10-Q VNTV-3.31.2014
Table of Contents



 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
FORM 10-Q 
 
 
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
Commission File Number: 001-35462 
 
 
 
Vantiv, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
 
26-4532998
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
8500 Governor’s Hill Drive
Symmes Township, OH 45249
(Address of principal executive offices)
(513) 900-5250
(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 x  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o  No x
As of March 31, 2014, there were 140,275,073 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock outstanding and 48,822,826 shares of the registrant’s Class B common stock outstanding.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Table of Contents



VANTIV, INC.
FORM 10-Q
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2014
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 

2
 
 
 

Table of Contents



NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the section entitled "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, our business strategy and plans, our objectives for future operations, and any statements of a general economic or industry specific nature, are forward-looking statements.  You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "may," "will," "continue," "could," "should," "can have," "likely," or the negative or plural of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe, based on information currently available to our management, may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs.  These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this report may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
 
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as may be required by law.


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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements
Vantiv, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except share data)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Revenue:
 
 

 
 

External customers
 
$
518,312

 
$
479,159

Related party revenues
 
19,266

 
18,807

Total revenue
 
537,578

 
497,966

Network fees and other costs
 
249,046

 
225,065

Sales and marketing
 
78,444

 
75,976

Other operating costs
 
60,369

 
50,560

General and administrative
 
32,606

 
31,099

Depreciation and amortization
 
49,846

 
43,296

Income from operations
 
67,267

 
71,970

Interest expense—net
 
(10,554
)
 
(9,694
)
Income before applicable income taxes
 
56,713

 
62,276

Income tax expense
 
15,622

 
17,811

Net income
 
41,091

 
44,465

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
(12,955
)
 
(18,346
)
Net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc.
 
$
28,136

 
$
26,119

Net income per share attributable to Vantiv, Inc. Class A common stock:
 
 

 
 

Basic
 
$
0.20

 
$
0.19

Diluted
 
$
0.18

 
$
0.18

Shares used in computing net income per share of Class A common stock:
 
 

 
 

Basic
 
138,228,839

 
137,084,276

Diluted
 
198,949,977

 
214,584,791

 
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Vantiv, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
 
$
41,091

 
$
44,465

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
Loss on cash flow hedges
 
(1,653
)
 

Comprehensive income
 
39,438

 
44,465

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
(12,379
)
 
(18,346
)
Comprehensive income attributable to Vantiv, Inc.
 
$
27,059

 
$
26,119

 
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.



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Vantiv, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Unaudited
(In thousands, except share data) 
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Assets
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
136,968

 
$
171,427

Accounts receivable—net
473,229

 
472,196

Related party receivable
5,160

 
5,155

Settlement assets
522,485

 
127,144

Prepaid expenses
20,424

 
18,059

Other
9,586

 
13,932

Total current assets
1,167,852

 
807,913

  Customer incentives
36,608

 
30,808

  Property, equipment and software—net
216,918

 
217,333

  Intangible assets—net
780,735

 
795,332

  Goodwill
1,943,613

 
1,943,613

  Deferred taxes
359,096

 
362,785

  Other assets
30,102

 
31,769

Total assets
$
4,534,924

 
$
4,189,553

Liabilities and equity
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
209,296

 
$
233,383

Related party payable
1,789

 
2,381

Settlement obligations
722,925

 
333,649

Current portion of note payable to related party
17,621

 
17,621

Current portion of note payable
74,879

 
74,879

Current portion of tax receivable agreement obligations to related parties
22,649

 
8,639

Deferred income
10,001

 
9,053

Current maturities of capital lease obligations
4,347

 
4,326

Other
1,382

 
1,382

Total current liabilities
1,064,889

 
685,313

Long-term liabilities:
 

 
 

Note payable to related party
321,588

 
325,993

Note payable
1,374,187

 
1,392,757

Tax receivable agreement obligations to related parties
528,412

 
551,061

Capital lease obligations
10,855

 
12,044

Deferred taxes
42,263

 
37,963

Other
7,605

 
8,100

Total long-term liabilities
2,284,910

 
2,327,918

Total liabilities
3,349,799

 
3,013,231

Commitments and contingencies (See Note 4 - Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees)


 


Equity:
 

 
 

Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value; 890,000,000 shares authorized; 140,275,073 shares outstanding at March 31, 2014; 141,758,681 shares outstanding at December 31, 2013
1

 
1

Class B common stock, no par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 48,822,826 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014; 48,822,826 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

 

Paid-in capital
587,623

 
597,730

Retained earnings
231,202

 
203,066

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
(813
)
 
264

Treasury stock, at cost; 2,026,335 shares at March 31, 2014 and 1,606,664 shares at December 31, 2013
(46,419
)
 
(33,130
)
Total Vantiv, Inc. equity
771,594

 
767,931

Non-controlling interests
413,531

 
408,391

Total equity
1,185,125

 
1,176,322

Total liabilities and equity
$
4,534,924

 
$
4,189,553

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Vantiv, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Unaudited
(In thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Operating Activities:
 
 

 
 

Net income
 
$
41,091

 
$
44,465

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
49,846

 
43,296

Amortization of customer incentives
 
1,894

 
2,475

Amortization of debt issuance costs
 
1,170

 
1,001

Share-based compensation expense
 
8,939

 
6,740

Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Accounts receivable and related party receivable
 
(1,038
)
 
(4,344
)
Net settlement assets and obligations
 
(6,065
)
 
76,253

Customer incentives
 
(3,873
)
 
(5,815
)
Prepaid and other assets
 
1,524

 
(6,232
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
(9,148
)
 
(4,516
)
Payable to related party
 
(592
)
 
1,080

Other liabilities
 
948

 
2,049

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
84,696

 
156,452

Investing Activities:
 
 

 
 

Purchases of property and equipment
 
(28,941
)
 
(12,342
)
Acquisition of customer portfolios and related assets
 
(17,394
)
 
(32
)
Purchase of investments
 

 
(124
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(46,335
)
 
(12,498
)
Financing Activities:
 
 

 
 

Proceeds from exercise of Class A common stock options
 
236

 

Repayment of debt and capital lease obligations
 
(24,607
)
 
(56,681
)
Repurchase of Class A common stock
 
(34,366
)
 

Repurchase of Class A common stock (to satisfy tax withholding obligations)
 
(13,289
)
 
(9,402
)
Payments under tax receivable agreements
 
(8,639
)
 

Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation
 
7,845

 
3,607

Distribution to non-controlling interests
 

 
(6,796
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(72,820
)
 
(69,272
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(34,459
)
 
74,682

Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of period
 
171,427

 
67,058

Cash and cash equivalents—End of period
 
$
136,968

 
$
141,740

Cash Payments:
 
 

 
 

Interest
 
$
9,518

 
$
8,570

Taxes
 
12,756

 
13,465

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Vantiv, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
Unaudited
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
Non-
 
Total
 
Class A
 
Class B
 
Treasury Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Controlling
 
Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Income (Loss)
 
Interests
Beginning Balance, January 1, 2014
$
1,176,322

 
141,759

 
$
1

 
48,823

 
$

 
1,607

 
$
(33,130
)
 
$
597,730

 
$
203,066

 
$
264

 
$
408,391

Net income
41,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
28,136

 

 
12,955

Issuance of Class A common stock under employee stock plans, net of forfeitures
236

 
44

 

 

 

 

 

 
236

 

 

 

Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation
7,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
7,845

 

 

 

Repurchase of Class A common stock (to satisfy tax withholding obligation)
(13,289
)
 
(419
)
 

 

 

 
419

 
(13,289
)
 

 

 

 

Repurchase of Class A common stock
(34,366
)
 
(1,109
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(34,366
)
 

 

 

Unrealized loss on hedging activities, net of tax
(1,653
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,077
)
 
(576
)
Share-based compensation
8,939

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
6,637

 

 

 
2,302

Reallocation of non-controlling interests of Vantiv Holding due to change in ownership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
9,541

 

 

 
(9,541
)
Ending Balance, March 31, 2014
$
1,185,125

 
140,275

 
$
1

 
48,823

 
$

 
2,026

 
$
(46,419
)
 
$
587,623

 
$
231,202

 
$
(813
)
 
$
413,531

 
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.



