponding costs;
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changes in, or the application of changes in, accounting principles or pronouncements under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, particularly those related to revenue recognition;
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currency exchange rate fluctuations;
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changes in estimates, accruals or payments of variable compensation to our employees;
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global, regional and local economic and political conditions and related risks, including acts of terrorism; and
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seasonality, including number of work days and holidays and summer vacations.
As a result of any of the above factors, or any of the other risks described in this Item 1A, "Risk Factors," our stock price could be difficult to predict, and our stock price in the past might not be a good indicator of the price of our stock in the future.
We may need additional capital in the future, which may not be available to us. The raising of any additional capital may dilute your ownership percentage in our stock.
As of December 31, 2015, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaling $8.8 million and a borrowing capacity of $69.0 million, and a commitment from our lenders to increase our borrowing capacity by $50.0 million. Of the $8.8 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2015, $6.6 million was held by our Chinese operations and is considered to be indefinitely reinvested in those operations. We intend to continue to make investments to support our business growth and may require additional funds if our capital is insufficient to pursue business opportunities and respond to business challenges. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our existing stockholders could suffer dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences, and privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. Any debt financing secured by us in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions. In addition, we may not be able to obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us our ability to continue to support our business growth and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited.
Our officers, directors, and 5% and greater stockholders own a large percentage of our voting securities and their interests may differ from other stockholders.
Our executive officers, directors, and 5% and greater stockholders beneficially own or control approximately 19% of the voting power of our common stock. This concentration of voting power of our common stock may make it difficult for our other stockholders to successfully approve or defeat matters that may be submitted for action by our stockholders. It may also have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change in control of the Company.
It may be difficult for another company to acquire us, and this could depress our stock price.
In addition to the voting securities held by our officers, directors, and 5% and greater stockholders, provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and Delaware law could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage, delay, or prevent a merger or acquisition that a stockholder may consider favorable by authorizing the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock. In addition, provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law also restrict some business combinations with interested stockholders. These provisions are intended to encourage potential acquirers to negotiate with us and allow the Board of Directors the opportunity to consider alternative proposals in the interest of maximizing stockholder value. However, these provisions may also discourage acquisition proposals, or delay or prevent a change in control, which could harm our stock price.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
We have offices in multiple markets throughout North America and in China, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. We do not own any real property; all of our office space is leased with varying expiration dates. We believe our facilities are adequate to meet our needs in the near future.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are involved from time to time in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcome of lawsuits or other proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty and the amount of any liability that could arise with respect to such lawsuits or other proceedings cannot be predicted accurately, we do not expect any currently pending matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "PRFT." The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices per share of our common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market since January 1, 2014.
On February 25, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market was $18.09 per share. There were approximately 429 stockholders of record of our common stock as of February 25, 2016, including 329 restricted account holders.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our credit facility currently prohibits the payment of cash dividends without the prior written consent of the lenders.
Information on our Equity Compensation Plan has been included in Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Unregistered Sales of Securities
In connection with our acquisitions of Market Street and Enlighten during 2015, we issued 75,699 unregistered shares of our common stock to the owners of Market Street on September 17, 2015 and 197,715 unregistered shares of our common stock to Enlighten on December 4, 2015. For each of these issuances, we relied on Section 4(a)(2) and Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as the basis for exemption from registration. These shares were issued in separate, privately negotiated transactions and not pursuant to any public solicitation.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of our common stock through a stock repurchase program with an expiration date of June 30, 2016. The program could be suspended or discontinued at any time, based on market, economic, or business conditions. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by our management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, and other factors.
Since the program's inception on August 11, 2008, we have repurchased approximately $84.4 million (9.6 million shares) of our outstanding common stock through December 31, 2015.
(1) Average price paid per share includes commission.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The selected financial data presented for, and as of the end of, each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2015, has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The financial data presented is not directly comparable between periods as a result of three acquisitions in each of 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and two acquisitions in 2011.
The following data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in Part II, Item 8, and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in Part II, Item 7.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following summary together with the more detailed business information and consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the documents that we incorporate by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain certain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information involves risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in "Risk Factors."
Overview
We are an information technology and management consulting firm serving Forbes Global 2000® and other large enterprise companies with a primary focus on the United States. We help clients gain competitive advantage by using technology to: make their businesses more responsive to market opportunities; strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners; improve productivity; and reduce information technology costs. Our digital experience, business optimization and industry solutions enable these benefits by developing, integrating, automating, and extending business processes, technology infrastructure and software applications end-to-end within an organization and with key partners, suppliers, and customers. Our solutions include big data and analytics, technology platform implementations, commerce, enterprise content management, portals and collaboration, management consulting, custom applications, business integration, business process management, and customer relationship management, among others. Our solutions enable our clients to operate a real-time enterprise that dynamically adapts business processes and the systems that support them to meet the changing demands of an increasingly global, Internet-driven, and competitive marketplace.
Services Revenues
Services revenues are derived from professional services that include developing, implementing, integrating, automating and extending business processes, technology infrastructure, and software applications. Most of our projects are performed on a time and materials basis, while a smaller portion of our revenues is derived from projects performed on a fixed fee basis. Fixed fee engagements represented approximately 18% of our services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 10% for both the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. The increase in fixed fee revenues is primarily attributable to the Company's acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Zeon. For time and material projects, revenues are recognized and billed by multiplying the number of hours our professionals expend in the performance of the project by the established billing rates. For fixed fee projects, revenues are generally recognized using an input method based on the ratio of hours expended to total estimated hours. Amounts invoiced and collected in excess of revenues recognized are classified as deferred revenues. In conjunction with services provided, we occasionally receive referral fees under partner programs. These referral fees are recorded when earned within services revenues. On most projects, we are also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses including travel and other project-related expenses. These reimbursements are included as a component of revenues. The aggregate amount of reimbursed expenses will fluctuate depending on the location of our clients, the total number of our projects that require travel, and whether our arrangements with our clients provide for the reimbursement of such expenses.
Software and Hardware Revenues
Software and hardware revenues are derived from sales of third-party and internally developed software and hardware. Revenues from sales of third-party software and hardware are generally recorded on a gross basis provided that we act as a principal in the transaction. Revenues from sales of third-party software-as-a-service arrangements where we are not the primary obligor are recorded on a net basis. Software and hardware revenues are expected to fluctuate depending on our clients' demand for these products.
If we enter into contracts for the sale of services and software or hardware, management evaluates whether each element should be accounted for separately by considering the following criteria: (1) whether the deliverables have value to the client on a stand-alone basis; and (2) whether delivery or performance of the undelivered item or items is considered probable and substantially in our control (only if the arrangement includes a general right of return related to the delivered item). Further, for sales of software and services, management also evaluates whether the services are essential to the functionality of the software and whether there is fair value evidence for each deliverable. If management concludes that the separation criteria are met, then it accounts for each deliverable in the transaction separately, based on the relevant revenue recognition policies. Generally, all deliverables of our multiple element arrangements meet these criteria and are accounted for separately, with the arrangement consideration allocated among the deliverables using vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price. As a result, we generally recognize software and hardware sales upon delivery to the customer and services consistent with the policies described herein.
Further, delivery of software and hardware sales, when sold contemporaneously with services, can generally occur at varying times depending on the specific client project arrangement. Delivery of services generally occurs over a period of time consistent with the timeline as outlined in the client contract.
There are no significant cancellation or termination-type provisions for our software and hardware sales. Contracts for our professional services provide for a general right, to the client or us, to cancel or terminate the contract within a given period of time (generally 10 to 30 days' notice is required). The client is responsible for any time and expenses incurred up to the date of cancellation or termination of the contract.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues consists primarily of cash and non-cash compensation and benefits, including bonuses and non-cash compensation related to equity awards. Cost of revenues also includes the costs associated with subcontractors. Third-party software and hardware costs, reimbursable expenses and other unreimbursed project-related expenses are also included in cost of revenues. Project-related expenses will fluctuate generally depending on outside factors including the cost and frequency of travel and the location of our clients. Cost of revenues does not include depreciation of assets used in the production of revenues which are primarily personal computers, servers, and other information technology related equipment.
