form10q.htm


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 September 30, 2012
 
OR
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from____ to ____ .
 
Commission file number: 1-34167
 
ePlus inc.
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
54-1817218
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
13595 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, VA 20171-3413
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (703) 984-8400
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x   No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes x   No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 Yes o  No x
 
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2012 was 8,080,322.
 
 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Part I. Financial Information:
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
9
 
 
 
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
22
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
35
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
36
 
 
 
 
Part II. Other Information:
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
36
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
37
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
37
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
38
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
38
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
38
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
39
 
 
 
 
40
 
 
2

 
CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are made in reliance upon the protections provided by such acts for forward-looking statements. Such statements are not based on historical fact, but are based upon numerous assumptions about future conditions that may not occur. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “should,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “potential,” “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Forward-looking statements are made based upon information that is currently available or management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon us, speak only as of the date hereof, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which we hereafter become aware. Actual events, transactions and results may materially differ from the anticipated events, transactions or results described in such statements. Our ability to consummate such transactions and achieve such events or results is subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the matters set forth below:
 
 
·
we offer a comprehensive set of solutions—the bundling of our direct information technology (IT) hardware sales, third party software assurance and maintenance, professional services and financing with our proprietary software, and may encounter some of the challenges, risks, difficulties and uncertainties frequently faced by similar companies, such as:
 
o
managing a diverse product set of solutions in highly competitive markets;
 
o
increasing the total number of customers utilizing bundled solutions by up-selling within our customer base and gaining new customers;
 
o
adapting to meet changes in markets and competitive developments;
 
o
maintaining and increasing advanced professional services by retaining highly skilled personnel and vendor certifications;
 
o
integrating with external IT systems, including those of our customers and vendors; and
 
o
continuing to enhance our proprietary software and update our technology infrastructure to remain competitive in the marketplace.
 
·
our ability to hire and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
 
·
a decrease in the capital spending budgets of our customers or purchases from us;
 
·
our ability to protect our intellectual property;
 
·
the creditworthiness of our customers and our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses;
 
·
the possibility of goodwill impairment charges in the future;
 
·
uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and financial markets;
 
·
changes in the IT industry;
 
·
our ability to raise capital, maintain or increase as needed our lines of credit with vendors or floor planning facility, or obtain non-recourse financing for our transactions;
 
·
our ability to realize our investment in leased equipment;
 
·
significant adverse changes in, reductions in, or losses of relationships with major customers or vendors;
 
·
our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses;
 
·
our ability to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;
 
·
changes in taxes and other regulatory legislation that could require us to change our policies or structure;
 
·
reduction of manufacturer incentive programs; and
 
·
significant changes in accounting guidance related to the financial reporting of leases; which could impact the demand for our leasing services.
 
We cannot be certain that our business strategy will be successful or that we will successfully address these and other challenges, risks and uncertainties. For a further list and description of various risks, relevant factors and uncertainties that could cause future results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements, see the Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections contained elsewhere in this report, as well as other reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 
3


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
As of
   
As of
 
   
September 30, 2012
   
March 31, 2012
 
ASSETS
 
(in thousands)
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 43,935     $ 33,778  
Short-term Investments
    1,970       7,396  
Accounts receivable—net
    194,344       174,599  
Notes receivable—net
    18,148       24,337  
Inventories—net
    15,783       23,514  
Investment in leases and leased equipment—net
    112,380       115,974  
Property and equipment—net
    2,040       2,086  
Other assets
    23,407       23,560  
Goodwill
    28,787       28,444  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 440,794     $ 433,688  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
LIABILITIES
               
                 
Accounts payable—equipment
  $ 8,066     $ 17,268  
Accounts payable—trade
    24,650       26,719  
Accounts payable—floor plan
    84,366       85,911  
Salaries and commissions payable
    9,673       9,500  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    34,833       40,822  
Recourse notes payable
    1,682       1,727  
Non-recourse notes payable
    33,020       26,328  
Deferred tax liability
    5,786       5,786  
Total Liabilities
    202,076       214,061  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  (Note 9)
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 12,820,478 issued and 8,079,919 outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 12,692,224 issued and 7,999,895 outstanding at March 31, 2012
    128       127  
Additional paid-in capital
    96,056       93,545  
Treasury stock, at cost, 4,740,559 and 4,692,329 shares, respectively
    (66,973 )     (65,416 )
Retained earnings
    209,001       190,906  
Accumulated other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustment
    506       465  
Total Stockholders' Equity
    238,718       219,627  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 440,794     $ 433,688  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
4

 
ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Six Months Ended September 30,
 
   
 
   
2011
   
 
   
2011
 
   
2012
   
As Restated (1)
   
2012
   
As Restated (1)
 
   
(amounts in thousands, except shares and per share data)
 
         
 
   
 
   
 
 
         
 
   
 
   
 
 
Sales of product and services
  $ 250,178     $ 193,493     $ 484,460     $ 362,814  
Financing revenue
    7,413       7,305       15,313       14,739  
Fee and other income
    2,460       2,857       5,002       5,001  
                                 
TOTAL REVENUES
    260,051       203,655       504,775       382,554  
                                 
COSTS AND EXPENSES
                               
                                 
Cost of sales, product and services
    205,199       158,429       399,590       299,103  
Direct lease costs
    2,461       2,078       4,704       4,174  
      207,660       160,507       404,294       303,277  
                                 
Professional and other fees
    2,707       2,355       5,820       4,780  
Salaries and benefits
    26,919       24,090       53,273       47,096  
General and administrative expenses
    5,411       4,507       10,066       8,540  
Interest and financing costs
    446       348       851       730  
      35,483       31,300       70,010       61,146  
                                 
TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES
    243,143       191,807       474,304       364,423  
                                 
EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    16,908       11,848       30,471       18,131  
                                 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    6,875       4,784       12,376       7,364  
                                 
NET EARNINGS
  $ 10,033     $ 7,064     $ 18,095     $ 10,767  
                                 
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHAREBASIC
  $ 1.29     $ 0.87     $ 2.34     $ 1.31  
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHAREDILUTED
  $ 1.27     $ 0.85     $ 2.29     $ 1.28  
                                 
                                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDINGBASIC
    7,770,206       8,153,495       7,745,506       8,230,022  
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDINGDILUTED
    7,920,927       8,327,748       7,912,818       8,422,099  

(1) 
See Note 2, "Restatement of Financial Statements."
 
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
5

 
ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

   
Three months ended
 September 30,
   
Six months ended
 September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(amounts in thousands)
 
         
 
         
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
NET EARNINGS
  $ 10,033     $ 7,064     $ 18,095     $ 10,767  
                                 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX:
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    91       (197 )     41       (182 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income
    91       (197 )     41       (182 )
                                 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
  $ 10,124     $ 6,867     $ 18,136     $ 10,585  
 
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
6


ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

   
Six months ended September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
 
 
   
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 18,095     $ 10,767  
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,615       4,868  
Reserves for credit losses and sales returns
    40       335  
Provision for inventory allowances and inventory returns
    97       (297 )
Share-based compensation expense
    1,578       1,080  
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    (756 )     (303 )
Payments from lessees directly to lendersoperating leases
    (2,391 )     (2,049 )
(Gain)/loss on disposal of property, equipment and operating lease equipment
    (560 )     340  
(Gain)/loss on sales of notes receivable
    (525 )     (439 )
Excess increase in cash value of life insurance
    (75 )     (78 )
Other
    (255 )     (125 )
Changes in:
               
Accounts receivablenet
    (19,551 )     (30,328 )
Notes receivable
    1,028       (1,400 )
Inventories—net
    7,635       (3,259 )
Investment in direct financing and sale-type leases—net
    (795 )     (447 )
Other assets
    (506 )     9,709  
Accounts payableequipment
    (9,081 )     241  
Accounts payabletrade
    (2,037 )     1,903  
Salaries and commissions payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (4,949 )     (10,643 )
Net cash used in operating activities
  $ (7,393 )   $ (20,125 )
                 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
               
Purchases in short-term investments
  $ (1,232 )   $ -  
Maturities of short-term investments
    6,658       -  
Proceeds from sale of property, equipment and operating lease equipment
    877       1,116  
Purchases of property, equipment and operating lease equipment
    (6,223 )     (3,054 )
Issuance of notes receivable
    (17,237 )     (19,690 )
Repayments of notes receivable
    9,387       10,703  
Proceeds from transfer of notes receivable
    13,420       11,896  
Premiums paid on life insurance
    (43 )     (70 )
Cash used in acquisition, net of cash acquired
    -       (3,514 )
Net cash  provided by (used in) investing activities
  $ 5,607     $ (2,613 )

 
7

 
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - continued
 
   
Six months ended September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
 
 
   
 
 
Borrowings of non-recourse and recourse notes payable
  $ 14,605       2,300  
Repayments of non-recourse and recourse notes payable
    (500 )     (292 )
Repurchase of common stock
    (1,557 )     (10,034 )
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock through option exercise
    178       216  
Excess tax benefit from share based compensation
    756       303  
Net repayments on floor plan facility
    (1,545 )     (85 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    11,937       (7,592 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    6       (20 )
                 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    10,157       (30,350 )
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
    33,778       75,756  
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
  $ 43,935     $ 45,406  
                 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
               
Cash paid for interest
  $ 1     $ 2  
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 6,738     $ 3,773  
                 
Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
               
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable
  $ 62     $ 19  
Purchase of operating lease equipment included in accounts payable
  $ 175     $ 58  
Sales of operating lease equipment included in accounts receivable
  $ 143     $ -  
Principal payments from lessees directly to lenders
  $ 7,374     $ 8,627  
Vesting of share-based compensation
  $ 3,558     $ 1,419  
Contingent consideration
  $ -     $ 1,500  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(amounts in thousands, except shares data)

                                 
Accumulated
       
               
Additional
               
Other
       
   
Common Stock
   
Paid-In
   
Treasury
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
       
   
Shares
   
Par Value
   
Capital
   
Stock
   
Earnings
   
Income
   
Total
 
               
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2012
    7,999,895     $ 127     $ 93,545     $ (65,416 )   $ 190,906     $ 465     $ 219,627  
                                                         
Issuance of shares for option exercises
    25,000       -       178       -       -       -       178  
Excess tax benefit of share based compensation
    -       -       756       -       -       -       756  
Effect of share-based compensation
    103,254       1       1,577       -       -       -       1,578  
Purchase of treasury stock
    (48,230 )     -       -       (1,557 )     -       -       (1,557 )
Net earnings
    -       -       -       -       18,095       -       18,095  
Foreign currency translation adjustment (net of tax of $1)
    -       -       -       -       -       41       41  
                                                         
Balance, September 30, 2012
    8,079,919     $ 128     $ 96,056     $ (66,973 )   $ 209,001     $ 506     $ 238,718  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
BASIS OF PRESENTATION — Our company was founded in 1990 and is a Delaware corporation. ePlus inc. is sometimes referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as “we,” “our,” “us,” “ourselves,” or “ePlus.” The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ePlus inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — The condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are unaudited, but include all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, changes in equity and cash flows for such periods. Operating results for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 or any other future period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures required by the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for annual financial statements. Our audited consolidated financial statements are contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2012, which should be read in conjunction with these interim financial statements.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS — Management has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date through the date our financial statements are issued.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, 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. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include estimates related to revenue recognition, residual values, vendor consideration, lease classification, goodwill and intangibles, reserves for credit losses, and the recognition and measurement of income tax assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

REVENUE RECOGNITION–The majority of our revenues are derived from the following sources: sales of third party products, software, software assurance, maintenance and services; sales of our services and software; and financing revenues. For all these revenue sources, we determine whether we are the principal or agent in accordance with Codification Topic, Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Principal Agent Considerations. Our revenue recognition policies vary based on these revenue sources.