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Vantiv, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
Unaudited
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
Non-
 
Total
 
Class A
 
Class B
 
Treasury Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Controlling
 
Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
(Loss) Income
 
Interests
Beginning Balance, January 1, 2013
$
1,444,235

 
142,244

 
$
1

 
70,219

 
$

 
978

 
$
(17,906
)
 
$
766,337

 
$
69,494

 
$

 
$
626,309

Net income
44,465

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
26,119

 

 
18,346

Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation
3,607

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
3,607

 

 

 

Repurchase of Class A common stock (to satisfy tax withholding obligation)
(9,402
)
 
(437
)
 

 

 

 
437

 
(9,402
)
 

 

 

 

Distribution to non-controlling interests
(6,796
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(6,796
)
Share-based compensation
6,740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
4,505

 

 

 
2,235

Forfeitures of restricted stock awards

 
(307
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending Balance, March 31, 2013
$
1,482,849

 
141,500

 
$
1

 
70,219

 
$

 
1,415

 
$
(27,308
)
 
$
774,449

 
$
95,613

 
$

 
$
640,094

 
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.



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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Description of Business
 
Vantiv, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a holding company that conducts its operations through its majority-owned subsidiary, Vantiv Holding, LLC ("Vantiv Holding"). Vantiv, Inc. and Vantiv Holding are referred to collectively as the "Company," "Vantiv," "we," "us" or "our," unless the context requires otherwise.
 
The Company provides electronic payment processing services to merchants and financial institutions throughout the United States of America. The Company markets its services through diverse distribution channels, including national, regional and mid-market sales teams, third-party reseller clients and a telesales operation. The Company also has relationships with a broad range of merchant banks; technology partners, which include independent software vendors, value-added resellers and payment facilitators; independent sales organizations ("ISOs") and trade associations as well as arrangements with core processors.
 
Segments
 
The Company’s segments consist of the Merchant Services segment and the Financial Institution Services segment. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), evaluates the performance and allocates resources based on the operating results of each segment. Below is a summary of each segment:
 
Merchant Services—Provides merchant acquiring and payment processing services to large national merchants, regional and small-to-mid sized businesses. Merchant services are sold to small to large businesses through diverse distribution channels. Merchant Services includes all aspects of card processing including authorization and settlement, customer service, chargeback and retrieval processing and interchange management.
 
Financial Institution Services—Provides card issuer processing, payment network processing, fraud protection, card production, prepaid program management, automated teller machine ("ATM") driving and network gateway and switching services that utilize the Company’s proprietary Jeanie debit payment network to a diverse set of financial institutions, including regional banks, community banks, credit unions and regional personal identification number ("PIN") networks. Financial Institution Services also provides statement production, collections and inbound/outbound call centers for credit transactions, and other services such as credit card portfolio analytics, program strategy and support, fraud and security management and chargeback and dispute services.

Secondary Offering and Share Repurchases
    
In October 2013, the Company's board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $137 million of the Company's Class A common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, approximately 1.1 million shares were repurchased for $34.4 million, which completed the repurchases under this authorization.    

In February 2014, the Company's board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to an additional $300 million of the Company's Class A common stock. No shares have been repurchased under this authorization.

In March 2014, a secondary offering took place in which Advent International Corporation sold its remaining 18.8 million shares of Vantiv Class A common stock. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include those of Vantiv, Inc. and all subsidiaries thereof, including its majority-owned subsidiary, Vantiv Holding, LLC. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and should be read in conjunction with the Company's 2013 audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management they include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Results of operations reported for interim

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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
 
As of March 31, 2014, Vantiv, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank ("Fifth Third") owned interests in Vantiv Holding of 74.18% and 25.82%, respectively (see Note 5 - Controlling and Non-controlling Interests in Vantiv Holding for changes in non-controlling interests).
 
The Company accounts for non-controlling interests in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, Consolidation. Non-controlling interests represent the minority shareholders’ share of net income or loss of and equity in Vantiv Holding. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests does not include expenses incurred directly by Vantiv, Inc., including income tax expense attributable to Vantiv, Inc. All of the Company’s non-controlling interests are presented after Vantiv Holding income tax expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income as "Net income attributable to non-controlling interests." Non-controlling interests are presented as a component of equity in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position.

Sponsorship
 
In order to provide electronic payment processing services, Visa, MasterCard and other payment networks require sponsorship of non-financial institutions by a member clearing bank. In June 2009, the Company entered into a ten-year agreement with Fifth Third (the "Sponsoring Member"), to provide sponsorship services to the Company. The Company also has agreements with certain other banks that provide sponsorship into the card networks.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition
 
The Company has contractual agreements with its clients that set forth the general terms and conditions of the relationship including line item pricing, payment terms and contract duration. Revenues are recognized as earned (i.e., for transaction based fees, when the underlying transaction is processed) in conjunction with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, establishes guidance as to when revenue is realized or realizable and earned by using the following criteria: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the seller’s price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.
 
The Company follows guidance provided in ASC 605-45, Principal Agent Considerations. ASC 605-45, Principal Agent Considerations, states that whether a company should recognize revenue based on the gross amount billed to a customer or the net amount retained is a matter of judgment that depends on the facts and circumstances of the arrangement and that certain factors should be considered in the evaluation. The Company recognizes processing revenues net of interchange fees, which are assessed to the Company’s merchant customers on all processed transactions. Interchange rates are not controlled by the Company, which effectively acts as a clearing house collecting and remitting interchange fee settlement on behalf of issuing banks, debit networks, credit card associations and its processing customers. All other revenue is reported on a gross basis, as the Company contracts directly with the end customer, assumes the risk of loss and has pricing flexibility.
 
The Company generates revenue primarily by processing electronic payment transactions. Set forth below is a description of the Company’s revenue by segment.
 
Merchant Services
 
The Company’s Merchant Services segment revenue is primarily derived from processing credit and debit card transactions. Merchant Services revenue is primarily comprised of fees charged to businesses, net of interchange fees, for payment processing services, including authorization, capture, clearing, settlement and information reporting of electronic transactions. The fees charged consist of either a percentage of the dollar volume of the transaction or a fixed fee, or both, and are recognized at the time of the transaction. Merchant Services revenue also includes a number of revenue items that are

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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


incurred by the Company and are reimbursable as the costs are passed through to and paid by the Company’s clients. These items primarily consist of Visa, MasterCard and other payment network fees. In addition, for sales through ISOs and certain other referral sources in which the Company is the primary party to the contract with the merchant, the Company records the full amount of the fees collected from the merchant as revenue. Merchant Services segment revenue also includes revenue from ancillary services such as fraud management, equipment sales and terminal rent. Merchant Services revenue is recognized as services are performed. 

Financial Institution Services

The Company’s Financial Institution Services segment revenues are primarily derived from debit, credit and ATM card transaction processing, ATM driving and support, and PIN debit processing services. Financial Institution Services revenue associated with processing transactions includes per transaction and account related fees, card production fees and fees generated from the Company’s Jeanie network. Financial Institution Services revenue related to card transaction processing is recognized when consumers use their client-issued cards to make purchases. Financial Institution Services also generates revenue through other services, including statement production, collections and inbound/outbound call centers for credit transactions and other services such as credit card portfolio analytics, program strategy and support, fraud and security management and chargeback and dispute services. Financial Institution Services revenue is recognized as services are performed.
 
Financial Institution Services provides certain services to Fifth Third. Revenues related to these services are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income as related party revenues.
 
Expenses
 
Set forth below is a brief description of the components of the Company’s expenses:
 
Network fees and other costs consists of certain expenses incurred by the Company in connection with providing processing services to its clients, including Visa and MasterCard network association fees, payment network fees, third party processing expenses, telecommunication charges, postage and card production costs.
 
Sales and marketing expense primarily consists of salaries and benefits paid to sales personnel, sales management and other sales and marketing personnel, residual payments made to ISOs, technology partners, merchant banks and other third party partners and advertising and promotional costs.
 
Other operating costs primarily consist of salaries and benefits paid to operational and IT personnel, costs associated with operating the Company’s technology platform and data centers, information technology costs for processing transactions, product development costs, software consulting fees and maintenance costs.

General and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits paid to executive management and administrative employees, including finance, human resources, product development, legal and risk management, share-based compensation costs, equipment and occupancy costs and consulting costs.

Share-Based Compensation
 
The Company expenses employee share-based payments under ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which requires compensation cost for the grant-date fair value of share-based payments to be recognized over the requisite service period. The Company estimates the grant date fair value of the share-based awards issued in the form of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of restricted stock awards and performance awards is measured based on the market price of the Company’s stock on the grant date. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 total share-based compensation expense was $8.9 million and $6.7 million, respectively.

