Table of Contents





U.S.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549


FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

ý QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

2020

or


o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from            to          

Commission File Number: 001-07120

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HARTE HANKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

74-1677284

Delaware74-1677284

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification Number)

9601 McAllister Freeway, Suite 610, San Antonio,

2800 Wells Branch Parkway, Austin, Texas 78216

78728

(Address of principal executive offices, including zipcode)

(210) 829-9000
zip code)

(512) 434-1100

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock

HRTH

OTCQX

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 ý   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý   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, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging“emerging growth company"company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

o

Accelerated filer

ý

Non-accelerated filer

o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

o

Emerging growth company

o


if

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o  No ý

The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’sissuer’s classes of common stock as of October 15, 20172020 was 62,068,179 6,549,309 shares of common stock, all of one class.





HARTE HANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q REPORT

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2017


2020

  Page
   
 
   
 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) — Three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

4
   
 5
   

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

33

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosure

33

Item 5.

Other Information

33

Item 6.


2


PART I.         FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements


Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 

In thousands, except per share and share amounts

 

2020

  

2019

 

ASSETS

        

Current assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $29,296  $28,104 
Restricted cash  2,489   6,018 

Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $766 at September 30, 2020 and $666 at December 31, 2019)

  46,006   38,972 

Contract assets

  400   805 

Inventory

  54   354 

Prepaid expenses

  2,848   3,300 

Prepaid taxes and income tax receivable

  9,062   78 

Other current assets

  1,490   1,670 

Total current assets

  91,645   79,301 

Property, plant and equipment (less accumulated depreciation of $74,572 at September 30, 2020 and $133,559 at December 31, 2019)

  5,080   8,323 

Right-of-use assets

  14,408   18,817 

Other assets

  3,529   3,761 

Total assets

 $114,662  $110,202 
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

        

Current liabilities

        

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 $17,629  $16,917 

Accrued payroll and related expenses

  5,079   4,215 

Deferred revenue and customer advances

  5,952   4,397 

Customer postage and program deposits

  4,971   9,767 

Other current liabilities

  2,921   2,619 
Short-term debt  6,681    

Short-term lease liabilities

  6,803   7,616 

Total current liabilities

  50,036   45,531 

Long-term debt

  20,419   18,700 

Pensions

  68,300   70,000 

Deferred tax liabilities, net

  77   244 

Long-term lease liabilities

  10,827   13,078 

Other long-term liabilities

  4,240   2,609 

Total liabilities

  153,899   150,162 
         

Preferred Stock, $1 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; 9,926 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, issued and outstanding

  9,723   9,723 
         

Stockholders’ deficit

        

Common stock, $1 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized;12,121,484 shares issued, 6,549,309 and 6,302,936 shares outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

  12,121   12,121 

Additional paid-in capital

  393,545   447,022 

Retained earnings

  795,079   797,817 

Less treasury stock, 5,572,175 shares at cost at September 30, 2020 and 5,818,548 shares at cost at December 31, 2019

  (1,189,465)  (1,243,509)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (60,240)  (63,134)

Total stockholders’ deficit

  (48,960)  (49,683)

Total liabilities, Preferred Stock and stockholders’ deficit

 $114,662  $110,202 
(Unaudited)
In thousands, except per share and share amounts September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
ASSETS  
  
Current assets  
  
Cash and cash equivalents $11,403
 $46,005
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $866 at September 30, 2017 and $1,028 at December 31, 2016) 90,687
 88,813
Inventory 796
 838
Prepaid expenses 5,372
 5,944
Prepaid taxes and income tax receivable 8,836
 2,895
Other current assets 4,424
 4,934
Total current assets 121,518
 149,429
Property, plant and equipment (less accumulated depreciation of $137,176 at September 30, 2017 and $141,388 at December 31, 2016) 21,078
 23,924
Goodwill 34,510
 34,510
Other intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $2,015 at September 30, 2017 and $1,471 at December 31, 2016) 2,758
 3,302
Other assets 2,877
 2,272
Total assets $182,741
 $213,437

    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
  
Current liabilities  
  
Accounts payable $42,458
 $45,563
Accrued payroll and related expenses 10,332
 9,990
Deferred revenue and customer advances 6,889
 6,505
Income taxes payable 655
 30,436
Customer postage and program deposits 6,961
 7,985
Other current liabilities 4,225
 4,188
Total current liabilities 71,520
 104,667
Long-term debt 12,000
 