For the sale of third party software assurance, maintenance and services we concluded that we are acting as an agent and recognize revenue for these transactions on a net basis at the date of sale, which is presented within sales of products and services in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Gross billings for all products and services for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 were $318.8 million and $252.7 million, respectively. Gross billings for all products and services for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 were $597.6 million and $454.7 million, respectively.

CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK—Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, notes receivable and investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are maintained principally with financial institutions in the United States, which have high credit ratings. Risk on accounts receivable, notes receivable and investments in direct financing and sales-type leases is reduced by the large number of diverse industries comprising our customer base and through the ongoing evaluation of collectability of our portfolio. Our credit risk is further mitigated through the underlying collateral and whether the asset is funded with recourse or non-recourse notes payable.

A substantial portion of our sales of product and services are from sales of Cisco and Hewlett Packard products, which represented approximately 49.8% and 10.0%, and 51.6% and 10.1%, respectively, of our sales of product and services for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to 46.1% and 17.2%, and 44.0% and 16.4%, respectively, of our sales of product and services for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011. Any changes in our vendors’ ability to provide products could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
 
10

 
RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-12”), which amended existing guidance by allowing only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous financial statement, statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements, consisting of an income statement followed by a separate statement of other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-12 requires retrospective application, and it is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this amendment on April 1, 2012 and are presenting our components of net income and other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive financial statements.

2. RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

During the preparation of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, we reassessed the presentation of sales of third party software assurance, maintenance and services and, after giving further consideration with respect to gross vs. net reporting, concluded that these transactions should be presented on a net basis in accordance with Codification Topic, Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Principal Agent Considerations. We determined that we should have been considered an agent in the transaction because a third party is responsible for the day to day provision of services under the contract. This change in the determination of that status results in different accounting treatment of the revenue resulting from the sale of such third party software assurance, maintenance and services, requiring the revenue to be reported net of the associated cost of the underlying contract with the third party service provider.

Under net sales recognition, the cost paid to the third party service provider is recorded as a reduction to sales of products and services, resulting in net sales being equal to the gross profit on the transaction. The change in accounting policy and restatement affects our revenues and offsetting costs and expenses for the identified periods but does not affect our previously reported earnings before provision for income tax, net earnings, net earnings per common share or unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

The effects of this restatement are summarized in the table below (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
 September 30, 2011
   
Six Months Ended
 September 30, 2011
 
   
As reported
   
Adjustments
   
As restated
   
As reported
   
Adjustments
   
As restated
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Sales of product and services
  $ 252,688     $ (59,195 )   $ 193,493     $ 454,654     $ (91,840 )   $ 362,814  
Total revenues
  $ 262,850     $ (59,195 )   $ 203,655     $ 474,394     $ (91,840 )   $ 382,554  
Cost of sales, product and services
  $ 217,624     $ (59,195 )   $ 158,429     $ 390,943     $ (91,840 )   $ 299,103  
Total costs and expenses
  $ 251,002     $ (59,195 )   $ 191,807     $ 456,263     $ (91,840 )   $ 364,423  
Net earnings
  $ 7,064     $ -     $ 7,064     $ 10,767     $ -     $ 10,767  
Net earnings per common share - basic
  $ 0.87     $ -     $ 0.87     $ 1.31     $ -     $ 1.31  
Net earnings per common share - diluted
  $ 0.85     $ -     $ 0.85     $ 1.28     $ -     $ 1.28  

3. INVESTMENT IN LEASES AND LEASED EQUIPMENT—NET

Investment in leases and leased equipment—net consists of the following (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
 
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net
  $ 90,711     $ 95,460  
Investment in operating lease equipment—net
    21,669       20,514  
    $ 112,380     $ 115,974  
 
 
11

 
 INVESTMENT IN DIRECT FINANCING AND SALES-TYPE LEASES—NET
 
Our investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net consists of the following (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
 
Minimum lease payments
  $ 93,646     $ 99,747  
Estimated unguaranteed residual value (1)
    7,319       6,917  
Initial direct costs, net of amortization (2)
    746       797  
Less:  Unearned lease income
    (9,648 )     (10,665 )
Less:  Reserve for credit losses (3)
    (1,352 )     (1,336 )
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net
  $ 90,711     $ 95,460  
 
(1)
Includes estimated unguaranteed residual values of $2,222 thousand and $1,700 thousand as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively, for direct financing leases which have been sold and accounted for as sales under Codification Topic, Transfers and Servicing.
(2)
Initial direct costs are shown net of amortization of $618 thousand and $512 thousand as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively.
(3)
For details on reserve for credit losses, refer to Note 5, “Reserves for Credit Losses.”

Our net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases for certain lease agreements serves as collateral for non-recourse equipment notes. See Note 7, “Notes Payable and Credit Facility.”

We enter into agreements to sell the financing receivable associated with certain notes receivables and investments in direct financing leases, which are accounted for as a sale under Codification Topic, Transfer and Servicing. We recognized a net gain for these sales of $0.5 million and $0.9 million in financing revenues in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $1.7 million and $1.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total proceeds from these sales were $12.6 million and $23.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total proceeds from these sales were $42.0 million and $24.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

INVESTMENT IN OPERATING LEASE EQUIPMENT—NET

Investment in operating lease equipment—net primarily represents leases that do not qualify as direct financing leases. The components of the investment in operating lease equipment—net are as follows (in thousands):
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
 
Cost of equipment under operating leases
  $ 46,775     $ 44,487  
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (25,106 )     (23,973 )
Investment in operating lease equipment—net (1)
  $ 21,669     $ 20,514  
 
 
(1)
Includes estimated unguaranteed residual values of $7,918 thousand and $7,802 thousand as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively, for operating leases.

 
12

 
4. GOODWILL
 
Goodwill represents the premium paid over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets we have acquired in business combinations. The following table summarizes the amount of goodwill allocated to our reporting units (in thousands):
 
   
Financing
   
Technology
   
Software
 Procurement
   
Software
 Document
 Management
   
Total
 
Balance April 1, 2012
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Goodwill
  $ 4,029     $ 27,355     $ 4,644     $ 1,089     $ 37,117  
Accumulated impairment losses
    (4,029 )     -       (4,644 )     -       (8,673 )
      -       27,355       -       1,089       28,444  
                                         
Purchase accounting adjustments
    -       343       -       -       343  
                                         
Balance September 30, 2012
                                       
Goodwill
    4,029       27,698       4,644       1,089       37,460  
Accumulated impairment losses
    (4,029 )     -       (4,644 )     -       (8,673 )
Goodwill - net balance September 30, 2012
  $ -     $ 27,698     $ -     $ 1,089     $ 28,787  

5. RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES

Activity in our reserves for credit losses for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Accounts
 Receivable
   
Notes
 Receivable
   
Lease-Related
 Receivables
   
Total
 
Balance April 1, 2012
  $ 1,307     $ 2,963     $ 1,336     $ 5,606  
Provision for bad debts
    (206 )     117       19       (70 )
Write-offs and other
    (48 )     -       (3 )     (51 )
Balance September 30, 2012
  $ 1,053     $ 3,080     $ 1,352     $ 5,485  
 
   
Accounts
 Receivable
   
Notes
 Receivable
   
Lease-Related
 Assets
   
Total
 
Balance April 1, 2011
  $ 944     $ 94     $ 1,733     $ 2,771  
Provision for bad debts
    129       162       (184 )     107  
Write-offs and other
    (224 )     -       (2 )     (226 )
Balance September 30, 2011
  $ 849     $ 256     $ 1,547     $ 2,652  

Our reserves for credit losses and minimum payments associated with our notes receivables and lease related receivables disaggregated on the basis of our impairment method were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
September 30, 2012
   
March 31, 2012
 
   
Notes
 Receivable
   
Lease-Related
 Receivables
   
Notes
 Receivable
   
Lease-Related
 Receivables
 
Reserves for credit losses:
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 133     $ 1,258     $ 298     $ 1,314  
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
    2,947       94       2,665       22  
Ending balance
  $ 3,080     $ 1,352     $ 2,963     $ 1,336  
                                 
Minimum payments:
                               
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 17,728     $ 93,335     $ 22,944     $ 99,545  
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
    3,500       311       4,356       202  
Ending balance
  $ 21,228     $ 93,646     $ 27,300     $ 99,747  

 
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During fiscal year 2012, we began selling and financing various products and services to a large law firm, which filed for bankruptcy in May 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we had $3.6 million of notes and lease-related receivables from this customer and total reserves for credit losses of $2.9 million, which represented our estimated probable loss.

As of March 31, 2012, we had $4.2 million of notes receivables from this customer and total reserves for credit losses of $2.6 million. In addition to the notes receivable, there were accounts receivable for this customer of $0.9 million and a reserve for credit losses of $0.3 million as of March 31, 2012. Accordingly, the total receivables associated with this customer as of March 31, 2012 were $5.1 million and our estimated probable loss was $2.9 million. As of March 31, 2012, the notes and lease receivables associated with this customer were placed on non-accrual status.