Gross Margins
Our gross margins for services are affected by the utilization rates of our professionals (defined as the percentage of our professionals' time billed to clients divided by the total available hours in the respective period), the salaries we pay our professionals, and the average billing rate we receive from our clients. If a project ends earlier than scheduled, we retain professionals in advance of receiving project assignments, or if demand for our services declines, our utilization rate will decline and adversely affect our gross margins. Gross margin percentages of third-party software and hardware sales (excluding internally developed software) are typically lower than gross margin percentages for services, and the mix of services and software and hardware for a particular period can significantly impact our total combined gross margin percentage for such period. In addition, gross margin for software and hardware sales can fluctuate due to pricing and other competitive pressures.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses are primarily composed of sales-related costs, general and administrative salaries, stock compensation expense, office costs, recruiting expense, variable compensation costs, marketing costs and other miscellaneous expenses. We work to minimize selling costs by focusing on repeat business with existing clients and by accessing sales leads generated by our software vendors, most notably IBM, Oracle and Microsoft, whose products we use to design and implement solutions for our clients. These relationships enable us to reduce our selling costs and sales cycle times and increase win rates through leveraging our partners' marketing efforts and endorsements.
Plans for Growth and Acquisitions
Our goal is to continue to build one of the leading independent information technology consulting firms by expanding our relationships with existing and new clients and through the continuation of our disciplined acquisition strategy. Our future growth plan includes expanding our business with a primary focus on customers in the United States, both organically and through acquisitions. We have executed on our acquisition strategy through our acquisitions of TriTek Solutions, Inc. ("Tritek") and Clear Task, Inc. ("Clear Task") in May 2013 and CoreMatrix Systems, LLC ("CoreMatrix") in October 2013. We acquired ForwardThink Group, Inc. ("ForwardThink") in February 2014, BioPharm Systems, Inc. ("BioPharm") in April 2014 and Trifecta Technologies, Inc. and Trifecta Technologies Canada, Limited (together, "Trifecta") in May 2014. We acquired Zeon in January 2015, Market Street in September 2015 and Enlighten in December 2015. We also intend to further leverage our existing offshore capabilities to support our future growth and provide our clients flexible options for project delivery.
When analyzing revenue growth by base business compared to acquired companies in the Results of Operations section below, revenue attributable to base business is defined as revenue from an acquired company that has been owned for a full four quarters after the date of acquisition.
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our results of operations as a percentage of total revenues:
* Services and software and hardware gross margins are based on their percentage of respective revenues.
Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014
Revenues. Total revenues increased 4% to $473.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $456.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Services revenues increased 6% to $411.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $386.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in services revenues was primarily due to acquisitions during 2015 and 2014. Services revenues attributable to our base business decreased $8.6 million while services revenues attributable to acquired companies increased $33.4 million, resulting in a total increase of $24.8 million.
Software and hardware revenues decreased 12% to $46.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $52.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to a decrease in volume and magnitude of initial and renewal software license sales compared to 2014. Reimbursable expenses decreased 10% to $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $17.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily as a result of a higher mix of projects with no reimbursable expenses. We did not realize any profit on reimbursable expenses.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues increased 4% to $318.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $307.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in cost of revenues was primarily related to acquisitions and costs associated with services revenues which increased 8% to $261.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $242.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in software and hardware costs which decreased 13% to $41.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $47.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, as a result of the decrease in software license volume. The average number of colleagues performing services, including subcontractors, increased to 2,267 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 1,830 for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily related to acquisitions.
Gross Margin. Gross margin increased 4% to $155.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $149.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 32.8% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 32.7% for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to a higher mix of services revenues. Services gross margin, excluding reimbursable expenses, decreased to 36.4% or $149.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 37.2% or $143.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in services gross margin was primarily a result of lower average bill rates and, to a lesser extent, partner referral fees. The average bill rate for our professionals decreased to $126 per hour for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $135 per hour for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to a more aggressive pricing strategy and the use of a higher mix of offshore resources. The average bill rate for the year ended December 31, 2015, excluding offshore delivery centers, was $144 per hour compared to $147 per hour for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Selling, General and Administrative. SG&A expenses increased 11% to $100.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $90.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to acquisitions and the fluctuations in expenses as detailed in the following table. SG&A expenses, as a percentage of revenues, increased to 21.1% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 19.8% for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Depreciation. Depreciation expense increased 20% to $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in depreciation expense was mainly attributable to acquisitions and the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system ("ERP") mid-year in 2014. Depreciation expense as a percentage of revenues was 0.9% and 0.8% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Amortization. Amortization expense decreased 4% to $13.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in amortization expense was due to intangible assets related to previous acquisitions becoming fully amortized partially offset by the addition of intangible assets from recent acquisitions. Amortization expense as a percentage of revenues was 2.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 3.2% for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Acquisition Costs. Acquisition-related costs of $1.2 million were incurred during 2015, primarily related to the acquisition of Market Street and Enlighten compared to $3.4 million during 2014 related to the acquisition of ForwardThink, BioPharm, Trifecta, and Zeon. Costs were incurred for legal, accounting, tax, investment bank and advisor fees, and valuation services performed by third parties in connection with merger and acquisition-related activities.
Adjustment to Fair Value of Contingent Consideration. An adjustment of $0.4 million was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015 for the accretion of the fair value estimate for the earnings-based contingent consideration of the Zeon, Market Street and Enlighten acquisitions. An adjustment of $1.5 million was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2014 which represented the net impact of the fair market value adjustments to the earnings-based contingent consideration of the Clear Task and CoreMatrix acquisitions.
Provision for Income Taxes. We provide for federal, state, and foreign income taxes at the applicable statutory rates adjusted for non-deductible expenses. The effective income tax rate decreased to 29.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 38.3% for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our effective rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 included the tax benefit for the 2015 research and development credit and domestic production deduction which were higher than the 2014 benefit. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 included a lower tax benefit for the 2014 research and development credit and domestic production deduction.
Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013
Revenues. Total revenues increased 22% to $456.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $373.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Services revenues increased 18% to $386.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $326.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in services revenues was primarily due to acquisitions during 2014 and 2013. Services revenues attributable to our base business increased $15.5 million while services revenues attributable to acquired companies increased $44.6 million, resulting in a total increase of $60.1 million.
Software and hardware revenues increased 75% to $52.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $30.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 primarily due to an increase in volume and magnitude of initial and renewal software license sales compared to 2013. Reimbursable expenses increased 4% to $17.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $16.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 primarily as a result of the increase in services revenue. We did not realize any profit on reimbursable expenses.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues increased 23% to $307.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $250.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in cost of revenues was directly related to the increase in revenues attributable to the Company's acquisitions and base business. More specifically, the increase in the cost of revenue is due to the increase in headcount to support the Company's ongoing revenue-producing projects and increased software revenue. The average number of colleagues performing services, including subcontractors, increased to 1,830 for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 1,640 for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Gross Margin. Gross margin increased 21% to $149.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $123.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Gross margin as a percentage of revenues decreased to 32.7% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 33.0% for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the significant increase in software and hardware sales which typically have lower margins than services. Services gross margin, excluding reimbursable expenses, increased to 37.2% or $143.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 36.6% or $119.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in services gross margin was primarily a result of higher average bill rates. The average bill rate for our professionals increased to $135 per hour for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $123 per hour for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the improved pricing opportunities as the market for our services continues to improve. The average bill rate for the year ended December 31, 2014, excluding offshore delivery centers, was $147 per hour compared to $135 per hour for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Selling, General and Administrative. SG&A expenses increased 16% to $90.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $77.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 due primarily to fluctuations in expenses as detailed in the following table. SG&A expenses, as a percentage of revenues, decreased to 19.8% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 20.8% for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Depreciation. Depreciation expense increased 14% to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in depreciation expense was mainly attributable to increased capital expenditures and acquisitions. Depreciation expense as a percentage of revenues was 0.8% and 0.9% for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Amortization. Amortization expense increased 81% to $14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in amortization expense was due to the addition of intangible assets acquired as a result of the Company's acquisition activity during 2014 and 2013 and the purchase and implementation of an ERP system.
Acquisition Costs. Acquisition-related costs of $3.4 million were incurred during 2014 related to the acquisition of ForwardThink, BioPharm, Trifecta, and Zeon compared to $2.3 million during 2013 related to the acquisition of TriTek, Clear Task, and CoreMatrix. Costs were incurred for legal, accounting, tax, investment bank and advisor fees, and valuation services performed by third parties in connection with merger and acquisition-related activities.