Earnings Per Share
 
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc. by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc., adjusted as necessary for the impact of potentially dilutive securities, by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period and the impact of securities that would have a dilutive effect on earnings per share. See Note 7 - Net Income Per Share for further discussion.

12
 
 
 

Table of Contents
Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)



Income Taxes
 
Vantiv, Inc. is taxed as a C corporation for U.S. income tax purposes and is therefore subject to both federal and state taxation at a corporate level.
 
Income taxes are computed in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, and reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and the corresponding income tax amounts. The Company has deferred tax assets and liabilities and maintains valuation allowances where it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. To the extent the Company determines that it will not realize the benefit of some or all of its deferred tax assets, such deferred tax assets will be adjusted through the Company’s provision for income taxes in the period in which this determination is made. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 the Company had recorded no valuation allowances against deferred tax assets.

The Company's consolidated interim effective tax rate is based upon expected annual income from operations, statutory tax rates and tax laws in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Significant or unusual items, including adjustments to accruals for tax uncertainties, are recognized in the quarter in which the related event occurs.

The Company's effective tax rates were 27.5% and 28.6%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The effective tax rate for each period reflects the impact of the Company's non-controlling interests.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
Investments with original maturities of three months or less (that are readily convertible to cash) are considered to be cash equivalents and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Cash equivalents consist primarily of overnight EuroDollar sweep accounts which are maintained at reputable financial institutions with high credit quality and therefore are considered to bear minimal credit risk.
 
Accounts Receivable—net
 
Accounts receivable primarily represent processing revenues earned but not collected. For a majority of its customers, the Company has the authority to debit the client’s bank accounts through the Federal Reserve’s Automated Clearing House; as such, collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company records a reserve for doubtful accounts when it is probable that the accounts receivable will not be collected. The Company reviews historical loss experience and the financial position of its customers when estimating the allowance. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the allowance for doubtful accounts was not material to the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position.
 
Customer Incentives
 
Customer incentives represent signing bonuses paid to customers. Customer incentives are paid in connection with the acquisition or renewal of customer contracts, and are therefore deferred and amortized using the straight-line method based on the contractual agreement. Related amortization is recorded as contra-revenue.
 
Property, Equipment and Software—net
 
Property, equipment and software consists of the Company’s corporate headquarters facility, furniture and equipment, software and leasehold improvements. These assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their respective useful lives, which are 15 to 40 years for the Company’s corporate headquarters facility and related improvements, 2 to 10 years for furniture and equipment, 3 to 5 years for software and 3 to 10 years for leasehold improvements or the lesser of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the term of lease. Also included in property, equipment and software is work in progress consisting of costs associated with software developed for internal use which has not yet been placed in service.
 
The Company capitalizes certain costs related to computer software developed for internal use and amortizes such costs on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of 3 to 5 years. Research and development costs incurred prior to establishing technological feasibility are charged to operations as such costs are incurred. Once technological feasibility has been established, costs are capitalized until the software is placed in service. Accumulated depreciation as March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $153.9 million and $137.4 million, respectively.
 

13
 
 
 

Table of Contents
Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
In accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other, the Company tests goodwill for impairment for each reporting unit on an annual basis, or when events occur or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying value. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. The Company performed its most recent annual goodwill impairment test for all reporting units as of July 31, 2013 using market data and discounted cash flow analyses. Based on this analysis, it was determined that the fair value of all reporting units was substantially in excess of the carrying value. There have been no other events or changes in circumstances subsequent to the testing date that would indicate impairment of these reporting units as of March 31, 2014.

Intangible assets consist primarily of acquired customer relationships amortized over their estimated useful lives and an indefinite lived trade name not subject to amortization. The Company reviews the acquired customer relationships for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. As of March 31, 2014, there have been no such events or circumstances that would indicate potential impairment. The indefinite lived trade name is tested for impairment annually. The Company performed its most recent annual trade name impairment test as of July 31, 2013, which indicated there was no impairment. There have been no other events or changes in circumstances subsequent to the testing date that would indicate impairment of the trade name as of March 31, 2014.
 
Settlement Assets and Obligations
 
Settlement assets and obligations result from Financial Institution Services when funds are transferred from or received by the Company prior to receiving or paying funds to a different entity. This timing difference results in a settlement asset or obligation. The amounts are generally collected or paid the following business day.
 
The settlement assets and obligations recorded by Merchant Services represent intermediary balances due to differences between the amount the Sponsoring Member receives from the card associations and the amount funded to the merchants. Such differences arise from timing differences, interchange expenses, merchant reserves and exception items. In addition, certain card associations limit the Company from accessing or controlling merchant settlement funds and, instead, require that these funds be controlled by the Sponsoring Member. The Company follows a net settlement process whereby, if the settlement received from the card associations precedes the funding obligation to the merchant, the Company temporarily records a corresponding liability. Conversely, if the funding obligation to the merchant precedes the settlement from the card associations, the amount of the net receivable position is recorded by the Company, or in some cases, the Sponsoring Member may cover the position with its own funds in which case a receivable position is not recorded by the Company.
 
Derivatives
 
The Company accounts for derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. This guidance establishes accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are required to be recorded on the statement of financial position at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item will be recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the derivative will be recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") and will be recognized in the statement of income when the hedged item affects earnings. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Tax Receivable Agreements

As of March 31, 2014, the Company is party to two tax receivable agreements ("TRAs") with Fifth Third, which were executed in connection with its initial public offering ("IPO"). One provides for the payment by the Company to Fifth Third of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax that the Company actually realizes as a result of the increases in tax basis that may result from the purchase of Vantiv Holding units from Fifth Third or from the future exchange of units by Fifth Third for cash or shares of the Company's Class A common stock, as well as the tax benefits attributable to payments made under such tax receivable agreement. Any actual increase in tax basis, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of exchanges, the price of shares of the Company's Class A common stock at the time of the exchange, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable, and the amount and timing of the Company's income. The other tax receivable agreement provides for the payment by the Company to Fifth Third of 85% of the amount of cash savings according to Fifth Third's respective

14
 
 
 

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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


ownership interests in Vantiv Holding immediately prior to the Company's IPO, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax that National Processing Company ("NPC") actually realizes as a result of its use of its net operating losses ("NOLs") and other tax attributes.

Payments under the TRAs are only required to the extent the Company realizes cash savings as a result of the underlying tax attributes. For each of the TRAs discussed above, the cash savings realized by the Company are computed by comparing the Company's actual income tax liability to the amount of such taxes the Company would have been required to pay had there been no increase to the tax basis of the assets of Vantiv Holding as a result of the purchase or exchange of Vantiv Holding units and had there been no tax benefit as a result of the NOLs and other tax attributes at NPC.  As such, obligations recorded pursuant to the TRAs are based on estimates of future taxable income and future tax rates. The Company will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these tax savings.

The timing and/or amount of aggregate payments due under the TRAs may vary based on a number of factors, including the amount and timing of the taxable income the Company generates in the future and the tax rate then applicable, the use of loss carryovers and amortizable basis. The first contractually obligated payment under the TRA obligations of approximately $8.6 million was paid in January 2014. Subsequent to this TRA payment, as of March 31, 2014, $22.6 million is the balance of the current portion of tax receivable agreement obligations to related parties on the accompanying statement of financial position. The term of the TRAs will continue until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired, unless the Company exercises its right to terminate the TRA for an amount based on the agreed payments remaining to be made under the agreement.

2. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company's intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Customer relationship intangible assets
 
$
1,232,904

 
$
1,234,042

Trade name - indefinite lived
 
41,000

 
41,000

Trade name - finite lived
 
500

 
500

Customer portfolios and related assets
 
45,140

 
26,422

 
 
1,319,544

 
1,301,964

 
 
 
 
 
Less accumulated amortization on:
 
 
 
 
  Customer relationship intangible assets
 
526,132

 
496,906

Trade name - finite lived
 
333

 
208

  Customer portfolios and related assets
 
12,344

 
9,518

 
 
538,809

 
506,632

 
 
$
780,735

 
$
795,332

  
During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company acquired approximately $18.7 million of customer portfolios and related assets, which are being amortized over a weighted average useful life of 3.2 years. Amortization expense on intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $33.3 million and $31.4 million, respectively.

