Deluxe Reports Strong Second Quarter 2021 Results; Declares Regular Dividend; Expands 2021 Outlook to Include First American Payment Systems

• Second quarter saw 16.5% revenue growth; 9.9% excluding contribution from First American
• Solid growth in all four business segments
• Significant revenue realized from cross-selling into First American; demonstrates power of One Deluxe model
• Improved cash balance and liquidity even with historic acquisition of First American acquisition during the period
• Declared regular quarterly dividend

SHOREVIEW, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Business Technology™ company, today reported operating results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

“We are now clearly a payments company delivering sales-driven growth. Our robust second quarter results further validate the strength of our team, strategy and execution,” said Barry McCarthy, President and CEO of Deluxe. “Our sales engine is delivering, and the strategic acquisition of First American has nearly doubled the size of our Payments business and accelerated our growth. During the quarter, the company as a whole benefited from the economic recovery, and new wins helped propel growth in all four segments – Payments, Cloud Solutions, Promotional Solutions and Checks. Additionally, data driven marketing, part of our Cloud segment, benefited from our customers’ acceleration of future planned marketing spend.”

McCarthy continued, “While we had anticipated that acquiring First American would provide numerous cross-sell and growth opportunities, the actual results have exceeded our initial forecast. The Deluxe halo of customer trust, sales reach and financial strength helped First American generate double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter, well above its historical average. Within days of closing, First American had dozens of new, Deluxe-sourced leads, and closed several new deals while continuing to expand our pipeline.”

“The execution of our growth strategy, combined with a favorable macroeconomic environment, led to our improved performance,” said Scott Bomar, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Deluxe. “With 16.5% revenue growth, and 9.9% revenue growth excluding First American, we are clearly seeing positive momentum in our business.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial and Segment Highlights

		2nd Quarter 2021		2nd Quarter 2020		% Change
Revenue		$478.2 million		$410.4 million		16.5	%
Net Income		$12.1 million		$14.9 million		(18.8	%)
Adjusted EBITDA		$97.5 million		$83.8 million		16.3	%
Diluted EPS – GAAP		$0.28		$0.35		(20.0	%)
Adjusted Diluted EPS		$1.25		$1.15		8.7	%

• Revenue was $67.8 million higher than the previous year. All four segments experienced year-over-year revenue growth. Not including the First American acquisition, which closed on June 1, 2021, revenue increased $40.5 million, or 9.9 percent year-over-year.
• The Payments segment delivered revenue growth of 43.1 percent over the previous year, $27.3 million of which was from First American.
• Net income of $12.1 million includes $15.9 million of costs related to the First American acquisition during the quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin remained healthy at 20.4 percent due to strong margin expansion in Cloud and Promotional Solutions, and as management continues to drive efficiencies within the post COVID-19 operating cost structure.
• Cash flow from operations for the first half of 2021 was $83.8 million and capital expenditures were $46.6 million. Free cash flow, defined as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was $37.2 million, a decrease of $45.4 million as compared to 2020, largely attributable to capital investments this year and costs related to the First American transaction.
• Total debt outstanding was $1,833.4 million as of June 30, 2021, reflecting the debt issued during the quarter to complete the acquisition of First American. Net debt was $1,670.1 million and liquidity was $455.8 million as of June 30, 2021.

2021 Outlook

Based on our year-to-date results, and including the impact of the First American acquisition, the company now expects the following for full year 2021:

• Revenue growth of 10 to 12%
• Excluding First American, revenue growth of 0 to 2% and exiting the year with growth in the mid-single digits
• Adjusted EBITDA margin between 20 and 21% with the fourth quarter stronger than the third
• Capital expenditures of $95 to $105 million
• Adjusted tax rate of approximately 25%

The guidance outlined above assumes a continued economic recovery and is subject to, among other things, the macroeconomic unknowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Delta variant, as well as potential supply chain constraints, labor supply issues, and inflation.

Capital Allocation and Dividend

The Board of Directors recently approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share. The dividend will be payable on September 7, 2021 to shareholders of record as of market closing on August 23, 2021.

Earnings Call Information

An open-access conference call will be held today at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT) to review the financial results. Listeners can access the call by dialing 1-833-282-0028 (access code 7946065). A presentation also will be available via a webcast on the investor relations website at www.deluxe.com/investor. Alternatively, an audio replay of the call will be available after 11:30 a.m. ET and through midnight on August 12, 2021 by dialing 1-800-585-8367 (access code 7946065).