As of September 30, 2012, the age of the recorded minimum lease payments and net credit exposure associated with our investment in direct financing and sales-type leases that are past due, disaggregated based on our internally assigned credit quality ratings (“CQR”), were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 
31-60
 Days
 Past Due
   
61-90
 Days
 Past Due
   
Greater
 than 90
 Days
 Past Due
   
Total
 Past Due
   
Current
   
Unbilled
 Minimum
 Lease
 Payments
   
Total
 Minimum
 Lease
 Payments
   
Unearned
 Income
   
Non-
Recourse
 Notes
 Payable
   
Net Credit
 Exposure
 
September 30, 2012
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
High CQR
  $ 35     $ 15     $ 255     $ 305     $ 534     $ 51,490     $ 52,329     $ (3,889 )   $ (4,003 )   $ 44,437  
Average CQR
    27       -       25       52       76       40,848       40,976       (3,913 )     (15,413 )     21,650  
Low CQR
    6       12       29       47       -       294       341       (30 )     -       311  
Total
    68       27       309       404       610       92,632       93,646       (7,832 )     (19,416 )     66,398  
 
                                                                               
March 31, 2012
                                                                               
 
                                                                               
High CQR
  $ 1,767     $ 5     $ 72     $ 1,844     $ 977     $ 58,214     $ 61,035     $ (4,541 )   $ (3,480 )   $ 53,014  
Average CQR
    85       7       12       104       53       38,337       38,494       (4,445 )     (15,109 )     18,940  
Low CQR
    -       -       -       -       -       218       218       (16 )     -       202  
Total
  $ 1,852     $ 12     $ 84     $ 1,948     $ 1,030     $ 96,769     $ 99,747     $ (9,002 )   $ (18,589 )   $ 72,156  

As of September 30, 2012, the age of the recorded notes receivable balance disaggregated based on our internally assigned CQR were as follows (in thousands):

   
31-60Days
 Past Due
   
61-90 Days
 Past Due
   
Greater than
 90 Days
 Past Due
   
Total Past
 Due
   
Current
   
Unbilled
 Notes
 Receivable
   
Total
 
September 30, 2012
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
High CQR
  $ 500     $ 578     $ -     $ 1,078     $ 211     $ 12,796     $ 14,085  
Average CQR
    -       -       -       -       15       3,628       3,643  
Low CQR
    51       -       678       729       -       2,771       3,500  
Total
  $ 551     $ 578     $ 678     $ 1,807     $ 226     $ 19,195     $ 21,228  
                                                         
March 31, 2012
                                                       
                                                         
High CQR
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 2,661     $ 18,140     $ 20,801  
Average CQR
    -       -       -       -       29       2,113       2,142  
Low CQR
    -       -       86       86       387       3,884       4,357  
Total
  $ -     $ -     $ 86     $ 86     $ 3,077     $ 24,137     $ 27,300  

We estimate losses on our net credit exposure to be between 0% - 5% for customers with highest CQR, as these customers are investment grade or the equivalent of investment grade. We estimate losses on our net credit exposure to be between 2% - 25% for customers with average CQR, and between 50% - 100% for customers with low CQR, which includes customers in bankruptcy.

 
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6. OTHER ASSETS AND ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES

Our other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
 
   
 
   
 
 
Deferred costs
  $ 10,588     $ 9,391  
Capitalized software and other intangible assets
    4,568       5,075  
Prepaid assets
    2,266       2,215  
Other
    5,985       6,879  
Other assets
  $ 23,407     $ 23,560  
 
   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
 
   
 
   
 
 
Deferred revenue
  $ 17,285     $ 15,935  
Accrued expenses
    9,280       15,386  
Other
    8,268       9,501  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  $ 34,833     $ 40,822  
 
Deferred costs and revenues primarily relate to the sales of products and services in our technology sales business segment. Other assets include unbilled accounts receivable, cash surrender value of life insurance policies, escrow deposits and off-lease equipment. Other liabilities include accrued taxes, deferred compensation, lease rental payments due to third parties, and contingent consideration related to an acquisition.

7. NOTES PAYABLE AND CREDIT FACILITY
 
Non-recourse and recourse obligations consist of the following (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Recourse note payable at 4.84% expires on March 2, 2017
  $ 1,682     $ 1,727  
                 
Non-recourse equipment notes secured by related investments in leases with interest rates ranging from 2.58% to 10.0% at September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012
  $ 33,020     $ 26,328  
 
Principal and interest payments on the non-recourse notes payable are generally due monthly in amounts that are approximately equal to the total payments due from the lessee under the leases that collateralize the notes payable.  The weighted average interest rate for our non-recourse notes payable was 5.22% and 5.15%, as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively. Under recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the lender has recourse against the lessee, the equipment serving as collateral, and us. Under non-recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the lender generally only has recourse against the lessee, and the equipment serving as collateral, but not against us.
 
Our technology sales business segment, through our subsidiary ePlus Technology, inc., finances its operations with funds generated from operations, and with a credit facility with GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation (“GECDF”). This facility provides short-term capital for our technology sales business segment. There are two components of the GECDF credit facility: (1) a floor plan component and (2) an accounts receivable component. Under the floor plan component, we had outstanding balances of $84.4 million and $85.9 million as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively. Under the accounts receivable component, we had no outstanding balances as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, the facility agreement had an aggregate limit of the two components of $175 million, and the accounts receivable component had a sub-limit of $30 million, which bears interest assessed at a rate of the One Month Libor plus two and one half percent. The credit facility with GECDF was amended and restated in July 2012 which increased the credit limit from $125 million to $175 million and modified the covenants, interest rate and other requirements within the facility.

 
15

 
The credit facility has full recourse to ePlus Technology, inc. and is secured by a blanket lien against all its assets, such as receivables and inventory. Availability under the facility may be limited by the asset value of equipment we purchase or accounts receivable, and may be further limited by certain covenants and terms and conditions of the facility. These covenants include but are not limited to a minimum excess availability of the facility and minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of ePlus Technology, inc. Management believes we were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2012. In addition, the facility restricts the ability of ePlus Technology, inc. to transfer funds to its affiliates in the form of dividends, loans or advances with certain exceptions for dividends to ePlus inc. The facility also requires that financial statements of the Company be provided within 45 days of each quarter and 90 days of each fiscal year end and also includes that other operational reports be provided on a regular basis. Either party may terminate with 90 days’ advance notice. We are not, and do not believe that we are reasonably likely to be, in breach of the GECDF credit facility. In addition, we do not believe that the covenants of the GECDF credit facility materially limit our ability to undertake financing. In this regard, the covenants apply only to our subsidiary, ePlus Technology, inc. This credit facility is secured by the assets of only ePlus Technology, inc. and the guaranty as described below.

The facility provided by GECDF requires a guaranty of $10.5 million by ePlus inc. The guaranty requires ePlus inc. to deliver its annual audited financial statements by certain dates. We have delivered the annual audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2012, as required. The loss of the GECDF credit facility could have a material adverse effect on our future results as we currently rely on this facility and its components for daily working capital and liquidity for our technology sales business segment and as an operational function of our accounts payable process.

We have an agreement with 1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia to provide us with a $0.5 million credit facility, which matured October 26, 2012. This credit facility was renewed for two years effective October 27, 2012. The credit facility is available for use by us and our affiliates and the lender has full recourse to us. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at the Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime rate plus 1%. The primary purpose of the facility is to provide letters of credit for landlords, taxing authorities and bids.  As of September 30, 2012 and as of March 31, 2012, we had no outstanding balance on this credit facility.

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

On May 19, 2009, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (the “trial court”) against four defendants, alleging that they used or sold products, methods, processes, services and/or systems that infringe on certain of our patents. During July and August 2009, we entered into settlement and license agreements with three of the defendants. We obtained a jury verdict against the remaining defendant, Lawson Software, Inc. (“Lawson”) on January 27, 2011. The jury unanimously found that Lawson infringed certain ePlus patents relating to electronic procurement systems, and additionally found that all ePlus patent claims tried in court were not invalid.
 
On May 23, 2011, the trial court issued a permanent injunction, ordering Lawson and its successors to: immediately stop selling and servicing products relating to its electronic procurement systems that infringe our patents; cease providing any ongoing or future maintenance, training or installation of its infringing products; and refrain from publishing any literature or information that encourages the use or sale of its infringing products.  We have filed a motion seeking a finding that Lawson is in contempt of the injunction. We currently do not have a hearing date for our motion. Lawson has appealed the trial court’s ruling. We also have appealed the trial court’s evidentiary ruling which precluded us from seeking monetary damages. Oral argument on the appeal was held on June 6, 2012. Court calendars are inherently unpredictable and we cannot predict when the court will issue a ruling.

While we believe that we have a basis for our claims, these types of cases are complex in nature, are likely to have significant expenses associated with them, and we cannot predict whether we will be successful in our claim for a contempt finding or damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed the costs incurred to pursue this matter, or how long it will take to bring this matter to resolution.

 
16

 
Other Matters

We may become party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including preference payment claims asserted in customer bankruptcy proceedings, claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions, employment related claims, claims by competitors, vendors or customers, and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. We accrue for costs associated with these contingencies when a loss is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable.  Refer to Note 5, "Reserves for Credit Losses," for additional information regarding loss contingencies associated with our accounts, notes and lease-related receivables.

9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders by the basic weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders by the basic weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of “in-the-money” stock options and other common stock equivalents during each period.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used to calculate basic and diluted net earnings per common share as disclosed on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 (in thousands, except per share data).
 
   
Three months ended 
September 30,
   
Six months ended 
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Net earnings available to common shareholders—basic and diluted
  $ 10,033     $ 7,064     $ 18,095     $ 10,767  
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    7,770       8,153       7,746       8,230  
Effect of dilutive shares
    151       174       167       192  
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    7,921       8,327       7,913       8,422  
                                 
Earnings per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 1.29     $ 0.87     $ 2.34     $ 1.31  
Diluted
  $ 1.27     $ 0.85     $ 2.29     $ 1.28  

All unexercised stock options were included in the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

10. SHARE REPURCHASE

On August 15, 2011, our Board approved a share repurchase plan which authorized share repurchases up to 500,000 shares over a 12-month period commencing on September 16, 2011. Since the commencement of this plan through November 14, 2011, we purchased 403,458 shares. On November 15, 2011, our Board amended the share repurchase plan to authorize share repurchases up to 500,000 shares commencing on November 15, 2011. We purchased 72,978 shares under the amended plan before it expired on September 15, 2012. On August 13, 2012, our Board authorized a new share repurchase plan which authorized share repurchases up to 500,000 shares commencing on September 16, 2012, through September 15, 2013. The purchases may be made from time to time in the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to availability. Any repurchased shares will have the status of treasury shares and may be used, when needed, for general corporate purposes.

During the six months ended September 30, 2012, we repurchased 19,423 shares of our outstanding common stock at an average cost of $29.46 per share for a total purchase price of $572 thousand. Since the inception of our initial repurchase program on September 20, 2001 to September 30, 2012, we have repurchased 4.7 million shares of our outstanding common stock at an average cost of $13.94 per share for a total purchase price of $65.3 million.

 
17


11. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Share-Based Plans

We have share-based awards outstanding under the following plans: (1) Amendment and Restatement of the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (2003) (the “Amended LTIP (2003)”), (2) the 2008 Non-Employee Director Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2008 Director LTIP”), and (3) the 2008 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2008 Employee LTIP”). On September 13, 2012, our shareholders approved the 2012 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2012 Employee LTIP”), which has no awards outstanding as of September 30, 2012. Currently, awards are only issued under the 2008 Director LTIP and the 2008 Employee LTIP. All the share-based plans require the use of the previous trading day's closing price when the grant date falls on a date the stock was not traded.

For a summary of descriptions and vesting periods of the 1998 LTIP, the Amended LTIP (2001), the Amended LTIP (2003), the 2008 Director LTIP and the 2008 Employee LTIP discussed below, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2012.

Stock Option Activity

During the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, there were no stock options granted to employees.

A summary of stock option activity during the six months ended September 30, 2012 is as follows:
 
   
Number of
 Shares
   
Exercise Price
 Range
   
Weighted
 Average
 Exercise
 Price
   
Weighted
 Average
 Contractual
 Life Remaining
 (in years)
   
Aggregate
 Intrinsic
 Value
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Outstanding, April 1, 2012
    145,000     $ 7.14 - $15.25     $ 11.91    
 
   
 
 
Options exercised (1)
    (25,000 )   $ 7.14     $ 7.14    
 
   
 
 
Outstanding, September 30, 2012
    120,000     $ 10.75 - $15.25     $ 12.90       2.0     $ 3,158,100  
                                         
Vested at September 30, 2012
    120,000             $ 12.90       2.0     $ 3,158,100  
Exercisable at September 30, 2012
    120,000             $ 12.90       2.0     $ 3,158,100  

(1)
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the six months ended September 30, 2012 was $683 thousand.

