Edgar Filing: NATIONAL PROCESSING INC

National Processing > Form 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002

(box) 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: 1-11905

National Processing, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Ohio		61-1303983
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


1231 Durrett Lane
Louisville, Kentucky		40213-2008
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(502) 315-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 þ NO (box)

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock as of July 31, 2002 was 52,078,812.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Part I. Financial Information
	Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
		Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Consolidated Statements of Income
		Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
	Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk
Part II — Other Information
	Item 1. Legal Proceedings (None)
	Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds (None)
	Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities (None)
	Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
	Item 5. Other Information (None)
	Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K:
EXHIBIT INDEX
SIGNATURES

NATIONAL PROCESSING, INC.

INDEX

Part I. Financial Information


		Page No.

Item 1.	Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)




	Consolidated Balance Sheets — June 30, 2002, December 31, 2001 and June 30, 2001		3




	Consolidated Statements of Income — Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001		4




	Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity — Six Months Ended June 30, 2002		5




	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001		6




	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		7




Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		15




Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk		25




Part II. Other Information




Item 1.	Legal Proceedings (None)		26




Item 2.	Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds (None)		26




Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities (None)		26




Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		26




Item 5.	Other Information (None)		26




Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K		26




Signatures			29

National Processing, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited
(Dollars in thousands)


			June 30			December 31			June 30
			2002			2001			2001

Assets




Current assets:




		Cash and cash equivalents	$	182,679		$	101,257		$	136,249




		Accounts receivable — trade		108,003			163,644			83,230




		Deferred tax assets		2,904			3,299			1,785




		Assets held for sale		—			—			38,869




		Other current assets		6,929			7,138			7,517

Total current assets				300,515			275,338			267,650




Property and equipment:




		Furniture and equipment		55,301			54,178			51,366




		Building and leasehold improvements		10,842			10,770			11,025




		Software		35,922			30,453			24,060




		Property leased from affiliate		4,173			4,173			4,173




		Land and improvements		442			442			442

				106,680			100,016			91,066




Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization				52,015			50,244			46,100

Property and equipment, net				54,665			49,772			44,966




Other assets:




	Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $8,283 at June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, and $6,698 at June 30, 2001			91,227			91,227			92,563




	Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $17,946, $14,610 and $11,430 at June 30, 2002, December 31, 2001 and June 30, 2001, respectively			41,614			44,950			45,630




	Deferred tax assets			12,801			13,310			18,570




	Other assets			3,421			3,741			6,406

Total other assets				149,063			153,228			163,169

Total assets			$	504,243		$	478,338		$	475,785

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity




Current liabilities:




		Accounts payable — trade	$	21,533		$	19,080		$	13,578




		Accrued bankcard assessments		25,459			28,113			23,131




		Accrued compensation and benefits		3,086			6,465			7,186




		Income tax payable		9,905			8,089			15,145




		AAMS purchase price payable (Note 4)		—			—			48,500




		Other accrued liabilities		12,081			13,906			5,458

Total current liabilities				72,064			75,653			112,998




Obligation under property leased from affiliate				1,797			1,862			1,927




Deferred tax liabilities				—			—			2,271




Minority interest				2,040			827			—

Total liabilities				75,901			78,342			117,196




Shareholders’ equity:




	Preferred stock, without par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding			—			—			—




	Common stock, without par value; 95,000,000 shares authorized; 52,040,701, 51,818,508, and 51,293,029 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2002, December 31, 2001 and June 30, 2001, respectively			1			1			1




	Contributed capital			197,570			193,584			184,903




	Unearned compensation			(364	)		(477	)		—




	Retained earnings			231,135			206,888			173,685

Total shareholders’ equity				428,342			399,996			358,589

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity			$	504,243		$	478,338		$	475,785

See notes to consolidated financial statements

National Processing, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share amounts)


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30				June 30

	2002		2001		2002		2001

Revenue	$	112,664	$	117,876	$	222,609	$	226,921




Operating expense		80,859		84,606		163,163		166,464




General and administrative expense		4,082		7,083		8,684		12,658




Depreciation and amortization		4,456		5,184		8,479		10,364




Impairment, restructuring, and related expense		1,650		6,250		1,650		6,250

Operating profit		21,617		14,753		40,633		31,185




Net interest income		1,069		1,893		2,104		4,113

Income before provision for income taxes and minority interest		22,686		16,646		42,737		35,298




Provision for income taxes		9,861		8,728		17,277		15,841

Income before minority interest		12,825		7,918		25,460		19,457




Minority interest		626		—		1,213		—

Net income	$	12,199	$	7,918	$	24,247	$	19,457

Basic income per common share	$	0.23	$	0.15	$	0.47	$	0.38

Diluted income per common share	$	0.23	$	0.15	$	0.46	$	0.38

See notes to consolidated financial statements

National Processing, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
Unaudited
(In thousands, except share amounts)


	Common		Common		Contributed		Unearned			Retained
	Shares		Stock		Capital		Compensation			Earnings		Total

Balance at January 1, 2002		51,818,508	$	1	$	193,584	$	(477	)	$	206,888	$	399,996




Net income		—		—		—		—			24,247		24,247




Issuance of common shares under stock-based compensation plans, including related tax effects		222,193		—		3,986		113			—		4,099

Balance at June 30, 2002		52,040,701	$	1	$	197,570	$	(364	)	$	231,135	$	428,342

See notes to consolidated financial statements

National Processing, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
(In thousands)


			Six Months Ended
			June 30
			2002			2001

Operating Activities




	Net income		$	24,247		$	19,457




	Items not requiring cash currently:




		Depreciation and amortization		8,479			10,364




		Restructuring, divestiture, and impairment charges		1,650			6,250




		Deferred income taxes		904			2,567




		Loss on disposition of fixed assets		180			33




		Minority interest		1,213			—




	Change in current assets and liabilities:




		Accounts receivable – trade		55,641			33,871




		Accounts payable – trade		2,453			(1,033	)




		Accrued bankcard assessments		(2,654	)		(1,327	)




		Income taxes payable		2,830			8,101




		Other current assets/liabilities		(6,124	)		(7,603	)




		Other, net		(139	)		(80	)

	Net cash provided by operating activities			88,680			70,600




Investing Activities




	Capital expenditures			(10,559	)		(8,931	)




