Conversions

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended December 31, 2001

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from ________ to ________

Commission File Number: 0-13959

LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Yukon Territory

980-20-9289

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

1680-1140 West Pender Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V6E 4G1

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (604) 689-4440

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

The number of shares of the registrant's Common Stock outstanding as of January 31, 2002, was 19,435,061.

 

 

 

LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001

INDEX

 

Page
Number

PART I.

      1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

 

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements

1

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2001 and December 31, 2001 (unaudited)

1

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the

2

 

Three and Nine Months Ended December 31, 2000 and 2001

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the

3

 

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2000 and 2001

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

8

 

and Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

14

 

 

 

PART II.

  • OTHER INFORMATION
  • 15

     

     

     

    Item 1.

    Legal Proceedings

    15

     

     

     

    Item 2.

    Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

    15

     

     

     

    Item 6.

    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

    16

     

     

     

     

    SIGNATURE PAGE

    17

     

    In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts are expressed in United States Dollars.

     

     

    PART I.

    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

    LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    (In U.S. Dollars)

     

    December 31,
    2001
    $
    (Unaudited)

     

    March 31,
    2001
    $

    ASSETS

    Current Assets

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents

    4,413,475

     

    8,357,354

    Restricted cash

    250,000

     

    250,000

    Accounts receivable, less allowances of $172,816 and $155,737, respectively


    496,252

     


    549,133

    Prepaid expenses

    351,532

     

    502,121

    Total Current Assets

    5,511,259

     

    9,658,608


    Real Property, net


    1,584,639

     


    1,617,491

    Capital Assets, net

    5,638,988

     

    6,596,535

    Patents, net

    1,622,410

     

    1,710,581

    Goodwill, net

    6,638,819

     

    7,259,665

    Other Assets

    406,032

     

    467,631


    TOTAL ASSETS


    21,402,147

     


    27,310,511

     

     

     

     

    LIABILITIES

    Current Liabilities

     

     

     

    Accounts payable

    1,103,245

     

    1,876,186

    Accrued liabilities

    141,969

     

    530,166

    Accrued compensation

    257,529

     

    292,900

    Current portion of capital lease obligations

    334,186

     

    276,535

    Total Current Liabilities

    1,836,929

     

    2,975,787


    Capital lease obligations


    132,351

     


    273,970

    Total Liabilities

    1,969,280

     

    3,249,757


    Commitments and Contingencies

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Capital Stock
    Class A, preferred stock, $1.00 CDN par value, 150,000,000
    shares authorized, issuable in series, none issued or
    outstanding
    Class B, preferred stock, $1.00 CDN par value, 150,000,000
    shares authorized, issuable in series, none issued or
    outstanding
    Common shares, no par value, 100,000,000 shares
    authorized, 19,435,061 and 18,697,929 shares issued and
    outstanding, respectively




    -


    -


    29,771,236




    -


    -


    29,728,236

    Deficit

    (10,338,369)

    (5,667,482)

    Total Shareholders' Equity

    19,432,867

     

    24,060,754


    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


    21,402,147

     


    27,310,511

    See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

    - 1 -

     

    LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

    (In U.S. Dollars, except share data)

    (Unaudited)

     

     

    Three Months Ended
    December 31

    Nine Months Ended
    December 31

     

    2001
    $

     

    2000
    $

     

    2001
    $

     

    2000
    $

    REVENUE

    2,180,141

     

    2,636,977

     

    6,881,746

     

    7,245,205

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    COSTS AND EXPENSES

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cost of operations

    1,853,824

     

    2,025,411

     

    6,533,120

     

    5,666,045

    Sales, general and administrative

    589,193

     

    1,003,030

     

    2,772,132

     

    2,592,967

    Amortization and depreciation

    820,403

     

    777,007

     

    2,417,683

     

    1,922,101

    Other expenses (income)

    (102,290)

     

    125,810

     

    (53,992)

     

    222,436

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

    (980,989)

     

    (1,294,281)

     

    (4,787,197)

     

    (3,158,344)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Interest income, net

    11,951

     

    151,618

     

    116,548

     

    458,699

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    NET LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    (969,038)

     

    (1,142,663)

     

    (4,670,649)

     

    (2,699,645)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Capital tax

    5

     

    -

     

    (656)

     

    -

    State income taxes

    418

     

    (36,152)

     

    418

     

    (36,152)


    NET LOSS


    (968,615)


    (1,178,815)


    (4,670,887)


    (2,735,797)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVIDENDS, PREFERRED

    -

     