Additional information regarding stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2012 is as follows:

     
Options Outstanding and Exercisable
 
Range of
 Exercise Prices
   
Options
 Outstanding
   
Weighted
 Average
 Exercise
 Price per
 Share
   
Weighted
Average
 Contractual
 Life Remaining
 (in years)
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
$ 10.75 - $13.50       80,000     $ 11.74       2.5  
$ 13.51 - $15.25       40,000     $ 15.23       1.0  
                             
$ 10.75 - $15.25       120,000     $ 12.90       2.0  
 
We issue shares from our authorized but unissued common stock to satisfy stock option exercises.  At September 30, 2012, all of our options are vested.
 
 
18

 
Restricted Stock Activity
 
For the six months ended September 30, 2012, we granted 7,831 restricted shares under the 2008 Director LTIP, and 96,590 restricted shares under the 2008 Employee LTIP. A summary of the non-vested restricted shares is as follows:
 
 
 
Number of
 Shares
   
Weighted
 Average Grant-
date Fair Value
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
Nonvested April 1, 2012
    276,130     $ 20.75  
Granted
    104,421     $ 32.64  
Vested
    (102,523 )   $ 11.68  
Forfeited
    (1,167 )   $ 20.17  
Nonvested September 30, 2012
    276,861     $ 25.19  

Upon each vesting period of the restricted stock awards, employees are subject to minimum tax withholding obligations. The 2008 Director LTIP and 2008 Employee LTIP allows us, at the participant’s election, to withhold a sufficient number of shares due to the participant to satisfy their minimum tax withholding obligations. During the six months ended September 30, 2012, we withheld 28,807 shares of common stock at a value of $985 thousand, which was included in treasury stock.

Compensation Expense

We recognize compensation cost for awards of restricted stock with graded vesting on a straight line basis over the requisite service period and estimate the forfeiture rate to be zero, based on historical experience. There are no additional conditions for vesting other than service conditions. During the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, we recognized $915 thousand and $650 thousand, respectively, of total share-based compensation expense. During the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, we recognized $1.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of total share-based compensation expense. Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock was $5.8 million, which will be fully recognized over the next 33 months.

We also provide our employees with a contributory 401(k) profit sharing plan. Employer contribution percentages are determined by us and are discretionary each year. The employer contributions vest pro-ratably over a four-year service period by the employees, after which, all employer contributions will be fully vested. For the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, our contribution expense for the plan was approximately $236 thousand and $214 thousand, respectively. For the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, our contribution expense for the plan was approximately $465 thousand and $417 thousand, respectively.

12. INCOME TAXES

We recognize interest and penalties for uncertain tax positions. As of September 30, 2012, our gross liability related to uncertain tax positions was $316 thousand. At September 30, 2012 if the unrecognized tax benefits of $316 thousand were to be recognized, including the effect of interest, penalties and federal tax benefit, the impact would be $429 thousand. We also recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense. We recorded interest expense of $4 and $9 thousand for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012, and $11 thousand and $22 thousand for the same periods last year. We did not recognize any additional penalties. We had $189 thousand and $167 thousand accrued for the payment of interest at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 
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13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We account for the fair values of our assets and liabilities in accordance with Codification Topic Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure. Accordingly, we established a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The fair value of our non-recourse notes payable is calculated using the discounted cash flow approach based on the contractual terms of the notes payable discounted at current market rates.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of our financial instruments and contingent liability (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
   
Fair Value Measurement Using
 
 
 
September 30,
 2012
   
Quoted Prices in
 Active Markets
 for Identical
 Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant
 Other
 Observable
 Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant
 Unobservable
 Inputs (Level 3)
   
Total Gains
 (Losses)
 
Liabilities:
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Contingent consideration
  $ 1,122     $ -     $ -     $ 1,122     $ -  
 
              Fair Value Measurement Using  
     
March 31, 2012
     
Quoted Prices in
 Active Markets
 for Identical
 Assets (Level 1)
      Significant
 Other
 Observable
 Inputs (Level 2)
     
 Significant
 Unobservable
 Inputs (Level 3)
     
Total Gains
 (Losses)
 
Liabilities:
                                       
                                         
Contingent consideration
  $ 1,292     $ -     $ -     $ 1,292     $ -  

For the six months ended September 30, 2012, the adjustment to the fair value of the contingent consideration was $170 thousand, which was presented within general and administrative expenses in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

14. SEGMENT REPORTING

We manage our business segments on the basis of the products and services offered. Our reportable segments consist of our technology sales business segment and our financing business segment. The technology sales business segment sells information technology equipment and software and related services primarily to corporate customers on a nationwide basis. The technology sales business segment also provides Internet-based business-to-business supply chain management solutions for information technology and other operating resources. The financing business segment offers lease-financing solutions to corporations and governmental entities nationwide. We evaluate segment performance on the basis of total revenue, segment earnings and earnings before provision for income taxes.

Both segments utilize our proprietary software and services within the organization. Sales and services and related costs of our software are included in the technology sales business segment. Our reportable segment information is as follows (in thousands):

 
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Three months ended September 30, 2012
   
Three months ended September 30, 2011
 
   
Technology
 Sales
 Business
 Segment
   
Financing
 Business
 Segment
   
Total
   
Technology
 Sales
 Business
 Segment
   
Financing
 Business
 Segment
   
Total
 
                     
 
   
 
   
 
 
Sales of product and services
  $ 250,178     $ -     $ 250,178     $ 193,493     $ -     $ 193,493  
Financing revenues
    -       7,413       7,413       -       7,305       7,305  
Fee and other income
    1,591       869       2,460       2,128       729       2,857  
Total revenues
    251,769       8,282       260,051       195,621       8,034       203,655  
                                                 
Cost of sales, product & services
    205,199       -       205,199       158,429       -       158,429  
Direct lease costs
    -       2,461       2,461       -       2,078       2,078  
Professional and other fees
    2,260       447       2,707       1,986       369       2,355  
Salaries and benefits
    24,414       2,505       26,919       21,717       2,373       24,090  
General and administrative expenses
    5,011       400       5,411       4,267       240       4,507  
Interest and financing costs
    21       425       446       19       329       348  
Total costs and expenses
    236,905       6,238       243,143       186,418       5,389       191,807  
Earnings before provision for income taxes
  $ 14,864     $ 2,044     $ 16,908     $ 9,203     $ 2,645     $ 11,848  
Assets
  $ 250,138     $ 190,656     $ 440,794     $ 202,420     $ 175,642     $ 378,062  

 
   
Six months ended September 30, 2012
   
Six months ended September 30, 2011
 
   
Technology
 Sales
 Business
 Segment
   
Financing
 Business
 Segment
   
Total
   
Technology
 Sales
 Business
 Segment
   
Financing
 Business
 Segment
   
Total
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Sales of product and services
  $ 484,460     $ -     $ 484,460     $ 362,814     $ -     $ 362,814  
Financing revenues
    -       15,313       15,313       -       14,739       14,739  
Fee and other income
    3,593       1,409       5,002       4,037       964       5,001  
Total revenues
    488,053       16,722       504,775       366,851       15,703       382,554  
                                                 
Cost of sales, product & services
    399,590       -       399,590       299,103       -       299,103  
Direct lease costs
    -       4,704       4,704       -       4,174       4,174  
Professional and other fees
    4,763       1,057       5,820       4,060       720       4,780  
Salaries and benefits
    48,496       4,777       53,273       42,379       4,717       47,096  
General and administrative expenses
    9,450       616       10,066       8,034       506       8,540  
Interest and financing costs
    52       799       851       39       691       730  
Total costs and expenses
    462,351       11,953       474,304       353,615       10,808       364,423  
Earnings before provision for income taxes
  $ 25,702     $ 4,769     $ 30,471     $ 13,236     $ 4,895     $ 18,131  
Assets
  $ 250,138     $ 190,656     $ 440,794     $ 202,420     $ 175,642     $ 378,062  

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

This discussion is intended to further the reader’s understanding of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. It should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2012 (the “2012 Annual Report”).  These historical financial statements may not be indicative of our future performance. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains a number of forward-looking statements, all of which are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2012 Annual Report, except as updated in our subsequently filed Forms 10-Q.

Our financial results as of and for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011 has been revised. All information and disclosures contained in this management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations have been revised to reflect the restatement described in Note 2, “Restatement of Financial Statements.”

Summary of Restatement

During the preparation of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, we reassessed the presentation of sales of third party software assurance, maintenance and services and, after giving further consideration with respect to gross versus net reporting, we concluded that these transactions should be presented on a net basis in accordance with Codification Topic, Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Principal Agent Considerations. We determined that we should have been considered an agent in the transaction because a third party is responsible for the day to day provision of services under the contract. This change in the determination of that status results in different accounting treatment of the revenue resulting from the sale of such third party software assurance, maintenance and services, requiring the revenue to be reported net of the associated cost of the underlying contract with the third party service provider.

Under net sales recognition, the cost paid to the third party service provider is recorded as a reduction to sales of products and services, resulting in net sales being equal to the gross profit on the transaction. This change in accounting policy and restatement affects our revenues and offsetting costs and expenses for the identified periods but does not affect our previously reported earnings before provision for income tax, net earnings, net earnings per common share or unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Business Description

ePlus and its consolidated subsidiaries provide leading IT products and services, flexible leasing solutions, and enterprise supply management software to enable our customers to optimize their IT infrastructure and supply chain processes. Our revenues are composed of sales of product and services, sales of leased equipment, financing revenues and fee and other income. Our operations are conducted through two business segments: our technology sales business segment and our financing business segment.

Financial Summary

In recent years, the United States experienced substantial uncertainty in the economic environment, including financial market disruption. In addition, the debt crisis in certain countries in the European Union has contributed to continuing economic weakness and uncertainty in the United States. A reoccurrence of the economic downturn could cause our current and potential customers to once again delay or reduce technology purchases and result in longer sales cycles, slower adoption of new technologies and increased price competition. Credit risk associated with our customers and vendors may also be adversely impacted. In addition, although we do not anticipate the need for additional capital in the near term due to our current financial position, a reoccurrence of the economic downturn may adversely affect our access to additional capital.

However, in calendar year 2011, IT spending in most categories increased, driven by the general economic recovery, the deferral of IT spending by many customers in prior years, customer interest in cloud computing, the positive return on investment that can be gained by virtualization technologies, and the reduction of manufacturer shipment delays in the supply chain. In 2012, many industry analysts are forecasting an increase in overall IT spending in the U.S. as compared to 2011, and the first half of the calendar year produced solid results in many sectors of the industry. However, some analysts have lowered their forecast for overall IT spending for the second half of calendar year 2012 and calendar year 2013. We believe that customers are continuing to focus on cost savings initiatives by utilizing technologies such as virtualization and cloud computing, and we continue to provide these and other advanced technology solutions to meet these needs.