Adjustment to Fair Value of Contingent Consideration. An adjustment of $1.5 million was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2014 which represented the net impact of the fair market value adjustments to the earnings-based contingent consideration of the Clear Task and CoreMatrix acquisitions. An adjustment of $0.3 million was made during the year ended December 31, 2013 for the accretion of the fair value estimate for the earnings-based contingent consideration related to the Clear Task and CoreMatrix acquisitions.
Provision for Income Taxes. We provide for federal, state, and foreign income taxes at the applicable statutory rates adjusted for non-deductible expenses. The effective income tax rate increased to 38.3% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 32.0% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 only included the tax benefit for the 2014 research and development credit and domestic production deduction and the 2010 research and development tax credit. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2013 included the benefit for the research and development credit for 2012 and 2013 and domestic production deduction for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Selected measures of liquidity and capital resources are as follows (in millions):
(1) The balance at December 31, 2015 includes $6.6 million held by our Chinese subsidiary which is not available to fund domestic operations unless the funds were repatriated. We currently do not plan or foresee a need to repatriate such funds.
(2) Working capital is total current assets less total current liabilities
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $44.7 million compared to $34.0 million and $46.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the components of operating cash flows were net income of $23.0 million plus non-cash charges of $31.9 million and net working capital investments of $10.2 million. The primary components of operating cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2014 were net income of $23.2 million plus non-cash charges of $27.5 million and net working capital investments of $16.6 million. The primary components of operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2013 were net income of $21.4 million plus non-cash charges of $21.5 million and net working capital reductions of $3.9 million.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we used $37.8 million for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) and $4.4 million to purchase property and equipment and to develop certain software for internal use. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we used $46.4 million for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) and $7.1 million for purchases of equipment and to develop certain software for internal use including significant efforts associated with the implementation of a new internal ERP system placed in service in 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we used $38.4 million for acquisitions and $8.0 million for purchases of equipment and to develop certain software for internal use including significant efforts associated with the implementation of a new ERP system.
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we received proceeds of $266.5 million from our line of credit and we realized a tax benefit of $1.4 million related to the vesting of stock awards and stock option exercises plus $0.3 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options and sales of stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In 2015, we made payments of $264.5 million on our line of credit, used $5.0 million to remit taxes withheld as part of a net share settlement of restricted stock vesting, used $2.8 million to repurchase shares of our common stock through the stock repurchase program and paid $0.2 million in fees related to our credit facility. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we received proceeds of $265.1 million from our line of credit and we realized a tax benefit of $2.6 million related to the vesting of stock awards and stock option exercises plus $1.5 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options and sales of stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In 2014, we made payments of $230.1 million on our line of credit, used $7.7 million to repurchase shares of our common stock through the stock repurchase program, used $6.6 million to remit taxes withheld as part of a net share settlement of restricted stock vesting, and used $1.2 million to settle the contingent consideration for the purchase of Clear Task. For the year ended December 31, 2013 we received proceeds of $181.2 million from our line of credit and we realized a tax benefit of $2.6 million related to vesting of stock awards and stock option exercises plus $0.3 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options and sales of stock through our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We made payments of $165.0 million on our line of credit, used $13.8 million to repurchase shares of our common stock through the stock repurchase program, used $4.3 million to remit taxes withheld as part of a net share settlement of restricted stock vesting, and paid $0.4 million in fees related to our credit facility.
Availability of Funds from Credit Facility
On July 31, 2013, we renewed and extended the term of our credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank ("SVB"), U.S. Bank National Association, and Bank of America, N.A. As renewed, the credit agreement provided for revolving credit borrowings up to a maximum principal amount of $75.0 million, subject to a commitment increase of $25.0 million. The Company and the Lenders entered into a first amendment to the credit agreement, effective as of May 7, 2014, pursuant to which the Company and the Lenders increased the amount of available borrowing capacity thereunder by $15.0 million, allowing for revolving credit borrowings up to a maximum principal amount of $90.0 million. The Company and the Lenders entered into a second amendment and consent to the credit agreement (as further amended, the "Credit Agreement"), effective as of January 2, 2015, pursuant to which the Company and the Lenders increased the amount of available borrowing capacity thereunder by $35.0 million, allowing for revolving credit borrowings up to a maximum principal amount of $125.0 million, subject to an additional commitment increase of $50.0 million.
The Credit Agreement also allows for the issuance of letters of credit in the aggregate amount of up to $10.0 million at any one time; outstanding letters of credit reduce the credit available for revolving credit borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit. Substantially all of our assets are pledged to secure the credit facility.
All outstanding amounts owed under the Credit Agreement become due and payable no later than the final maturity date of July 31, 2017. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at our option of SVB's prime rate (4.25% on December 31, 2015) plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 0.50% or one-month LIBOR (0.43% on December 31, 2015) plus a margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.50%. The additional margin amount is dependent on the level of outstanding borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, we had $69.0 million of maximum borrowing capacity. We incur an annual commitment fee of 0.20% on the unused portion of the line of credit.
At December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with our covenants under the Credit Agreement and we expect to remain in compliance during the next 12 months.
Stock Repurchase Program
Prior to 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $90.0 million of our common stock. On November 4, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the expansion of our stock repurchase program by authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional $10.0 million of our common stock for a total repurchase program of $100.0 million and extended the expiration date of the program from December 31, 2014 to June 30, 2016.
From time to time, we establish a written trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, pursuant to which we make a portion of our stock repurchases. Additional repurchases will be at times and in amounts as the Company deems appropriate and will be made through open market transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other factors.
Since the program's inception on August 11, 2008, we have repurchased approximately $84.4 million (9.6 million shares) of our outstanding common stock through December 31, 2015.
Contractual Obligations
For the year ended December 31, 2015, there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business in lease obligations or other contractual obligations. See Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further description of our contractual obligations.
As of December 31, 2015, there was $56.0 million outstanding under the Credit Agreement as compared to $54.0 million as of December 31, 2014. The amounts are classified as "Long-term debt" within the Consolidated Balance Sheets and will become due and payable no later than the final maturity date of July 31, 2017.
We have incurred commitments to make future payments under contracts such as leases and the Credit Agreement. Maturities under these contracts are set forth in the following table as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
Conclusion
If our capital is insufficient to fund our activities in either the short- or long-term, we may need to raise additional funds. In the ordinary course of business, we may engage in discussions with various persons in connection with additional financing. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity securities, our existing stockholders' percentage ownership will be diluted. These equity securities may also have rights superior to our common stock. Additional debt or equity financing may not be available when needed or on satisfactory terms. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to expand our services, respond to competition, pursue acquisition opportunities, or continue our operations.
Of the total cash and cash equivalents reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 of $8.8 million, approximately $6.6 million was held by the Company's Chinese operations and is considered to be indefinitely reinvested in those operations. The Company has no intention of repatriating cash from its Chinese operations in the foreseeable future.
We believe that the currently available funds, access to capital from our credit facility, and cash flows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements and other capital needs for the next 12 months.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our accounting policies are described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. We believe our most critical accounting policies include revenue recognition, accounting for goodwill and intangible assets, purchase accounting, accounting for stock-based compensation, and income taxes.
Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Service revenues are primarily derived from professional services provided on a time and materials basis. For time and material contracts, service revenues are recognized and billed by multiplying the number of hours expended in the performance of the contract by the established billing rates. For fixed fee projects, service revenues are generally recognized using an input method based on the ratio of hours expended to total estimated hours. Amounts invoiced and collected in excess of revenues recognized are classified as deferred revenues. In conjunction with services provided, we occasionally receive referral fees under partner programs. These referral fees are recorded when earned within services revenues. Revenues from software and hardware sales are generally recorded on a gross basis considering our role as a principal in the transaction. Revenues from sales of third-party software-as-a-service arrangements where we are not the primary obligor are recorded on a net basis. On many projects we are also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses including travel and other project-related expenses. These reimbursements are included as a component of revenues. We did not realize any profit on reimbursable expenses.