    (453,787)

     

    -

     

    (453,787)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    NET LOSS AVAILABE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

    (968,615)

     

    (1,632,602)

     

    (4,670,887)

     

    (3,189,584)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    LOSS PER SHARE

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Basic

    (0.05)

     

    (0.10)

     

    (0.24)

     

    (0.20)

    Diluted

    (0.05)

     

    (0.10)

     

    (0.24)

     

    (0.20)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Basic

    19,413,345

     

    16,681,551

     

    19,066,389

     

    15,741,846

    Diluted

    19,413,345

     

    16,681,551

     

    19,066,389

     

    15,741,846

    See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

    - 2 -

    LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

    (In U.S. Dollars)

    (Unaudited)

     

     

    Nine Months Ended
    December 31

     

    2001
    $

     

    2000
    $

    Operating Activities:

     

     

     

    Net Loss

    (4,670,887)

     

    (2,735,797)

    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in)
    provided by operating activities


     

     

    Provisions for losses on accounts receivable

    136,637

     

    -

    Amortization and depreciation

    2,417,683

     

    1,922,101

    Other

    (60,713)

     

    -


    Changes in operating assets and liabilities

     

     

     

    Accounts receivable

    (83,756)

     

    (405,440)

    Prepaid expenses

    150,589

     

    135,928

    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    (1,135,515)

     

    318,205

    Other assets

    8,027

     

    119,313

    Net cash used in operating activities

    (3,237,935)

     

    (645,690)

     

     

     

     

    Investing Activities:

     

     

     

    Purchase of Phoenix, net of cash acquired

    -

     

    (386,246)

    Purchase of Check Technologies, net of cash acquired

    -

     

    (150,010)

    Additional ChequeMARK & Patent consideration

    -

     

    (2,234,573)

    Real property improvements

    -

     

    (187,326)

    Capital asset expenditures

    (481,156)

     

    (656,004)

    Patents

    (16,294)

     

    (269,741)

    Net cash used in investing activities

    (497,450)

     

    (3,883,900)

    Financing Activities:

    Payments on long term debt, net

    -

     

    (1,121,280)

    Payments on capital leases

    (251,494)

     

    (98,322)

    Proceeds from exercise of stock options

    43,000

     

    4,141,750

    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (208,494)

     

    2,922,148


    DECREASE IN CASH


    (3,943,879)


    (1,607,442)


    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period


    8,357,354

     


    11,528,850


    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period


    4,413,475

     


    9,921,408

    See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

    - 3 -

    LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    1. Basis of Presentation

    The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2001, the consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended December 31, 2000 and 2001, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2000 and 2001, of LML Payment Systems Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Corporation") are unaudited. The Corporation's consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2001, was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements are included herein. Other than those discussed in the notes below, such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The Corporation's consolidated financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, and do not contain certain information included in the Corporation's consolidated audited annual financial statements and notes. The consolidated financial statements and notes appearing in this report should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's consolidated audited financial statements and related notes thereto, together with management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, contained in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001 (file no. 0-13959). Certain of the prior period financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

    2. Goodwill

    All of the Corporation's goodwill is associated with the entire company ("enterprise level") rather than any specific identifiable asset or product line. Each quarter the Corporation evaluates whether an impairment of this enterprise goodwill may exist by comparing the book value of the Corporation's common stock to the product of (i) the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding at the end of the quarter and (ii) the market price of the common stock at the end of the quarter. If the product of shares and market price exceeds the book value, impairment does not exist. If the product of shares and market price is less than book value, the Corporation evaluates whether the condition is other than temporary, based primarily on fluctuations in the Corporation's stock price, and considering all other relevant evidence. If the product of shares and market price is continuously less than the book value for a period of six months the Corporation considers all other relevant factors to determine whether the current market condition would be deemed to be other than temporary. If the Corporation determines that the condition is other than temporary, additional amortization would be recorded for the impairment equal to the excess book value at the end of the quarter. See also Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

     


    Goodwill has been recorded as follows:

     

     

     

    December 31,
    2001
    $

     

    March 31,
    2001
    $

     

    Total
    Goodwill

     

    Accumulated
    Amortization

     


    Net

     


    Net

    CFDC Holdings Corp. *

    4,334,368

     

    902,993

     

    3,431,375

     

    3,756,453

    National Recovery Systems, Ltd. of America*


    2,891,793

     


    578,359

     


    2,313,434

     


    2,530,319

    Phoenix EPS, Inc. (a) *

    539,805

     

    80,971

     