 
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During the three months ended September 30, 2012, total revenue increased 27.7% to $260.1 million and total costs and expenses increased 26.8% to $243.1 million, as compared to the same period last fiscal year. During the six months ended September 30, 2012, total revenue increased 31.9% to $504.8 million and total costs and expenses increased 30.2% to $474.3 million. To help manage our rapid growth, continue our sales revenue expansion and to expand our geographical footprint and solutions offering, we increased hiring in our technology sales business segment. Over the past 12 months, we added 92 personnel in several existing and new locations, and acquired two companies.  The company has expanded from 759 employees as of September 30, 2011 to 851 employees as of September 30, 2012.

Gross margin for product and services was 18.0% and 18.1% during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 17.5% and 17.6% during the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our gross margin on sales of products and services was 17.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and increased sequentially due to higher sales of third party software assurance, maintenance and services, which are presented on a net basis. Gross margins on sales of product and services are affected by our customers’ investment in technology equipment, the mix and volume of products sold and changes in incentives provided to us by manufacturers. Net earnings increased 42.0% to $10.0 million and 68.1% to $18.1 million for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2012 over prior year periods ended September 30, 2011.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $10.2 million to $43.9 million at September 30, 2012, compared to March 31, 2012.

Business Segment Overview
 
Technology Sales Business Segment

The technology sales business segment sells IT equipment and software and related services primarily to corporate customers, state and local governments, and higher education institutions on a nationwide basis, with geographic concentrations relating to our physical locations. The technology sales business segment also provides Internet-based business-to-business supply chain management solutions for information technology products. Our technology sales business segment derives revenue from the sales of new equipment, software, maintenance, and service engagements. These revenues are reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations under sales of product and services and fee and other income.  Customers who purchase IT equipment and services from us may have customer master agreements, or CMAs, with us which stipulate the terms and conditions of our relationship. Some CMAs contain pricing arrangements, and most contain mutual termination for convenience clauses. Our other customers place orders using purchase orders without a CMA in place or with other documentation customary for the business. Often, our work with governments is based on public bids and our written bid responses. A substantial portion of our sales of product and services are from sales of Cisco and Hewlett Packard products, which represented approximately 51.6% and 10.1%, respectively, of sales of product and services for the six months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to 44.0% and 16.4%, respectively, of sales of product and services for the six months ended September 30, 2011.

Included in the sales of product and services are revenues derived from performing advanced professional services that may be bundled with sales of equipment which are integral to the successful delivery of such equipment. Our service engagements are generally governed by statements of work, and are primarily fixed price (with allowance for changes); however, some service agreements are based on time and materials.

We endeavor to minimize the cost of sales in our technology sales business segment through vendor consideration programs provided by manufacturers and other incentives provided by distributors. The programs we qualify for are generally set by our reseller authorization level with the manufacturer. The authorization level we achieve and maintain governs the types of products we can resell as well as such items as pricing received, funds provided for the marketing of these products and other special promotions. These authorization levels are achieved by us through sales volume, certifications held by sales executives or engineers and/or contractual commitments by us. The authorization levels are costly to maintain and these programs continually change and, therefore, there is no guarantee of future reductions of costs provided by these vendor consideration programs. We currently maintain the following authorization levels with our primary manufacturers:
 
 
23


Manufacturer
Manufacturer Authorization Level
 
 
Apple
Apple Authorized Corporate Reseller
Cisco Systems
Cisco Gold DVAR (National)
 
Advanced Wireless LAN
 
Advanced Unified Communications
 
Advanced Data Center Storage Networking
 
Advanced Routing and Switching
 
Advanced Security
 
ATP Video Surveillance
 
ATP Cisco Telepresence Video Master Partner
 
ATP Rich Media Communications
 
Master Security Specialization
 
Master UC Specialization
 
Master Managed Services Partner
Citrix Systems, Inc.
Citrix Gold (National)
EMC
Velocity Premier Level
Hewlett Packard
HP Preferred Elite Partner (National)
IBM
Premier IBM Business Partner (National)
Lenovo
Lenovo Premium (National)
Microsoft
Microsoft Gold (National)
NetApp
NetApp STAR Partner
Oracle Gold Partner
Sun SPA Executive Partner (National)
 
Sun National Strategic Data Center Authorized
VMware
National Premier Partner

We also generate revenue in our technology sales business segment through hosting arrangements and sales of our Internet-based business-to-business supply chain management software, agent fees received from various manufacturers, support fees, warranty reimbursements, and interest income. Our revenues also include earnings from certain transactions that are infrequent, and there is no guarantee that future transactions of the same nature, size or profitability will occur. Our ability to consummate such transactions, and the timing thereof, may depend largely upon factors outside the direct control of management. The earnings from these types of transactions in a particular period may not be indicative of the earnings that can be expected in future periods. These revenues are reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations under fee and other income.

Financing Business Segment

The financing business segment offers financing solutions to domestic governmental entities and corporations nationwide and in certain other countries. The financing business unit derives revenue from leasing primarily IT and medical equipment and the disposition of that equipment at the end of the lease. These revenues are reflected under financing revenues on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The finance business also derives revenues from the financing of third party software licenses, software assurance, maintenance and other services through notes receivables. These revenues are included in financing revenues on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Financing revenues consist of amortization of unearned income on notes receivables, direct financing and sales-type leases, rentals due under operating leases, net gains or losses on the sales of financing receivables, and sales of equipment at the end of a lease, as well as other post-term financing revenue. The types of revenue and costs recognized by us are determined by each lease’s individual classification. Each lease is classified as either a direct financing lease, sales-type lease, or operating lease, as appropriate.

 
·
For direct financing and sales-type leases, we record the net investment in leases, which consists of the sum of the minimum lease payments, initial direct costs (direct financing leases only), and unguaranteed residual value (gross investment) less the unearned income. The unearned income is amortized over the life of the lease using the interest method. Under sales-type leases, the difference between the present value of minimum lease payments and the cost of the leased property plus initial direct costs (net margins) is recorded as profit at the inception of the lease.
 
·
For operating leases, rental amounts are accrued on a straight-line basis over the lease term and are recognized as financing revenue.

We account for the transfer of financing receivables that meet the definition of financial assets and certain criteria outlined in Transfers and Servicing in the Codification, including surrender of control, as sales for financial reporting purposes. The net gain on the transfer of these financial assets is recognized in financing revenues in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 
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Our financing business segment sells the equipment underlying a lease to the lessee or a third party other than the lessee. These sales occur at the end of the lease term and revenues from the sales of such equipment are recognized at the date of sale. The net gain or loss on these transactions is presented within financing revenue in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations.

We also recognize revenue from events that occur after the initial sale of a financial asset and remarketing fees from our off lease equipment. These revenues are reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations under fee and other income.

Fluctuations in Revenues

Our results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, customer demand for our products and services, supplier costs, changes in vendor incentive programs, interest rate fluctuations, general economic conditions, and differences between estimated residual values and actual amounts realized related to the equipment we lease. Operating results could also fluctuate as a result of a sale prior to the expiration of the lease term to the lessee or to a third party or from other post-term events.

We expect to continue to expand by opening new sales locations and hiring additional staff for specific targeted market areas in the near future whenever we can find both experienced personnel and desirable geographic areas. These investments may reduce our results from operations in the short term.

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income” (ASU 2011-12), which amended existing guidance by allowing only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous financial statement, statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements, consisting of an income statement followed by a separate statement of other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-12 requires retrospective application, and it is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this amendment on April 1, 2012 and are presenting our components of net income and other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive financial statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, or different assumptions were made, it is possible that alternative accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in a change in financial results. On an ongoing basis, we reevaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, residual values, vendor consideration, lease classification, goodwill and intangibles, reserves for credit losses and income taxes specifically relating to uncertain tax positions. We base estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. For all of these estimates, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and therefore, these estimates may require adjustment.

We consider the following accounting policies important in understanding the potential impact of our judgments and estimates on our operating results and financial condition. For additional information on these and other accounting policies, see Note 1, “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

REVENUE RECOGNITION. The majority of our revenues are derived from the following sources: sales of third party products, software, software assurance, maintenance and services; sales of our services and software, and financing revenues. For all these revenue sources, we determine whether we are the principal or agent in accordance with Codification Topic, Revenue Recognition, Subtopic Principal Agent Considerations. Our revenue recognition policies vary based upon these revenue sources.

Generally, sales of technology products and third party software are recognized when the title and risk of loss are passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement for sale, delivery has occurred and/or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Using these tests, the vast majority of our product sales are recognized upon delivery due to our sales terms with our customers and with our vendors. For proper cutoff, we estimate the product delivered to our customers at the end of each quarter based upon an analysis of current quarter and historical delivery dates.

 
25

 
We sell software assurance, maintenance and service contracts where the services are performed by a third party. Software assurance is a maintenance product that allows customers to upgrade at no additional cost to the latest technology if new applications are introduced during the period that the software assurance is in effect. As we enter into contracts with third party service providers, we evaluate whether we are acting as a principal or agent in the transaction. Since we are not responsible for the day to day provision of services in these arrangements, we concluded that we are acting as an agent and recognize revenue on a net basis at the date of sale.

We also sell services that are performed by us in conjunction with product sales. We allocate the total arrangement consideration to the deliverables based on an estimated selling price of our products and services. We determine the estimated selling price using cost plus a reasonable margin for each deliverable, which was based on our established policies and procedures for providing customers with quotes, as well as historical gross margins for our products and services. Revenue from the sales of products is generally recognized upon delivery to the customers and revenue for the services performed by us is generally recognized when the services are complete, which normally occurs within 90 days after the products are delivered to the customer.

Financing revenues include income earned from investments in leases, leased equipment, third party software and services. We classify our investments in leases and leased equipment as either direct financing lease, sales-type lease, or operating lease, as appropriate. Revenue on direct financing and sales-type leases is deferred at the inception of the leases and is recognized over the term of the lease using the interest method. Revenue on operating leases is recorded on a straight line basis over the lease term. We classify third party software and services that we finance for our customers as notes receivable and recognize interest income over the term of the arrangement using the effective interest method.

RESIDUAL VALUES. Residual values represent our estimated value of the equipment at the end of the initial lease term. Our estimated residual values will vary, both in amount and as a percentage of the original equipment cost, and depend upon several factors, including the equipment type, manufacturer's discount, market conditions, lease term, equipment supply and demand, and new product announcements by manufacturers.

We evaluate residual values on a quarterly basis and record any required impairments of residual value, in the period in which the impairment is determined. No upward adjustment to residual values is made subsequent to lease inception.

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS. Goodwill represents the premium paid over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets we have acquired in business combinations. We review our goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include a sustained, significant decline in our share price and market capitalization, a decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, unanticipated competition, and/or slower growth rates, among others.

We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Qualitative factors we consider include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, company specific events, changes in circumstances, after tax cash flows and market capitalization. If the qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we perform the two step process to assess our goodwill for impairment. First, we compare the fair value of our reporting units with its carrying value. We estimate the fair value of the reporting unit using various valuation methodologies, including discounted expected future cash flows. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired, and no further testing is necessary. If the net book value of our reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we perform a second test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. To measure the amount of any impairment loss, we determine the fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if our reporting unit were being acquired in a business combination. Specifically, we allocate the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical calculation that would yield the estimated fair value of goodwill. If the estimated fair value of goodwill is less than the goodwill recorded on our balance sheet, we record an impairment charge for the difference.