Pensions 59,723
 60,836
Contingent consideration 32,847
 29,725
Deferred tax liabilities, net 9,893
 11,044
Other long-term liabilities 3,154
 4,509
Total liabilities 189,137
 210,781
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity  
  
Common stock, $1 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized 120,746,615 shares issued at September 30, 2017 and 120,436,735 shares issued at December 31, 2016 120,747
 120,437
Additional paid-in capital 348,159
 350,245
Retained earnings 823,924
 837,316
Less treasury stock, 58,678,436 shares at cost at September 30, 2017 and 58,791,630 shares at cost at December 31, 2016 (1,254,889) (1,259,164)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (44,337) (46,178)
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity (6,396) 2,656
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $182,741
 $213,437

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive LossIncome (Loss)

(Unaudited)

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands, except per share amounts

 

2020

  

2019

 

Operating revenues

 $47,702  $51,414 

Operating expenses

        

Labor

  27,041   28,589 

Production and distribution

  13,176   17,314 

Advertising, selling, general and administrative

  4,540   5,623 

Restructuring expense

  1,419   3,080 

Depreciation expense

  741   1,283 

Total operating expenses

  46,917   55,889 

Operating income (loss)

  785   (4,475)

Other expenses (income), net

        

Interest expense, net

  274   330 

Other, net

  2,185   1,081 

Total other expenses, net

  2,459   1,411 

Loss before income taxes

  (1,674)  (5,886)

Income tax (benefit) expense

  (53)  102 

Net loss

 $(1,621) $(5,988)

Less: Preferred Stock dividends

  125   125 

Loss attributable to common stockholders

 $(1,746) $(6,113)
         

Loss per common share

        
Basic $(0.27) $(0.97)
Diluted $(0.27) $(0.97)
         

Weighted average shares used to compute loss per share attributable to common shares

        

Basic

  6,523   6,291 

Diluted

  6,523   6,291 
         

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

        

Net loss

 $(1,621) $(5,988)
         

Adjustment to pension liability, net:

  609   549 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  1,129   (660)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 $1,738  $(111)
         

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $117  $(6,099)
         
(Unaudited)
  Three Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except per share amounts 2017 2016
Operating revenues $94,424
 $97,425
Operating expenses  
  
Labor 55,047
 59,484
Production and distribution 26,726
 27,275
Advertising, selling, general and administrative 9,145
 11,586
Depreciation, software and intangible asset amortization 2,556
 3,166
Total operating expenses 93,474
 101,511
Operating income (loss) 950
 (4,086)
Other expenses  
  
Interest expense, net 1,285
 704
Other, net 1,763
 596
Total other expenses 3,048
 1,300
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (2,098) (5,386)
Income tax expense (benefit) 382
 (1,101)
Loss from continuing operations $(2,480) $(4,285)
     
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes $
 $1,244
     
Net loss $(2,480) $(3,041)
     
Basic earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.04) $(0.07)
Discontinued operations 
 0.02
Basic loss per common share $(0.04) $(0.05)
     
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 62,012
 61,543
     
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.04) $(0.07)
Discontinued operations 
 0.02
Diluted loss per common share $(0.04) $(0.05)
     
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 62,012
 61,543
     
Net loss $(2,480) $(3,041)
     
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax  
  
Adjustment to pension liability $413
 $358
Foreign currency translation adjustment 33
 (437)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 446
 (79)
Comprehensive loss $(2,034) $(3,120)

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

4


Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive LossIncome (Loss)

(Unaudited)

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands, except per share amounts

 

2020

  

2019

 

Operating revenues

 $129,825  $165,250 

Operating expenses

        

Labor

  76,601   94,034 

Production and distribution

  36,940   58,130 

Advertising, selling, general and administrative

  15,582   20,225 

Restructuring expense

  8,005   10,867 

Depreciation expense

  2,905   4,022 

Total operating expenses

  140,033   187,278 

Operating loss

  (10,208)  (22,028)

Other expenses (income), net

        

Interest expense, net

  882   938 

Gain on sale from 3Q Digital

     (5,000)

Other, net

  4,511   4,512 

Total other expenses, net

  5,393   450 

Loss before income taxes

  (15,601)  (22,478)