    458,834

     

    499,320

    Check Technologies, Inc. (b) *

    511,846

     

    76,670

     

    435,176

     

    473,573

     

    8,277,812

     

    1,638,993

     

    6,638,819

     

    7,259,665

    - 4 -

    * Effective April 1, 2001, these subsidiary companies were merged into LML Payment Systems Corp. (formerly known as ChequeMARK Inc.).

    a) On July 9, 2000, the Corporation purchased all of the issued and outstanding shares of Phoenix EPS, Inc. ("Phoenix") in exchange for 220,857 shares of the Corporation's common stock with a fair market value of $4.5 million. Phoenix, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, engineered and marketed electronic payment system software solutions to the retail industry. Phoenix also provided selective routing, including real-time monitoring of check, debit, credit and EBT transactions for authorization and settlement through its transaction processing product REPS. In connection with the acquisition, the Corporation incurred transaction costs consisting primarily of professional fees of $126,205 and a finder's fee of 7,730 shares of the Corporation's common stock with a fair market value of $157,500, resulting in a total purchase price of $4,783,705. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination; accordingly, the results of operations of Phoenix have been included with the Corporation's results of operations since July 9, 2000.

    The total purchase price paid for the Phoenix acquisition was allocated based on the estimated fair values of the assets acquired as determined by the cost and residual method valuation approaches as follows:

     

     

     


    $

    Software

     

     

    4,243,900

    Goodwill

     

     

    539,805

     

     

     

    4,783,705

    A total of approximately $4.2 million of the purchase consideration was allocated to software, which is being depreciated over 5 years. Goodwill is being amortized over ten years.

    b) On July 22, 2000, the Corporation purchased all of the issued and outstanding shares of Check Technologies, Inc. ("Check Technologies"), a Dallas-based check verification and recovery business, in exchange for 22,987 shares of the Corporation's common stock with a fair market value of $250,000 and $250,000 cash. The Corporation also agreed to pay to certain former Check Technologies shareholders and a former employee a total of $150,010 pursuant to separate non-compete agreements having a maximum term of three (3) years. The former employee and one of the former shareholders of Check Technologies were each paid additional consideration of $25,000 in the first year upon satisfaction of certain conditions. The Corporation is obligated to pay additional consideration of $25,000 to each of these persons in each of the second and third years of the terms of their respective agreements. The non-compete agreement payments are recorded as other assets, and the carrying value net of accumulated amortization at March 31, 2001, was $160,722. In connection with the acquisition, the Corporation incurred transaction costs consisting primarily of professional fees of $43,088 and a finder's fee of $26,020, resulting in a total purchase price of $769,118. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination; accordingly, the results of operations of Check Technologies have been included with the Corporation's results of operations since July 22, 2000.

    The total purchase price paid for the Check Technologies acquisition was allocated based on the estimated fair values of the assets acquired as follows:

     

     

     

    $

    Net assets acquired

     

     

    57,262

    Identifiable intangible assets

     

     

    200,010

    Goodwill

     

     

    511,846

     

     

     

    769,118

    c) The following summary, prepared on an unaudited pro forma basis, reflects the condensed consolidated results of operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2000 and 2001, assuming Phoenix and Check Technologies had been acquired as of April 1, 2000:

    - 5 -

     

     

    PRO FORMA
    (UNAUDITED)
    Nine months
    ended December 31

     

     


    2000
    $

     


    2001
    $

    Revenue

     

    7,957,131

     

    6,881,746


    Net Loss

     


    (2,788,719)

     


    (4,670,887)

    Net Loss available to common shareholders

     

    (3,242,506)

     

    (4,670,887)


    Basic net loss per share

     


    (0.21)

     


    (0.24)

    The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred if the acquisitions had been in effect for the periods presented and are not intended to be a projection of future results. During the nine months ended December 31, 2001 the Corporation had additional costs related to the development of the Corporation's data center. During the nine months ended December 31, 2000, Phoenix recorded software license and software development revenue associated with the REPS system. The Corporation has discontinued providing licensing of the REPS system and therefore recorded no revenue from this service.

    d) The purchase price for each of Phoenix and Check Technologies was paid either entirely or partially with shares of the Corporation's common stock. As part of each transaction, the Corporation agreed to certain price protection covenants for the benefit of the former shareholders of the acquired companies. In the event the value of the shares of the Corporation's common stock exchanged for the shares of the acquired company's stock decreases below the deemed issue price per share of the Corporation's common stock, and the former shareholders of the acquired company sell such shares of the Corporation's common stock at a lower price after the expiration of any applicable hold period and within a specified period of time thereafter, such shareholders would have a right to receive additional shares of the Corporation's common stock. On June 27, 2001, the Corporation issued 679,134 shares of common stock to the former shareholders of Phoenix under the price protection covenants. On December 13, 2001, the Corporation issued 26,998 shares of common stock to the former shareholders of Check Technologies under the price protection covenants. The issuance of these shares did not result in additional purchase consideration, but only an increase in the Corporation's common shares outstanding. The Corporation has met its obligation in relation to the price protection covenants as stated above for each of Phoenix and Check Technologies.