	Proceeds from sale of fixed assets			—			34




	Proceeds from maturities of Eurodollar deposits			—			56,000




	Common control business unit purchase			—			(44,000	)

	Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(10,559	)		3,103




Financing Activities




	Principal payments under property leased from affiliate			(65	)		(66	)




	Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans			3,366			4,505

	Net cash provided by financing activities			3,301			4,439

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents				81,422			78,142




Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				101,257			58,107

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			$	182,679		$	136,249

Supplemental cash flow information:




	Taxes paid		$	13,819		$	9,197

See notes to consolidated financial statements

NATIONAL PROCESSING, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Unaudited

1.		ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

		Organization


	National Processing, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a provider of electronic payment processing headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The Company is 85% owned by National City Corporation (“National City”), a financial holding company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Business

The Company currently operates two business segments, Merchant Card Services and Payment Services. Merchant Card Services authorizes, processes, and performs financial settlement and reporting of card transactions, including credit, debit, and electronic benefits transfer (“EBT”). Merchant Card Services provides services to merchant locations primarily in the United States. Merchant Card Services represents approximately 95% of the Company’s revenue.

Payment Services was formerly a component of the Company’s Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment. This segment was renamed Payment Services in 2001 after the sale of the Business Process Outsourcing (“BPO”) business, which was also formerly a component of the Company’s Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment. Payment Services provides financial settlement and reporting solutions to large and mid-size corporate customers in the travel and healthcare industries. Payment Services settles 100% of domestic airline tickets issued by travel agencies and settled through the Airlines Reporting Corporation. Payment Services also settles commission payments for car rental companies, cruise line operators, and hotels. Payment Services represents approximately 5% of the Company’s revenue.

Sponsorship Agreement

The Company and National City’s subsidiary banks are parties to a sponsorship agreement (the “Sponsorship Agreement”) whereby the Company acts as National City’s sole agent for the purposes of providing electronic data authorization and capture, reporting, settlement, and clearing services for merchants who participate in Visa^® and MasterCard_® programs. The Company, along with other nonbank processors, must be sponsored by a financial institution that is a member of the Visa^® and MasterCard_® associations. National City Bank of Kentucky (“NCBK”) is a member of such associations and acts as the Company’s primary sponsor.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Processing, Inc. and its subsidiaries. On June 28, 2001, the Company acquired a 70% ownership interest in ABN AMRO Merchant Services, LLC (“AAMS”) from ABN AMRO North America, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“AANA”) (see Note 4). Since the date of its acquisition, the results of operations of AAMS have been included in the consolidated financial statements and AANA’s 30% ownership interest has been accounted for as a minority interest. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The accounting and reporting


	policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require the use of estimates and assumptions by management that affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses, assets and liabilities, and the disclosure requirements for contingent assets and liabilities during and at the date of the financial statements. Consequently, actual results could differ from those estimates.

For the interim periods presented, management believes the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature and disclosures which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.


	The Company experiences seasonality in its businesses and typically realizes higher revenue in the third and fourth quarters and lower revenue in the first quarter, reflecting increased transaction volume in the summer and holiday months. Accounts receivable is generally highest in the fourth quarter as December is typically the highest volume month due to holiday sales.

Although the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2001 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


	Certain 2001 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2002 presentation.

3.		RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

		Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 141, Business Combinations, and SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. SFAS 141 requires business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and broadens the criteria for recording intangible assets separate from goodwill. Under the provisions of SFAS 142, goodwill and certain other intangible assets, which do not possess finite useful lives, are no longer amortized into net income over an estimated life but rather are tested at least annually for impairment based on specific guidance provided in the new standard. Intangible assets determined to have finite lives continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives and also continue to be subject to impairment testing.

The provisions of SFAS 142 were adopted by the Company as required effective January 1, 2002. As part of adopting the provisions of SFAS 142, a transitional impairment test was applied to all goodwill during the quarter ended March 31, 2002. No impairment loss was required to be recorded as a result of this test. The Company currently does not have any other indefinite-lived intangible assets on its balance sheet. There have not been any material categorical reclassifications or adjustments to the useful lives of finite-lived intangible assets as a result of adopting the new


	standard.

If SFAS 142 had been adopted effective January 1, 2001, goodwill amortization expense, which is primarily nondeductible for income tax purposes, would have been reduced by $0.5 million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2001, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2001, proforma net income would have been $8.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, versus reported net income of $7.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share. For the six months ended June 30, 2001, proforma net income would have been $20.5 million, $0.40 per diluted share, versus reported net income of $19.5 million, or $0.38 per diluted share.

The Company’s amortizable intangible assets as of June 30, 2002 related almost exclusively to acquired merchant portfolios. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 7 to 10 years. Amortization expense for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2002 was $1.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively. The estimated annual amortization expense for existing intangible assets for 2002 and each of the next five years is as follows: 2002 — $6.8 million; 2003 — $7.0 million; 2004 — $6.6 million; 2005, 2006 and 2007 — $4.7 million.


	In general, application of the new provisions may result in more income statement volatility due to potential periodic recognition of impairment losses, which are likely to vary in amount and frequency, for goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, versus reducing those assets through the recognition of recurring, consistent amortization amounts.

Accounting for Long-Lived Assets

SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of, was issued in October 2001 and addresses how and when to measure impairment on long-lived assets and how to account for long-lived assets that an entity plans to dispose of either through sale, abandonment, exchange, or distribution to owners. The new provisions supersede SFAS 121, which addressed asset impairment, and certain provisions of APB Opinion 30 related to reporting the effects of the disposal of a business segment, and require expected future operating losses from discontinued operations to be recorded in the period in which the losses are incurred rather than the measurement date. Under SFAS 144, more dispositions may qualify for discontinued operations treatment in the income statement. The provisions of SFAS 144 became effective for the Company January 1, 2002 and have not had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.

Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities

SFAS 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, was issued in June 2002 and addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF 94-3, a liability for an exit cost is recognized at the date of the entity’s commitment to an exit plan. The provisions of SFAS 146 become effective for the Company January 1, 2003 and are not anticipated to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.