VENDOR CONSIDERATION. We receive payments and credits from vendors, including consideration pursuant to volume sales incentive programs, volume purchase incentive programs and shared marketing expense programs. Many of these programs extend over one or more quarters’ sales activities and are primarily formula-based. Different programs have different vendor/program specific goals to achieve. These programs can be very complex to calculate and, in some cases, targets are estimated based upon historical data.

 
26

 
Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume sales incentive programs is recognized as a reduction to cost of sales, product and services on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume purchase incentive programs is allocated to inventories based on the applicable incentives from each vendor and is recorded in cost of sales, product and services, as the inventory is sold. Vendor consideration received pursuant to shared marketing expense programs is recorded as a reduction of the related selling and administrative expenses in the period the program takes place only if the consideration represents a reimbursement of specific, incremental, identifiable costs. Consideration that exceeds the specific, incremental, identifiable costs is classified as a reduction of cost of sales, product and services on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES. We maintain our reserves for credit losses at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential losses inherent in the respective balances. We assign an internal credit quality rating to all new customers and update these ratings regularly, but no less than annually. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses for our accounts and notes receivable is based on the age of the receivable balance, the customer’s credit quality rating, an evaluation of historical credit losses, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors.

Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses for minimum lease payments associated with investments in direct financing and sales-type leases may be based on the following factors: an internally assigned credit quality rating, historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, volume, growth, the composition of the lease portfolio, the fair value of the underlying collateral, and the funding status (i.e. not funded, funded on a recourse or partial recourse basis, or funded on non-recourse basis).

The reserve for credit losses for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and year ended March 31, 2012 included a specific reserve of $2.9 million due to a specific customer, which filed for bankruptcy.

RESERVES FOR SALES RETURNS. Sales are reported net of returns and allowances, which are maintained at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential sales returns from product and services. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve is based on an evaluation of historical sales returns and other relevant factors. These determinations require considerable judgment in assessing the ultimate potential for sales returns and include consideration of the type and volume of product sold.

INCOME TAXES. We make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement reporting purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which principally arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement reporting purposes. We also must analyze income tax reserves, as well as determine the likelihood of recoverability of deferred tax assets, and adjust any valuation allowances accordingly.

Considerations with respect to the recoverability of deferred tax assets include the period of expiration of the tax asset, planned use of the tax asset, and historical and projected taxable income as well as tax liabilities for the tax jurisdiction to which the tax asset relates. Valuation allowances are evaluated periodically and will be subject to change in each future reporting period as a result of changes in one or more of these factors. The calculation of our tax liabilities also involves considering uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be required.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS. We account for business combinations using the acquisition method, which requires that the total purchase price of each of the acquired entities be allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the acquisition date. The purchase price of the acquired entities may include an estimate of the fair value of contingent consideration. The allocation process requires an analysis of intangible assets, customer relationships, trade names, acquired contractual rights and assumed contractual commitments and legal contingencies to identify and record all assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their fair value.

Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. To the extent the purchase price is less than the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, we recognize a gain in our unaudited condensed statement of operations. The results of operations for an acquired company are included in our financial statements from the date of acquisition.

 
27


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Three and Six months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared to the Three and Six months Ended September 30, 2011

Technology Sales Business Segment

The results of operations for our technology sales business segment for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

   
Three months ended September 30,
   
Six months ended September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
Change
   
2012
   
2011
   
Change
 
Sales of product and services
  $ 250,178     $ 193,493     $ 56,685       29.3 %   $ 484,460     $ 362,814     $ 121,646       33.5 %
Fee and other income
    1,591       2,128       (537 )     (25.2 %)     3,593       4,037       (444 )     (11.0 %)
Total revenues
    251,769       195,621       56,148       28.7 %     488,053       366,851       121,202       33.0 %
                                                                 
                                                                 
Cost of sales, products and services
    205,199       158,429       46,770       29.5 %     399,590       299,103       100,487       33.6 %
Professional and other fees
    2,260       1,986       274       13.8 %     4,763       4,060       703       17.3 %
Salaries and benefits
    24,414       21,717       2,697       12.4 %     48,496       42,379       6,117       14.4 %
General and administrative
    5,011       4,267       744       17.4 %     9,450       8,034       1,416       17.6 %
Interest and financing costs
    21       19       2       10.5 %     52       39       13       33.3 %
Total costs and expenses
    236,905       186,418       50,487       27.1 %     462,351       353,615       108,736       30.7 %
                                                                 
Earnings before provision for income taxes
  $ 14,864     $ 9,203     $ 5,661       61.5 %   $ 25,702     $ 13,236     $ 12,466       94.2 %

Total revenues. Total revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2012 were $251.8 million compared to $195.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 28.7%, which is due to increases in demand for our products and services, particularly from Fortune 100 companies. Total revenues increased 33.0% during the six months ended September 30, 2012 and totaled $488.1 million compared to $366.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2011. We experienced sequential and year over year increases in the sales of products and services during the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, except for a slight decrease in sequential revenues during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, as we had higher demand for our product and services during our second and third fiscal year quarters. The sequential and year over year changes in products and services is summarized below.
 
     
Sequential
   
Year over Year
 
 
September 30, 2011
   
14.3
%
   
10.6
%
 
December 31, 2011
   
9.7
%
   
16.4
%
 
March 31, 2012
   
-1.2
%
   
26.3
%
 
June 30, 2012
   
11.7
%
   
38.4
%
 
September 30, 2012
   
6.8
%
   
29.3
%
 
We rely on our vendors to fulfill shipments to our customers, which have been occurring on a regular basis. Our average open orders for the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were $65.3 million and $49.2 million, respectively. In addition, we had deferred revenue of $17.0 million at September 30, 2012, compared to $25.4 million at September 30, 2011, relating to product and service arrangements that were not completed at September 30, 2012.

Total costs and expenses. Total costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $50.5 million or 27.1%, to $236.9 million due to increases in cost of sales of products and services, salaries and benefits and general and administrative expenses. Total costs and expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2012 increased $108.7 million or 30.7%, to $462.4 million.  The increase in cost of sales, products and services was consistent with the increase in sales revenues of products and services. Our gross margin on sales of products and services was 18.0% and 18.1% during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 17.5% and 17.6% during the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our gross margin on sales of products and services was 17.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and increased sequentially due to higher sales of third party software assurance, maintenance and services, which are presented on a net basis. Gross margins are affected by the customer product mix as well as additional vendor incentives earned. The change in the amount of vendor incentives earned during the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011 resulted in a 0.1% decrease in gross margins for products and services.  The vendor incentives did not affect any change in gross margins for the six months ended September 30, 2012 from the prior year. There are ongoing changes to the incentives programs offered to us by our vendors. Accordingly, if we are unable to maintain the level of manufacturer incentives we are currently receiving, gross margins may decrease.

 
28

 
Professional and other fees increased $274 thousand, or 13.8%, to $2.3 million, compared to $2.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011. These increases are primarily due to fees related to the restatement of our financial statements. Patent infringement litigation costs remained at $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. Professional and other fees increased $0.7 million, or 17.3%, to $4.8 million, compared to $4.1 million during the six months ended September 30, 2011. The increases are primarily due to higher fees related to the restatement of our financial statements and other legal fees of $1.5 million. Offsetting this increase was a decrease in fees related to the patent infringement litigation of $0.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012.

Salaries and benefits expense increased $2.7 million, or 12.4%, to $24.4 million, compared to $21.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011. This increase was driven by increases in the number of employees and commission expenses.  Salaries and benefits expense increased $6.1 million, or 14.4%, to $48.5 million, compared to $42.4 million during the six months ended September 30, 2011. Our technology sales business segment had 793 employees as of September 30, 2012, an increase of 93 from 700 at September 30, 2011. A total of 63 employees were added as a result of the two acquisitions we completed over the last twelve months. Most of the increase in personnel relates to sales, marketing and engineering personnel. We continue to invest in sales and support personnel through hiring and strategic acquisitions in order to expand our geographical presence in the continental U.S. as well as extend our advanced technology solutions offerings. In addition, commission expenses increased due to the increase in the gross profit from sales of products and services.

General and administrative expenses increased $744 thousand, or 17.4%, and $1.4 million or 17.6% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, over the same periods for prior year. These increases were primarily due to increases in office locations and sales force as a result of our continued expansion efforts and acquisitions, which resulted in higher telecommunications, rent, utilities, travel and entertainment expense, and other marketing expenses. Amortization expense increased as a result of intangible assets acquired from acquisitions.

Segment earnings before tax. As a result of the foregoing, earnings before provision for income taxes increased $5.7 million, or 61.5%, and $12.5 million, or 94.2% for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, over prior year periods.

Financing Business Segment

The results of operations for our financing business segment for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three months ended September 30,
   
Six months ended September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
Change
   
2012
   
2011
   
Change
 
Financing revenue
  $ 7,413     $ 7,305     $ 108       1.5 %   $ 15,313     $ 14,739     $ 574       3.9 %
Fee and other income
    869       729       140       19.2 %     1,409       964       445       46.2 %
Total revenues
    8,282       8,034       248       3.1 %     16,722       15,703       1,019       6.5 %
                                                                 
Direct lease costs
    2,461       2,078       383       18.4 %     4,704       4,174       530       12.7 %
Professional and other fees
    447       369       78       21.1 %     1,057       720       337       46.8 %
Salaries and benefits
    2,505       2,373       132       5.6 %     4,777       4,717       60       1.3 %
General and administrative
    400       240       160       66.7 %     616       506       110       21.7 %
Interest and financing costs
    425       329       96       29.2 %     799       691       108       15.6 %
Total costs and expenses
    6,238       5,389       849       15.8 %     11,953       10,808       1,145       10.6 %
Earnings before provision for income taxes
  $ 2,044     $ 2,645     $ (601 )     (22.7 %)   $ 4,769     $ 4,895     $ (126 )     (2.6 %)

 
29

 
Total revenues. Total revenues increased by $248 thousand, or 3.1%, to $8.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the prior year. Financing revenues increased $108 thousand, or 1.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the prior year. Total revenues increased by $1.0 million, or 6.5%, to $16.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the prior year. Financing revenues increased $574 thousand, or 3.9% for the six months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the prior year, due to an increase in the net gain on sales of financial assets. At September 30, 2012, we had $130.5 million of investment in notes and leases, compared to $113.2 million at September 30, 2011, an increase of $17.3 million or 15.3%. The increase in our portfolio was largely due to new notes receivables from several federal and state governments and agencies and large corporations. Fee and other income increased $140 thousand and $445 thousand for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 over prior year due to increases in remarketing income.

Total costs and expenses. Total costs and expenses increased $849 thousand, or 15.8%. Direct lease costs increased $383 thousand, or 18.4%, to $2.5 million partly due to increases in depreciation expense for equipment operating leases. General and administrative expenses increased $160 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the prior year, due to higher reserves for credit loses.