     

     

     

     

     

    - 6 -

    3. Reconciliation of United States to Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

    These financial statements are prepared using Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("CDN GAAP") which do not differ materially from United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") with respect to the accounting policies and disclosures in these financial statements except as set out below:

    1. Under U.S. GAAP, the Corporation could not effect the reduction in deficit of $22,901,744 (performed in fiscal 2001 and disclosed in the Corporation's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001) by reducing the stated capital of the shares of the Corporation's common stock.
    2. Under U.S. GAAP, the Corporation follows Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation" for options issued to a non-employee. The Corporation's policy is to record the compensation when the options vest. During the three months ended December 31, 2000, options to purchase 26,668 shares of the Corporation's common stock issued to a non-employee vested.

    Adjustments under U.S. GAAP result in changes to the Consolidated Statement of Operations of the Corporation as follows:

     

    Three months ended
    December 31

     

    Nine months ended
    December 31


    2001
    $

     

    2000
    $

     

    2001
    $

     

    2000
    $

    Net loss - CDN GAAP

    (968,615)

     

    (1,178,815)

     

    (4,670,887)

    (2,735,797)

    U.S. GAAP adjustments:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Non-employee stock based compensation (b)


    -

     


    (101,895)

     


    -


    (305,669)


    Net loss - U.S. GAAP


    (968,615)

     


    (1,280,710)

     


    (4,670,887)


    (3,041,466)

    Loss per share - U.S. GAAP
    Basic


    (0.05)

     


    (0.10)

     


    (0.24)


    (0.22)

    Diluted

    (0.05)

     

    (0.10)

     

    (0.24)

    (0.22)

    Under U.S. GAAP there are no adjustments that resulted in changes to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows or the Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Corporation.

    - 7 -

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

    Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this report on Form 10-Q to the "Corporation", "LML", "we", "us" or "our" refer to LML Payment Systems Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. LML Payment Systems Inc.'s direct subsidiaries include LML Corp., Legacy Promotions Inc. and LHTW Properties Inc. LML Corp.'s subsidiaries are LML Patent Corp., and LML Payment Systems Corp. Unless otherwise specified herein, all references herein to dollars or "$" are to U.S. Dollars.

    The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated audited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001 (file no. 0-13959). The Corporation believes that all necessary adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) have been included in the amounts stated below to present fairly the following quarterly information. Quarterly operating results have varied significantly in the past and can be expected to vary in the future. Results of operations for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for a full year.

    Forward Looking Information

    All statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "project," "potential" or "expect" or similar statements. The forward-looking statements were prepared on the basis of certain assumptions which relate, among other things, to the demand for and cost of marketing the Corporation's services, the volume and total value of transactions processed by merchants utilizing the Corporation's services, the technological adaptation of check verification end-users, the issuance of additional patents necessary to protect the business enterprise, the renewal of material contracts in the Corporation's business, the Corporation's ability to anticipate and respond to technological changes, particularly with respect to financial payments and e-commerce, in a highly competitive industry characterized by rapid technological change and rapid rates of product obsolescence, the Corporation's ability to develop and market new product enhancements and new products and services that respond to technological change or evolving industry standards, no unanticipated developments relating to previously disclosed lawsuits against the Corporation, and the cost of protecting the Corporation's intellectual property. Even if the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based prove accurate and appropriate, the actual results of the Corporation's operations in the future may vary widely due to technological change, increased competition, additional government regulation or intervention in the industry, general economic conditions, other risks described in the Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other factors not yet known or anticipated. Accordingly, the actual results of the Corporation's operations in the future may vary widely from the forward-looking statements included herein. All forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph.