About Deluxe Corporation

Deluxe, a Trusted Payments and Business Technology™ company, champions business so communities thrive. Our solutions help businesses pay and get paid, accelerate growth and operate more efficiently. For more than 100 years, Deluxe customers have relied on our solutions and platforms at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful scale supports millions of small businesses, thousands of vital financial institutions and hundreds of the world’s largest consumer brands, while processing more than $2.8 trillion in annual payment volume. Our reach, scale and distribution channels position Deluxe to be our customers’ most trusted business partner. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp, www.linkedin.com/company/deluxe, or www.twitter.com/deluxe.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this release concerning Deluxe, the company’s or management’s intentions, expectations, outlook or predictions about future results or events are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current intentions or beliefs and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to vary from stated expectations, which variations could be material and adverse. Factors that could produce such a variation include, but are not limited to, the following: potential continuing negative impacts from pandemic health issues, such as the coronavirus / COVID-19, along with the impact of government restrictions or similar directives on our future results of operations, our future financial condition and our ability to continue business activities in affected regions; the impact that further deterioration or prolonged softness in the economy may have on demand for the company’s products and services; the company’s ability to execute its transformational strategy and to realize the intended benefits; the inherent unreliability of earnings, revenue and cash flow predictions due to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control; declining demand for the company’s checks, check-related products and services and business forms; risks that the company’s strategies intended to drive sustained revenue and earnings growth, despite the continuing decline in checks and forms, are delayed or unsuccessful; intense competition; continued consolidation of financial institutions and/or additional bank failures, thereby reducing the number of potential customers and referral sources and increasing downward pressure on the company’s revenue and gross profit; risks related to the company’s acquisition of First American Payment Systems, including integration-related risks, risks that future acquisitions will not be consummated; risks that any such acquisitions do not produce the anticipated results or synergies; risks that the company’s cost reduction initiatives will be delayed or unsuccessful; risks related to any divestitures contemplated or undertaken by the company; performance shortfalls by one or more of the company’s major suppliers, licensors or service providers; unanticipated delays, costs and expenses in the development and marketing of products and services, including web services and financial technology and treasury management solutions; the failure of such products and services to deliver the expected revenues and other financial targets; risks related to security breaches, computer malware or other cyber-attacks; risks of interruptions to the company’s website operations or information technology systems; risks of unfavorable outcomes and the costs to defend litigation and other disputes; and the impact of governmental laws, regulations or investigations. The company’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the time made, and management assumes no obligation to publicly update any such statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the company’s current expectations are contained in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings made with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances.

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(in millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
	Quarter Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021					2020					2021					2020(1)
Product revenue	$	306.2				$	278.7				$	605.3				$	609.4
Service revenue		172.0					131.7					314.2					287.4
Total revenue		478.2					410.4					919.5					896.8
Cost of products		(112.6	)				(102.9	)				(219.9	)				(224.4	)
Cost of services		(94.0	)				(59.4	)				(165.2	)				(139.9	)
Total cost of revenue		(206.6	)				(162.3	)				(385.1	)				(364.3	)
Gross profit		271.6					248.1					534.4					532.5
Selling, general and administrative expense		(233.8	)				(198.5	)				(446.3	)				(435.8	)
Restructuring and integration expense		(11.4	)				(20.4	)				(25.7	)				(38.0	)
Asset impairment charges		—					(4.9	)				—					(99.0	)
Operating income (loss)		26.4					24.3					62.4					(40.3	)
Interest expense		(9.5	)				(6.1	)				(14.1	)				(13.2	)
Other income		2.1					1.8					4.2					6.3
Income (loss) before income taxes		19.0					20.0					52.5					(47.2	)
Income tax provision		(6.9	)				(5.1	)				(16.0	)				(1.6	)
Net income (loss)		12.1					14.9					36.5					(48.8	)
Non-controlling interest		—					—					(0.1	)				—
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe	$	12.1				$	14.9				$	36.4				($	48.8	)
Weighted average dilutive shares		42.7					41.9					42.6					42.0
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.28				$	0.35				$	0.85				($	1.18	)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share		1.25					1.15					2.51					2.24
Capital expenditures		24.9					12.8					46.6					27.1
Depreciation and amortization expense		33.2					26.7					61.0					55.1
EBITDA		61.7					52.8					127.5					21.1
Adjusted EBITDA		97.5					83.8					188.0					167.2

(1)