ACQUISITIONS

On June 28, 2001, the Company acquired a 70% ownership interest in AAMS from AANA for $48.5 million, which was settled on July 2, 2001 using existing cash balances. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company provides AAMS with all merchant-processing services including both authorization and settlement of all card-based transactions. The acquisition, accounted for as a purchase, increased the Company’s goodwill by approximately $27.0 million. The remainder of the purchase price was allocated to other identifiable intangibles, primarily acquired merchant contracts, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years. Since the date of its acquisition, the results of operations of AAMS have been included in the consolidated financial statements and AANA’s 30% ownership interest has been accounted for as a minority interest. Incremental revenue as a result of this acquisition was $8.9 million and $18.9 million, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2002, respectively. Incremental operating profit as a result of this acquisition was $1.6 million and $3.0 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2002, respectively.

On January 8, 2001, the Company purchased the merchant services business units from several of National City’s banking subsidiaries for $44.0 million in cash. This acquisition included merchant contracts and additional sales personnel. The Company also assumed responsibility for all merchant processing sales efforts throughout National City’s subsidiary banks’ 1,200 branch network via an exclusive multi-year marketing agreement. The Company had previously provided the authorization and settlement processing for these merchants via a third party processing contract with National City’s subsidiary banks. The acquisition was accounted for as a transaction among entities under common control and was recorded at National City’s historical cost bases. The excess of the cash paid over the historical cost bases was recorded as a reduction in shareholders’ equity, net of income taxes of $15.4 million. The results of operations of the National City merchant services business units have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition.

On July 3, 2002, the Company acquired processing contracts from a key strategic partner for $2.7 million in cash. The terms of the agreement also include future payments to the seller for a portion of the revenue derived from these contracts for a specified period plus an additional one-time payment of up to $1.0 million. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will provide front-end authorization services for approximately 50,000 merchant locations. Prior to the acquisition, the Company was already providing back-end settlement services for these merchants.

DIVESTED AND DISCONTINUED BUSINESS UNITS

In 2001, the Company divested its Business Process Outsourcing (“BPO”) business and discontinued its Denver collections business, which were components of the former Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment. The Denver collections business was discontinued on March 30, 2001. The sale of the BPO unit to Affiliated Computer Services (“ACS”) was completed on August 29, 2001 for $43.0 million in cash ($41.3 million after transaction-related expenses). For the three and six months ended June 30, 2001, the divested and discontinued business units had revenue of $15.3 million and $31.4 million, respectively. Operating profit (loss) for the divested and discontinued business units, which includes a $6.3 million impairment charge taken in the second quarter of 2001, was $(5.1) million and $(3.8) million, respectively, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2001.

IMPAIRMENT AND RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

In May 2002, the Company announced plans to close its remaining operations in Juarez, Mexico by the end of 2002. The work currently performed in Mexico will be relocated to existing facilities in the United States. The Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $1.7 million ($2.4 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2002 related to severance costs for approximately 120 employees, building and equipment write-downs, and related items. The after-tax charge exceeds the pre-tax amount due to additional provisions required for nondeductible losses and dividends from foreign subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2002, the Company had $0.6 million remaining in accrued liabilities for future severance and other obligations related to this closure.

During 2001, the Company recorded a net pre-tax charge of $3.9 million ($4.6 million after-tax, or $0.09 per diluted share) related to the BPO divestiture. The after-tax charge exceeds the pre-tax amount due to additional provisions required for nondeductible losses, repatriation of previously untaxed earnings in foreign countries, and dividends from foreign subsidiaries. This net charge consisted of a second quarter pre-tax charge of $6.3 million ($6.2 million after-tax, or $0.12 per share), which was partially offset by net positive pre-tax adjustment of $2.4 million ($1.5 million after-tax, or $0.03 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter. The second quarter charge was for the estimated loss for the sale of the BPO business. The net fourth quarter gain represented a $3.0 million pre-tax ($1.9 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted share) adjustment to the second quarter charge due to changes in estimates for legal and other post-closing matters, partially offset by a $0.6 million pre-tax ($0.4 million after-tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) severance charge related to organizational restructuring actions taken to reduce support costs associated with the BPO unit. As of June 30, 2002, the Company had $0.8 million remaining in accrued liabilities related to the final obligations associated with the BPO divestiture.

7.		COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

		Chargebacks

Under the rules of Visa^® and MasterCard_®, when a merchant processor acquires card transactions, it has certain contingent liabilities for the transactions processed. This contingent liability arises in the event of a billing dispute between the merchant and a cardholder that is not ultimately resolved in the merchant’s favor. In such a case, the transaction is “charged back” to the merchant and the disputed amount is credited or otherwise refunded to the cardholder. If the Company is unable to collect this amount from the merchant’s account, and if the merchant is unable to reimburse the Company for the chargeback due to liquidation or other reasons, the Company will bear the loss for the amount of the refund paid to the cardholder. In most cases, this contingent liability situation is unlikely to arise because most products or services are delivered when purchased, and credits are issued on returned items. However, where the product or service is not provided until some later time following the purchase, the contingent liability could be more likely. The Company mitigates some of its contingent liability risk by requiring deposits and withholding settlement funds for certain merchants based on contractual terms.


	The Company currently processes card transactions for several of the largest airlines in the United States. Airline customers represented approximately 9% of the Company’s consolidated revenue (6% from Merchant Card Services and 3% from Payment Services) for the six months ended June 30,

2002. In the event of liquidation of one or more of the Company’s airline customers, the Company could become financially responsible for refunding tickets purchased through Visa^® or MasterCard_® under the chargeback rules of those associations. In the near term, management believes liquidations are unlikely for any of the Company’s airline customers given the Federal financial support for the airline industry. In November 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which requires airlines to honor tickets for eighteen months for other airlines that may suspend, interrupt or discontinue services due to insolvency or liquidation. In May 2002, the Company announced its decision to discontinue processing debit and credit card transactions for the airline industry. The Company will honor its existing contractual obligations to the airlines it currently serves but does not intend to renew such contracts when their current terms expire. The contracts currently in effect have various expiration dates extending through November 2005.


	One of the Company’s airline customers is US Airways Group, Inc. US Airways Group, Inc. has filed for bankruptcy court protection under Chapter 11. Based upon information currently available to the Company and actions management is taking to mitigate these risks, management currently believes a material loss under the chargeback rules is unlikely.