The estimated amortization expense of intangible assets for the next five years is as follows (in thousands):
Nine months ending December 31, 2014
 
$
100,008

2015
 
126,171

2016
 
119,904

2017
 
114,315

2018
 
110,484

2019
 
107,263



15
 
 
 

Table of Contents
Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


3. DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
 
Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives
 
The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of its known or expected cash payments related to its variable-rate debt. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s derivative instruments consisted of interest rate swaps, which hedged the variable rate debt by converting floating-rate payments to fixed-rate payments. These swaps are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.
 
Accounting for Derivative Instruments
 
The Company recognizes derivatives in other non-current assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position at their fair values. Refer to Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements for a detailed discussion of the fair value of its derivatives. The Company designates its interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges of forecasted interest rate payments related to its variable-rate debt.
 
The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and underlying hedged transactions, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges to forecasted transactions. A formal assessment of hedge effectiveness is performed both at inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis to determine whether the hedge is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the underlying hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is assessed using a regression analysis. If it is determined that a derivative ceases to be highly effective during the term of the hedge, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting for such derivative.
 
The Company’s interest rate swaps qualify for hedge accounting under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Therefore, the effective portion of changes in fair value were recorded in AOCI and will be reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transactions affected earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
 
The Company's objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish these objectives, the Company uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had 16 outstanding interest rate swaps with a combined notional balance of $1.4 billion (amortizing to $1.1 billion) covering an exposure period from June 2013 through June 2017 that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk. Fifth Third is the counterparty to 5 of the 16 outstanding interest rate swaps with notional balances ranging from $318.8 million to $262.5 million.
 
The Company does not offset derivative positions in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges included within the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position (in thousands):
 
Consolidated Statement of
Financial Position Location
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Interest rate swaps
Other long-term assets
 
$
3,441

 
$
4,545

Interest rate swaps
Other long-term liabilities
 
$
5,047

 
$
3,728

 
Any ineffectiveness associated with such derivative instruments is recorded immediately as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. As of March 31, 2014, the Company estimates that $3.3 million will be reclassified from AOCI as an increase to interest expense during the next 12 months.


16
 
 
 

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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


The table below presents the effect of the Company’s interest rate swaps on the accompanying consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (in thousands). During the three months ended March 31, 2013 there was no derivative activity. 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2014
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:
 

Amount of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (effective portion)
$
(2,599
)
Amount of loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings (effective portion)
(335
)
Amount of loss recognized in earnings (1)
(158
)
 
(1)
Amount represents ineffectiveness and is recorded as a component of interest expense-net in the accompanying consolidated statement of income.

Credit Risk Related Contingent Features

The Company has agreements with each of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.

As of March 31, 2014, the fair value of derivatives in a net liability position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $3.2 million. As of March 31, 2014, the Company has not posted any collateral related to these agreements. If the Company had breached any of these provisions at March 31, 2014, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their termination value of $3.2 million.

4. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES

Legal Reserve
 
From time to time, the Company is involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of its business. While it is impossible to ascertain the ultimate resolution or range of financial liability with respect to these contingent matters, management believes none of these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a material effect upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

5. CONTROLLING AND NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS IN VANTIV HOLDING
 
As discussed in Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Vantiv, Inc. owns a controlling interest in Vantiv Holding, and therefore consolidates the financial results of Vantiv Holding and records non-controlling interest for the economic interests in Vantiv Holding held by Fifth Third.
 
As of March 31, 2014, Vantiv, Inc.’s interest in Vantiv Holding was 74.18%. Changes in units and related ownership interest in Vantiv Holding are summarized as follows:
 
Vantiv, Inc.
 
Fifth Third
 
Total
As of December 31, 2013
141,758,681

 
48,822,826

 
190,581,507

% of ownership
74.38
%
 
25.62
%
 
 

Share repurchases
(1,108,700
)
 

 
(1,108,700
)
Equity plan activity (a)
(374,908
)
 

 
(374,908
)
As of March 31, 2014
140,275,073

 
48,822,826

 
189,097,899

% of ownership
74.18
%
 
25.82
%
 
 

 
(a)
Includes stock issued under equity plans, repurchase of Class A common stock to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations and forfeitures of restricted Class A common stock awards.


17
 
 
 

Table of Contents
Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


As a result of the changes in ownership interests in Vantiv Holding, an adjustment of $9.5 million has been recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2014 in order to reflect the portion of net assets of Vantiv Holding attributable to non-controlling unit holders based on ownership interests in Vantiv Holding since the end of 2013.

The table below provides a reconciliation of net income attributable to non-controlling interests based on relative ownership interests in Vantiv Holding as discussed above (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March, 31
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
$
41,091

 
$
44,465

Items not allocable to non-controlling interests:
 

 
 

Vantiv, Inc. income tax expense (a)
9,192

 
10,842

Vantiv Holding net income
50,283

 
55,307

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests (b)
$
12,955

 
$
18,346

 
 
(a)                    Represents income tax expense related to Vantiv, Inc.
(b)                     Net income attributable to non-controlling interests reflects the allocation of Vantiv Holding’s net income based on the proportionate ownership interests in Vantiv Holding held by the non-controlling unitholders. The net income attributable to non-controlling unitholders reflects the changes in ownership interests summarized in the table above.

6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company uses the hierarchy prescribed in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, based upon the available inputs to the valuation and the degree to which they are observable or not observable in the market. The three levels in the hierarchy are as follows:
 
Level 1 Inputs—Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that are accessible as of the measurement date.
 
Level 2 Inputs—Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly, including but not limited to quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and observable inputs other than quoted prices such as interest rates or yield curves.
 
Level 3 Inputs—Unobservable inputs reflecting the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk.
 
The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
$

 
$
3,441

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,545

 
$

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swaps
$

 
$
5,047

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,728

 
$

 
Interest Rate Swaps
 
The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. The fair value of interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts). The variable cash payments (or receipts) are based on the expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observed market interest rate curves. In addition, to comply with the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, credit valuation adjustments, which consider the impact of any credit enhancements to the contracts, are incorporated in the fair values to account for potential nonperformance risk. In adjusting the fair value of its

18
 
 
 

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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


interest rate swaps for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered any applicable credit enhancements such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts, and guarantees.
 
Although the Company determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate swaps fell within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its interest rate swaps utilized Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. However, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its interest rate swaps and determined that the credit valuation adjustment was not significant to the overall valuation of its interest rate swaps. As a result, the Company classified its interest rate swap valuations in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 - Derivatives and Hedging Activities for further discussion of the Company’s interest rate swaps.

The following table summarizes carrying amounts and estimated fair values for financial assets and liabilities, excluding assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
136,968

 
$
136,968

 
$
171,427

 
$
171,427

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Note payable
1,788,275

 
1,794,379

 
1,811,250

 
1,815,459

 
Due to the short-term nature of cash and cash equivalents, the carrying value approximates fair value. Cash and cash equivalents are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the Company’s note payable was estimated based on rates currently available to the Company for bank loans with similar terms and maturities and is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

7.  NET INCOME PER SHARE
 
Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc. by the weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding during the period.

Diluted net income per share is calculated assuming that Vantiv Holding is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vantiv, Inc., therefore eliminating the impact of non-controlling interests. As such, due to the Company's structure as a C corporation and Vantiv Holding's structure as a pass-through entity for tax purposes, the numerator in the calculation of diluted net income per share is adjusted accordingly to reflect the Company's income tax expense assuming the conversion of the non-controlling interest into Class A common stock. The denominator is adjusted to include the weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding assuming conversion of the Class B units of Vantiv Holding held by the non-controlling interest on an "if-converted" basis. As of March 31, 2014 and 2013, there were approximately 48.8 million and 70.2 million Class B units outstanding, respectively.
 
In addition to the Class B units discussed above, potentially dilutive securities during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 included restricted stock awards, the warrant held by Fifth Third which allows for the purchase of Class C units of Vantiv Holding, stock options and performance share units. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 approximately 633,000 and 218,000, respectively, performance share units have been excluded as the applicable performance metrics had not been met as of the reporting date. Approximately 673,000 stock options were excluded for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as they were anti-dilutive during the period.
 
The shares of Class B common stock do not share in the earnings or losses of the Company and are therefore not participating securities. Accordingly, basic and diluted net income per share of Class B common stock has not been presented.