    - 8 -

    Overview

    The Corporation is a financial payment processor that provides check processing solutions for national, regional and local retail merchants in the United States. The Corporation's processing services include check verification and collection services along with electronic processing services, including Electronic Check Re-presentment or "RCK" (whereby returned checks are re-presented for payment electronically) and Electronic Check Conversion or "ECC" (whereby paper checks are converted into electronic transactions at the point of sale). The Corporation focuses on providing these services to supermarkets, grocery stores, multi-lane retailers, convenience stores and other national, regional and local retailers in the United States. The Corporation also provides selective routing, including real-time monitoring of debit, credit and Electronic Benefit Transaction or "EBT" card transactions for authorization and settlement.

    The Corporation's ECC services utilize the Corporation's proprietary system, including software, hardware and modes of interaction, known as the "ChequeMARK System." An objective of the Corporation is to increase transaction volume through internal growth and acquisitions, including the acquisition of business relationships through which the Corporation can integrate its ChequeMARK technology as a preferred service provider. During the past two fiscal years, the Corporation has begun to implement this objective through a number of acquisitions. These acquisitions give the Corporation a suite of retail point-of-sale check handling services and an infrastructure to further expand its offerings to include other forms of electronic payment systems in the future such as expansion into the e-commerce market.

    The acquisitions that have been completed by the Corporation over the past two years have made the Corporation's results of operations not comparable period over period due to the increase in amortization as well as the acquisitions of Phoenix and Check Technologies, which were completed in fiscal year 2001, and were not included in the Corporation's results of operations until July 2000.

    Effective April 1, 2001, CFDC Holdings Corp., CF Data Corp., Check Technologies, Check Center, National Process Servers, Inc. and Phoenix EPS merged operations and management into LML Payment Systems Corp. (formerly known as ChequeMARK Inc.), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of LML Corp. LML Payment Systems Corp. maintains operations in Dallas, Texas; Wichita, Kansas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The merger was designed to achieve certain economies related to costs and the elimination of redundant systems and services. It was also designed to take advantage of the growing recognition of the Corporation's brand name. The consolidation has allowed for a coordinated approach to the marketing of payment services under the Corporation's trademarks.

    Other Operations. LHTW Properties Inc. owns and operates Wildwood Estates, a 332-acre residential community located in Wildwood, Florida. Operations have included sale of manufactured homes and lots. In exchange for monthly maintenance fees, LHTW Properties provides the resident community with certain amenities and services commonly associated with similar developments. The results of operations for LHTW Properties were not significant for the nine month period ended December 31, 2001, or December 31, 2000.

    Results of Operations

    Three Months Ended December 31, 2001 results compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2000

    Revenues

    The Corporation's revenues consist primarily of fees from the Corporation's check verification and electronic processing business and check recovery business. Revenues are recognized in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 101, "Revenue Recognition." Revenue from the Corporation's check verification and electronic processing business is recognized at the time the transactions are processed by the merchant, provided the fee is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Fees associated with the Corporation's check recovery business are contingent on successful recovery; accordingly, revenue is recognized as cash is received. Software license revenue is recognized upon shipment, provided fees are fixed and determinable and collection is probable, in accordance with Statement of Position ("SOP") 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition." Software maintenance revenues are recognized over the term of the maintenance agreement. Any cash consideration received prior to meeting revenue recognition criteria is recorded as deferred revenue. Revenue regarding Wildwood Estates is recognized when sales of property lots and mobile homes are completed. Maintenance fees from the management of the property and from the maintenance of the common areas are recognized straight line over the service period.

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    Total revenues decreased to approximately $2.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2001 from approximately $2.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2000, a decrease of approximately 18%. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in revenues from the financial payment processing services. The decrease was also attributable to a decrease in revenues derived from software consulting fees associated with licensed clients and the REPS system, which decreased approximately 87.3% from approximately $250,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2000 to approximately $32,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001. The Corporation has discontinued further licensing of the REPS system and therefore recorded no revenue from this service.

    During the three months ended December 31, 2001, revenue from and associated with the Corporation's three largest customers amounted to approximately 59% of the Corporation's total sales volume. The Corporation may be economically dependent on sales volume to these customers.

    During the year ended March 31, 2001, one of the Corporation's three largest customers moved its check verification processing in house. Verification transactions started being transferred in February 2001 and were completed by the end of the Corporation's second quarter of fiscal 2002. This customer also moved its primary check collections in house. The Corporation is continuing to provide secondary check collection services to this customer and expanded this service to include volume from a portion of the customer's affiliated companies. As a result of the expansion of the secondary collection services to affiliated companies, the Corporation did not experience a significant reduction in the revenue received from this customer during this period.