Income tax (benefit) expense

  (12,863)  840 

Net loss

  (2,738)  (23,318)

Less: Preferred stock dividends

  372   371 

Loss attributable to common stockholders

 $(3,110) $(23,689)
         

Loss per common share

        

Basic

 $(0.48) $(3.77)

Diluted

 $(0.48) $(3.77)
         

Weighted-average shares used to compute loss per share attributable to common shares

        

Basic

  6,432   6,277 

Diluted

  6,432   6,277 
         

Comprehensive income (loss)

        

Net loss

 $(2,738) $(23,318)
         

Adjustment to pension liability

  1,827   1,648 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  1,067   (311)

Adoption of ASU 2018-02

     (11,355)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 $2,894  $(10,018)
         

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $156  $(33,336)
(Unaudited)
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except per share amounts 2017 2016
Operating revenues $284,040
 $294,305
Operating expenses  
  
Labor 172,500
 184,480
Production and distribution 80,125
 84,581
Advertising, selling, general and administrative 30,431
 35,162
Depreciation, software and intangible asset amortization 8,166
 9,403
Total operating expenses 291,222
 313,626
Operating loss (7,182) (19,321)
Other expenses  
  
Interest expense, net 3,543
 2,399
Other, net 5,087
 944
Total other expenses 8,630
 3,343
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (15,812) (22,664)
Income tax benefit (3,293) (5,778)
Loss from continuing operations $(12,519) $(16,886)
     
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes $
 $3,980
     
Net loss $(12,519) $(12,906)
     
Basic earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.20) $(0.27)
Discontinued operations 
 0.06
Basic loss per common share $(0.20) $(0.21)
     
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 61,866
 61,445
     
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.20) $(0.27)
Discontinued operations 
 0.06
Diluted loss per common share $(0.20) $(0.21)
     
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 61,866
 61,445
     
Net loss $(12,519) $(12,906)
     
Declared dividends per share $
 $0.09
     
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax  
  
Adjustment to pension liability $1,164
 $1,238
Foreign currency translation adjustment 677
 (1,856)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 1,841
 (618)
Comprehensive loss $(10,678) $(13,524)

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5


Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements
(Unaudited)
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities  
  
Net loss $(12,519) $(12,906)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities    
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 
 (3,980)
Depreciation and software amortization 7,622
 8,787
Intangible asset amortization 544
 616
Stock-based compensation 1,818
 2,373
Net pension cost (payments) 827
 297
Interest accretion on contingent consideration 3,122
 1,730
Adjustments to fair value of contingent consideration 
 (247)
Amortization of debt issuance costs 
 495
Deferred income taxes (1,917) (3,243)
Loss on disposal of assets 135
 
Other, net 
 28
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:    
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net (1,874) 25,979
Decrease (increase) in inventory 42
 (58)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets (4,864) 2,887
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable (3,840) 1,662
Decrease in other accrued expenses and liabilities (31,062) (2,667)
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations (41,966) 21,753
Net cash provided by discontinued operations 
 4,774
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (41,966) 26,527
     
Cash flows from investing activities    
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 
 (3,500)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (4,112) (6,870)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 18
 280
Net cash used in investing activities within continuing operations (4,094) (10,090)
Net cash used in investing activities within discontinued operations 
 (2,431)
Net cash used in investing activities (4,094) (12,521)
     
Cash flows from financing activities  
  
Borrowings 27,000
 160,570
Repayment of borrowings (15,211) (174,828)
Debt financing costs (515) (2,189)
Issuance of common stock (110) (229)
Issuance of treasury stock 
 130
Payment of capital leases (383) 
Dividends paid 
 (5,285)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations 10,781
 (21,831)
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 677
 (1,856)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (34,602) (9,681)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 46,005
 16,564
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $11,403
 $6,883
     
Supplemental disclosures    
Cash paid for interest $172
 $4,252
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds $34,723
 $2,248
Non-cash investing and financing activities    
Purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable $1,174
 $264
New capital lease obligations $58
 $274
See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in EquityStockholders' Deficit

(Unaudited)

                      

Accumulated

     
          

Additional

          

Other

  

Total

 
  

Preferred

  

Common

  

Paid-in

  

Retained

  

Treasury

  

Comprehensive

  

Stockholders’

 

In thousands

 

Stock

  

Stock

  

Capital

  

Earnings

  