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Table of Contents
Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)



The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except share data): 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Basic:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc.
$
28,136

 
$
26,119

Shares used in computing basic net income per share:
 
 
 

Weighted-average Class A common shares
138,228,839

 
137,084,276

Basic net income per share
$
0.20

 
$
0.19

Diluted:
 
 
 

Consolidated income before applicable income taxes
$
56,713

 
$
62,276

Income tax expense excluding impact of non-controlling interest
20,700

 
23,976

Net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc.
36,013

 
38,300

Shares used in computing diluted net income per share:
 
 
 

Weighted-average Class A common shares
138,228,839

 
137,084,276

Weighted-average Class B units of Vantiv Holding
48,822,826

 
70,219,136

Warrant
10,007,028

 
5,301,711

Restricted stock awards
1,826,035

 
1,979,668

Stock options
65,249

 

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
198,949,977

 
214,584,791

Diluted net income per share
$
0.18

 
$
0.18


8. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
The activity of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to cash flow hedging activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 is presented below (in thousands). During the three months ended March 31, 2013, there were no components of AOCI.
 
 
 
 
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 AOCI Beginning Balance
 
Pretax Activity
 
Tax Effect
 
 Net Activity
 
Attributable to non-controlling interests
 
Attributable to Vantiv, Inc.
 
AOCI Ending Balance
Three months ended March 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Net change in fair value recorded in accumulated OCI
 
$
(5
)
 
$
(2,599
)
 
$
704

 
$
(1,895
)
 
$
663

 
$
(1,232
)
 
$
(1,237
)
 Net realized loss reclassified into earnings (a)
 
269

 
335

 
(93
)
 
242

 
(87
)
 
155

 
424

 Net change
 
$
264

 
$
(2,264
)
 
$
611

 
$
(1,653
)
 
$
576

 
$
(1,077
)
 
$
(813
)
 

(a)    The reclassification adjustment on cash flow hedge derivatives affected the following lines in the accompanying consolidated statements of income:    
 OCI Component
 
   Affected line in the accompanying consolidated statements of income
Pretax activity
 
Interest expense-net
Tax effect
 
Income tax expense
OCI Attributable to non-controlling interests
 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

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Vantiv, Inc.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)



9. SEGMENT INFORMATION
     
Segment operating results are presented below (in thousands). The results reflect revenues and expenses directly related to each segment. The Company does not evaluate performance or allocate resources based on segment asset data, and therefore such information is not presented.
 
Segment profit reflects total revenue less network fees and other costs and sales and marketing costs of the segment. The Company’s CODM evaluates this metric in analyzing the results of operations for each segment. 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
 
Merchant
Services
 
Financial
Institution
Services
 
Total
Total revenue
 
$
418,766

 
$
118,812

 
$
537,578

Network fees and other costs
 
213,440

 
35,606

 
249,046

Sales and marketing
 
71,751

 
6,693

 
78,444

Segment profit
 
$
133,575

 
$
76,513

 
$
210,088

 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
 
Merchant
Services
 
Financial
Institution
Services
 
Total
Total revenue
 
$
385,584

 
$
112,382

 
$
497,966

Network fees and other costs
 
193,996

 
31,069

 
225,065

Sales and marketing
 
70,150

 
5,826

 
75,976

Segment profit
 
$
121,438

 
$
75,487

 
$
196,925

 
 A reconciliation of total segment profit to the Company’s income before applicable income taxes is as follows (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Total segment profit
$
210,088

 
$
196,925

Less: Other operating costs
(60,369
)
 
(50,560
)
Less: General and administrative
(32,606
)
 
(31,099
)
Less: Depreciation and amortization
(49,846
)
 
(43,296
)
Less: Interest expense—net
(10,554
)
 
(9,694
)
Income before applicable income taxes
$
56,713

 
$
62,276


* * * * *

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Vantiv, Inc.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS



Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our results, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This management's discussion and analysis should also be read in conjunction with the management's discussion and analysis and consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our 10-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014.

General

We are the third largest merchant acquirer and the largest personal identification number ("PIN") debit acquirer by transaction volume, according to the Nilson Report, and a leading, integrated payment processor in the United States differentiated by a single, proprietary technology platform. This enables us to efficiently provide a suite of comprehensive services to both merchants and financial institutions of all sizes in the United States. Our technology platform offers our clients a single point of access and service that is easy to connect to and use in order to access a broad range of payment services and solutions. Our integrated business and single platform also enable us to innovate, develop and deploy new services and provide us with significant economies of scale. Our varied and broad distribution provides us with a diverse client base and channel partner relationships.

We believe our single, proprietary technology platform is differentiated from our competitors' multiple platform architectures. Because of our single point of service and ability to collect, manage and analyze data across the payment processing value chain, we can identify and develop new services more efficiently. Once developed, we can more cost-effectively deploy new solutions to our clients through our single platform. Our single scalable platform also enables us to efficiently manage, update and maintain our technology, increase capacity and speed and realize significant operating leverage.

We enable merchants of all sizes to accept and process credit, debit and prepaid payments and provide them supporting services, such as information solutions, interchange management and fraud management, as well as vertical-specific solutions in sectors such as grocery, pharmacy, retail, and restaurants/quick service restaurants. We also provide mission critical payment services to financial institutions, such as card issuer processing, payment network processing, fraud protection, card production, prepaid program management, automated teller machine ("ATM") driving and network gateway and switching services that utilize our proprietary Jeanie PIN debit payment network.

We provide small and mid-sized clients with the comprehensive solutions that we have developed to address the extensive requirements of our large clients. We then tailor these solutions to the unique needs of our small and mid-sized clients. In addition, we take a consultative approach to providing these services that helps our clients enhance their payments-related services.

We distribute our services through diversified distribution channels using a unified sales approach that enables us to efficiently and effectively target merchants and financial institutions of all sizes. These channels include national sales forces that target financial institutions and national merchants, regional and mid-market sales teams that sell solutions to merchants and third-party reseller clients and a telesales operation that targets small and mid-sized merchants. In addition, we have relationships with a broad range of merchant banks; technology partners, which include independent software vendors, or ISVs, value-added resellers, or VARs and payment facilitators; independent sales organizations, or ISOs, and trade associations that target merchants, including difficult to reach small and mid-sized merchants. We also have relationships with third-party resellers and core processors that target financial institutions.

Executive Overview

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased 8% to $537.6 million from $498.0 million in 2013.     

Income from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased 7% to $67.3 million from $72.0 million in 2013.

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased 8% to $41.1 million from $44.5 million in 2013. Net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc. for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased 8% to $28.1 million from $26.1 million in 2013.

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In October 2013, our board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $137 million of our Class A common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, approximately 1.1 million shares were repurchased for $34.4 million, which completed the repurchases under this authorization.    

In February 2014, our board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to an additional $300 million of our Class A common stock. No shares have been repurchased under this authorization.

In March 2014, a secondary offering took place in which Advent International Corporation sold its remaining 18.8 million shares of our Class A common stock. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale.
    
Recent Acquisitions

On July 31, 2013, we acquired Element Payment Services, Inc. for approximately $162.5 million in cash. This acquisition provides us the strategic capabilities to partner with ISVs and positions us to increase our presence in the integrated payments market. On November 30, 2012, we acquired Litle & Co., LLC ("Litle"), an ecommerce payment processor for approximately $361 million in cash. The acquisition of Litle has strengthened our capabilities in ecommerce, expanded our customer base of on-line merchants and enabled delivery of Litle's innovative ecommerce solutions to our merchant and financial institution clients. The operations of Litle and Element are included in our Merchant Services segment operating results.    

Our Segments, Revenue and Expenses
 
Segments
 
We operate as a single integrated business and report our results of operations in two segments, Merchant Services and Financial Institution Services. We evaluate segment performance based upon segment profit, which is defined as net revenue, which represents total revenue less network fees and other costs, less sales and marketing expense attributable to that segment.

Merchant Services

We provide a comprehensive suite of payment processing services, including acquiring and processing transactions, value-added services and merchant services for banks and credit unions. We authorize, clear, settle and provide reporting for electronic payment transactions for our merchant services clients at the point-of-sale and on-line. Our client base includes over 400,000 merchant locations, with a concentration in the non-discretionary everyday spend categories where spending has generally been more resilient during economic downturns.

We provide our merchant services to merchants of varying sizes, which provides us with a number of key benefits. Due to the large transaction volume that they generate, large national merchants provide us with significant operating scale efficiencies and recurring revenues. Small and mid-sized merchants are more difficult to reach on an individual basis, but generally generate higher per transaction fees.