    Costs of operations

    Costs of operations decreased from approximately $2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2000, to approximately $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of approximately 10%. The decrease was principally attributable to the Corporation's Financial Payment Processing operations implementation of electronic check recovery methods, which allowed the Corporation to commence migration from labor-intensive traditional check recovery methods to more cost efficient automated electronic check recovery methods. The Corporation was able to reduce staffing levels and related costs in late September 2001, which has had a positive impact on the reduction of costs of operations during the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Costs of operations consist of transaction processing costs, personnel costs, equipment related costs and telecommunication costs. For the three months ended December 31, 2001, costs of operations as a percentage of sales increased to approximately 85% compared to approximately 77% for the three months ended December 31, 2000. The increase is largely attributed to a decrease in revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2001.The Corporation continues to seek ways to reduce costs of operations.

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    Sales, general and administrative expenses

    Sales, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, commissions, office facilities, travel, promotional events such as trade shows, seminars and technical conferences and public relations. Sales, general and administrative expenses decreased to approximately $589,000 from approximately $1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, a decrease of approximately 41%. The decrease in sales, general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to reduction of costs associated with the reduction of personnel costs, legal and general corporate expenses.

    Amortization and depreciation

    Amortization and depreciation increased to approximately $820,000 from approximately $777,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Depreciation expenses for capital assets increased to approximately $560,000 from approximately $523,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. These increases are principally associated with amortization of the Corporation's Intellectual Property Estate, depreciation of the ChequeMARK system software and the software acquired in the acquisition of Phoenix.

    Other expenses (income)

    For the three months ended December 31, 2001 the Corporation had other income of approximately $102,000 compared to other expenses of approximately $126,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2000. The other income was attributed to the reconciliation of outstanding trade payables, which was a non-cash item of approximately $61,000 and an employee tax refund of approximately $41,000. The decrease in other expenses was primarily attributed to costs for potential acquisitions that the Corporation had determined would not be completed during the three months ended December 31, 2000.

    Interest

    Interest expense decreased to approximately $5,000 from approximately $15,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Interest income decreased to approximately $17,000 from approximately $166,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. This decrease in interest earned was primarily attributed to a decrease in funds placed in term deposits or short-term commercial paper, as well as the decrease in interest rates from an average of 3.5% to 1.58% for the three months ended December 31, 2000 and 2001, respectively.

    EBITDA1

    Earnings before income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization, or "EBITDA," decreased to a loss of approximately $161,000 from a loss of approximately $517,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The decrease was principally attributable to the Corporation's Financial Payment Processing operations implementation of electronic check recovery methods, which enabled the Corporation to reduce staffing levels and related costs. The decrease was also attributed to a reduction in legal and general corporate expenses.

    Net loss

    Net loss decreased to approximately $1 million from approximately $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The decrease was principally attributable to the Corporation's Financial Payment Processing operations implementation of electronic check recovery methods, which enabled the Corporation to reduce staffing levels and related costs. The decrease was also attributed to a reduction in legal and general corporate expenses.

    Basic and diluted loss per share were both ($0.05) for the three months ended December 31, 2001, as compared to ($0.10) for the three months ended December 31, 2000.

    Nine Months Ended December 31, 2001 results compared to Nine Months Ended December 31, 2000

    Revenues

    Total revenues decreased to approximately $6.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 from approximately $7.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2000, a decrease of approximately 4%. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in revenues derived from software license revenue, software maintenance revenue and consulting fees associated with licensed clients and the REPS system, which decreased approximately 48% from approximately $617,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2000 to approximately $321,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2001. The Corporation has discontinued further licensing of the REPS system and therefore recorded no revenue from this service.

    During the nine months ended December 31, 2001, revenue from and associated with the Corporation's three largest customers amounted to approximately 56% of the Corporation's total sales volume. The Corporation may be economically dependent on sales volume to these customers.

    During the year ended March 31, 2001, one of the Corporation's three largest customers moved its check verification processing in house. Verification transactions started being transferred in February 2001 and were completed by the end of the Corporation's second quarter of fiscal 2002. This customer also moved its primary check collections in house. The Corporation is continuing to provide secondary check collection services to this customer and expanded this service to include volume from a portion of the customer's affiliated companies. As a result of the expansion of the secondary collection services to affiliated companies, the Corporation did not experience a significant reduction in the revenue received from this customer during this period.