Stock

  

Loss

  

Deficit

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 $9,723  $12,115  $453,868  $812,704  $(1,251,388) $(46,483) $(19,184)

Cumulative effect of accounting change

           11,377      (11,355)  22 

Stock-based compensation

        151            151 

Treasury stock issued

        (1,968)     1,984      16 

Net loss

           (13,527)        (13,527)

Other comprehensive income

                 522   522 

Balance at March 31, 2019

 $9,723  $12,115  $452,051  $810,554  $(1,249,404) $(57,316)  (32,000)
Stock Option activities     6   (8)           (2)
Stock-based compensation        239            239 
Treasury stock issued        (345)     343      (2)
Net loss           (3,803)        (3,803)
Other comprehensive income                 926   926 
Balance at June 30, 2019 $9,723  $12,121  $451,937  $806,751  $(1,249,061) $(56,390) $(34,642)
Stock-based compensation        312            312 
Treasury stock issued        (5,005)     5,005       
Net loss           (5,988)        (5,988)
Other comprehensive loss                 (111)  (111)
Balance at September 30, 2019 $9,723  $12,121  $447,244  $800,763  $(1,244,056) $(56,501) $(40,429)

(Unaudited)
                      

Accumulated

     
          

Additional

          

Other

  

Total

 
  

Preferred

  

Common

  

Paid-in

  

Retained

  

Treasury

  

Comprehensive

  

Stockholders’

 

In thousands

 

Stock

  

Stock

  

Capital

  

Earnings

  

Stock

  

Loss

  

Deficit

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 $9,723  $12,121  $447,022  $797,817  $(1,243,509) $(63,134) $(49,683)

Stock-based compensation

        223            223 

Treasury stock issued

        (29,667)     29,667       

Net income

           5,118         5,118 

Other comprehensive income

                 51   51 

Balance at March 31, 2020

 $9,723  $12,121  $417,578  $802,935  $(1,213,842) $(63,083) $(44,291)
Stock-based compensation        81             81 
Treasury stock issued        (7,416)     7,416       
Net loss           (6,235)        (6,235)
Other comprehensive income                 1,105   1,105 
Balance at June 30, 2020 $9,723  $12,121  $410,243  $796,700  $(1,206,426) $(61,978) $(49,340)
Stock-based compensation        277             277 
Treasury stock issued        (16,975)     16,961      (14)
Net loss           (1,621)        (1,621)
Other comprehensive income                 1,738   1,738 
Balance at September 30, 2020 $9,723  $12,121  $393,545  $795,079  $(1,189,465) $(60,240) $(48,960)
In thousands, except per share amounts Common
Stock
 Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 Retained
Earnings
 Treasury
Stock
 Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2015 $120,147
 $353,050
 $973,538
 $(1,262,859) $(43,560) $140,316
Exercise of stock options and release of unvested shares 284
 (284) 
 (229) 
 (229)
Net tax effect of stock options exercised and release of unvested shares 
 (1,091) 
 
 
 (1,091)
Stock-based compensation 
 2,241
 
 
 
 2,241
Dividends paid ($0.085 per share) 
 
 (5,285) 
 
 (5,285)
Treasury stock issued 
 (2,905) 
 3,035
 
 130
Net loss 
 
 (12,906) 
 
 (12,906)
Other comprehensive loss 
 
 
 
 (618) (618)
Balance at September 30, 2016 $120,431
 $351,011
 $955,347
 $(1,260,053) $(44,178) $122,558
In thousands, except per share amounts Common
Stock
 Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 Retained
Earnings
 Treasury
Stock
 Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 Total
Stockholders’
Deficit
Balance at December 31, 2016 $120,437
 $350,245
 $837,316
 $(1,259,164) $(46,178) $2,656
Cumulative effect of accounting change 
 709
 (873) 
 
 (164)
Exercise of stock options and release of unvested shares 310
 (310) 
 (110) 
 (110)
Stock-based compensation 
 1,760
 
 
 
 1,760
Treasury stock issued 
 (4,245) 
 4,385
 
 140
Net loss 
 
 (12,519) 
 
 (12,519)
Other comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 1,841
 1,841
Balance at September 30, 2017 $120,747
 $348,159
 $823,924
 $(1,254,889) $(44,337) $(6,396)

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements



Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands

 

2020

  

2019

 

Cash flows from operating activities

        