Financial Institution Services

We provide integrated card issuer processing, payment network processing and value-added services to financial institutions. Our services include a comprehensive suite of transaction processing capabilities, including fraud protection, card production, prepaid cards, ATM driving, portfolio optimization, data analytics and card program marketing and allow financial institutions to offer electronic payments solutions to their customers on a secure and reliable technology platform at a competitive cost. We provide these services using a consultative approach that helps our financial institution clients enhance their payments-related business.

We serve a diverse set of financial institutions, including regional banks, community banks, credit unions and regional PIN debit networks. We focus on small to mid-sized institutions with less than $15 billion in assets. Smaller financial institutions, including many of our clients, generally do not have the scale or infrastructure typical of large banks and are more likely to outsource payment processing needs. We provide a turnkey solution to such institutions to enable them to offer payment processing solutions.


23
 
 
 

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Revenue
 
We generate revenue primarily by processing electronic payment transactions. Set forth below is a description of our revenues by segment and factors impacting segment revenues.

 Our Merchant Services segment revenues are primarily derived from processing credit and debit card transactions. Merchant Services revenue is primarily comprised of fees charged to businesses, net of interchange fees, for payment processing services, including authorization, capture, clearing, settlement and information reporting of electronic transactions. The fees charged consist of either a percentage of the dollar volume of the transaction or a fixed fee, or both, and are recognized at the time of the transaction. Merchant Services revenue also includes a number of revenue items that are incurred by us and are reimbursable as the costs are passed through to and paid by our clients. These items primarily consist of Visa, MasterCard and other payment network fees. In addition, for sales through referral partners in which we are the primary party to the contract with the merchant, we record the full amount of the fees collected from the merchant as revenue. Associated residual payments made to referral partners are included in sales and marketing expenses. Merchant Services revenue also includes revenue from ancillary services such as fraud management, equipment sales and terminal rent. Revenue in our Merchant Services segment is impacted primarily by transaction volume, average transaction size, the mix of merchant types in our client portfolio, the performance of our merchant clients and the effectiveness of our distribution channels.
    
Our Financial Institution Services revenues are primarily derived from debit, credit and ATM card transaction processing, ATM driving and support, PIN debit processing services and value added services such as fraud mitigation services. Financial Institution Services revenue associated with processing transactions includes per transaction and account related fees, card production fees and fees generated from our Jeanie network. Financial Institution Services revenue is impacted by the number of financial institutions using our services as well as their transaction volume. The number of financial institutions in the United States has declined as a result of prevailing economic conditions and consolidation, as well as other market and regulatory pressures. These factors have contributed to industry-wide pricing compression of the fees that financial institutions are willing to pay for payment processing. Since 2011, pricing compression in the Financial Institution Services segment has represented on average 3% or less of net revenue on an annual basis.
 
Network Fees and Other Costs
 
Network fees and other costs consist primarily of charges incurred by us which we pass through to our clients, including Visa, MasterCard and other payment network fees, third party processing expenses, telecommunication charges, postage and card production costs.
 
Net Revenue
 
Net revenue is revenue, less network fees and other costs and reflects revenue generated from the services we provide to our clients. Management uses net revenue to assess our operating performance. We believe that net revenue, when reviewed together with revenue, is meaningful to our investors in order to understand our performance.
 
Expenses
 
Set forth below is a brief description of the components of our expenses, aside from the network fees and other costs discussed above:
 
Sales and marketing expense primarily consists of salaries and benefits paid to sales personnel, sales management and other sales and marketing personnel, residual payments made to referral partners and advertising and promotional costs.

Other operating costs primarily consist of salaries and benefits paid to operational and IT personnel, costs associated with operating our technology platform and data centers, information technology costs for processing transactions, product development costs, software consulting fees and maintenance costs.
 
General and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits paid to executive management and administrative employees, including finance, human resources, product development, legal and risk management, share-based compensation costs, equipment and occupancy costs and consulting costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense consists of our depreciation expense related to investments in property, equipment and software as well as our amortization of intangible assets, principally customer relationships

24
 
 
 

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acquired in connection with the acquisition of a majority interest in Vantiv Holding in June 2009 and our subsequent acquisitions.

Interest expense—net consists primarily of interest on borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities less interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents.

Income tax expense represents federal, state and local taxes based on income in multiple jurisdictions.
 
Non-Controlling Interest
 
As a result of the non-controlling ownership interests in Vantiv Holding held by Fifth Third Bank ("Fifth Third"), our results of operations include net income attributable to non-controlling interests. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $13.0 million and $18.3 million, respectively. Future sales or redemptions of ownership interests in Vantiv Holding by Fifth Third will continue to reduce the amount recorded as non-controlling interest and increase net earnings attributable to our Class A stockholders.

Factors and Trends Impacting Our Business and Results of Operations
 
We expect a number of factors will impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. In general, our revenue is impacted by the number and dollar volume of card based transactions which in turn are impacted by general economic conditions, consumer spending and the emergence of new technologies and payment types, such as ecommerce, mobile payments, and prepaid cards. In our Merchant Services segment, our net revenues are impacted by the mix of the size of merchants that we provide services to as well as the mix of transaction volume by merchant category. In our Financial Institution Services segment, our net revenues are also impacted by the mix of the size of financial institutions to which we provide services as well as consolidation and market and industry pressures, which have contributed and are expected to continue to contribute to pricing compression of payment processing fees in this segment. We also expect our results of operations to be impacted by the factors discussed below.

Pro Forma Adjusted Net Income
 
We use pro forma adjusted net income for financial and operational decision making as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons of our performance and results of operations. Pro forma adjusted net income is also incorporated into performance metrics underlying certain share-based payments issued under the 2012 Vantiv, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan and our variable compensation plan. We believe pro forma adjusted net income provides useful information about our performance and operating results, enhances the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allows for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making.

In calculating pro forma adjusted net income, we make certain non-GAAP adjustments, as well as pro forma adjustments, to adjust our GAAP operating results for the items discussed below. This measure should be considered together with GAAP operating results.
 
Non-GAAP Adjustments

Transition, Acquisition and Integration Costs
 
In connection with our acquisitions, we incurred costs associated with the acquisitions and related integration activities, consisting primarily of consulting fees for advisory and integration services and related personnel costs. Additionally, our expenses include costs associated with a one-time signing bonus issued to certain employees that transferred to us from Fifth Third in connection with our separation from Fifth Third in June 2009. This signing bonus contained a five-year vesting period beginning on the date of the separation. Also included are charges related to employee termination benefits. These transition, acquisition and integration costs are included in other operating costs and general and administrative expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, transition, acquisition and integration costs were $7.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation
 
Prior to our initial public offering ("IPO") in March 2012, certain employees and directors of Vantiv Holding participated in the Vantiv Holding Management Phantom Equity Plan. In connection with the IPO, outstanding awards under the Vantiv Holding Management Phantom Equity Plan were converted into unrestricted and restricted stock,

25
 
 
 

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issued under the 2012 Vantiv, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Subsequent to the IPO, we have granted share-based awards to certain employees and members of our board of directors and intend to continue to grant additional share-based awards in the future. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we incurred share-based compensation expense of $8.9 million and $6.7 million, respectively. Share-based compensation is included in general and administrative expense.
 
Intangible Amortization Expense

These expenses represent amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations and customer portfolio and related asset acquisitions.

Pro Forma Adjustments

Income Tax Expense Adjustments
 
Our effective tax rate reported in our results of operations reflects the impact of our non-controlling interest not being taxed at the statutory corporate tax rate. For purposes of calculating pro forma adjusted net income, income tax expense is adjusted to reflect an effective tax rate assuming conversion of non-controlling interests into shares of Class A common stock, including the income tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments described above. The adjusted effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was 36.5% and 38.5%, respectively. The adjusted effective tax rate was primarily impacted favorably by deductions related to the federal IRC Section 199, which allows for the deduction of a portion of the income related to domestically produced computer software.