    1 EBITDA is earnings before income taxes, interest and depreciation and amortization. The Corporation believes that, in addition to cash flows from operations and net income, EBITDA is a useful financial performance measure for assessing operating performance as it provides an additional basis to evaluate the ability of the Corporation to incur and service debt and to fund capital expenditures. To evaluate EBITDA, the components of EBITDA such as revenue and operating expenses and the variability of such components over time should also be considered. EBITDA should not be construed, however, as an alternative to operating income (as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada or the United States of America ("GAAP")) as an indicator of the Corporation's operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities (as determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of liquidity. The Corporation's method of calculating EBITDA may differ from methods used by other companies, and as a result, EBITDA measures disclosed herein may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

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    Cost of operations

    Costs of operations increased from approximately $5.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2000, to approximately $6.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001, an increase of approximately 16%. Financial payment processing costs of operations increased approximately 14% from approximately $5.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2000, to approximately $6.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001. The increase was principally attributable to incremental fixed costs associated with the development of the Corporation's data center in the 2nd fiscal quarter of 2002. Costs of operations consist of transaction processing costs, personnel costs, equipment related costs and telecommunication costs. For the nine months ended December 31, 2001, costs of operations as a percentage of sales increased to approximately 95% compared to approximately 78% for the nine months ended December 31, 2000. This increase was due to the operating activities from the Corporation's data center. The Corporation continues to seek ways to reduce costs of operations. The initial implementation of electronic check recovery methods allowed the Corporation to commence migration from labor-intensive traditional check recovery methods to more cost efficient automated electronic check recovery methods. The Corporation was able to reduce staffing levels and related costs in late September 2001, which has had a positive impact on the reduction of costs of operations during the third quarter of fiscal 2002. The Corporation continues to seek ways to reduce costs of operations.

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    Sales, general and administrative expenses

    Sales, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, commissions, office facilities, travel, promotional events such as trade shows, seminars and technical conferences and public relations. Sales, general and administrative expenses were approximately $2.8 million and approximately $2.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The increase in sales, general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to costs associated with increased marketing and sales activities including the establishment of a sales force, increased participation at industry trade shows, and other general corporate expenses.

    Amortization and depreciation

    Amortization and depreciation increased to approximately $2.4 million from approximately $1.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Depreciation expenses for capital assets increased to approximately $1.6 million from approximately $1.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. These increases are principally associated with amortization of goodwill from all of the Corporation's acquisitions and amortization of the Corporation's Intellectual Property Estate, depreciation of the ChequeMARK system software and the software acquired in the acquisition of Phoenix, and depreciation of capital assets acquired in all of the Corporation's acquisitions.

    Other expenses (income)

    For the nine months ended December 31, 2001 the Corporation had other income of approximately $54,000 compared to other expenses of approximately $222,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2000, respectively. Other income was attributed to the reconciliation of outstanding trade payables, which was a non-cash item of approximately $61,000, an employee tax refund of approximately $41,000 offset by merger costs of approximately $41,000. Other expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2000 were attributed to costs incurred in September 2000 to relocate the Jacksonville, Florida office to Dallas, Texas and potential acquisitions that the Corporation had determined would not be completed.

    Interest

    Interest expense decreased to approximately $21,000 from approximately $98,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. This decrease was due to the payment of long-term debt during the nine months ended December 31, 2000. Interest income decreased to approximately $137,000 from approximately $557,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. This decrease in interest earned was primarily attributed to a decrease in funds placed in term deposits or short-term commercial paper, as well as the decrease in interest rates from an average of 6.3% to 1.58% for the nine months ended December 31, 2000 and 2001, respectively.

    EBITDA

    Earnings before income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization, or "EBITDA," increased to a loss of approximately $2.4 million from a loss of approximately $1.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The increase is primarily due to increased costs associated with the development of the Corporation's data center, increased costs associated with the development of marketing and sales activity, and other general corporate expenses. During September 2001 the Corporation's Financial Payment Processing operations implemented electronic check recovery methods, which enabled the Corporation to reduce staffing levels and related costs along with reducing legal and general corporate expenses.

     

    Net Loss

    Net loss increased to approximately $4.7 million from approximately $2.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The increase in the Corporation's net loss is due primarily to increased costs associated with the development of the Corporation's data center, increased costs associated with the development of marketing and sales activity, the increased amortization of intangibles, depreciation of capital assets, and other general corporate expenses. During September 2001 the Corporation's Financial Payment Processing operations implemented electronic check recovery methods, which enabled the Corporation to reduce staffing levels and related costs along with reducing legal and general corporate expenses.

     

    Basic and diluted loss per share were both ($0.24) for the nine months ended December 31, 2001, as compared to ($0.20) for the nine months ended December 31, 2000.

