Higher One Holdings, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Financial Results

• FY’12 Revenue and EPS within revised guidance range
• Maintained 100% OneDisburse client retention for 9^th consecutive quarter
• Higher One now serves over 1,300 campuses representing more than 10.9 million students

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Higher One Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ONE) (“Higher One”) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012. The company reported revenue of $49.8 million, up 19% from $41.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the impact from the customer credit plan in the fourth quarter of 2011, revenue growth for the fourth quarter of 2012 would have been 7%. Full year 2012 revenue came in at the high end of guidance at $197.7 million, up 12% from $176.3 million in 2011. Excluding the impact from the customer credit plan, revenue growth for 2012 would have been 9%. The year-over-year revenue growth was primarily attributable to an increase in the number of higher education institutions that have contracted for the company’s services and the inclusion of the recently acquired Campus Labs in the results.

Mark Volchek, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Higher One continues to be highly focused on reducing the cost of education by improving administrative efficiencies, providing financial literacy and low-cost financial services to college students, and improving graduation rates through better data collection and analysis. We made significant progress in 2012 bolstering our capabilities in all three of those areas. Despite the fact that the macro environment has put pressure on our financial results in the near-term, we are making investments in the business that positions us well for long-term growth.”

Higher One reported GAAP net income of $36.9 million for 2012, and non-GAAP adjusted net income, which excludes certain non-recurring or non-cash items, of $38.8 million. During the quarter, we recorded a benefit of $7.6 million due to a reduction in the estimated amount to be paid under the earn-out related to the Campus Labs acquisition. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.65 for the year. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $0.68 for 2012, at the high end of the company’s previously disclosed guidance range. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA came in at $68.3 million for 2012.

Higher One also reported GAAP net income of $12.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, and non-GAAP adjusted net income, which excludes certain non-recurring or non-cash items, of $9.2 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.22 in the quarter. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $0.17. In the fourth quarter of 2012, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $16.4 million.

The number of OneAccounts at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled 2.0 million, essentially flat from the end of the fourth quarter of 2011. A change in the protocols of closing low-balance, inactive accounts that was implemented in the second quarter of 2012 impacted the year-over-year growth in the number of OneAccounts.

Total enrollment at higher education clients that have purchased the OneDisburse® service increased to 4.6 million, up 11% from 4.2 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2011. Total enrollment at higher education clients that have signed up for at least one of our OneDisburse, CASHNet®, or Campus Labs® modules now totals 10.9 million.

Cash, cash equivalents, and liquid investments totaled $13.3 million as of December 31, 2012. Higher One continued with its previously announced share repurchase program, utilizing $78.1 million to repurchase approximately 7.6 million shares in the fourth quarter. The company substantially completed the remainder of its $100 million share repurchase authorization in the first quarter of 2013.

Higher One released its full-year 2013 revenue and GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $210.0 – $220.0 million and $0.47 – $0.55, respectively. The company also gave full-year 2013 non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $0.62 – $0.70.

Quarterly Conference Call Information

Higher One will host a conference call at 5 p.m. ET today to discuss fourth quarter results. A live webcast of the conference call, together with a slide presentation that includes supplemental financial information and reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures can be accessed through Higher One’s investor relations website at http://www.ir.higherone.com/. In addition, an archive of the webcast will be available for 90 days through the same link.

About Higher One Holdings

Higher One Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ONE) is a leading company focused on creating cost-saving efficiencies for higher education institutions and providing high-value services to students. Higher One offers a wide array of technological services on campus, ranging from streamlining the institution’s performance analytics and financial aid refund processes to offering students innovative banking services, tuition payment plans, and the basics of financial management. Higher One works closely with colleges and universities to allocate resources more efficiently in order to provide a higher quality of service and education to students.

Founded in 2000 on a college campus by college students, Higher One now serves more than half of the higher education market, providing its services to over 1,300 campuses and 10.9 million students at distinguished public and private institutions nationwide. More information about Higher One can be found at www.ir.higherone.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Management’s projections and expectations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance to differ materially from that predicted or implied. These statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company does not intend to update or otherwise revise the forward-looking information to reflect actual results of operations, changes in financial condition, changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions, changes in general economic or industry conditions or other circumstances arising and/or existing since the preparation of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events. The forward-looking statements in this release do not include the potential impact of any acquisitions or divestitures that may be announced and/or completed after the date hereof. Information about the factors that could affect future performance can be found in our recent SEC filings.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release includes certain metrics presented on a non-GAAP basis, including non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP adjusted net income, and non-GAAP adjusted EPS. We believe that these non-GAAP measures, which exclude amortization of intangibles, stock-based compensation, and certain non-recurring or non-cash impacts to our results, all net of taxes, provide useful information regarding normalized trends relating to the company’s financial condition and results of operations. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to their closest comparable GAAP measure are included in this press release.