Litigation


	In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in litigation from time to time. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, arising from this litigation is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE


	The calculation of net income per common share follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):


		Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30

		2002		2001		2002		2001

BASIC




	Net income	$	12,199	$	7,918	$	24,247	$	19,457

	Average common shares outstanding		52,010		51,255		51,935		51,107

	Net income per common share – basic	$	0.23	$	0.15	$	0.47	$	0.38

DILUTED




	Net income	$	12,199	$	7,918	$	24,247	$	19,457

	Average common shares outstanding		52,010		51,255		51,935		51,107




	Dilutive effect of stock options		714		798		690		703

	Average common shares outstanding – diluted		52,724		52,053		52,625		51,810

	Net income per common share – diluted	$	0.23	$	0.15	$	0.46	$	0.38

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES


	The Company leases certain facilities from NCBK, a wholly owned subsidiary of National City, under long-term agreements classified as “Property Leased from Affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company has paid $0.1 million, including interest, under this lease for the six months ended June 30, 2002.


	Substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held at NCBK and other National City subsidiaries. The majority of the interest income and earnings on customer balances included in the consolidated statements of income are derived from accounts held at NCBK and other National City subsidiaries.

The Company receives certain administrative services, such as internal audit and legal services, from National City and its affiliates. The Company also utilizes NCBK and other National City subsidiaries for the majority of its banking services. Charges for these services are included in general and administrative expenses and totaled $0.5 million and $1.0 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2002. For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2001, charges for these services totaled $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2002, December 31, 2001 and June 30, 2001, no amounts were due to or from National City.


	On January 8, 2001, the Company acquired the merchant services business units from several National City banking subsidiaries for $44.0 million, which was paid in cash at closing (see Note 4).

10.

SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company currently operates two business segments, Merchant Card Services and Payment Services. Merchant Card Services authorizes, processes, and performs financial settlement and reporting of card transactions including credit, debit, and EBT. Payment Services provides financial settlement and reporting solutions to large and mid-size corporate customers in the travel and healthcare industries.

Reportable segments are identified by the services they offer. General and administrative expenses are allocated to the segments based upon various methods determined by the nature of the expenses. There is no intersegment revenue. Depreciation expense for corporate fixed assets is allocated to the reportable segments. Corporate assets are comprised primarily of cash and cash equivalents, income tax balances, and fixed assets used by these segments or by support service areas. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those of the Company. Prior period amounts have been classified to conform to the current line of business reporting structure.


	Merchant Card		Payment					Consolidated
	Services		Services (1)			Corporate		Total

For the three months ended June 30, 2002




Revenue	$	107,619	$	5,045		$	—	$	112,664




Impairment, restructuring, and related expense		1,650		—			—		1,650




Operating profit		19,397		2,220			—		21,617




Depreciation and amortization		4,011		445			—		4,456




Net interest income		960		109			—		1,069




For the three months ended June 30, 2001




Revenue	$	95,364	$	22,512		$	—	$	117,876




Impairment, restructuring, and related expense		—		6,250			—		6,250




Operating profit (loss)		18,646		(3,893	)		—		14,753




Depreciation and amortization		3,527		1,657			—		5,184




Net interest income		1,664		229			—		1,893




For the six months ended June 30, 2002




Revenue	$	212,235	$	10,374		$	—	$	222,609




Impairment, restructuring, and related expense		1,650		—			—		1,650




Operating profit		36,596		4,037			—		40,633




Depreciation and amortization		7,597		882			—		8,479




Net interest income		1,884		220			—		2,104




For the six months ended June 30, 2001




Revenue	$	180,704	$	46,217		$	—	$	226,921




Impairment, restructuring, and related expense		—		6,250			—		6,250




Operating profit (loss)		32,249		(1,064	)		—		31,185




Depreciation and amortization		7,019		3,345			—		10,364




Net interest income		3,481		632			—		4,113




As of June 30, 2002




Goodwill	$	91,227	$	—		$	—	$	91,227




Total assets		277,425		3,628			223,190		504,243




As of December 31, 2001




Goodwill	$	91,227	$	—		$	—	$	91,227




Total assets		326,409		6,383			145,546		478,338




As of June 30, 2001




Goodwill	$	92,563	$	—		$	—	$	92,563




Total assets		247,909		45,661			182,215		475,785

(1)

Payment Services was formerly a component of the Company’s Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment. This segment was renamed Payment Services after the sale of the BPO business unit in August 2001. The Payment Services segment disclosures for 2001 include the results of divested and discontinued business units formerly classified as part of the Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment.

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

The following should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, 2002 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other 2002 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Critical Accounting Policies

General

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgements that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgements are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgements. Certain policies inherently have greater reliance of the use of estimates, assumptions, and judgements and as such have greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported.

Income Taxes

The Company is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of National City. National City allocates income taxes to the Company as if it were a stand-alone tax paying entity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized as certain items are required to be treated differently for financial statement purposes versus how they are treated for tax purposes.

Management judgments and estimates are required in determining the income tax provision as well as the balances of deferred tax assets and liabilities. As of June 30, 2002, the Company has net deferred tax assets of $15.7 million. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that certain amounts will not be realized. As of June 30, 2002 the Company had a valuation allowance of $0.4 million related to foreign net operating loss carryforwards. The Company considers projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. Should the Company determine in the future that all or part of its net deferred tax asset is unrealizable, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made. Management provides reserves when it is likely that a taxing authority may take a sustainable position on a matter contrary to the Company’s position.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, consisting primarily of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, comprise a significant portion of the Company’s total assets.

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, totaled $54.7 million as of June 30, 2002, which represented 11% of total assets. Useful lives of property and equipment (which includes internal use software) are estimated in order to determine the amount of depreciation expense to be recorded during each reporting period. The useful lives are estimated at the time the assets are acquired based on historical experience with similar assets and current business plans. Based on future events and changes in business plans, the useful lives assigned to these assets may need to be shortened, resulting in the recognition of increased depreciation expense in future periods. These changes could also result in the recognition of an

immediate impairment charge to reflect the write-down in value of the assets. Alternatively, assets may ultimately be used by the Company for longer than their assigned depreciable lives.