Unbilled revenues represent the project time and expenses that have been incurred, but not yet billed to the client, prior to the end of the fiscal period. For time and materials projects, the client is invoiced for the amount of hours worked multiplied by the billing rates as stated in the contract. For fixed fee arrangements, the client is invoiced according to the agreed-upon schedule detailing the amount and timing of payments in the contract. Clients are typically billed monthly for services provided during that month, but can be billed on a more or less frequent basis as determined by the contract. If the time and expenses are worked/incurred and approved at the end of a fiscal period and the invoice has not yet been sent to the client, the amount is recorded as unbilled revenue once we verify all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Revenues are recognized when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of the customer arrangement exists; (2) fees are fixed and determinable; (3) delivery and acceptance have occurred; and (4) collectability is deemed probable. Our policy for revenue recognition in instances where multiple deliverables are sold contemporaneously to the same customer is in accordance with Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Subtopic 985-605, Software - Revenue Recognition, ASC Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition - Multiple-Element Arrangements, and ASC Section 605-10-S99 (Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 13, Revenue Recognition). Specifically, if we enter into contracts for the sale of services and software or hardware, then we evaluate whether each element should be accounted for separately by considering the following criteria: (1) whether the deliverables have value to the client on a stand-alone basis; and (2) whether delivery or performance of the undelivered item or items is considered probable and substantially in our control (only if the arrangement includes a general right of return related to the delivered item). Further, for sales of software and services, we also evaluate whether the services are essential to the functionality of the software and we have fair value evidence for each deliverable. If we have concluded that the separation criteria are met, then we account for each deliverable in the transaction separately, based on the relevant revenue recognition policies. Generally, all deliverables of our multiple element arrangements meet these criteria and are accounted for separately, with the arrangement consideration allocated among the deliverables using vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price. As a result, we generally recognize software and hardware sales upon delivery to the customer and services consistent with the policies described herein.
Further, delivery of software and hardware sales, when sold contemporaneously with services, can generally occur at varying times depending on the specific client project arrangement. Delivery of services generally occurs over a period of time consistent with the timeline as outlined in the client contract.
There are no significant cancellation or termination-type provisions for our software and hardware sales. Contracts for professional services provide for a general right, to the client or to us, to cancel or terminate the contract within a given period of time (generally 10 to 30 days' notice is required). The client is responsible for any time and expenses incurred up to the date of cancellation or termination of the contract.
The Company may provide multiple services under the terms of an arrangement, and are required to assess whether one or more units of accounting are present. Service fees are typically accounted for as one unit of accounting, as fair value evidence for individual tasks or milestones is not available. We follow the guidelines discussed above in determining revenues; however, certain judgments and estimates are made and used to determine revenues recognized in any accounting period. If estimates are revised, material differences may result in the amount and timing of revenues recognized for a given period.
Revenues are presented net of taxes assessed by governmental authorities. Sales taxes are generally collected and subsequently remitted on all software and hardware sales and certain services transactions as appropriate.
Allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon specific identification of likely and probable losses. Each accounting period, accounts receivable is evaluated for risk associated with a client's inability to make contractual payments, historical experience and other currently available information. Billed and unbilled receivables that are specifically identified as being at risk are provided for with a charge to revenue or bad debts as appropriate in the period the risk is identified. Considerable judgment is used in assessing the ultimate realization of these receivables, including reviewing the financial stability of the client, evaluating the successful mitigation of service delivery disputes, and gauging current market conditions. If the evaluation of service delivery issues or a client's ability to pay is incorrect, future reductions to revenue or bad debt expense may be incurred.
Goodwill, Other Intangible Assets, and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, or net liabilities assumed, in a business combination. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other ("ASC Topic 350"), we perform an annual impairment review in the fourth quarter and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. ASC Topic 350 permits an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that our fair value is less than our carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is more likely than not that our fair value is less than our carrying amount, the two-step goodwill impairment test will be conducted. The first step screens for impairment and, when impairment is indicated, a second step is employed to measure the impairment. Based upon our qualitative assessment, it is more likely than not that our fair value is greater than our carrying amount. No impairment charges were recorded for 2015, 2014 or 2013.
Other intangible assets include customer relationships, non-compete arrangements, trade name, customer backlog, and internally developed software, which are being amortized over the assets' estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives range from less than one year to ten years. Amortization of customer relationships, non-compete arrangements, trade name, customer backlog, and internally developed software is considered an operating expense and is included in "Amortization" in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company periodically reviews the estimated useful lives of its identifiable intangible assets, taking into consideration any events or circumstances that might result in a lack of recoverability or revised useful life.
Purchase Accounting
We allocate the purchase price of our acquisitions to the assets and liabilities acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. Such fair market value assessments require significant judgments and estimates that can change materially as additional information becomes available. The purchase price is allocated to intangibles based on our estimate and an independent valuation. We finalize the purchase price allocation within 12 months of the acquisition date as certain initial accounting valuation estimates are finalized.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
The fair value of restricted stock awards are based on the value of our common stock on the date of the grant. Stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation ("ASC Topic 718"). Under this method, the Company recognizes share-based compensation ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the requisite service period. In addition, pursuant to ASC Topic 718, the Company is required to estimate the amount of expected forfeitures when calculating share-based compensation, instead of accounting for forfeitures as they occur.
Income Taxes
We calculate and provide for income taxes in each jurisdiction in which we operate. Deferred tax assets and liabilities, measured using enacted tax rates, are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance reduces the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We have established liabilities or reduced assets for uncertain tax positions when we believe those tax positions are not more likely than not of being sustained if challenged. We evaluate these uncertain tax positions and adjust the related tax assets and liabilities in light of changing facts and circumstances each quarter.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements are fully described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements, except operating lease commitments as disclosed in Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risks related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We believe our exposure to market risks is immaterial.
Exchange Rate Sensitivity
We are exposed to market risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates because we generate a portion of our revenues and incur a portion of our expenses in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of December 31, 2015, we were exposed to changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar, Chinese Yuan, Indian Rupee, British Pound, and Euro. We hedge material cash flow exposures when feasible using forward contracts. These instruments are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and credit risk. Credit risk is managed through careful selection and ongoing evaluation of the financial institutions utilized as counter parties. Refer to Note 11, Financial Instruments, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
As of December 31, 2015, there was $56.0 million outstanding and $69.0 million of available borrowing capacity under our credit facility. Our interest expense will fluctuate as the interest rate for the line of credit floats based, at our option, on our lead lender's prime rate plus a margin or the one-month LIBOR rate plus a margin. Based on the $56.0 million outstanding on the line of credit as of December 31, 2015, an increase in the interest rate of 100 basis points would add $560,000 of interest expense per year, which is not considered material to our financial position or results of operations.
We had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaling $8.8 million at December 31, 2015 and $10.9 million at December 31, 2014. The unrestricted cash and cash equivalents are held for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe that we do not have any material exposure to changes in the fair value of our investment portfolio as a result of changes in interest rates. Declines in interest rates, however, will reduce future interest income.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
PERFICIENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
PERFICIENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
PERFICIENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
(In thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
PERFICIENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
(In thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
PERFICIENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
PERFICIENT, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2015
1. Description of Business and Principles of Consolidation
Perficient, Inc. (the "Company") is an information technology consulting firm. The Company helps its clients use Internet-based technologies to make their businesses more responsive to market opportunities and threats; strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners; improve productivity; and reduce information technology costs. The Company designs, builds, and delivers solutions using a core set of middleware software products developed by third-party vendors. The Company's solutions enable its clients to meet the changing demands of an increasingly global, Internet-driven, and competitive marketplace.
The Company is incorporated in Delaware. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Certain prior period financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. This reclassification primarily relates to certain costs being reclassified from project personnel costs to other project related expenses within total cost of revenues in the consolidated statement of operations in addition to the retrospective early adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-17 Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for additional information regarding adoption of ASU No. 2015-17.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
Service revenues are primarily derived from professional services provided on a time and materials basis. For time and material contracts, service revenues are recognized and billed by multiplying the number of hours expended in the performance of the contract by the established billing rates. For fixed fee projects, service revenues are generally recognized using an input method based on the ratio of hours expended to total estimated hours. Amounts invoiced and collected in excess of revenues recognized are classified as deferred revenues. In conjunction with services provided, the Company occasionally receives referral fees under partner programs. These referral fees are recorded when earned within service revenues. Revenues from software and hardware sales are generally recorded on a gross basis considering the Company's role as a principal in the transaction. Revenues from sales of third-party software-as-a-service arrangements where the Company is not the primary obligor are recorded on a net basis. On many projects the Company is also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses including travel and other project-related expenses. These reimbursements are included as a component of revenues. We did not realize any profit on reimbursable expenses.