Higher One Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
	Three Months				Year
	Ended December 31,				Ended December 31,
		2011	2012			2011	2012
Revenue:
Account revenue	$	37,089	$	37,912	$	142,589	$	150,715
Payment transaction revenue		4,745		5,325		18,733		23,168
Higher education institution revenue		3,918		6,419		16,614		21,016
Other revenue		706		143		3,112		2,821
Revenue before customer credit plan		46,458		49,799		181,048		197,720
Less customer credit plan		(4,728)		-		(4,728)		-
Revenue		41,730		49,799		176,320		197,720
Cost of revenue		17,074		19,977		67,560		80,280
Gross margin		24,656		29,822		108,760		117,440
Operating expenses:
General and administrative		9,513		12,116		37,715		46,321
Product development		427		1,850		3,265		5,221
Sales and marketing		3,402		3,289		20,265		12,284
Merger and acquisition related		-		(6,870)		-		(5,828)
Total operating expenses		13,342		10,385		61,245		57,998
Income from operations		11,314		19,437		47,515		59,442
Interest income		17		22		68		109
Interest expense		(70)		(565)		(266)		(967)
Other income		-		78		1,500		310
Net income before income taxes		11,261		18,972		48,817		58,894
Income tax expense		3,632		6,860		16,924		22,024
Net income	$	7,629	$	12,112	$	31,893	$	36,870
Net income available to common stockholders:
Basic	$	7,629	$	12,112	$	31,893	$	36,870
Diluted	$	7,629	$	12,112	$	31,893	$	36,870
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		55,060,419		50,998,605		55,210,972		53,877,879
Diluted		59,134,013		54,056,539		59,553,678		56,728,807
Net income available to common stockholders per common share:
Basic	$	0.14	$	0.24	$	0.58	$	0.68
Diluted	$	0.13	$	0.22	$	0.54	$	0.65

Higher One Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
	December 31,			December 31,
	2011			2012
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	39,085		$	13,031
Investments in marketable securities and certificate of deposit		15,743			247
Accounts receivable		3,672			4,860
Income receivable		5,961			7,466
Deferred tax assets		33			37
Income tax receivable		12,671			1,593
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,774			9,297
Restricted cash		-			2,000
Total current assets		83,939			38,531
Deferred costs		3,776			4,665
Fixed assets, net		46,088			52,686
Intangible assets, net		16,787			38,143
Goodwill		15,830			47,000
Loan receivable related to New Markets Tax Credit financing		7,633			7,633
Other assets		712			740
Restricted cash		1,250			1,500
Total assets	$	176,015		$	190,898
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	3,118		$	3,756
Accrued expenses		26,414			12,526
Contingent consideration, current portion		-			2,230
Deferred tax liabilities		-			356
Deferred revenue		9,690			16,027
Total current liabilities		39,222			34,895
Deferred revenue and other non-current liabilities		2,173			2,517
Debt		-			80,000
Contingent consideration, non-current portion		-			3,520
Loan payable and deferred contribution related to New Markets Tax Credit financing		9,801			9,490
Deferred tax liabilities		1,233			2,764
Total liabilities		52,429			133,186
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 57,675,806 shares issued and 56,615,683 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011; 58,045,404 shares issued and 46,660,781 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012		58			59
Additional paid-in capital		161,268			174,218
Treasury stock, 1,060,123 and 11,384,623 shares at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012, respectively		(16,208	)		(131,903	)
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit), net of 2008 stock tender transaction of $93,933		(21,532	)		15,338
Total stockholders' equity		123,586			57,712
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	176,015		$	190,898

Higher One Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of dollars)
	Year ended
	December 31,
		2011		2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	31,893	$	36,870
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		7,021		10,250
Amortization of deferred finance costs		76		213
Stock-based customer acquisition expense		10,493		-
Stock-based compensation		3,868		4,093
Deferred income taxes		(1,678)		1,856
Income tax benefit related to exercise of stock options		(8,793)		(4,628)
Non-cash fair value adjustment of contingent consideration		-		(7,250)
Other income		-		(313)
Gain on litigation settlement agreement		(1,500)		-
Loss on disposal of fixed assets		428		44
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of effect of business combinations):
Accounts receivable		(1,050)		1,220
Income receivable		(2,242)		(1,505)
Deferred costs		(992)		(903)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,329		13,235
Other assets		109		(267)
Accounts payable		55		757
Accrued expenses		2,612		(3,256)
Deferred revenue		1,838		3,181
Net cash provided by operating activities		44,467		53,597
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of available for sale investment securities		(14,101)		(11,230)
Proceeds from sales of available for sale investment securities		13,055		14,634
Proceeds from maturities of available for sale investment securities		-		12,094
Purchases of fixed assets, net of changes in construction payables of $3,494 and ($11,799), respectively		(40,328)		(23,495)
Acquisition of Campus Labs		-		(37,280)
Proceeds from development related subsidies		7,125		330
Loan made related to New Markets Tax Credit financing		(7,633)		-
Additions to internal use software		(1,379)		(2,854)
Deposits to restricted cash, net		-		(2,250)
Payment to escrow agent		(1,250)		-
Proceeds from escrow agent		1,500		-
Net cash used in investing activities		(43,011)		(50,051)
Cash flows from financing activities
Tax benefit related to exercise of stock options		8,793		4,655
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,214		3,077
Proceeds from line of credit		-		80,000
Proceeds related to New Markets Tax Credit financing		7,633		-
Deferred contribution related to New Markets Tax Credit financing		2,168		-
Payment of deferred financing costs		(455)		(1,637)
Repurchase of common stock		(16,208)		(115,695)
Net cash provided by financing activities		3,145		(29,600)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		4,601		(26,054)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		34,484		39,085
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	39,085	$	13,031