Internal-use software is a component of property and equipment. The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software in accordance with Statement of Position 98-1 “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use”. The Company capitalizes costs once the preliminary project stage has been completed, management has approved funding for the project, and it is probable that the project will be completed and it is probable that the software will be used for its intended use. Capitalized software development and purchased software are recorded at cost. Commencing the month following project completion, these costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, ranging from three to ten years. Software development costs may become impaired due to technological obsolescence of the project or where development efforts are abandoned due to changes in business plans. For purposes of depreciation and impairment, capitalized costs are treated in the same manner as other property and equipment.

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $132.8 million as of June 30, 2002, which represented 26% of total assets. The Company analyzes goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment issues on an annual basis or more frequently if events or circumstances warrant. In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets, the Company must make estimates regarding future cash flows and assumptions about other factors to determine the fair value. Changes in estimates or the related assumptions may cause the Company to record impairment charges for the related assets.

Contingencies

The Company records reserves for contingent liabilities when such amounts are deemed to be probable and estimable in accordance with SFAS 5, Accounting for Contingencies. The required reserves may change in the future due to new developments including but not limited to changes in litigation or increased chargeback exposure as the result of merchant insolvency, liquidation or other reasons. The required reserves are reviewed periodically to determine if adjustments are required. (See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

Components of Revenue and Expense

Revenue

Approximately 95% of Merchant Card Services revenue is derived from long-term processing contracts with merchants for the authorization, processing, and settlement of credit and debit card transactions. Processing fee revenue is earned either on a “per transaction” basis or “discount” basis, which is a percent of dollar volume processed. Merchant contracts generally have terms ranging from three to five years. Processing fee revenue is recorded in the period that the related transaction is processed and is recorded net of interchange fees charged by the credit card associations. The remainder of Merchant Card Services revenue is derived from sources other than processing fees, including equipment and supply sales, equipment repair fees, application and installation fees, and third-party commissions.

Over 50% of Payment Services revenue is earned from an exclusive long-term contract with the Airlines Reporting Corporation under which the Company is compensated on a “cost-plus” basis. The remainder of Payment Services revenue is derived from other non-card based electronic settlement products. Revenue is recorded in the period services are provided.

A small portion of total consolidated revenue is derived from earnings on customer cash balances, which are maintained by National City pursuant to contractual terms. For the three months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, earnings on customer balances were $0.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, earnings on customer balances were $2.0 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

Expense

Expenses include costs of providing services to customers including wages and personnel costs, assessment fees, authorization fees, data processing costs, and general and administrative expenses.

Results of Operations

The Company’s operating results are presented below in the manner in which they are viewed by management. The Company exited certain business units during 2001 in order to focus on its core business of electronic payment settlement. Accordingly, the segment results presented below segregate the operating performance for the remaining core business lines from those that were exited. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2002 presentation.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2002 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2001


				2002				2001						Change

(Dollars in thousands)						% of					% of
				Amount		Revenue		Amount			Revenue			Amount			%

Revenue:




	Merchant Card Services			$	107,619		96	$	95,364			81		$	12,255			13




	Payment Services				5,045		4		7,179			6			(2,134	)		(30	)

		Total Core Revenue			112,664		100		102,543			87			10,121			10




	Divested Business Lines				—		—		15,333			13			(15,333	)		(100	)

		Total Revenue			112,664		100		117,876			100			(5,212	)		(4	)




Expenses:




	Merchant Card Services				88,222		82		76,718			80			11,504			15




	Payment Services				2,825		56		5,968			83			(3,143	)		(53	)

			Total Core Expenses		91,047		81		82,686			81			8,361			10




	Divested Business Lines				—		—		20,437			133			(20,437	)		(100	)

			Total Expenses		91,047		81		103,123			87			(12,076	)		(12	)




Operating Profit (Loss):




	Merchant Card Services				19,397		18		18,646			20			751			4




	Payment Services				2,220		44		1,211			17			1,009			83

			Total Core Operating Profit		21,617		19		19,857			19			1,760			9




	Divested Business Lines				—		—		(5,104	)		(33	)		5,104			100

			Total Operating Profit		21,617		19		14,753			13			6,864			47




Net Interest Income					1,069		1		1,893			2			(824	)		(44	)

Income Before Taxes and Minority Interest					22,686		20		16,646			14			6,040			36




Provision for Income Taxes					9,861		9		8,728			7			1,133			13

Income Before Minority Interest					12,825		11		7,918			7			4,907			62




Minority Interest					626		1		—			—			626			100

Net Income				$	12,199		11	$	7,918			7			4,281			54

Merchant Card Services

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2002 increased 13% to $107.6 million from $95.4 million in 2001. The acquisition of ABN AMRO Merchant Services, LLC (AAMS) on June 28, 2001 contributed $8.9 million of incremental revenue in the second quarter of 2002. Organic revenue growth, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, was 4% for the three months ended June 30, 2002.

Transaction volume processed for the three months ended June 30, 2002 increased 14% to 955 million from 840 million in 2001. Dollar volume processed for the three months ended June 30, 2002 increased 14% to $42.9 billion from $37.7 billion in 2001. Organic transaction and dollar volume, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, increased 11% and 9%, respectively, for the 2002 second quarter. The volume increases were primarily due to growth in existing national customers, strong execution in the regional sales channels, and continued expansion in new vertical markets.

Expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2002 increased 15% to $88.2 million from $76.7 million in 2001. Total expenses increased due to increased processing volume and a restructuring charge of $1.7 million partially offset by the non-amortization of goodwill. In the second quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $1.7 million related to the closure of its remaining operations in Juarez, Mexico (see discussion in Impairment and Restructuring Charges). Expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2001 included $0.5 million of goodwill amortization expense that did not recur in 2002 due to the adoption of a new accounting standard (see Recent Accounting Pronouncements). Operating margins as a percentage of revenue decreased to 18% from 20% in 2001 primarily due to the restructuring charge. Operating profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 increased 4% to $19.4 million from $18.6 million in the 2001 second quarter due primarily to the factors outlined above. Excluding the restructuring charge, operating profit rose 13% and operating margins remained consistent at 20%.

Payment Services

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2002 decreased 30% to $5.0 million from $7.2 million in 2001. Revenue decreased primarily due to decreased paper-based transactions from the Company’s Airlines Reporting Corporation contract and lower earnings on customer balances due to lower average rates in 2002. The revenue decrease was partially offset by increased pricing in the Company’s commission settlement product.

Expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2002 decreased 53% to $2.8 million from $6.0 million in 2001 due primarily to decreased paper-based transactions and related staff reductions. Operating margins as a percentage of revenue increased to 44% from 17% in 2001 due to decreased costs combined with price increases in the Company’s commission settlement product. Operating profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 increased 83% to $2.2 million from $1.2 million in the 2001 second quarter.

Divested and Discontinued Business Units

In 2001, the Company divested its Business Process Outsourcing (“BPO”) business and discontinued its Denver collections business, which were components of the former Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment. The Denver collections business was discontinued on March 30, 2001. The sale of the BPO unit to Affiliated Computer Services (“ACS”) was completed on August 29, 2001 for $43.0 million in cash ($41.3 million after transaction-related expenses). For the three months ended June 30, 2001, the divested business units had revenue of $15.3 million. Operating profit (loss) for the divested and discontinued business units was $(5.1) million for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 and includes a $6.3 million impairment charge taken in the second quarter of 2001.

Impairment and Restructuring Charges

In May 2002, the Company announced its plans to close its remaining operations in Juarez, Mexico by the end of 2002. The work currently performed in Mexico will be relocated to existing facilities in the United States. The Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $1.7 million ($2.4 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2002 related to severance costs for approximately 120 employees, building and equipment write-downs, and related items. The after-tax charge exceeds the pre-tax amount due to additional provisions required for nondeductible losses and dividends from foreign subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2002, the Company had $0.6 million remaining in accrued liabilities for future severance and other obligations related to the closure.

During 2001, the Company recorded a net pre-tax charge of $3.9 million ($4.6 million after-tax, or $0.09 per diluted share) related to the BPO divestiture. The after-tax charge exceeds the pre-tax amount due to additional provisions required for nondeductible losses, repatriation of previously untaxed earnings in foreign countries, and dividends on foreign subsidiaries. This net charge consisted of a second quarter pre-tax charge of $6.3 million ($6.2 million after-tax, or $0.12 per share), which was partially offset by net positive pre-tax adjustment of $2.4 million ($1.5 million after-tax, or $0.03 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter. The second quarter charge was for the estimated loss for the sale of the BPO business. The net fourth quarter gain represented a $3.0 million pre-tax ($1.9 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted share) adjustment to the second quarter charge due to changes in estimates for legal and other post-closing matters, partially offset by a $0.6 million pre-tax ($0.4 million after-tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) severance charge related to organizational restructuring actions taken to reduce support costs associated with the BPO unit. As of June 30, 2002, the Company had $0.8 million remaining in accrued liabilities related to the final obligations associated with the BPO divestiture.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income earned on the Company’s cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended June 30, 2002, was $1.1 million, down 44% from $1.9 million in the 2001 second quarter due to lower average interest rates in 2002.

Provision for Income Taxes

The overall effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2002 was 43.5% compared to 52.4% for the same quarter a year ago. The decrease in the effective tax rate was principally due to additional provisions in 2001 related to the sale of the BPO business unit for nondeductible losses, repatriation of previously untaxed earnings in foreign countries, and dividends from foreign subsidiaries.

Exclusive of the additional provisions required in both years related to exiting foreign operations, the effective tax rate was 37.6% in the second quarter of 2002 compared to 38.6% in 2001. This decrease is due principally to differences in income tax rates between legal entities within the Company.

Minority Interest

On June 28, 2001, the Company acquired 70% interest in AAMS. For the three months ended June 30, 2002, minority interest was $0.6 million.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2002 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2001


				2002				2001						Change

(Dollars in thousands)						% of					% of
				Amount		Revenue		Amount			Revenue			Amount			%

Revenue:




	Merchant Card Services			$	212,235		95	$	180,704			80			31,531			17




	Payment Services				10,374		5		14,809			7			(4,435	)		(30	)

		Total Core Revenue			222,609		100		195,513			86			27,096			14




	Divested Business Lines				—		—		31,408			14			(31,408	)		(100	)

		Total Revenue			222,609		100		226,921			100			(4,312	)		(2	)




Expenses:




	Merchant Card Services				175,639		83		148,455			82			27,184			18




	Payment Services				6,337		61		12,027			81			(5,690	)		(47	)

			Total Core Operating Expenses		181,976		82		160,482			82			21,494			13




	Divested Business Lines				—		—		35,254			112			(35,254	)		(100	)

			Total Expenses		181,976		82		195,736			86			(13,760	)		(7	)




Operating Profit (Loss):




	Merchant Card Services				36,596		17		32,249			18			4,347			13




	Payment Services				4,037		39		2,782			19			1,255			45

			Total Core Operating Profit		40,633		18		35,031			18			5,602			16




	Divested Business Lines				—		—		(3,846	)		(12	)		3,846			100

			Total Operating Profit		40,633		18		31,185			14			9,448			30




Net Interest Income					2,104		1		4,113			2			(2,009	)		(49	)

Income Before Taxes and Minority Interest					42,737		19		35,298			16			7,439			21




Provision for Income Taxes					17,277		8		15,841			7			1,436			9

Net Income Before Minority Interest					25,460		11		19,457			9			6,003			31




Minority Interest					1,213		1		—			—			1,213			100

Net Income				$	24,247		11	$	19,457			9		$	4,790			25

Merchant Card Services

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2002 increased 17% to $212.2 million from $180.7 million in 2001. The acquisition of ABN AMRO Merchant Services, LLC (AAMS) on June 28, 2001 contributed $18.9 million of incremental revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2002. Organic revenue

growth, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, was 7% for the six months ended June 30, 2002.

Transaction volume processed for the six months ended June 30, 2002 increased 16% to 1.8 billion from 1.6 billion in 2001. Dollar volume processed for the six months ended June 30, 2002 increased 16% to $82.0 billion from $71.0 billion in 2001. Organic transaction and dollar volume, which excludes the impact of acquisitions, increased 13% and 10%, respectively for the six months ended June 30, 2002. The volume increases were primarily due to growth in existing national customers, strong execution in the regional sales channels, and continued expansion in new vertical markets.

Expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2002 increased 18% to $175.6 million from $148.5 million in 2001. Total expenses increased due to increased processing volume and a restructuring charge of $1.7 million partially offset by the non-amortization of goodwill. In the second quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $1.7 million related to the closure of its remaining operations in Juarez, Mexico (see discussion in Impairment and Restructuring Charges). Expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2001 included $1.1 million of goodwill amortization expense that did not recur in 2002 due to the adoption of a new accounting standard (see Recent Accounting Pronouncements). Operating margins as a percentage of revenue decreased to 17% from 18% in 2001 primarily due to the restructuring charge. Operating profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 increased 13% to $36.6 million from $32.2 million for 2001 due primarily to the factors outlined above. Excluding the restructuring charge, operating profit increased 19% and operating margins remained consistent at 18%.

Payment Services

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2002 decreased 30% to $10.4 million from $14.8 million in 2001. Revenue decreased primarily due to decreased paper-based transactions from the Company’s Airlines Reporting Corporation contract and lower earnings on customer balances due to lower average interest rates in 2002. The revenue decrease was partially offset by increased pricing in the Company’s commission settlement product.

Expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2002 decreased 47% to $6.3 million from $12.0 million due primarily to decreased paper-based transactions and related staff reductions. Operating margins as a percentage of revenue increased to 39% from 19% in 2001 due to decreased costs combined with price increases in the Company’s commission settlement product. Operating profit for the six months ended June 30, 2002 increased 45% to $4.0 million from $2.8 million for 2001 due primarily to improved profit margins.

Divested and Discontinued Business Units

In 2001, the Company divested its Business Process Outsourcing (“BPO”) business and discontinued its Denver collections business, which were components of the former Corporate Outsourcing Solutions segment. The Denver collections business was discontinued on March 30, 2001. The sale of the BPO unit to Affiliated Computer Services (“ACS”) was completed on August 29, 2001 for $43.0 million in cash ($41.3 million after-tax transaction related expenses). For the six months ended June 30, 2001, the divested business units had revenue of $31.4 million. Operating profit (loss) for the divested and discontinued business units was $(3.8) million for the six months ended June 30, 2001 and includes a $6.3 million impairment charge taken in the second quarter of 2001.

Impairment and Restructuring Charges

Net Interest Income

Net interest income earned on the Company’s cash and cash equivalents for the six months ended June 30, 2002, was $2.1 million, down 49% from $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2001 due to lower average interest rates in 2002.

Provision For Income Taxes

The overall effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2002 was 40.4% compared to 44.9% for the same period a year ago. The decrease in the effective tax rate was due to additional provisions in 2001 related to the sale of the BPO business unit for nondeductible losses, repatriation of previously untaxed earnings in foreign countries, and dividends from foreign subsidiaries.

Exclusive of the additional provisions required in both years related to existing foreign operations, the effective tax rate was 37.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2002 compared to 38.4% in 2001. This decrease is due principally to differences in income tax rates between legal entities within the Company.

Minority Interest

On June 28, 2001, the Company acquired 70% interest in AAMS. For the six months ended June 30, 2002, minority interest was $1.2 million.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The provisions of SFAS 142 were adopted by the Company as required effective January 1, 2002. As part of adopting of the provisions of SFAS 142, a transitional impairment test was applied to all goodwill during the quarter ended March 31, 2002. No impairment loss was required to be recorded as a result of this test. The Company currently does not have any other indefinite-lived intangible assets on its balance sheet. There have not been any material categorical reclassifications or adjustments to the useful lives of finite-lived intangible assets as a result of adopting the new standard.

In general, application of the new provisions may result in more income statement volatility due to potential periodic recognition of impairment losses, which are likely to vary in amount and frequency, for goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, versus reducing those assets through the recognition of recurring, consistent amortization amounts.

Accounting for Long-Lived Assets

to be recorded in the period in which the losses are incurred rather than the measurement date. Under SFAS 144, more dispositions may qualify for discontinued operations treatment in the income statement. The provisions of SFAS 144 became effective for the Company January 1, 2002 and have not had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.

Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities

Seasonality

The Company experiences seasonality in its businesses and typically realizes higher revenue in the third and fourth calendar quarters and lower revenue in the first quarter, reflecting increased transaction volume in the summer and holiday months. Accounts receivable is generally highest in the fourth quarter as December is typically the highest volume month due to holiday sales.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s primary uses of capital resources include capital expenditures, working capital, and acquisitions. Future business acquisitions may be funded through current liquidity, borrowed funds, and/or issuances of common stock.

The Company’s capital expenditures include amounts for computers, external and internally developed software, and improvements to operating facilities. During the six months ended June 30, 2002, the Company’s capital expenditures totaled $10.6 million. Such expenditures were financed from operating cash flow, which totaled $88.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2002. Operating cash flow and capital expenditures during the six months ended June 30, 2001 totaled $70.6 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Operating cash flow increased in the 2002 period compared to 2001 due to strong operating results from the Merchant Card Services business segment.

On January 8, 2001, the Company acquired the merchant services business units from several National City banking subsidiaries for $44.0 million in cash. (See Acquisitions, Note 4 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

On June 28, 2001, the Company acquired a 70% ownership interest in AAMS for $48.5 million in cash. (See Acquisitions, Note 4 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

On August 29, 2001, the Company completed the sale of the Business Process Outsourcing unit to Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. for $43.0 million cash ($41.3 million after transaction-related expenses). (See Divested and Discontinued Business Units, Note 5 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

As the Company does not carry significant amounts of inventory and historically has experienced short collection periods for its accounts receivable, it does not require substantial working capital to support revenue growth. Working capital requirements will vary depending upon future acquisition activity. Increases in working capital needs and future capital expenditures are expected to be financed through operating cash flow and current cash balances.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contains certain forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Although management believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

The Company currently processes card transactions for several of the largest airlines in the United States. Airline customers represented approximately 9% of the Company’s consolidated revenue (6% from Merchant Card Services and 3% from Payment Services) for the six months ended June 30, 2002. In the event of liquidation of one or more of the Company’s airline customers, the Company could become financially responsible for refunding tickets purchased through Visa^® or MasterCard_® under the chargeback rules of those associations. In the near term, management believes liquidations are unlikely for any of the Company’s airline customers given the Federal financial support for the airline industry. In November 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which requires airlines to honor tickets for eighteen months for other airlines that may suspend, interrupt or discontinue services due to insolvency or liquidation. In May 2002, the Company announced its decision to discontinue processing debit and credit card transactions for the airline industry. The Company will honor its existing contractual obligations to the airlines it currently serves but does not intend to renew such contracts when their current terms expire. The contracts currently in effect have various expiration dates extending through November 2005.