Net loss

 $(2,738) $(23,318)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

        

Depreciation expense

  2,905   4,022 

Restructuring

  3,113   5,812 

Stock-based compensation

  590   739 

Net pension cost

  736   1,501 

Deferred income taxes

  (776)  426 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

        

(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net and contract assets

  (6,752)  15,039 

Decrease in inventory

  300   41 

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses, income tax receivable and other assets

  (7,603)  20,131 

Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued expenses

  692   (12,591)

Increase in accrued payroll, deferred revenue, lease liabilities and other long-term liabilities

  (1,900)  (2,427)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  (11,433)  9,375 
         
Cash flows from investing activities        

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

  (1,374)  (1,655)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

  1,891   15 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

  517   (1,640)
         

Cash flows from financing activities

        

Borrowings

  10,000   4,500 
Repayment of borrowings  (1,600)   

Debt financing costs

  (517)  (477)
Issuance of common stock     (2)

Issuance of treasury stock

  (14)  14 

Payment of finance leases

  (357)  (603)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  7,512   3,432 
         

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

  1,067   (311)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

  (2,337)  10,856 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

  34,122   20,882 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

 $31,785  $31,738 
         

Supplemental disclosures

        

Cash paid for interest

 $547  $643 

Cash received for income taxes, net of payments

 $3,295  $19,329 

Non-cash investing and financing activities

        

Purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable

 $1,651  $489 
      Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and inventory included in accounts receivable $302    

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Harte Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note A — Basis- Overview and Significant Accounting Policies

Background

Harte Hanks, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“Harte Hanks,” “Company”, “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a purveyor of Presentation


data-driven, omni-channel marketing and customer relationship solutions and logistics. The Company has robust capabilities that offer clients the strategic guidance they need across the customer data landscape as well as the executional know-how in database build and management, data analytics, digital media, direct mail, customer contact, client fulfillment and marketing and product logistics. Harte Hanks solves marketing, commerce and logistical challenges for some of the world’s leading brands in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

The Company operates as one reportable segment. Our Chief Executive Officer is our chief operating decision maker.  He reviews our operating results on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance.

The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) on all aspects of its business. In connection with the pandemic, some of our customers have reduced the amount of work we provide to them while other customers have requested accommodations including extensions of payment or restructuring of agreements.  In addition, some of our customers have declared bankruptcy and we expect additional customers to file for bankruptcy in the coming months.  We have also seen a number of wins for our contact centers solutions services as well as increased volume for existing customers as a result of the environment caused by the pandemic including an increased need for contact center services. While the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material adverse impact on the Company’s operations to date, the pandemic has caused significant volatility in the global markets and has caused many companies to slow production or find alternative means for employees to perform their work. It is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic, the measures taken by governments around the globe, which as a result of increasing infection rates have become more restrictive, and the resulting economic impact may materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position as well as the financial stability of its customers. The COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate other risks discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results. Refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion on COVID-19 and the risks the Company currently faces.

Related Party Transactions

From 2016 until October 2020, we conducted business with Wipro LLC (“Wipro”), whereby Wipro provided us with a variety of technology-related services. We have since terminated all service agreements.  

Effective January 30, 2018, Wipro became a related party when it purchased 9,926 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock (which are convertible at Wipro’s option into 1,001,614 shares, or 16% of our common stock as of January 30, 2018), for aggregate consideration of $9.9 million. For information pertaining to the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, See Note E, Convertible Preferred Stock.

In the third quarter of 2019, we entered into a business relationship with Snap Kitchen, the founder of which is a 9% owner of Harte Hanks. We recorded $164,000 of revenue earned from Snap Kitchen in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Accounting Principles

Our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the Harte Hanks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “ 2019 10-K”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 19, 2020.

Consolidation


The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statementsinterim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Harte Hanks, Inc. and subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. As used in this report, the terms “Harte Hanks,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” may refer to Harte Hanks, Inc., one or more

8


The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP")GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-018-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.


Discontinued Operations

As discussed in Note M, Discontinued Operations, we sold the assets of Trillium Software, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively "Trillium") as of December 23, 2016. As such, the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for Trillium are reported separately as discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 presented in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Results of the remaining Harte Hanks business are reported as continuing operations.