During the six months ended September 30, 2012, total costs and expenses increased $1.1 million, or 10.6%, mostly driven by increases in direct lease costs and professional and other fees. Direct lease costs increased $530 thousand, or 12.7%, to $4.7 million partly due to increases in depreciation expense for equipment under operating lease during the six months ended September 30, 2012. Professional and other fees increased by $337 thousand, or 46.8%, to $1.1 million due to legal fees and outside services for software. General and administrative expenses increased $110 thousand, or 21.7%, to $616 thousand during the six months ended September 30, 2012 over the prior year six month period, due to reserves for credit losses.

Salaries and benefits expense has remained consistent with prior periods. The number of personnel employed decreased slightly to 58 as of September 30, 2012 from 59 as of September 30, 2011.

Interest and financing costs increased $96 thousand, or 29.2%, and $108 thousand, or 15.6% during the three months and six months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same periods last year due to the increase in non-recourse and recourse notes payable to $34.7 million at September 30, 2012 as compared to $23.0 million at September 30, 2011.

Segment earnings before tax. As a result of the foregoing, earnings before provision for income taxes decreased $601 thousand, or 22.7%, to $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and segment earnings decreased $126 thousand, or 2.6%, to $4.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012.

Consolidated

Income taxes. Our provision for income tax expense increased $2.1 million to $6.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased $5.0 million to $12.4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the same periods last year. Our effective income tax rates for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2012 were 40.7% and 40.6%, respectively, as compared to 40.4% and 40.6% for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2011.

Net earnings. The foregoing resulted in net earnings of $10.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of 42.0%, as compared to $7.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  For the six months ended September 30, 2012, net earnings were $18.1 million, an increase of 68.1%, as compared to $10.8 million during the six months ended September 30, 2011.

Basic and fully diluted earnings per common share were $1.29 and $1.27, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $0.87 and $0.85, for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Basic and fully diluted earnings per common share were $2.34 and $2.29, respectively, for the six months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $1.31 and $1.28, for the six months ended September 30, 2011.

Weighted average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2012 were 7,770,206 and 7,920,927, respectively. Weighted average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2011 were 8,153,495 and 8,327,748, respectively.

 
30

 
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the six months ended September 30, 2012 were 7,745,506 and 7,912,818, respectively. Weighted average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the six months ended September 30, 2011 were 8,230,022 and 8,422,099, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity Overview

Our primary sources of liquidity have historically been cash and cash equivalents, internally generated funds from operations, and borrowings, both non-recourse and recourse. We have used those funds to meet our capital requirements, which have historically consisted primarily of working capital for operational needs, capital expenditures, purchases of equipment for lease, payments of principal and interest on indebtedness outstanding, acquisitions and the repurchase of shares of our common stock.

Our subsidiary ePlus Technology, inc., part of our technology sales business segment, finances its operations with funds generated from operations, and with a credit facility with GECDF, which is described in more detail below. There are two components of this facility: (1) a floor plan component; and (2) an accounts receivable component. After a customer places a purchase order with us and we have completed our credit check, we place an order for the equipment with one of our vendors. Generally, most purchase orders from us to our vendors are first financed under the floor plan component and reflected in “accounts payable—floor plan” in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Payments on the floor plan component are due on three specified dates each month, generally 30-60 days from the invoice date. On the due date of the invoices financed by the floor plan component, the invoices are paid by the accounts receivable component of the credit facility. The balance of the accounts receivable component is then reduced by payments from our available cash. The outstanding balance under the accounts receivable component is recorded as recourse notes payable on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. There was no outstanding balance at September 30, 2012 or March 31, 2012, while the maximum credit limit was $30.0 million for both periods. The borrowings and repayments under the floor plan component are reflected as “net borrowings on floor plan facility” in the cash flows from financing activities section of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Most customer payments in our technology sales business segment are remitted to our lockboxes. Once payments are cleared, the monies in the lockbox accounts are automatically transferred to our operating account on a daily basis. On the due dates of the floor plan component, we make cash payments to GECDF. These payments from the accounts receivable component to the floor plan component and repayments from our cash are reflected as “Net borrowings on floor plan facility” in the cash flows from financing activities section of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. We engage in this payment structure in order to minimize our interest expense and bank fees in connection with financing the operations of our technology sales business segment.

We believe that cash on hand, and funds generated from operations, together with available credit under our credit facility, will be sufficient to finance our working capital, capital expenditures and other requirements for at least the next twelve calendar months.

Our ability to continue to fund our planned growth, both internally and externally, is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to obtain additional funds through equity or debt financing, or from other sources of financing, as may be required. While at this time we do not anticipate requiring any additional sources of financing to fund operations, if demand for IT products declines, our cash flows from operations may be substantially affected.

Cash Flows
 
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash over the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
   
Six months ended 
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Net cash used in operating activities
  $ (7,393 )   $ (20,125 )
Net cash  provided by (used in) investing activities
    5,607       (2,613 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    11,937       (7,592 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    6       (20 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10,157     $ (30,350 )
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities. Cash used in operating activities totaled $7.4 million during the six months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $20.1 million during the same period last year. Cash used during the six months ended September 30, 2012 resulted primarily from increases in accounts receivable of $19.6 million, decreases in accounts payable—equipment and accounts payable – trade of $11.1 million, accrued expenses and other liabilities of $4.9 million, partially offset by a reduction in inventories of $7.6 million, depreciation and amortization expenses of $5.6 million and notes receivable of $1.0 million.

 
31

 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities. Cash provided by investing activities was $5.6 million during the six months ended September 30, 2012 compared to cash used in investing activities of $2.6 million during the same period last year. Cash provided by investing activities during the six months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily driven by a net decrease in notes receivable of $5.6 million, and a decrease in short-term investments of $5.4 million, offset by purchases of property, equipment and operating lease equipment of $6.2 million.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities. Cash provided by financing activities was $11.9 million during the six months ended September 30, 2012 compared to cash used in financing activities of $7.6 million during the same period last year. Cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended September 30, 2012 was primarily due to net borrowings of notes payable of $14.1 million, partially offset by repurchases of our common stock of $1.6 million and net repayments on floor plan facility of $1.5 million

Non-Cash Activities

We assign lease payments to third-party financial institutions, which are accounted for as non-recourse notes payable financing activities. As a condition to the assignment agreement, certain financial institutions may request that lessees remit their lease payments to a trustee rather than to us, and the trustee pays the financial institution. Alternatively, if the structure of the agreement does not require a trustee, the lessee will continue to make payments to us, and we will remit the payment to the financial institution. The economic impact to us under either assignment structure is similar, in that the assigned lease receivable is paid by the lessee and remitted to the lender to pay down the corresponding non-recourse notes payable. However, these assignment structures are classified differently within our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. More specifically, we are required to exclude non-cash transactions from our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows, so lease payments made by the lessee to the trustee are excluded from our operating cash receipts and the corresponding re-payment of the non-recourse notes payable from the trustee to the third party financial institution are excluded from our cash flows from financing activities. Given the assignment of lease payment is economically the same regardless of the structure of the payments, we evaluate our cash flows from operating and financing activities as if the assignments of lease payments had been structured without an intermediary.

The non-GAAP financial measure for our cash flows from operating activities for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Six months ended
 September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
GAAP: net cash used in operating activities
  $ (7,393 )   $ (20,125 )
Principal payments from lessees directly to lenders
    7,374       8,627  
Non-GAAP: adjusted net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (19 )   $ (11,498 )
 
The non-GAAP financial measure for our cash flows from financing activities for the six months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Six months ended
 September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
GAAP: net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  $ 11,937     $ (7,592 )
Principal payments from lessees directly to lenders
    (7,374 )     (8,627 )
Non-GAAP: adjusted net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  $ 4,563     $ (16,219 )
 
A “non-GAAP financial measure” is a numerical measure of a company’s historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP in the statement of income, balance sheet or statement of cash flows of the company; or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. We use the financial measures in our internal evaluation and management of our business. We believe that these measures and the information they provide are useful to investors because they permit investors to view our performance using the same tools that we use and to better evaluate our ongoing business performance. These measures should not be considered an alternative to measurements required by U.S. GAAP, such as cash (used in) provided by operating activities and cash (used in) provided by financing activities. These non-GAAP measures are unlikely to be comparable to non-GAAP information provided by other companies.

 
32

 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

We may utilize non-recourse notes payable to finance approximately 80% to 100% of the purchase price of the products being leased by our customers.  Any balance of the purchase price remaining after non-recourse funding and any upfront payments received from the lessee (our equity investment in the equipment) must generally be financed by cash flows from our operations, the sale of the equipment leased to third parties, or other internal means. Although we expect that the credit quality of our leases and our residual return history will continue to allow us to obtain such financing, such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

The financing necessary to support our leasing activities has been provided by our cash and non-recourse borrowings. We monitor our exposure closely. Historically, we have obtained recourse and non-recourse borrowings from banks and finance companies. We continue to be able to obtain financing through our traditional lending sources. Non-recourse financings are loans whose repayment is the responsibility of a specific customer, although we may make representations and warranties to the lender regarding the specific contract or have ongoing loan servicing obligations. Under a non-recourse loan, we borrow from a lender an amount based on the present value of the contractually committed lease payments under the lease at a fixed rate of interest, and the lender secures a lien on the financed assets. When the lender is fully repaid from the lease payments, the lien is released and all further rental or sale proceeds are ours. We are not liable for the repayment of non-recourse loans unless we breach our representations and warranties in the loan agreements. The lender assumes the credit risk of each lease, and the lender’s only recourse, upon default by the lessee, is against the lessee and the specific equipment under lease. At September 30, 2012, our non-recourse notes payable portfolio increased 25.4% to $33.0 million, as compared to $26.3 million at March 31, 2012. Recourse notes payable remained stable at $1.7 million as of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012.

Whenever desirable, we arrange for equity investment financing, which includes selling lease payments, including the residual portions, to third parties and financing the equity investment on a non-recourse basis. We generally retain customer control and operational services, and have minimal residual risk. We usually reserve the right to share in remarketing proceeds of the equipment on a subordinated basis after the investor has received an agreed-to return on its investment.

Credit Facility — Technology Business

Our subsidiary, ePlus Technology, inc., has a financing facility from GECDF to finance its working capital requirements for inventories and accounts receivable. There are two components of this facility: (1) a floor plan component; and (2) an accounts receivable component.  This facility has full recourse to ePlus Technology, inc. and is secured by a blanket lien against all its assets, such as chattel paper, receivables and inventory.  As of September 30, 2012, the facility had an aggregate limit of the two components of $175.0 million with an accounts receivable sub-limit of $30.0 million. The credit facility with GECDF was amended and restated in July, 2012 which increased the credit limit from $125 million to $175 million and modified the covenants, interest rate and other requirements within the facility.

