(Source: Business Wire)

USA Technologies (NASDAQ:USAT), a leading provider of technology-enabled
solutions that facilitate payment transactions within the vending and
unattended Point-of-Sale ("POS") markets, has reported financial results
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.
Highlights for the Year Ended June 30, 2009
Increased the installed base of devices connected to the USALiveĀ®
Network by 37%, to 52,000, compared with 38,000 the year before;
The number of transactions processed for the year increased 98% to
22.4 million, from 11.3 million the year before;
Launched ePort G8 and ePort EDGE, both lower-cost and more efficient
cashless payment products;
Fourth quarter revenues were strongest of the year, with total revenue
at $3.6 million, reflecting sales of the new ePort G8;
Gross profit margins for fiscal year 2009 improved to 24% from 21% a
year ago;
Signed a major vending procurement company;
Drove a 19% reduction in SG & A expenses as compared to the prior
fiscal year.
George Jensen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, USA Technologies,
Inc., said, "2009 was a building block year for USAT as we launched two
lower-cost ePortĀ® products near the end of the year. The launch of both
products positions USAT to improve revenues in the upcoming year. The
fourth quarter reflects sales of our newly launched ePort G8, helping
drive fourth quarter revenues to the highest levels for the year.
Despite the poor economic climate and customers delaying their purchase
decisions until the new products were available, we increased the number
of distributed assets connected to our network by 37% to 52,000 at
year-end, strengthening our business as we enter fiscal 2010."
Mr. Jensen continued, "With leading industry reports projecting a strong
shift away from paper-based transactions, there are several industry
trends that we believe will help drive growth in demand for USAT's
products and solutions."
These trends include:
The rapidly growing shift toward electronic payment transactions, away
from cash and checks;
The increase in consumer and merchant/operator demand for electronic
transaction functionality;
Improving POS technology, combined with declining device manufacturing
and technology costs;
Increased market sponsorship from industry participants, including
card associations, card issuers and payment processors, leading to
increased market adoption.
Mr. Jensen said, "Fiscal 2009 was not only an important year in terms of
the introduction of ePort G8and ePort EDGE, but also because of the
interest in the Quick Start Program, designed to eliminate the need for
customers to commit up-front capital for the purchase of our cashless
payment products and services. Also, the addition of key, new customers
enables us to anticipate revenue growth in fiscal 2010."
"Subsequent to the end of the quarter we completed our $13.1 million
financing which is anticipated to be used for general working capital
purposes including the Quick Start Program. Quick Start has made our
products more appealing to a larger group of customers, including
Foodbuy LLC, the leading procurement company for vending food service
organizations, with whom we signed a three-year preferred supplier and
provider agreement. Foodbuy is the procurement company for Compass Group
USA, a leading vending organization."
Mr. Jensen concluded, "With the introduction of our new products and the
anticipated increase in revenues, we enter fiscal 2010 well positioned.
With all of these positive factors aligned, coupled with expected
industry trends that project increases in cashless payment transactions,
we are preparing to improve our revenues, expand our margins, and
further decrease our net loss. Fourth quarter revenues began to
demonstrate some of these anticipated improvements, and we expect to
continue these trends into the upcoming year."
Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2009
Revenues for the 2009 fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 were $12,020,123
compared with $16,103,546 for the year ended June 30, 2008. The decrease
in revenues was primarily due to a decrease in equipment sales of
$6,226,853, offset by an increase in license and transaction fees of
$2,143,430. The decrease in equipment sales was due to a decrease in
sales of approximately $4,924,000 of e-Port vending equipment and
approximately $1,250,000 in energy conservation equipment, as well as a
net decrease in other equipment sales of approximately $53,000. The
decrease in e-Port vending equipment sales was primarily related to the
Company's key customers awaiting the availability of the e-Port G8 and
e-Port Edge products, as well as a decrease in capital spending by some
customers due to the current economic slowdown. The e-Port G8 product
became available for sale at the end of the third quarter of fiscal
2009, while the e-Port Edge product became available for sale during the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. The increase in license and transaction
fees was primarily due to the increase in the number of e-Port units on
the company's USALive network. As of June 30, 2009 there were
approximately 52,000 distributed assets connected to the Company's
USALive network as compared with approximately 38,000 distributed assets
connected as of June 30, 2008.
During the 2009 fiscal year, the Company processed approximately 22.4
million transactions totaling over $47.1 million, compared with
approximately 11.3 million transactions totaling over $34.4 million
during the 2008 fiscal year, an increase of approximately 98% in
transaction volume and approximately 37% in dollars processed.
Cost of sales for the 2009 fiscal year decreased 28%, or $3.5 million,
over the prior fiscal year, and consisted of equipment costs of
$4,490,519 and network and transaction services related costs of
$4,680,087. The decrease in total cost of sales over the prior fiscal
year was due to a decrease in equipment costs of $5,212,955 and an
increase in network and transaction services related costs of $1,698,869.
Gross profit for the 2009 fiscal year was $2,849,517, compared with
gross profit of $3,418,854 for the previous fiscal year. The decrease
was primarily the result of a reduction in equipment sales. Gross profit
margin for the same periods increased to 24% from 21%, primarily due to
an increase in the profit margin of e-Port vending equipment sales
driven by lower production costs primarily due to offshore production.
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased 19% to
$15,183,847, compared with $18,643,215 last year, primarily due to cost
reduction measures taken by the Company during the third and fourth
quarters of fiscal year 2008 and during the third quarter of fiscal year
2009. The increase in product development costs and consulting services
is directly attributable to the costs related to the development of our
new e-Port G-8 and e-Port Edge products.
Net loss for the 2009 fiscal year improved to $13,731,818 (including
approximately $2.6 million of non-cash charges) compared with a net loss
of $16,417,893 (including approximately $3.2 million of non-cash
charges) for the 2008 fiscal year. Net loss per share for the 2009
fiscal year was $0.95 compared with a net loss of $1.21 for the 2008
fiscal year.
As of June 30, 2009 the Company had $6.7 million in cash and cash
equivalents.
About USA Technologies:
USA Technologies is a leader in the networking of wireless non-cash
transactions associated financial/network services and energy
management. It provides networked credit card and other non-cash systems
in the vending, commercial laundry, hospitality and digital imaging
industries. The Company has agreements with AT & T, Visa, MasterCard,
First Data, Compass and others.