Going Concern

Our recent operating and financial performance has caused us to closely review our ability to continue as a going concern. We have taken a number of actions to continue to support our operations and meet obligations in light of our recent financial performance and decreased cash flows.

On April 17, 2017, we entered into a new credit agreement with Texas Capital Bank, N.A. (the "Texas Capital Credit Facility"). The Texas Capital Credit Facility provides $20.0 million in borrowing capacity under a revolving credit line with limited financial covenants compared to our previous credit facilities. We believe that the liquidity provided by the Texas Capital Credit Facility is sufficient for our needs given the nature and performance of our operations.

On May 1, 2017, we entered into an agreement with 3Q Digital (the "3Q Agreement") which allows us to defer payment of the significant contingent liability that otherwise would have been due in 2018. Under the terms of the 3Q Digital purchase agreement, we are required to pay the former owners of 3Q Digital up to $35.0 million of additional consideration contingent on achievement of certain revenue growth goals. The 3Q Agreement defers our obligation to pay such contingent consideration until April 1, 2019, or the sale of the 3Q Digital business, whichever is earlier.

We believe that in conjunction with our current liquidity position, the new credit facility, and the deferral of payment of the contingent consideration, there are no conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the 12 months following the issuance of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

We continue to take actions to return the business to profitability and improve our cash, liquidity, and financial position. We have implemented expense reduction actions, including downsizing our workforce and consolidating back-office and information technology functions. We completed the closure of our Baltimore direct mail facility in the first quarter of 2017 in response to the declining demand for printed marketing materials. Continuing work from this facility was transitioned to other facilities, allowing for higher utilization rates. We have started to see the favorable impact of these actions and intend to continue efforts to reduce expenses through the end of 2017.


In addition to the actions discussed above, we are taking steps to improve our operational and financial performance. We continue to work toward increasing operating efficiencies and have focused our investments on improving product offerings that we believe will drive revenue growth.

On April 18, 2017, we announced that as part of an initiative to enhance the company's strategic position and increase financial flexibility, the company would seek strategic alternatives for the 3Q Digital business. The liquidity from the potential sale of 3Q Digital would enhance our ability to invest in strategies to strengthen our core offerings.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the financial statements from the prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. This includes the retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, resulted in the reclassification of pension expense previously recorded in Labor as of September 30, 2016 to Other, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Use of Estimates


The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results and outcomes could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, estimates related to lease accounting; pension accounting; fair value for purposes of assessing goodwill, long-lived assets, and intangible assets for impairment; income taxes; stock-based compensation; and contingencies. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances could result in revised estimates and assumptions.


Inventories

Our inventories consist primarily of print material and operating supplies. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost using the first-in, first-out method, or market.

Operating Expense Presentation in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss


“Labor”Income (Loss)

The “Labor” line in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive LossIncome (Loss) includes all employee payroll and benefits costs, including stock-based compensation, along with temporary labor costs. The “Production and distribution” and “Advertising, selling, general and administrative” lines do not include labor, depreciation, or amortization.amortization expense.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue upon the transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for such products or services based on the relevant contract. We apply the following five-step revenue recognition model:

Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer


Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

Determination of the transaction price

Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

Recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation

Certain client programs provide for adjustments to billings based upon whether we achieve certain performance criteria. In these circumstances, revenue is recognized when the foregoing conditions are met. We record revenue net of any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Any payments received in advance of the performance of services or delivery of the product are recorded as deferred revenue until such time as the services are performed or the product is delivered. Costs incurred for search engine marketing solutions payable to the engine host and postage costs of mailings are billed to our clients and are not directly reflected in our revenue.

Revenue from agency and digital services, direct mail, logistics, fulfillment and contact center is recognized as the work is performed. Fees for these services are determined by the terms set forth in each contract. These fees are typically set at a fixed price or rate by transaction occurrence, service provided, time spent, or product delivered.

For arrangements requiring design and build of a database, revenue is not recognized until client acceptance occurs. Up-front fees billed during the setup phase for these arrangements are deferred and direct build costs are capitalized. Pricing for these types of arrangements is typically based on a fixed price determined in the contract. Revenue from other database marketing solutions is recognized ratably over the contractual service period. Pricing for these services is typically based on a fixed price per month or per contract.

9

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, (“ASC 820”) defines fair value 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. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in valuation methodologies into three levels:

Level 1

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2

Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Because of their maturities and/or variable interest rates, certain financial instruments have fair values approximating their carrying values. These instruments include cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, accounts receivable, trade payable, and long-term debt.  