The credit facility has full recourse to ePlus Technology, inc. and is secured by a blanket lien against all its assets, such as receivables and inventory. Availability under the facility may be limited by the asset value of equipment we purchase or accounts receivable, and may be further limited by certain covenants and terms and conditions of the facility. These covenants include but are not limited to a minimum excess availability of the facility and minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of ePlus Technology, inc. Management believes we were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2012. In addition, the facility restricts the ability of ePlus Technology, inc. to transfer funds to its affiliates in the form of dividends, loans or advances with certain exceptions for dividends to ePlus inc.  Interest on the facility is assessed at a rate of the One Month Libor plus two and one half percent if the payments are not made on the three specified dates each month. The facility also requires that financial statements of the Company be provided within 45 days of each quarter and 90 days of each fiscal year end and also includes that other operational reports be provided on a regular basis. Either party may terminate with 90 days advance written notice.

We are not, and do not believe that we are reasonably likely to be, in breach of the GECDF credit facility. In addition, we do not believe that the covenants of the GECDF credit facility materially limit our ability to undertake financing.  In this regard, the covenants apply only to our subsidiary, ePlus Technology, inc. This credit facility is secured by the assets of only ePlus Technology, inc. and the guaranty as described below. We were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2012.

 
33

 
The facility provided by GECDF requires a guaranty of $10.5 million by ePlus inc. The guaranty requires ePlus inc. to deliver its annual audited financial statements by certain dates. We have delivered the annual audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2012, as required. The loss of the GECDF credit facility could have a material adverse effect on our future results as we currently rely on this facility and its components for daily working capital and liquidity for our technology sales business segment and as an operational function of our accounts payable process.

Floor Plan Component

The traditional business of ePlus Technology, inc. as a seller of computer technology, related peripherals and software products, is in part financed through a floor plan component in which interest expense for the first thirty to forty-five days, in general, is not charged. The floor plan liabilities are recorded as accounts payable—floor plan on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, as they are normally repaid within the fifteen to sixty-day time frame and represent assigned accounts payable originally generated with the manufacturer/distributor. In some cases we are able to pay invoices early and receive a discount, but if the fifteen to sixty-day obligation is not paid timely, interest is then assessed at stated contractual rates.

The respective floor plan component credit limits and actual outstanding balances for the dates indicated were as follows (in thousands):

Maximum Credit
Limit at
September 30, 2012
   
Balance as of
 September 30, 2012
   
Maximum Credit
Limit at
March 31, 2012
   
Balance as of
 March 31, 2012
 
$ 175,000     $ 84,366     $ 125,000     $ 85,911  

Accounts Receivable Component

Included within the credit facility, ePlus Technology, inc. has an accounts receivable component from GECDF, which has a revolving line of credit. On the due date of the invoices financed by the floor plan component, the invoices are paid by the accounts receivable component of the credit facility. The balance of the accounts receivable component is then reduced by payments from our available cash. The outstanding balance under the accounts receivable component is recorded as recourse notes payable on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. There was no outstanding balance at September 30, 2012 or March 31, 2012, while the maximum credit limit was $30.0 million for both periods.

Credit Facility — General

1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia provides us with a $0.5 million credit facility, which matured on October 26, 2012. This credit facility was renewed for two years effective October 27, 2012. The credit facility is available for use by us and our affiliates and is full recourse to us. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime rate plus 1%. The primary purpose of the facility is to provide letters of credit for landlords, taxing authorities and bids.  As of September 30, 2012, we have no outstanding balance on this credit facility.

Performance Guarantees

In the normal course of business, we may provide certain customers with performance guarantees, which are generally backed by surety bonds. In general, we would only be liable for the amount of these guarantees in the event of default in the performance of our obligations. We are in compliance with the performance obligations under all service contracts for which there is a performance guarantee, and we believe that any liability incurred in connection with these guarantees would not have a material adverse effect on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As part of our ongoing business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of September 30, 2012, we were not involved in any unconsolidated special purpose entity transactions.

Adequacy of Capital Resources

The continued implementation of our business strategy will require a significant investment in both resources and managerial focus. In addition, we may selectively acquire other companies that have attractive customer relationships and skilled sales forces. We may also start offices in new geographic areas, which may require a significant investment of cash. We may also acquire technology companies to expand and enhance the platform of bundled solutions to provide additional functionality and value-added services. As a result, we may require additional financing to fund our strategy, implementation and potential future acquisitions, which may include additional debt and equity financing.

Inflation

For the periods presented herein, inflation has been relatively low and we believe that inflation has not had a material effect on our results of operations.

Potential Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

Our future quarterly operating results and the market price of our common stock may fluctuate.  In the event our revenues or earnings for any quarter are less than the level expected by securities analysts or the market in general, such shortfall could have an immediate and significant adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. Any such adverse impact could be greater if any such shortfall occurs near the time of any material decrease in any widely followed stock index or in the market price of the stock of one or more public equipment leasing and financing companies, IT resellers, software competitors, major customers or vendors of ours.

Our quarterly results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, reduction in IT spending, our entry into the e-commerce market, any reduction of expected residual values related to the equipment under our leases, the timing and mix of specific transactions, the reduction of manufacturer incentive programs, and other factors. Quarterly operating results could also fluctuate as a result of our sale of equipment in our lease portfolio, at the expiration of a lease term or prior to such expiration, to a lessee or to a third party.  Such sales of equipment may have the effect of increasing revenues and net income during the quarter in which the sale occurs, and reducing revenues and net income otherwise expected in subsequent quarters.  See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2012 Annual Report.

We believe that comparisons of quarterly results of our operations are not necessarily meaningful and that results for one quarter should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Although a portion of our liabilities are non-recourse, fixed-interest-rate instruments, we utilize our line of credit and other financing facilities which are subject to fluctuations in short-term interest rates. These instruments, which are denominated in U.S. dollars, were entered into for other than trading purposes and, with the exception of amounts drawn under the GECDF facility, bear interest at a fixed rate. Because the interest rate on these instruments is fixed, changes in interest rates will not directly impact our cash flows. Borrowings under the GECDF facility bear interest at a market-based variable rate. As of September 30, 2012, the aggregate fair value of our non-recourse notes payable approximated their carrying value.

We have financed certain customer leases for equipment which is located in Canada and Iceland. As such, we have entered into lease contracts and non-recourse, fixed-interest-rate financing denominated in Canadian dollars and Icelandic krona. To date, our Canadian and Icelandic operations have been insignificant and we believe that potential fluctuations in currency exchange rates will not have a material effect on our financial position.

 
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, or “disclosure controls,” as defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(e). Disclosure controls are controls and procedures designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this quarterly report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls include some, but not all, components of our internal control over financial reporting. Based upon that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2012.

Changes in Internal Controls

There have not been any other changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2012, which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system cannot provide absolute assurance due to its inherent limitations; it is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. A control system also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of such limitations, disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting cannot prevent or detect all misstatements, whether unintentional errors or fraud. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process; therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In June 2007 ePlus Group, inc. filed a suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan against The Huntington National Bank (“Huntington”). The complaint alleges counts of aiding and abetting fraud, aiding and abetting conversion, and statutory conversion, relating to our former customer, Cyberco Holdings, Inc, which was perpetrating a scam. Summary judgment was granted in favor of Huntington with regard to our claims in the suit. A final judgment was entered in February 2012, and in March 2012 we filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. While we believe we have a basis for these claims to recover certain of our losses related to Cyberco, we cannot predict whether we will be successful in our claims for damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed the costs incurred to pursue this matter, or how long it will take to bring this matter to resolution.

We are the plaintiff in a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (“the trial court”) in which a jury unanimously found that Lawson Software, Inc. (“Lawson”) infringed certain ePlus patents. The jury verdict, which was reached on January 27, 2011, also found that all of ePlus’ patent claims tried in court were not invalid. On May 23, 2011, the trial court issued a permanent injunction, ordering Lawson and its successors to: immediately stop selling and servicing products relating to its electronic procurement systems that infringe our patents; cease providing any ongoing or future maintenance, training or installation of its infringing products; and refrain from publishing any literature or information that encourages the use or sale of its infringing products. . We have filed a motion seeking a finding that Lawson is in contempt of the injunction. We currently do not have a hearing date for our motion. Lawson has appealed the trial court’s ruling. We also have appealed the trial court’s evidentiary ruling which precluded us from seeking monetary damages. Oral argument on the appeal of the trial court’s ruling was held on June 6, 2012. Court calendars are inherently unpredictable and we cannot predict when the court will issue a ruling.

 
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We may become party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business including preference payment claims asserted in customer bankruptcy proceedings, claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions, employment related claims, claims by competitors, vendors or customers, and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. Although we do not expect that the outcome in any of these matters, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations, litigation is inherently unpredictable. Therefore, judgments could be rendered or settlements entered that could adversely affect our results of operations or cash flows in a particular period. We provide for costs related to contingencies when a loss is probable and the amount is reasonably determinable.

Other Matters

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have not been any material changes in the risk factors in Part I, Item IA of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, except as updated in our subsequently filed Forms 10-Q.

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

The following table provides information regarding our purchases of ePlus inc. common stock during the six months ended September 30, 2012.
 
Period
 
Total
 number of
 shares
 purchased
(1)
   
Average
 price paid
 per share
   
Total number of
 shares
 purchased as
 part of publicly
 announced plans
or programs
   
Maximum number
 (or approximate
 dollar value) of
 shares that may
 yet be purchased
 under the plans or
 programs
 
 
 
April 1, 2012 through April 30, 2012
    10,401     $ 29.47       10,401       436,044   (2 )
May 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012
    9,022     $ 29.45       9,022       427,022   (3 )
June 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012
    17,198     $ 33.57       -       427,022   (4 )
July 1, 2012 through July 31, 2012
    -       -       -       427,022   (5 )
August 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012
    11,609     $ 35.14       -       427,022   (6 )
September 1, 2012 through September 15, 2012
    -       -       -       427,022   (7 )
September 16, 2012 through September 30, 2012
    -       -       -       500,000   (8 )

(1)
All shares acquired were in open-market purchases, except for 28,807 shares, which were repurchased to satisfy tax withholding obligations that arose due to the vesting of shares of restricted stock.
(2)
The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended April 30, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of April 30, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 436,044.
(3)
The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended May 31, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of May 31, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 427,022.
(4)
The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended June 30, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of June 30, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 427,022.
(5)
The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended July 31, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of July 31, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 427,022.
(6)
The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended August 31, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of August 31, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 427,022.
(7)
The share purchase authorization in place for the period from September 1 to September 15, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of September 15, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 427,022.
(8)
On August 13, 2012 our Board authorized a share repurchase plan commencing on September 16, 2012. The share purchase authorization in place for the period from September 16 to September 30, 2012 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares. As of September 30, 2012, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 500,000.

The timing and expiration date of the stock repurchase authorizations as well as an amendment to our current repurchase plan are included in Note 10, “Share Repurchase” to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

 
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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not Applicable.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.
 
 
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Item 6. Exhibits
 
ePlus 2012 Employee Long-term Incentive Plan
   
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of ePlus inc. pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules    13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a).
 
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of ePlus inc. pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a).
 
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of ePlus inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
39


SIGNATURES

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.
 
 
ePlus inc.
 
 
Date: November 7, 2012
/s/ PHILLIP G. NORTON
 
 
By: Phillip G. Norton, Chairman of the Board,
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
Date: November 7, 2012
/s/ ELAINE D. MARION
 
 
By: Elaine D. Marion
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
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