Unbilled revenues represent the project time and expenses that have been incurred, but not yet billed to the client, prior to the end of the fiscal period. For time and materials projects, the client is invoiced for the amount of hours worked multiplied by the billing rates as stated in the contract. For fixed fee arrangements, the client is invoiced according to the agreed-upon schedule detailing the amount and timing of payments in the contract. Clients are typically billed monthly for services provided during that month, but can be billed on a more or less frequent basis as determined by the contract. If the time and expenses are worked/incurred and approved at the end of a fiscal period and the invoice has not yet been sent to the client, the amount is recorded as unbilled revenue once the Company verifies all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Revenues are recognized when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of the customer arrangement exists; (2) fees are fixed and determinable; (3) delivery and acceptance have occurred; and (4) collectability is deemed probable. The Company's policy for revenue recognition in instances where multiple deliverables are sold contemporaneously to the same customer is in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Subtopic 985-605, Software - Revenue Recognition, ASC Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition - Multiple-Element Arrangements, and ASC Section 605-10-S99 (Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 13, Revenue Recognition). Specifically, if the Company enters into contracts for the sale of services and software or hardware, then the Company evaluates whether each element should be accounted for separately by considering the following criteria: (1) whether the deliverables have value to the client on a stand-alone basis; and (2) whether delivery or performance of the undelivered item or items is considered probable and substantially in the control of the Company (only if the arrangement includes a general right of return related to the delivered item). Further, for sales of software and services, the Company also evaluates whether the services are essential to the functionality of the software and if it has fair value evidence for each deliverable. If the Company has concluded that the separation criteria are met, then it accounts for each deliverable in the transaction separately, based on the relevant revenue recognition policies. Generally, all deliverables of the Company's multiple element arrangements meet these criteria and are accounted for separately, with the arrangement consideration allocated among the deliverables using vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price. As a result, the Company generally recognizes software and hardware sales upon delivery to the customer and services consistent with the policies described herein.
Further, delivery of software and hardware sales, when sold contemporaneously with services, can generally occur at varying times depending on the specific client project arrangement. Delivery of services generally occurs over a period of time consistent with the timeline as outlined in the client contract.
There are no significant cancellation or termination-type provisions for the Company's software and hardware sales. Contracts for professional services provide for a general right, to the client or the Company, to cancel or terminate the contract within a given period of time (generally 10 to 30 days' notice is required). The client is responsible for any time and expenses incurred up to the date of cancellation or termination of the contract.
The Company may provide multiple services under the terms of an arrangement, and are required to assess whether one or more units of accounting are present. Service fees are typically accounted for as one unit of accounting, as fair value evidence for individual tasks or milestones is not available. The Company follows the guidelines discussed above in determining revenues; however, certain judgments and estimates are made and used to determine revenues recognized in any accounting period. If estimates are revised, material differences may result in the amount and timing of revenues recognized for a given period.
Revenues are presented net of taxes assessed by governmental authorities. Sales taxes are generally collected and subsequently remitted on all software and hardware sales and certain services transactions as appropriate.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
An allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon specific identification of likely and probable losses. Each accounting period, accounts receivable is evaluated for risk associated with a client's inability to make contractual payments, historical experience, and other currently available information.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation ("ASC Topic 718"). Under this method, the Company recognizes share-based compensation ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the requisite service period. In addition, pursuant to ASC Topic 718, the Company is required to estimate the amount of expected forfeitures when calculating share-based compensation, instead of accounting for forfeitures as they occur.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Subtopic 740-10, Income Taxes ("ASC Subtopic 740-10"), and ASC Section 740-10-25, Income Taxes - Recognition ("ASC Section 740-10-25"). ASC Subtopic 740-10 prescribes the use of the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are subject to tests of recoverability. A valuation allowance is provided for such deferred tax assets to the extent realization is not judged to be more likely than not. ASC Subtopic 740-10-25 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Subtopic 740-10-25 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, treatment of interest and penalties, and disclosure of such positions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of all cash balances and liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets (generally one to seven years). Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the lease or the estimated useful life of the assets.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, or net liabilities assumed, in a business combination. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other ("ASC Topic 350"), the Company performs an annual impairment review in the fourth quarter and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. ASC Topic 350 permits an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount of the Company before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount of the Company, the two-step goodwill impairment test will be conducted. The first step screens for impairment and, when impairment is indicated, a second step is employed to measure the impairment. Based upon the Company's qualitative assessment, it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Company is greater than its carrying amount. No impairment charges were recorded for 2015, 2014 or 2013.
Other intangible assets include customer relationships, non-compete arrangements, trade names, customer backlog, and internally developed software, which are being amortized over the assets' estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives range from less than one year to ten years. Amortization of customer relationships, non-compete arrangements, trade names, customer backlog, and internally developed software is considered an operating expense and is included in "Amortization" in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company periodically reviews the estimated useful lives of its identifiable intangible assets, taking into consideration any events or circumstances that might result in a lack of recoverability or revised useful life.
Financial Instruments
Cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accrued liabilities are stated at amounts which approximate fair value due to the near term maturities of these instruments. The Company's long-term debt balance approximates fair market value.
The Company, when deemed appropriate, uses derivatives as a risk management tool to mitigate the potential impact of foreign currency exchange rate risk. Both the gain or loss on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments and the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings. All derivatives are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 11, Financial Instruments, for additional information regarding our derivative financial instruments.
Treasury Stock
The Company uses the cost method to account for repurchases of its own stock.
Segment and Geographic Information
The Company operates as one reportable operating segment according to ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, which establishes standards for the way that business enterprises report information about operating segments. The chief operating decision maker formulates decisions about how to allocate resources and assess performance based on consolidated financial results. The Company also has one reporting unit for purposes of the goodwill impairment analysis discussed above. Approximately 98% of the Company's revenues were derived from clients in the United States during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to 99% for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Less than 2% and 1% of the Company's non-current assets were located outside the United States for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. On April 1, 2015, the FASB voted to propose to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. The new standard is to become effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by this update. This standard is to become effective for the Company on January 1, 2016 and requires that the Company use a retrospective approach. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which provides specific guidance on the recognition of fees paid by a customer for cloud computing arrangements as either the acquisition of a software license or a service contract. This standard is to become effective for the Company on January 1, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-05 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which eliminates the requirement for an acquirer to retrospectively adjust the financial statements for measurement-period adjustments that occur in periods after the acquisition date. This standard is to become effective for the Company on January 1, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-16 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which will require entities with a classified balance sheet to present all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. This standard is to become effective for the Company on January 1, 2017 and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early adoption of the standard is permitted. The Company early adopted this standard retrospectively on December 31, 2015. The adoption of this standard resulted in a reclassification of current deferred tax assets which caused a $0.7 million reduction to other current assets and a corresponding $0.7 reduction to other non-current liabilities on the Company's balance sheet as of December 31, 2014, but had no effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which supersedes ASC Topic 840, Leases, and creates a new topic, ASC Topic 842, Leases. This update requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The update also expands the required quantitative and qualitative disclosures surrounding leases. This standard is to become effective for the Company on January 1, 2019, with earlier application permitted. This update will be applied using a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this update on its consolidated financial statements.
3. Net Income Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share includes the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the number of equivalent shares which would be issued related to the stock options, unvested restricted stock, and warrants using the treasury method, unless such additional equivalent shares are anti-dilutive.
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share information):
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2015, this represents the Company's estimate of shares to be issued to Zeon Solutions Incorporated and certain related entities (collectively, "Zeon") pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2014, this represents the Company's estimate of shares to be issued to Clear Task, Inc. ("Clear Task") pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement.