Tax Adjustments

In addition to the adjustment described above, income tax expense is also adjusted for the cash tax benefits resulting from certain tax attributes, primarily the amortization of tax intangible assets resulting from or acquired with our acquisitions, the tax basis step up associated with our separation from Fifth Third and the purchase or exchange of Class B units of Vantiv Holding, net of payment obligations under tax receivable agreements ("TRAs") established at the time of our IPO. The estimate of the cash tax benefits is based on the consistent and highly predictable realization of the underlying tax attributes.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, we entered into an agreement to terminate and settle in full our obligations to Advent International Corporation ("Advent") and JPDN Enterprises, LLC ("JPDN") under the TRAs. As a result, the full amount of the cash tax benefits resulting from the realization of the tax attributes underlying the respective TRAs is reflected in the March 31, 2014 pro forma adjusted net income.
 
The table below provides a reconciliation of pro forma adjusted net income to GAAP net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in thousands)
Income before applicable taxes
$
56,713

 
$
62,276

Non-GAAP Adjustments:
 
 
 
Transition, acquisition and integration costs
7,601

 
3,221

Share-based compensation
8,939

 
6,740

Intangible amortization
32,248

 
30,460

Non-GAAP Adjusted Income Before Applicable Taxes
105,501

 
102,697

Pro Forma Adjustments:
 
 
 
Income tax expense adjustment
(38,508
)
 
(39,538
)
Tax adjustments
10,629

 
4,242

Pro Forma Adjusted Net Income
$
77,622

 
$
67,401



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Results of Operations
 
The following tables set forth our statements of income in dollars and as a percentage of net revenue for the periods presented.
 
Three Months Ended
 March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenue
$
537,578

 
$
497,966

 
$
39,612

 
8
 %
Network fees and other costs
249,046

 
225,065

 
23,981

 
11

Net revenue
288,532

 
272,901

 
15,631

 
6

Sales and marketing
78,444

 
75,976

 
2,468

 
3

Other operating costs
60,369

 
50,560

 
9,809

 
19

General and administrative
32,606

 
31,099

 
1,507

 
5

Depreciation and amortization
49,846

 
43,296

 
6,550

 
15

Income from operations
$
67,267

 
$
71,970

 
$
(4,703
)
 
(7
)%
Non-financial data:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Transactions (in millions)
4,217

 
3,974

 
 

 
6
 %
     
As a Percentage of Net Revenue
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net revenue
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Sales and marketing
27.2

 
27.8

Other operating costs
20.9

 
18.5

General and administrative
11.3

 
11.4

Depreciation and amortization
17.3

 
15.9

Income from operations
23.3
%
 
26.4
%

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Revenue

Revenue increased 8% to $537.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $498.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was due primarily to transaction growth of 6%. Our recent acquisition has expanded our technology partner channels and continued growth in our ecommerce channel has led to higher revenue per transaction.

Network Fees and Other Costs

Network fees and other costs increased 11% to $249.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $225.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was due primarily to transaction growth of 6% and higher network fees due to a shift in transaction mix as a result of our recent acquisitions, partially offset by debit routing benefits.
 
Net Revenue

Net revenue increased 6% to $288.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $272.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase in net revenue was due primarily to transaction growth of 6%.

 Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense increased 3% to $78.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $76.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to our recent acquisitions.


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Other Operating Costs
 
Other operating costs increased 19% to $60.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $50.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to our recent acquisitions and an increase in information technology infrastructure in support of growth initiatives. Also contributing to the increase was a $4.4 million increase in acquisition and integration costs.
 
General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses increased 5% to $32.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $31.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in share-based compensation of $2.2 million.
 
Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense increased 15% to $49.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $43.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was due primarily to an increase in capital expenditures largely related to our information technology infrastructure in support of growth initiatives, as well as depreciation and amortization expense related to assets acquired in connection with our recent acquisitions, primarily consisting of amortization of customer relationship intangible assets.

Income from Operations

Income from operations decreased 7% to $67.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $72.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

Interest Expense—Net

Interest expense - net was $10.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, reflecting a slight increase compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase reflects our May 2013 debt refinancing, which resulted in an increase in the amount of debt by approximately $650 million, the impact of which was substantially offset be the reduction in applicable interest rates.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $15.6 million compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, reflecting effective tax rates of 27.5% and 28.6%, respectively.  Our effective tax rate reflects the impact of our non-controlling interest not being taxed at the statutory corporate tax rate. Further, as our non-controlling interest declines to the point Vantiv Holding is a wholly-owned subsidiary, we expect our effective rate to increase to approximately 36.5%.

As a result of the acquisition of Litle, we generated tax benefits to be recognized over a period of 15 years from the date of the acquisition. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, these benefits were approximately $2.6 million. This benefit does not have an impact on our effective tax rate; however, savings retained by us are reflected in pro forma adjusted net income discussed above.

We are currently party to two TRAs with our pre-IPO investors. The TRAs obligate us to make payments to such investors equal to 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in income taxes that we realize as a result of certain tax basis increases and net operating losses. We will retain the remaining 15% of cash savings. As we purchase units of Vantiv Holding from Fifth Third or as Fifth Third exchanges units of Vantiv Holding for cash or shares of Vantiv, Inc. Class A common stock in the future, we expect the associated cash savings to increase as a result of additional tax basis increases.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, we entered into an agreement to terminate and settle in full our obligations to Advent and JPDN under the TRAs. As a result, the full amount of the cash tax benefits resulting from the realization of the tax attributes underlying the respective TRAs is reflected in the March 31, 2014 pro forma adjusted net income.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the cash savings retained by us were approximately $8.0 million. The TRAs do not have an impact on our effective tax rate; however, savings retained by us are reflected in pro forma adjusted net income discussed above.

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Segment Results

The following tables provide a summary of the components of segment profit for our two segments for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Merchant Services
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total revenue
 
$
418,766

 
$
385,584

 
$
33,182

 
9
%
Network fees and other costs
 
213,440

 
193,996

 
19,444

 
10

Net revenue
 
205,326

 
191,588

 
13,738

 
7

Sales and marketing
 
71,751

 
70,150

 
1,601

 
2

Segment profit
 
$
133,575

 
$
121,438

 
$
12,137

 
10
%
Non-financial data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 


Transactions (in millions)
 
3,310

 
3,123

 
 

 
6
%

Net Revenue

Net revenue in this segment increased 7% to $205.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $191.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2014 was due primarily to transaction growth of 6%. Our recent acquisition has expanded our technology partner channels and continued growth in our ecommerce channel has led to higher net revenue per transaction.

Sales and Marketing
 
Sales and marketing expense increased 2% to $71.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $70.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to our recent acquisitions.

 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial Institution Services
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total revenue
 
$
118,812

 
$
112,382

 
$
6,430

 
6
%
Network fees and other costs
 
35,606

 
31,069

 
4,537

 
15

Net revenue
 
83,206

 
81,313

 
1,893

 
2

Sales and marketing
 
6,693

 
5,826

 
867

 
15

Segment profit
 
$
76,513

 
$
75,487

 
$
1,026

 
1
%
Non-financial data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Transactions (in millions)
 
907

 
851

 
 

 
7
%

Net Revenue

Net revenue in this segment increased 2% to $83.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $81.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2014 was due primarily to an increase in transactions and higher value added services revenue. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in net revenue per transaction, which was driven by a shift in the mix of our client portfolio, resulting in a lower rate per transaction.
 

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Sales and Marketing
 
     Sales and marketing expense increased 15% to $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, due primarily to personnel related costs associated with our product initiatives.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our liquidity is funded primarily through cash provided by operations, debt and a line of credit, which is generally sufficient to fund our operations, planned capital expenditures, tax distributions made to our non-controlling interest holders, required payments under TRAs, debt service and acquisitions. However, because payments under the TRAs are determined based on realized cash savings resulting from the underlying tax attributes, a period of declining profitability would result in a corresponding reduction in our TRA payments, thus resulting in the TRA having a minimal effect on our liquidity and capital resources. As of March 31, 2014, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of $137.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and $250.0 million of availability under the revolving portion of our senior secured credit facilities. Our total indebtedness, including capital leases, was $1.8 billion as of March 31, 2014.

In October 2013, our board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $137 million of our Class A common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, approximately 1.1 million shares were repurchased for $34.4 million, which completed the repurchases under this authorization.    

In February 2014, our board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to an additional $300 million of our Class A common stock. No shares have been repurchased under this authorization.

In connection with our IPO, we entered into an Exchange Agreement with Fifth Third, under which Fifth Third has the right, from time to time, to exchange their units in Vantiv Holding for shares of our Class A common stock or, at our option, cash. If we choose to satisfy the exchange in cash, we anticipate that we will fund such exchange through cash from operations, funds available under the revolving portion of our senior secured credit facilities, equity financings or a combination thereof.
 