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    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    The Corporation's liquidity and financial position consisted of approximately $3.7 million in working capital as of December 31, 2001, compared to approximately $6.7 million in working capital as of March 31, 2001. The decrease in working capital was related to normal operating activities and the development of the Corporation's data center, a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of approximately $1.1 million, and an increase in accounts receivable of approximately $84,000. Cash flows used in operations were approximately $3.2 million as compared to approximately $646,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Cash used in investing activities was approximately $497,000 as compared to approximately $3.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The decrease during the nine months ended December 31, 2000 was due to acquisitions and additional cash consideration paid for the ChequeMARK asset and Patent in August 2000. Cash used by financing activities was approximately $208,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2001, as compared to cash provided by financing activities of approximately $3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2000. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities is primarily due to the exercise of options of the Corporation's common stock that were completed in the nine months ended December 31, 2000.

    Management believes that existing cash and cash equivalent balances, and potential cash flows from operations should satisfy the Corporation's working capital and capital expenditure requirements in the foreseeable future. However, any material acquisitions of complementary businesses, products or technologies, other arrangements, unexpected losses, or a further economic slowdown in the retail industry could require the Corporation to obtain additional equity or debt financing. There can be no assurance that such financing would be available on acceptable terms, if at all.

    Recently Issued Accounting Standards

    In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued the accounting rules governing business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets. These rules are Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, Business Combinations, and No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. With the adoption of Statement 142, goodwill is no longer subject to amortization over its estimated useful life. Rather, goodwill will be subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair-value-based test at the reporting units level. Impairment loss would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value. Under the new rules, an acquired intangible asset should be separately recognized if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, regardless of the acquirer's intent to do so. Determining the useful lives of intangible assets will require considerable judgment and fact-based analysis. The Corporation plans to adopt the provisions of this standard in fiscal 2003, beginning April 1, 2002. Upon its adoption, the Corporation plans to conform its accounting policy to the requirements in this standard.

    Management believes this standard will have a material non-cash impact on the Corporation's financial statements, as it will not allow for amortization of goodwill, which currently approximates $830,000 annually. At this time the Corporation has not determined how goodwill will be allocated to specific reporting units as of April 1, 2002, as the Corporation is in the process of evaluating its reporting units. Accordingly, the Corporation has not made a determination about whether or not an impairment charge will be necessary upon adoption of the new standard.

    Contingencies

    In addition to the legal matters previously reported in the Corporation's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001 (file no. 0-13959), and in the Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2001 (file no. 0-13959) the Corporation is party from time to time to ordinary litigation incidental to its business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial position or liquidity of the Corporation.

    ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

    From March 31, 2001, until December 31, 2001, there were no material changes from the information concerning market risk contained in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001 (file no. 0-13959).

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    PART II.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Item 1. Legal Proceedings

    There are no material changes with respect to the information concerning legal proceedings contained in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001, (file no. 0-13959) and in the Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2001 (file no. 0-13959). In addition to the legal matters as described herein and as previously reported in the Corporation's most recent report on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, the Corporation is party from time to time to ordinary litigation incidental to its business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial position or liquidity of the Corporation.

    Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

    On December 13, 2001, the Corporation issued 26,998 restricted shares of its common stock, with no par value, to the former shareholders of Check Technologies in consideration of the modification and satisfaction in full of certain price protection covenants included in the July 22, 2000, purchase agreement (See Note 2(d) to the consolidated financial statements, included herein). The Corporation believes that the issuance of such securities was exempt under the Securities Act of 1933 as a transaction not involving a public offering. This issuance was made without general solicitation or advertising. The Check Technologies shareholders represented that they were acquiring the shares without a view to distribute and that they were afforded the opportunity to review all publicly filed documents and to ask questions, and receive answers from, officers of the Corporation.

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    Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

    1. Exhibits:
    2. Exhibit

      Number Description of Document

      3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2000, of LML Payment Systems Inc. (File No. 0-13959)).

      3.2 Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, of LML Payment Systems Inc. (File No. 0-13959)).

      3.3 Amendment to Bylaws of LML Payment Systems Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2001, of LML Payment Systems Inc. (File No. 0-13959)).

      ____________

    3. Reports on Form 8-K

    Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 17, 2001, and filed October 19, 2001, under Items 5 and 7 to report press releases.

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    LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

    LML PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC.

     

     

    By: /s/ Wendy J. Ogilvie

    Wendy J. Ogilvie

    Chief Accounting Officer (Duly Authorized Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)

     

    Date: February 14, 2002

     

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