(2) For the year ended December 31, 2015, this represents the shares held in escrow pursuant to: (i) the Agreement and Plan of Merger with ForwardThink Group Inc. ("ForwardThink"); (ii) the Asset Purchase Agreement with BioPharm Systems, Inc. ("BioPharm"); (iii) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Trifecta Technologies, Inc. and Trifecta Technologies Canada, Limited (together "Trifecta"); (iv) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Zeon; (v) the Stock Purchase Agreement for Market Street Solutions, Inc. ("Market Street") and (vi) the Asset Purchase Agreement with The Pup Group, Inc. ("Enlighten") as part of the consideration. For the year ended December 31, 2014, this represents the shares held in escrow pursuant to: (i) the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Northridge Systems, Inc. ("Northridge"); (ii) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Nascent Systems, LP ("Nascent"); (iii) the Agreement and Plan of Merger with TriTek Solutions, Inc. ("TriTek"); (iv) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Clear Task; (v) the Asset Purchase Agreement with CoreMatrix Systems, LLC ("CoreMatrix"); (vi) the Agreement and Plan of Merger with ForwardThink; (vii) the Asset Purchase Agreement with BioPharm; and (viii) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Trifecta as part of the consideration. For the year ended December 31, 2013, this represents the shares held in escrow pursuant to: (i) the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Northridge; (ii) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Nascent; (iii) the Agreement and Plan of Merger with TriTek; (iv) the Asset Purchase Agreement with Clear Task; and (v) the Asset Purchase Agreement with CoreMatrix as part of the consideration.
4. Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers
Cash and accounts receivable potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk. Cash is placed with highly rated financial institutions. The Company provides credit, in the normal course of business, to its customers. The Company generally does not require collateral or up-front payments. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers and maintains allowances for potential credit losses. Customers can be denied access to services in the event of non-payment. During 2015, a substantial portion of the services the Company provided were built on IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft platforms, among others, and a significant number of the Company's clients are identified through joint selling opportunities conducted with and through sales leads obtained from the relationships with these vendors. Due to the Company's significant fixed operating expenses, the loss of sales to any significant customer could negatively impact net income and cash flow from operations. However, the Company has remained relatively diversified, with its largest customer only representing approximately 4% of total revenues excluding reimbursable expenses, for both years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and 3% of total revenues excluding reimbursable expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013.
5. Employee Benefit Plans
The Company has a qualified 401(k) profit sharing plan available to full-time employees who meet the plan's eligibility requirements. This defined contribution plan permits employees to make contributions up to maximum limits allowed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Company, at its discretion, matches a portion of the employee's contribution under a predetermined formula based on the level of contribution and years of service. For 2015, the Company made matching contributions of 50% (25% in cash and 25% in Company stock) of the first 6% of eligible compensation deferred by the participant. The Company recognized $4.6 million, $4.0 million, and $3.3 million of expense for the matching cash and Company stock contribution in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. All matching contributions vest over a three-year period of service.
The Company has a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for certain U.S. personnel. The plan is designed to allow eligible participants to accumulate additional income through elective deferrals of compensation which will be paid in the future. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the deferred compensation liability balance was $3.4 million and $2.8 million, respectively.
6. Business Combinations
2014 Acquisitions
Acquisition of ForwardThink
On February 10, 2014, the Company acquired ForwardThink, pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger. ForwardThink was a financial services and solutions consulting firm. The acquisition of ForwardThink expanded the Company's financial services vertically, including the Company's presence in New York.
The Company's total allocable purchase price consideration was $40.1 million. The purchase price was comprised of $26.9 million in cash paid (net of cash acquired) and $13.2 million of Company common stock issued at closing. The Company incurred approximately $1.3 million in transaction costs, which were expensed when incurred. The Company acquired certain equity awards which were replaced with a cash incentive plan pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger. These awards are recognized separately from the acquisition of assets and assumptions of liabilities in the business combination and will be recognized as compensation expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Approximately $0.8 million of expense will be recorded over three years and will be recognized ratably over the awards service period.
The Company allocated the total purchase price consideration between tangible assets, identified intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill as follows (in millions):
The goodwill is non-deductible for tax purposes. The Company estimated that the intangible assets acquired have useful lives of eleven months to six years.
Acquisition of BioPharm
On April 1, 2014, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of BioPharm, pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement and a Stock Purchase Agreement. BioPharm was a business and information technology consulting firm focused on the life sciences industry. The acquisition of BioPharm expanded the Company's industry vertical expertise with the addition of a dedicated life sciences vertical.
The Company's total allocable purchase price consideration was $16.3 million. The purchase price was comprised of $11.2 million in cash paid (net of cash acquired) and $5.1 million in Company common stock issued at closing. The Company incurred approximately $0.7 million in transaction costs, which were expensed when incurred.
The Company allocated the total purchase price consideration between tangible assets, identified intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill as follows (in millions):
The amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $7.4 million. The Company estimated that the intangible assets acquired have useful lives of nine months to ten years.
Acquisition of Trifecta
On May 7, 2014, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets related to the eCommerce business of Trifecta, pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement. Trifecta was a business and information technology consulting firm focused on IBM WebSphere Commerce solutions. The acquisition of Trifecta expanded the Company's ability to deliver larger, more powerful eCommerce solutions.
The Company's total allocable purchase price consideration was $13.6 million. Of the $13.6 million in total allocable purchase price consideration, $8.2 million was paid in cash and the remainder represents an assumption of liabilities. The Company incurred approximately $0.6 million in transaction costs, which were expensed when incurred.
The Company allocated the total purchase price consideration between tangible assets, identified intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill as follows (in millions):
The amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $7.2 million. The Company estimated that the intangible assets acquired have useful lives of eight months to five years.
The following table presents details of the intangible assets acquired during the year ended December 31, 2014 (dollars in millions).
2015 Acquisitions
Acquisition of Zeon
On January 2, 2015, the Company acquired the assets of Zeon pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement. The acquisition of Zeon expanded the Company's expertise in the support of eCommerce and digital agency solutions.
The Company's total allocable purchase price consideration was $36.5 million. The purchase price was comprised of $22.9 million in cash paid and $11.4 million of Company common stock issued at closing increased by $2.2 million representing the initial fair value estimate of additional earnings-based contingent consideration, which has been realized by Zeon twelve months after the closing date of the acquisition. The Company incurred approximately $0.9 million in transaction costs, which were expensed when incurred.
The Company has estimated the allocation of the total purchase price consideration between tangible assets, identified intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill as follows (in millions):
The amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $18.5 million. The Company estimated that the intangible assets acquired have useful lives of nine months to eight years.
Acquisition of Market Street
On September 17, 2015, the Company acquired Market Street pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement. The acquisition of Market Street expanded the Company's IT consulting services specializing in the development, implementation, integration and support of big data, analytics, and financial performance management solutions.
The Company has initially estimated the total allocable purchase price consideration to be $5.1 million. The purchase price was comprised of $3.0 million in cash paid (net of cash acquired) and $1.1 million of Company common stock issued at closing increased by $1.0 million representing the initial fair value estimate of additional earnings-based contingent consideration, which may be realized by Market Street twelve months after the closing date of the acquisition. The Company incurred approximately $0.5 million in transaction costs, which were expensed when incurred.
The Company has estimated the allocation of the total purchase price consideration between tangible assets, identified intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill as follows (in millions):
The goodwill is non-deductible for tax purposes. The Company estimated that the intangible assets acquired have useful lives of nine months to eight years.
The amounts above represent the fair value estimates as of December 31, 2015 and are subject to subsequent adjustment as the Company obtains additional information during the measurement period and finalizes its fair value estimates. Any subsequent adjustments to these fair value estimates occurring during the measurement period will result in an adjustment to goodwill or income, as applicable.
Acquisition of Enlighten
On December 4, 2015, the Company acquired Enlighten pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement. Enlighten was a digital marketing agency specializing in the development, implementation, integration and support of digital experience solutions. The acquisition of Enlighten enhanced and expanded the Company's digital strategy, creative services and marketing expertise.
The Company has initially estimated the total allocable purchase price consideration to be $16.4 million. The purchase price was comprised of $11.3 million in cash paid and $2.9 million of Company common stock issued at closing increased by $2.2 million representing the initial fair value estimate of additional earnings-based contingent consideration, which may be realized by Enlighten twelve months after the closing date of the acquisition. The Company incurred approximately $0.5 million in transaction costs, which were expensed when incurred.
The Company allocated the total purchase price consideration between tangible assets, identified intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill as follows (in millions):
The amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $11.1 million. The Company estimated that the intangible assets acquired have useful lives of twelve months to five years.