In addition to principal needs for liquidity discussed above, our strategy includes expansion into high growth segments and verticals, entry into new geographic markets and development of additional payment processing services.

 We anticipate that to the extent that we require additional liquidity, it will be funded through the incurrence of other indebtedness, equity financings or a combination. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain this additional liquidity on reasonable terms, or at all. Additionally, our liquidity and our ability to meet our obligations and fund our capital requirements are also dependent on our future financial performance, which is subject to general economic, financial and other factors that are beyond our control. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available under our credit facilities or otherwise to meet our liquidity needs. If we decide to pursue one or more significant acquisitions, we may incur additional debt or sell additional equity to finance such acquisitions.

Cash Flows
 
The following table presents a summary of cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands).
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
84,696

 
$
156,452

Net cash used in investing activities
(46,335
)
 
(12,498
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(72,820
)
 
(69,272
)
 
Cash Flow from Operating Activities
 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $84.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to $156.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  The decrease is primarily due to changes in net settlement assets and obligations. Settlement assets and obligations can fluctuate due to seasonality as well as the day of the month end.

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Cash Flow from Investing Activities
 
Net cash used in investing activities was $46.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to $12.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures and the acquisition of customer portfolios and related assets.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities
 
Net cash used in financing activities was $72.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to $69.3 million for the year ended March 31, 2013. Cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2014 consists of the repayment of debt and capital leases, repurchases of Class A common stock, and payments made under the tax receivable agreements. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, net cash used in financing activities consisted primarily of debt and capital lease payments, funds used to repurchase Class A common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with vestings of stock awards and distributions to non-controlling interests.

Credit Facilities

As of March 31, 2014, our debt consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2014
 
(in thousands)
$1,850.0 million term A loan, maturing on May 15, 2018, and bearing interest at a variable base rate (LIBOR) plus a spread rate (175 basis points) (total rate of 1.90% at March 31, 2014) and amortizing on a basis of 1.25% during each of the first eight quarters, 1.875% during each of the second eight quarters and 2.5% during each of the following three quarters with a balloon payment due at maturity
$
1,780,625

$10.1 million leasehold mortgage, expiring on August 10, 2021 and bearing interest payable monthly at a fixed rate (rate of 6.22% at March 31, 2014)
10,131

Less: Current portion of note payable and current portion of note payable to related party
(92,500
)
Less: Original issue discount
(2,481
)
Total Long-Term Debt
$
1,695,775


In addition to the debt information in the table above, we have a $250 million revolving credit facility. This revolving credit facility matures in May 2018 and includes a $75 million swing line facility and a $40 million letter of credit facility. The commitment fee rate for the unused portion of the revolving credit facility is 0.375% per year.
    
As of March 31, 2014, Fifth Third held $339.2 million of the term A loans.

The loan agreement requires us to maintain a maximum leverage ratio (based upon the ratio of total funded debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the loan agreement) and a minimum interest coverage ratio (based upon the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to interest expense), which are tested quarterly based on the last four fiscal quarters. The required financial ratios become more restrictive over time, with the specific ratios required by period set forth in the below table.
Period
 
Leverage
Ratio
(must not exceed)
 
Interest Coverage
Ratio
(must exceed)
September 30, 2013 to September 30, 2014
 
4.75 to 1.00
 
3.50 to 1.00
December 31, 2014 to September 30, 2015
 
4.25 to 1.00
 
4.00 to 1.00
December 31, 2015 to September 30, 2016
 
4.00 to 1.00
 
4.00 to 1.00
December 31, 2016 and thereafter
 
3.75 to 1.00
 
4.00 to 1.00
 
As of March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with these covenants with a leverage ratio of 3.03 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of 16.67 to 1.00.
 

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Interest Rate Swaps

As of March 31, 2014, we had 16 outstanding interest rate swaps with a combined notional balance of $1.4 billion (amortizing to $1.1 billion) covering an exposure period from June 2013 through June 2017 that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk.

Building Loan
 
On July 12, 2011, we entered into a term loan agreement for approximately $10.1 million for the purchase of our corporate headquarters facility. The interest rate is fixed at 6.22%, with interest only payments required for the first 84 months. Thereafter, and until maturity, we will pay interest and principal based upon a 30 year amortization schedule, with the remaining principal amount due at maturity, August 2021.

Contractual Obligations
 
There have been no significant changes to contractual obligations and commitments compared to those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2013.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates including those related to revenue recognition, goodwill and intangible assets, derivative financial instruments, income taxes and share-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we have not adopted any new critical accounting policies, have not changed any critical accounting policies and have not changed the application of any critical accounting policies from the year ended December 31, 2013. Our critical accounting estimates are described fully within Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included within our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have no off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
 
We are exposed to interest rate risk in connection with our senior secured credit facilities, which are subject to variable interest rates.

As of March 31, 2014, we had 16 outstanding interest rate swaps with a combined notional balance of $1.4 billion (amortizing to $1.1 billion) covering an exposure period from June 2013 through June 2017. As of March 31, 2014, we had $431 million of variable rate debt not subject to a fixed rate swap.
 
Based on the amount outstanding under our senior secured credit facilities at March 31, 2014, a change in one percentage point in variable interest rates, after the effect of our interest rate swaps, would cause an increase or decrease in interest expense of $4.3 million on an annual basis.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2014. The term "disclosure controls and procedures," as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures

32
 
 
 

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designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2014, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


33
 
 
 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
From time to time, we are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of our business. While it is impossible to ascertain the ultimate resolution or range of financial liability with respect to these contingent matters, management believes none of these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on us.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, cause the trading price of our common stock to decline materially or cause our actual results to differ materially from those expected or those expressed in any forward looking statements made by or on behalf of Vantiv. These risks are not exclusive, and additional risks to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, the risks of our businesses described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
The following table sets forth information regarding shares of Class A common stock repurchased by us during the three months ended March 31, 2014:
Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)(2)
 
Average Price
Paid per
Share
 
Total Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs (2)
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in millions) (2) (3)
January 1, 2014 to January 31, 2014
 
451,509

 
$
31.66

 
430,900

 
$
20.7

February 1, 2014 to February 28, 2014
 
686,123

 
$
30.53

 
677,800

 
$
300.0

March 1, 2014 to March 31, 2014
 
390,739

 
$
31.72

 

 
$
300.0

 
(1) Includes shares of Class A common stock surrendered to us to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards.
(2) On October 22, 2013, our board of directors approved a $137 million share repurchase program. During February 2014, repurchases pursuant to the October 2013 authorization were completed. The repurchases occurred in the open market and pursuant to a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. The share repurchase program has no expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time without notice.
(3) On February 12, 2014, our board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to an additional $300 million of our Class A common stock. As of March 31, 2014, no share repurchases have been transacted under the February 2014 authorization. The share repurchase program has no expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time without notice.

Item 5. Other Information
None

Item 6. Exhibits
 
See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is incorporated herein by reference.




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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.
 
 
 
VANTIV, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 1, 2014
By:
/s/ Mark L. Heimbouch
 
 
Mark. L. Heimbouch
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



35
 
 
 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
 
 
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32
 
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101
 
Interactive Data Files


36
 
 
 
VNTV EX-31.1-2014.3.31


Exhibit 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
I, Charles D. Drucker, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Vantiv, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
May 1, 2014
/s/ CHARLES D. DRUCKER
 
Charles D. Drucker
 
President and Chief Executive Officer




VNTV EX-31.2-2014.3.31


Exhibit 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Mark L. Heimbouch, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Vantiv, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


May 1, 2014
/s/ MARK L. HEIMBOUCH
 
Mark L. Heimbouch
 
Chief Financial Officer



VNTV EX-32-2014.3.31


Exhibit 32
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Vantiv, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2014 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company does hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), that:
 
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
 
The foregoing certification (i) is given to such officers' knowledge, based upon such officers' investigation as such officers reasonably deem appropriate; and (ii) is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 (section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.


May 1, 2014
/s/ CHARLES D. DRUCKER
 
Charles D. Drucker
 
President and Chief Executive Officer

 
May 1, 2014
/s/ MARK L. HEIMBOUCH
 
Mark L. Heimbouch
 
Chief Financial Officer
 

[A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Vantiv, Inc. and will be retained by Vantiv, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.]