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at its inception. Operating and finance leases are included in the lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and in the current portion and long-term portion of lease obligations on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of each lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date of each lease to determine the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease, which are included in the lease ROU assets when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For certain real estate leases, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we modified the terms of some of our existing leases.  We accounted for such changes as lease modifications under ASC Topic 842 which resulted in the re-measurement of the related ROU assets and lease liabilities.

See Note B, Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Recently adopted accounting pronouncements.


Note B - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In May 2017,December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance, including requirements such as a tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, ownership changes in investments, and interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law. The standard will be effective for us in the fiscal year 2021, although early adoption is permitted. We have not elected early adoption and we do not expect that the adoption of this accounting standard update (“ASU”) will have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, 2018-14,Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Topic 715-20)Scope of Modification AccountingDisclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans  (“ASU 2018-14”), which modified the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans.  ASU 2018-14 is effective for fiscal years ending December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted.  As we did not elect to adopt ASU 2018-14 early, we are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-14 on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting Summary”.  This ASU provides clarifiedtemporary optional guidance on applying modificationto ease the potential burden in accounting to changesfor reference rate reform. London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other inter-bank offered rates are widely used benchmarks or reference rates in the termsUnited States and globally.  With global capital markets expected to move away from LIBOR and other inter-bank offered rates and toward more observable or conditions oftransaction-based rates that are less susceptible to manipulation, the FASB launched a share-based payment award.broad project in late 2018 to address potential accounting challenges expected to arise from the transition.  The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued.  This ASU is effective March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022.  We adopted this ASU on March 12, 2020 and it did not have a  material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Income taxes

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows for reclassification of stranded tax effects on items resulting from the change in the corporate tax rate as a result of H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Reform Act”), from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Tax effects unrelated to H.R. 1 are permitted to be released from accumulated other comprehensive income using either the specific identification approach or the portfolio approach, based on the nature of the underlying item. ASU 2018-02 is effective for interim and annual periods, and interim periods within those annualreporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017,2018, with early adoption permitted. This change is required to be applied prospectively to an award modified on or afterWe adopted ASU 2018-02 in the adoption date. We are evaluatingfirst quarter of 2019. See Note I, Income Taxes, for a discussion of the effect thatimpacts of this will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


ASU.

Stock-based Compensation

In March 2017,June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 715)718): ImprovingImprovements to nonemployee share-based payment accounting, which supersedes ASC 505-50, Accounting for Distributions to Shareholders with Components of Stock and Cash, and expands the Presentationscope of Net Periodic Pension CostASC 718 to include all share-based payment arrangements related to the acquisition of goods and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires entitiesservices from both non-employees and employees. As a result, most of the guidance in ASC 718 associated with employee share-based payments, including most of its requirements related to present the service cost component of net benefit cost with the other current compensation costs. All other components of net benefit cost areclassification and measurement, applies to be reported outside of operating income.non-employee share-based payment arrangements. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017,2018, and the interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. This change is required to be applied using a retrospective transition method for each period presented. Wepermitted after the entity has adopted the update as of the first quarter of 2017. As a result of the adoption of this ASU, we reclassified $1.5 million of pension expense recorded in Labor in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to Other, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.


In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates step two from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in ASU 2017-04, an entity should recognize an impairment charge in the amount that the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This ASU is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted.ASC 606. We adopted this standard inas of January 2017,1, 2019 and will apply it as necessary indid not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides clarified guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. This change is required to be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effect that this will have on ourcondensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting, which requires entities with share-based payment awards to recognize all related excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expenses or benefit in the income statement. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We have adopted the update as of the first quarter of 2017. As a result of the adoption of this ASU, excess tax benefits or deficiencies will now be reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss as a component of income taxes, whereas they previously would be recognized in equity. Excess tax benefits will be recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow as an operating activity, with the prior periods adjusted accordingly. Finally, we have elected to account for forfeitures as they occur, rather than estimate expected forfeitures. The ASU was adopted on a modified retrospective basis and no prior periods were restated as a result of the change in accounting policy.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, (Topic 842) and subsequent amendment ASU 2018-11, which requires all operating leases to be recorded on the balance sheet.sheet unless the practical expedient is elected for short-term operating leases. The lessee will record a liability for its lease obligations (initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments not yet paid over the lease term,term), and an asset for its right to use the underlying asset equal to the lease liability, adjusted for lease payments made at or before lease commencement). This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. This change is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. Full retrospective application is prohibited. In July 2018, the FASB approved an optional transition method to initially account for the impact of the adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the January 1, 2019, rather than the January 1, 2017, financial statements. This would eliminate the need to restate amounts presented prior to January 1, 2019.