Higher One Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Supplemental Operating Data
(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	Dec 31,		March 31,		June 30,		Sept 30,		Dec 31,
	2011		2012		2012		2012		2012
OneDisburse SSE (1)	4,169		4,330		4,480		4,589		4,642
y/y growth	27	%	27	%	22	%	16	%	11	%
Total Company SSE (2)	5,995		6,204		6,437		10,843		10,929
y/y growth	14	%	16	%	16	%	87	%	82	%
Ending OneAccounts (3)	1,997		2,122		1,896		2,083		2,004
y/y growth	23	%	20	%	10	%	3	%	0	%

(1)	OneDisburse SSE is defined as the number of students enrolled at institutions that have signed contracts to use the OneDisburse service by the end of a given period as of the date the contract is signed (using the most up-to-date IPEDS data at that point in time)
(2)	Total Company SSE is defined as the number of students enrolled at institutions that have signed contracts to use one or more OneDisburse, CASHNet, or Campus Labs modules by the end of a given period as of the date the contract is signed (using the most up-to-date IPEDS data at that point in time)
(3)	Ending OneAccounts is defined as the number of accounts with a non-zero balance at the end of a given period

Higher One Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended				Year Ended
	December 31,				December 31,
		2011		2012		2011		2012
Net income	$	7,629	$	12,112	$	31,893	$	36,870
Interest income		(17)		(22)		(68)		(109)
Interest expense		70		565		266		967
Income tax expense		3,632		6,860		16,924		22,024
Depreciation and amortization		1,817		2,914		7,021		10,250
EBITDA		13,131		22,429		56,036		70,002
Stock-based and other customer acquisition expense		1,120		-		10,861		-
Stock-based compensation		819		867		3,868		4,093
Customer credit plan		4,728		-		4,728		-
Merger and acquisition related expenses		-		(6,870)		-		(5,828)
Other income		-		-		(1,500)		-
Adjusted EBITDA	$	19,798	$	16,426	$	73,993	$	68,267

Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and
Adjusted Diluted EPS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
		2011			2012			2011			2012
Net income	$	7,629		$	12,112		$	31,893		$	36,870
Customer credit plan		4,728			-			4,728			-
Stock-based and other customer acquisition expense		1,120			-			10,861			-
Stock-based compensation expense - incentive stock option grants		375			474			1,743			1,964
Stock-based compensation expense - non-qualified stock option grants		444			393			2,125			2,129
Merger and acquisition related		-			(6,870	)		-			(5,828	)
Other income		-			-			(1,500	)		-
Amortization of intangibles		768			964			3,071			3,350
Amortization of deferred finance costs		22			111			76			213
Total pre-tax adjustments		7,457			(4,928	)		21,104			1,828
Tax rate		38.2	%		38.2	%		38.2	%		38.2	%
Tax adjustment		2,705			(2,064	)		7,969			(52	)
Adjusted net income	$	12,381		$	9,248		$	45,028		$	38,750
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		59,134,013			54,056,539			59,553,678			56,728,807
Net income per diluted weighted average shares outstanding	$	0.13		$	0.22		$	0.54		$	0.65
Adjusted net income per diluted weighted average shares outstanding	$	0.21		$	0.17		$	0.76		$	0.68

Higher One Holdings, Inc.
Business Outlook
	Twelve Months Ending
	December 31, 2013
	GAAP	Non-GAAP (a)
Revenues (in millions)	$210.0 - $220.0	$210.0 - $220.0
Diluted EPS	$0.47 - $0.55	$0.62 - $0.70

(a) Estimated Non-GAAP amounts above for the twelve months ending December 31, 2013 reflect the estimated annual adjustments, that exclude (i) the amortization of intangibles and finance costs of approximately $5.0 million, (ii) stock-based compensation expense of approximately $4.5 million, and (iii) M&A related expenses of $1.0 - $1.5 million.