One of the Company’s airline customers is US Airways Group, Inc. US Airways Group, Inc. has filed for bankruptcy court protection under Chapter 11. Based upon information currently available to the Company and actions management is taking to mitigate these risks, management currently believes a material loss under the chargeback rules is unlikely.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk

Derivative Instruments

The Company does not use derivative instruments.

Market Risk of Financial Instruments

The Company’s primary market risk exposure with regard to financial instruments is to changes in interest rates. As of June 30, 2002, the Company had $183 million in cash and cash equivalents. For the first quarter of 2002, National City also held an average of approximately $150 million of customer cash balances, on which the Company earns interest. Interest earned on customer cash balances is included as a component of revenue.

Because of the short-term nature of these instruments, a sudden change in market interest rates would not impact the fair value of these instruments. The Company’s earnings, however, are impacted by changes in interest rates, which affects both interest earnings on the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and interest earnings on customer funds maintained by National City. At June 30, 2002, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in short-term interest rates would result in an increase of approximately $3 million in annual pre-tax earnings. A hypothetical 100 basis point decrease in short-term interest rates would result in a decrease of approximately $3 million in annual pre-tax earnings.

Part II — Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings (None)

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds (None)

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities (None)

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

On April 11, 2002, at the Annual Shareholders Meeting of the Registrant, the shareholders took the following actions:

1. Elected as directors all nominees designated in the proxy statement dated March 11, 2002 as follows:


	Number of Votes




	For		Withheld

Aureliano Gonzalez-Baz		50,978,149		302,120




Jon L. Gorney		49,793,054		1,487,215




J. Armando Ramirez		50,105,740		1,174,529

Approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the Registrant for 2002: 51,178,768 votes cast for, 100,541 votes cast against, and 1,036 votes withheld.

Item 5. Other Information (None)

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K:

Exhibits


EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NUMBER		DESCRIPTION

3.1 (i)		Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant. (A)









3.1 (ii)		Code of Regulations of the Registrant. (A)









4.1		Specimen Certificate for the Common Stock, without par value, of the Registrant. (B)









4.2		Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and National City Corporation, dated July 16, 1996. (B)









10.1		Absolute Net Ground Lease by and between Preston Manor, Inc. and Allied Stores Corporation, dated January 16, 1969. (A)









10.2		Second Amendment to Lease by and between William G. Earley, Plaza Centers, Inc. and First National Bank of Louisville, dated April 15, 1986. (A)









10.3		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.4		Sponsorship Agreement between NPC and National City Bank of Kentucky, dated June 30, 1996. (B)









10.5		Administrative Services Agreement between NPC and National City Corporation, dated July 15, 1996. (B)









10.6		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.7		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.8		Form of Card Services Agreement by and among NPC and its affiliated corporations and certain bank subsidiaries of National City Corporation. (B)









10.9		Tax Sharing Agreement between the Company and National City Corporation, dated July 17, 1996. (B)









10.10		The Agreement between Airlines Reporting Corporation and First National Bank of Louisville and NPC for Area Settlement Plan Processing Services, dated October 16, 1986. (B)









10.11		First Amendment to Agreements between Airlines Reporting Corporation and First National Bank of Louisville and NPC, dated December 12, 1991. (A)









10.12		1994 Amendment to Agreements between Airlines Reporting Corporation and NPC, dated December 31, 1994. (A)









10.13		Supplemental Agreement by and between NPC and Airlines Reporting Corporation, dated February 24, 1995. (A)


10.14		Amendment to Agreement between Airlines Reporting Corporation and National City Bank of Kentucky and NPC, for Area Settlement Plan Processing Services, dated August 19, 1995. (A)





10.15		December 1, 1998 Amendment to the ARC and NPC Processing Agreement. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)









10.16		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.17		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.18		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.19		Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Mark Pyke dated March 4, 1996. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999) **









10.20		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.21		Employment Agreement and Undertaking of Confidentiality between NPC and Thomas A. Wimsett dated May 23, 1995. (A)**









10.22		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.23		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.24		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.25		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.26		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.27		Severance Agreement between the Registrant and Thomas A. Wimsett, dated June 7, 1996. (B)**









10.28		National Processing, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000) **









10.29		1996 Stock Option Plan and Form of Stock Option Agreement. (B)**









10.30		Nonemployee Directors Stock Option Plan and Form of Stock Option Agreement. (B)**









10.31		Amended and Restated NPC Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Senior Executives, effective February 9, 2000. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999) **









10.32		NPC’s Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Senior Officers, effective January 1, 1998. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000) **









10.33		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.34		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.35		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.36		Amendment to Building Lease between National City Bank of Kentucky and NPC, dated July 3, 1996. (B)**









10.37		Form of Severance Agreement between the Registrant and certain Senior Vice Presidents. (B)**

10.38		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.39		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.40		(Intentionally Omitted)









10.41		National Processing, Inc. 2001 Restricted Stock Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to National Processing, Inc.’s Proxy Statement on Form 14A #001-11905, dated March 31, 2001).









10.42		National Processing, Inc.’s U.S. Asset Purchase Agreement, dated July 11, 2001 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001).









10.43		National Processing, Inc.’s Mexico Asset Purchase Agreement, dated July 11, 2001 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001).









10.44		National Processing, Inc.’s Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 11, 2001 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001).

(A)		Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable exhibit in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-05507) filed on June 7, 1996.




(B)		Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference to the applicable exhibit in the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-05507) filed on July 18, 1996.




**		Represents a management contract or compensatory plan required to be filed pursuant to Item 14 of Form 10-K.

Reports on Form 8-K


	April 17, 2002: On April 17, 2002, the Registrant issued a press release reporting earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.


	May 29, 2002: On May 29, 2002, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its plans to close its remaining operations in Juarez, Mexico and announcing its decision to discontinue processing debit and credit card transactions for the airline industry.

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.


		NATIONAL PROCESSING, INC.









Date: August 14, 2002		By: /s/ Thomas A. Wimsett

		Thomas A. Wimsett President and Chief Executive Officer (Duly Authorized Signer)









		By: /s/ David E. Fountain

		David E. Fountain Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

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