The statement of net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2020 has been revised from amounts reported in the prior year to correct an error in the amount of goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020, which were previously understated by $3.8 million, or $3.6 million net of tax. Further information will be provided in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars and shares in millions)
(Unaudited)
	June 30, 2021				December 31, 2020(1)				June 30, 2020(1)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	163.3			$	123.1			$	372.0
Other current assets		440.0				383.5				344.3
Property, plant & equipment		96.4				88.7				77.9
Operating lease assets		62.4				35.9				45.0
Intangibles		521.5				246.8				230.7
Goodwill		1,439.3				703.0				702.9
Other non-current assets		294.6				261.2				258.1
Total assets	$	3,017.5			$	1,842.2			$	2,030.9
Current portion of long-term debt	$	57.1			$	—			$	—
Other current liabilities		470.1				411.8				358.5
Long-term debt		1,776.3				840.0				1,140.0
Non-current operating lease liabilities		52.9				28.3				34.2
Other non-current liabilities		108.8				48.9				40.3
Shareholders’ equity		552.3				513.4				457.9
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	3,017.5			$	1,842.4			$	2,030.9
Net debt	$	1,670.1			$	716.9			$	768.0
Shares outstanding		42.5				42.0				41.9
Number of employees		6,443				6,185				6,623

(1)

The 2020 balance sheets have been revised from amounts reported in the prior year to correct an error in the amount of goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2019. Goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020 were previously understated by $3.8 million, or $3.6 million net of tax. Goodwill impairment charges for the third quarter of 2019 were previously understated by $30.1 million, or $23.9 million, net of tax. The correction of these errors impacted the amounts reported for goodwill, other non-current assets and liabilities and shareholders’ equity. Further information will be provided in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

DELUXE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021					2020(1)
Cash provided (used) by:
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	36.5				($	48.8	)
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles		61.0					55.1
Asset impairment charges		—					99.0
Prepaid product discount payments		(19.1	)				(15.8	)
Other		5.4					20.2
Total operating activities		83.8					109.7
Investing activities:
Payment for acquisition, net of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired		(956.7	)				—
Purchases of capital assets		(46.6	)				(27.1	)
Other		(1.4	)				1.8
Total investing activities		(1,004.7	)				(25.3	)
Financing activities:
Net change in debt, net of debt issuance costs		990.0					256.5
Proceeds from issuing shares		14.9					2.4
Dividends		(25.9	)				(25.5	)
Share repurchases		—					(14.0	)
Net change in customer funds obligations		5.6					(31.4	)
Other		(8.4	)				(2.4	)
Total financing activities		976.2					185.6
Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents		3.4					(6.5	)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents		58.7					263.5
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of year		229.4					174.8
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, end of year	$	288.1				$	438.3
Free cash flow	$	37.2				$	82.6

(1)

The 2020 statement of cash flows has been revised from amounts reported in the prior year to correct an error in the amount of goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020, which were previously understated by $3.8 million, or $3.6 million net of tax. Further information will be provided in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

DELUXE CORPORATION
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
	Quarter Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021					2020					2021					2020
Revenue:
Payments	$	103.3				$	72.2				$	182.8				$	149.2
Cloud Solutions		68.1					53.9					130.3					129.9
Promotional Solutions		135.0					117.9					259.5					260.7
Checks		171.8					166.4					346.9					357.0
Total	$	478.2				$	410.4				$	919.5				$	896.8
Adjusted EBITDA:
Payments	$	21.2				$	15.6				$	39.5				$	33.6
Cloud Solutions		18.8					14.1					36.0					29.1
Promotional Solutions		21.4					13.9					39.2					25.1
Checks		80.2					82.7					163.7					173.4
Corporate		(44.1	)				(42.5	)				(90.4	)				(94.0	)
Total	$	97.5				$	83.8				$	188.0				$	167.2
Adjusted EBITDA Margin:
Payments		20.5		%			21.6		%			21.6		%			22.5		%
Cloud Solutions		27.6		%			26.2		%			27.6		%			22.4		%
Promotional Solutions		15.9		%			11.8		%			15.1		%			9.6		%
Checks		46.7		%			49.7		%			47.2		%			48.6		%
Total		20.4		%			20.4		%			20.4		%			18.6		%

The segment information reported here was calculated utilizing the methodology outlined in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(in millions)

(Unaudited)

Note that the company has not reconciled the adjusted EBITDA or adjusted effective income tax rate outlook for full year 2021 to the directly comparable GAAP financial measures because the company does not provide outlook guidance for net income or pretax income or the reconciling items between these GAAP measures and adjusted EBITDA. Because of the substantial uncertainty and variability surrounding certain of these forward-looking reconciling items, including asset impairment charges, restructuring, integration and other costs, and certain legal-related expenses, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook guidance to the corresponding GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable effort. The probable significance of certain of these reconciling items is high and, based on historical experience, could be material.

EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

Management discloses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because it believes they are useful in evaluating the company’s operating performance, as the calculations eliminate the effect of interest expense, income taxes, the accounting effects of capital investments (i.e., depreciation and amortization) and in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, certain items, as presented below, that may not be indicative of current period operating performance. In addition, management utilizes Adjusted EBITDA to assess the operating results and performance of the business, to perform analytical comparisons and to identify strategies to improve performance. Management also believes that an increasing EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA depict an increase in the value of the company. Management does not consider EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to be measures of cash flow, as they do not consider certain cash requirements, such as interest, income taxes, debt service payments or capital investments. Management does not consider EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA to be substitutes for operating income or net income. Instead, management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful performance measures that should be considered in addition to GAAP performance measures.

	Quarter Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021				2020				2021					2020(1)
Net income (loss)	$	12.1			$	14.9			$	36.5				($	48.8	)
Non-controlling interest		—				—				(0.1	)				—
Interest expense		9.5				6.1				14.1					13.2
Income tax provision		6.9				5.1				16.0					1.6
Depreciation and amortization expense		33.2				26.7				61.0					55.1
EBITDA		61.7				52.8				127.5					21.1
Asset impairment charges		—				4.9				—					99.0
Restructuring, integration and other costs		12.0				20.5				27.2					40.1
CEO transition costs		—				0.2				—					—
Share-based compensation expense		7.6				5.4				14.4					9.1
Acquisition transaction costs		15.9				—				18.6					—
Certain legal-related expense (benefit)		0.3				—				0.3					(2.1	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	97.5			$	83.8			$	188.0				$	167.2

(1)		Information for the six months ended June 30, 2020 has been revised from amounts reported in the prior year to correct an error in the amount of goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020, which were previously understated by $3.8 million, or $3.6 million net of tax. Further information will be provided in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (continued)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS

By excluding the impact of non-cash items or items that may not be indicative of current period operating performance, management believes that Adjusted Diluted EPS provides useful comparable information to assist in analyzing the company’s current and future operating performance. As such, Adjusted Diluted EPS is one of the key financial performance metrics used to assess the operating results and performance of the business and to identify strategies to improve performance. It is reasonable to expect that one or more of the excluded items will occur in future periods, but the amounts recognized may vary significantly. Management does not consider Adjusted Diluted EPS to be a substitute for GAAP performance measures, but believes that it is a useful performance measure that should be considered in addition to GAAP performance measures.

	Quarter Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021					2020					2021					2020(1)
Net income (loss)	$	12.1				$	14.9				$	36.5				($	48.8	)
Non-controlling interest		—					—					(0.1	)				—
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe		12.1					14.9					36.4					(48.8	)
Asset impairment charges		—					4.9					—					99.0
Acquisition amortization		17.3					13.7					30.5					28.4
Restructuring, integration and other costs		12.0					20.5					27.2					40.1
CEO transition costs		—					0.2					—					—
Share-based compensation expense		7.6					5.4					14.4					9.1
Acquisition transaction costs		15.9					—					18.6					—
Certain legal-related expense (benefit)		0.3					—					0.3					(2.1	)
Adjustments, pre-tax		53.1					44.7					91.0					174.5
Income tax provision impact of pretax adjustments(2)		(11.7	)				(11.2	)				(20.2	)				(30.6	)
Adjustments, net of tax		41.4					33.5					70.8					143.9
Adjusted net income attributable to Deluxe		53.5					48.4					107.2					95.1
Income allocated to participating securities		(0.1	)				—					(0.1	)				(0.1	)
Re-measurement of share-based awards classified as liabilities		—					—					—					(0.8	)
Adjusted income attributable to Deluxe available to common shareholders	$	53.4				$	48.4				$	107.1				$	94.2
Weighted-average dilutive shares		42.7					41.9					42.6					42.0
Adjustment(3)		—					—					—					0.1
Adjusted weighted-average dilutive shares		42.7					41.9					42.6					42.1
GAAP Diluted EPS	$	0.28				$	0.35				$	0.85				($	1.18	)
Adjustments, net of tax		0.97					0.80					1.66					3.42
Adjusted Diluted EPS	$	1.25				$	1.15				$	2.51				$	2.24

(1)		Information for the six months ended June 30, 2020 has been revised from amounts reported in the prior year to correct an error in the amount of goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020, which were previously understated by $3.8 million, or $3.6 million net of tax. Further information will be provided in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GA

Contacts

Tom Morabito, VP, Investor Relations

470-607-5567

[email protected]

Cam Potts, VP, Communications

651-233-7735

[email protected]

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