The amounts above represent the fair value estimates as of December 31, 2015 and are subject to subsequent adjustment as the Company obtains additional information during the measurement period and finalizes its fair value estimates. Any subsequent adjustments to these fair value estimates occurring during the measurement period will result in an adjustment to goodwill or income, as applicable.
The following table presents details of the intangible assets acquired during the year ended December 31, 2015 (dollars in millions).
The results of the 2014 and 2015 acquisitions' operations have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements since the respective acquisition dates.
The aggregate amounts of revenue and net income of the 2015 acquisitions included in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations from the respective acquisition dates to December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
Pro-forma Results of Operations (Unaudited)
The following presents the unaudited pro-forma combined results of operations of the Company with the 2015 acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the 2014 and 2015 acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2014, after giving effect to certain pro-forma adjustments and assuming the 2015 acquisitions were acquired as of the beginning of 2014 and assuming the 2014 acquisitions were acquired as of the beginning of 2013.
These unaudited pro-forma results are presented in compliance with the adoption of ASU 2010-29, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations, and are not necessarily indicative of the actual consolidated results of operations had the acquisitions actually occurred on January 1, 2014 or January 1, 2013 or of future results of operations of the consolidated entities (in thousands except per share data):
7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
Activity related to goodwill consisted of the following (in thousands):
Intangible Assets with Definite Lives
Following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets that are subject to amortization (in thousands):
The estimated useful lives of identifiable intangible assets are as follows:
Customer relationships
3 - 10 years
Non-compete agreements
3 - 5 years
Internally developed software
1 - 7 years
Trade name
1 year
Customer backlog
9 - 12 months
The weighted average amortization periods for customer relationships and non-compete agreements are six years and five years, respectively. Total amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 was approximately $13.8 million, $14.5 million, and $8.0 million, respectively.
Estimated annual amortization expense for the next five years ended December 31 is as follows (in thousands):
8. Stock-Based Compensation
Stock Plans
The Company made various award grants under the 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan prior to May 2012 and under the 2012 Long Term Incentive Plan prior to May 2014. In May 2014, the Company's stockholders approved the Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended, the "Incentive Plan"), which had been previously approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Incentive Plan allows for the granting of various types of stock awards, not to exceed a total of 5.0 million shares, to eligible individuals. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the Incentive Plan and determines the terms of all stock awards made under the Incentive Plan.
Stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 was as follows (in thousands, except exercise price and remaining contractual terms information):
(1)
Stock options have a maximum contractual term of 10 years.
(2)
The total aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during 2014 and 2013 was $2.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
Restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 was as follows (in thousands, except fair value information):
(1)
The weighted average grant date fair value of shares granted during 2014 and 2013 was $18.56 and $14.62, respectively.
(2)
The total fair value of restricted shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $14.2 million, $15.1 million and $13.4 million, respectively.
The Company recognized $13.5 million, $13.4 million, and $11.1 million of share-based compensation expense during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which included $2.2 million, $2.0 million, and $1.7 million of expense for retirement savings plan contributions, respectively. The associated current and future income tax benefit recognized during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $4.2 million, $4.1 million, and $3.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there was $18.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of two years. Generally restricted stock awards vest over a three year service period.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") is a broadly-based stock purchase plan in which any eligible employee may elect to participate by authorizing the Company to make payroll deductions in a specific amount or designated percentage to pay the exercise price of an option. In no event will the ESPP permit an employee to purchase common stock with a fair market value in excess of $25,000 in any calendar year and the Compensation Committee of the Company has set the current annual participation limit at $12,500. During the year ended December 31, 2015, approximately 14,300 shares were purchased under the ESPP.
There are four three-month offering periods in each calendar year beginning on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, respectively. The purchase price of shares offered under the ESPP is an amount equal to 95% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of purchase (occurring on, respectively, March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31). The ESPP is designed to comply with Section 423 of the Code and thus is eligible for the favorable tax treatment afforded by Section 423.
9. Line of Credit
On July 31, 2013, the Company renewed and extended the term of the Company's credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank ("SVB"), U.S. Bank National Association, and Bank of America, N.A. As renewed, the credit agreement provided for revolving credit borrowings up to a maximum principal amount of $75.0 million, subject to a commitment increase of $25.0 million. The Company and the Lenders entered into a first amendment to the credit agreement, effective as of May 7, 2014, pursuant to which the Company and the Lenders increased the amount of available borrowing capacity thereunder by $15.0 million, allowing for revolving credit borrowings up to a maximum principal amount of $90.0 million. The Company and the Lenders entered into a second amendment and consent to the credit agreement (as further amended, the "Credit Agreement"), effective as of January 2, 2015, pursuant to which the Company and the Lenders, including Wells Fargo, National Association, as a new lender, increased the amount of available borrowing capacity thereunder by $35.0 million, allowing for revolving credit borrowings up to a maximum principal amount of $125.0 million, subject to an additional commitment increase of $50.0 million.
The Credit Agreement also allows for the issuance of letters of credit in the aggregate amount of up to $10.0 million at any one time; outstanding letters of credit reduce the credit available for revolving credit borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit. Substantially all of the Company's assets are pledged to secure the credit facility.
All outstanding amounts owed under the Credit Agreement become due and payable no later than the final maturity date of July 31, 2017. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at the Company's option of SVB's prime rate (4.25% on December 31, 2015) plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 0.50% or one-month LIBOR (0.43% on December 31, 2015) plus a margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.50%. The additional margin amount is dependent on the level of outstanding borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $69.0 million of maximum borrowing capacity. The Company incurs an annual commitment fee of 0.20% on the unused portion of the line of credit.
The Company is required to comply with various financial covenants under the Credit Agreement. Specifically, the Company is required to maintain a ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") plus stock compensation and minus income taxes paid and capital expenditures to interest expense and scheduled payments due for borrowings on a trailing three months basis annualized of not less than 2.00 to 1.00 and a ratio of current maturities of long-term debt to EBITDA plus stock compensation and minus income taxes paid and capital expenditures of not more than 2.75 to 1.00. Additionally, the credit agreement currently prohibits the payment of dividends without the prior written consent of the lenders.
At December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement.
10. Income Taxes
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") has completed examinations of the Company's U.S. income tax returns or the statute of limitations has passed on returns for the years through 2010. The Company's 2011 and 2012 U.S. income tax returns are currently under examination by the IRS. The IRS has sought to disallow certain research credits on the Company's 2011 U.S. income tax return. The Company is actively appealing the IRS's initial findings. The Company believes the research credits taken are appropriate and intends to vigorously defend its position. The amount of adjustment, if any, and the timing of such adjustment is not reasonably estimable at this time.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had U.S. federal tax net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $2.7 million that will begin to expire in 2020 if not utilized. Utilization of net operating losses may be subject to an annual limitation due to the "change in ownership" provisions of the Code. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization.
Significant components of the provision for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
The components of pretax income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, foreign operations included Canada, China, India, and the United Kingdom.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, foreign operations included Canada, China, and India.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred taxes as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
Management regularly assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. To the extent management believes that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established. Management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income in future years to realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets.
The federal corporate statutory tax rate is reconciled to the Company's effective income tax rate as follows:
The effective income tax rate decreased to 29.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 38.3% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The effective rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 included the tax benefit for the 2015 research and development tax credit and domestic production deduction which were higher than the 2014 benefit. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 included a lower estimate of the tax benefit for the 2014 research and development credit and domestic production deduction.
Of the total cash and cash equivalents reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 of $8.8 million, approximately $6.6 million was held by the Company's Chinese operations and is considered to be indefinitely reinvested in those operations. The Company has no intention of repatriating cash from its Chinese operations in the foreseeable future.
Under the provisions of the ASC Subtopic 740-10-25, Income Taxes - Recognition, the Company had an unrecognized tax benefit of $1.0 and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. If the Company's assessment of unrecognized tax benefits is not representative of actual outcomes, the Company's financial statements could be significantly impacted in the period of settlement or when the statute of limitations expires.
The following table is a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of total amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):
11. Financial Instruments
In the normal course of business, the Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk. Currency exposure is monitored and managed by the Company as part of its risk management program which seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that market volatility could have on operating results. The Company's derivative financial instruments consist of non-deliverable foreign currency forward contracts. Financial instruments are neither held nor issued by the Company for trading purposes.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Both the gain or loss on the derivatives not designated as hedging instruments and the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings. Realized gains or losses and changes in the estimated fair value of foreign currency forward contracts that have not been designated as hedges were a net gain of $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. No gains and losses were recognized during the year ended December 31, 2014. Gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in net other income (expense) and net interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and are offset by losses and gains on the related hedged items.
The notional amounts of the Company's derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in thousands):
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
The authoritative guidance defines fair value as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. The authoritative guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity's pricing based upon its own market assumptions.
The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:
·
Level 1 - Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
·
Level 2 - Inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
·
Level 3 - Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.
The Company estimates the fair value of each foreign exchange forward contract by using present value of expected cash flows. This considers the difference between the current market forward price and contracted forward price for each foreign exchange contract and applies the difference in the rates to each outstanding contract. Valuations for all derivatives fall within Level 2 of the GAAP valuation hierarchy. The fair value of the Company's derivative instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2015 was immaterial.
Derivatives may give rise to credit risks from the possible non-performance by counterparties. Credit risk is generally limited to the fair value of those contracts that are favorable to us. The Company has limited its credit risk by entering into derivative transactions only with highly-rated global financial institutions, limiting the amount of credit exposure with any one financial institution and conducting ongoing evaluation of the creditworthiness of the financial institutions with which the Company does business.
The Company utilizes standard counterparty master agreements containing provisions for the netting of certain foreign currency transaction obligations and for the set-off of certain obligations in the event of an insolvency of one of the parties to the transaction. Within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Company records derivative assets and liabilities at net fair value.
12. Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time the Company is involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation related to employee claims, contractual disputes and tax exposures in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcome of such matters is not predictable with assurance, the Company has no reason to believe the disposition of any current matter could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or the ability to carry on any of its business activities.
Certain of the Company's operating leases contain predetermined fixed escalations of minimum rentals during the original lease terms. For these leases, the Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease and records the difference between the amounts charged to operations and amounts paid as accrued rent expense.
The Company leases office space and certain equipment under various operating lease agreements. The Company has the option to extend the term of certain lease agreements. Future minimum commitments under these lease agreements as of December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 was approximately $6.5 million, $5.4 million, and $4.9 million, respectively.
13. Balance Sheet Components
14. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is summarized as follows for the years presented (in thousands):
15. Quarterly Financial Results (Unaudited)
The following tables set forth certain unaudited supplemental quarterly financial information for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The quarterly operating results are not necessarily indicative of future results of operations (in thousands except per share data).
16. Subsequent Events
None.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Perficient, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Perficient, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015. We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Zeon Solutions Incorporated, Grand River Interactive LLC, and their Indian affiliate, Zeon Solutions Private Limited (collectively, Zeon) in January 2015, Market Street Solutions, Inc. (Market Street) in September 2015, and substantially all of the assets of The Pup Group, Inc. (Enlighten) in December 2015, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, Zeon's, Market Street's, and Enlighten's internal control over financial reporting collectively representing 13% and 7% of the Company's total assets and total revenues, respectively, included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company as of December 31, 2015, also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Zeon, Market Street, and Enlighten.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Perficient, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
/s/ KPMG LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
March 3, 2016
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the officers who certify the Company's financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors.
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the Company's principal executive and principal financial officers have determined that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of control procedures. The objectives of internal control include providing management with reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, and that transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization and recorded properly to permit the preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our assessment under those criteria, management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015.
The Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Zeon in January 2015, Market Street in September 2015, and substantially all of the assets of Enlighten in December 2015. As permitted by SEC guidance, management excluded these acquired companies from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In total, Zeon, Market Street and Enlighten represented 13% and 7% of the Company's total assets and total revenues, respectively, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015. Excluding identifiable intangible assets and goodwill recorded in the business combination, Zeon, Market Street and Enlighten represented 3% of the Company's total assets as of December 31, 2015.
KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and has issued its report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) during the quarter ended December 31, 2015, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Executive Officers
Our executive officers, including their ages as of the date of this filing are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Jeffrey S. Davis
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kathryn J. Henely
Chief Operating Officer
Paul E. Martin
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
Jeffrey S. Davis became the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board in 2009. He previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company following its acquisition of Vertecon in April 2002, and was named the Company's President in 2004. He served the same role of Chief Operating Officer at Vertecon from October 1999 to its acquisition by the Company. Before Vertecon, Mr. Davis was a Senior Manager and member of the leadership team in Arthur Andersen's Business Consulting Practice, where he was responsible for defining and managing internal processes, while managing business development and delivery of all products, services and solutions to a number of large accounts. Mr. Davis also served in a leadership position at Ernst & Young LLP in the Management Consulting practice and in industry at Boeing, Inc. and Mallinckrodt, Inc. Mr. Davis is an active volunteer member of the board of directors of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of St. Louis and a member of the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business advisory board. Mr. Davis has a M.B.A. from Washington University and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri.
Kathryn J. Henely was appointed as the Company's Chief Operating Officer in 2009. Ms. Henely joined the Company in the St. Louis office following its acquisition of Vertecon in 2002. Ms. Henely was the General Manager of the St. Louis office and the Vice President for the Company's largest business group, which included several local and national business units along with the Company's offshore development center in China. Prior to her appointment to Chief Operating Officer she actively participated in the due diligence and integration of several acquisitions within her business group. Additionally, she led the establishment of the Company Wide Practices and Corporate Recruiting organization. Ms. Henely received her M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Missouri-Rolla and her B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa.
Paul E. Martin joined the Company in August 2006 as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. From August 2004 until February 2006, Mr. Martin was the Interim co-Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer of Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter"), a publicly traded multi-billion dollar in revenue domestic cable television multi-system operator. From April 2002 through April 2006, Mr. Martin was the Senior Vice President, Principal Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller of Charter, and was Charter's Vice President and Corporate Controller from March 2000 to April 2002. Prior to Charter, Mr. Martin was Vice President and Controller for Operations and Logistics for Fort James Corporation, a manufacturer of paper products with multi-billion dollar revenue. From 1995 to February 1999, Mr. Martin was Chief Financial Officer of Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., a publicly traded multi-million dollar revenue sporting goods manufacturer and distributor. Mr. Martin received a B.S. degree with honors in accounting from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Mr. Martin is also a member of the board of the St. Louis chapter of Autism Speaks.
Additional information with respect to Directors and Executive Officers of the Company is incorporated by reference to the Company's proxy statement to be used in connection with the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Proxy Statement") under the captions "Directors and Executive Officers," "Composition and Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees," and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance." The Proxy Statement will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year.
Codes of Conduct and Ethics
Information on this subject is found in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" and is incorporated herein by reference.
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Information on this subject is found in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Compensation and Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees" and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information on this subject is found in the Proxy Statement under the captions "Compensation of Directors," "Compensation of Executive Officers," "Directors and Executive Officers," "Compensation Committee Report," and "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Information on this subject is found in the Proxy Statement under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management," "Directors and Executive Officers," and "Equity Compensation Plan Information" and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information on this subject is found in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Information on this subject is found in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Principal Accounting Firm Fees and Services" and incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
1. Financial Statements
The following consolidated statements are included in Part III, Item 8 under the following captions:
2. Financial Statement Schedules
No financial statement schedules are required to be filed by Items 8 and 15(b) because they are not required or are not applicable, or the required information is set forth in the applicable financial statements or notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
See Index to Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
PERFICIENT, INC.
By:
/s/ Paul E. Martin
Date: March 3, 2016
Paul E. Martin
Chief Financial Officer(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jeffrey S. Davis and Paul E. Martin, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign on his or her behalf individually and in each capacity stated below any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Jeffrey S. Davis
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
March 3, 2016
Jeffrey S. Davis
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Paul E. Martin
Chief Financial Officer
March 3, 2016
Paul E. Martin
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Ralph C. Derrickson
Director
March 3, 2016
Ralph C. Derrickson
/s/ John S. Hamlin
Director
March 3, 2016
John S. Hamlin
/s/ James R. Kackley
Director
March 3, 2016
James R. Kackley
/s/ David S. Lundeen
Director
March 3, 2016
David S. Lundeen
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
†
Identifies an Exhibit that consists of or includes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
*
Filed herewith.