We are evaluatingadopted the effect that this willstandard effective January 1, 2019, and we elected the optional transition method and the practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the standard. Accordingly, we accounted for our existing operating leases as operating leases under the new guidance, without reassessing (a) whether the contracts contain a lease under ASC Topic 842, (b) whether classification of the operating leases would be different in accordance with ASC Topic 842, or (c) whether the unamortized initial direct costs before transition adjustments (as of December 31, 2019) would have met the definition of initial direct costs in ASC Topic 842 at lease commencement.

The standard had a material impact on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, but did not have an impact on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) or cash flows from operations. The cumulative effect of the changes on our retained earnings was $22,000 associated with capital gain. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases. Our accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged. See Note D, Leases for further discussion.

Restricted Cash

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, which enhances and clarifies the guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows and requires additional disclosures about restricted cash balances.  The adoption of ASU 2016-18 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


Note C - Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires . Under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, an entity to recognize the amount ofrecognizes revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transferwhen its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to customers. The ASU will replace most existingreceive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The standard permitsfor arrangements that are within the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. On July 9, 2015, the FASB delayed the effective datescope of the new standard, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue standard by one year.when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The new effective datestandard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new standard also includes criteria for the capitalization and amortization of certain contract acquisition and fulfillment costs.

Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for fiscal years,those goods or services. Our contracts with customers state the terms of sale, including the description, quantity, and interim periodsprice of the product or service purchased. Payment terms can vary by contract, but the period between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our contracts do not include any significant financing components.

Consistent with legacy GAAP, we present sales taxes assessed on revenue-producing transactions on a net basis.

Disaggregation of Revenue

We disaggregate revenue by vertical market and key revenue stream. The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 by our key vertical markets:

In thousands

 

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30, 2020

  

September 30, 2019

  

September 30, 2020

  

September 30, 2019

 

B2B

 $17,050  $11,290  $42,462  $35,149 

Consumer Brands

  14,087   11,171   37,727   35,222 

Financial Services

  6,531   11,635   21,513   36,850 

Healthcare

  4,111   5,257   12,283   14,946 

Retail

  5,392   8,803   14,014   31,752 

Transportation

  531   3,258   1,826   11,331 

Total Revenues

 $47,702  $51,414  $129,825  $165,250 

The nature of the services offered by each key revenue stream is different. The following tables summarize revenue from contracts with customers for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 by our four major revenue streams and the pattern of revenue recognition:

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

In thousands

 

Revenue for performance obligations recognized over time

  

Revenue for performance obligations recognized at a point in time

  

Total

 

Agency & Digital Services

 $4,845  $87  $4,932 

Contact Centers

  21,032      21,032 

Database Marketing Solutions

  4,341   800   5,141 

Direct Mail, Logistics, and Fulfillment

  13,697   2,900   16,597 

Total Revenues

 $43,915  $3,787  $47,702 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

In thousands

 

Revenue for performance obligations recognized over time

  

Revenue for performance obligations recognized at a point in time

  

Total

 

Agency & Digital Services

 $6,286  $276  $6,562 

Contact Centers

  14,618      14,618 

Database Marketing Solutions

  5,272   1,170   6,442 

Direct Mail, Logistics, and Fulfillment

  20,775   3,017   23,792 

Total Revenues

 $46,951  $4,463  $51,414 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

In thousands

 

Revenue for performance obligations recognized over time

  

Revenue for performance obligations recognized at a point in time

  

Total

 

Agency & Digital Services

  $ 14,318   $ 310   $ 14,628 

Contact Centers

  51,274      51,274 

Database Marketing Solutions

  13,347   2,103   15,450 

Direct Mail, Logistics, and Fulfillment

  40,064   8,409   48,473 

Total Revenues

  $ 119,003   $ 10,822   $ 129,825 

             
  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

In thousands

 

Revenue for performance obligations recognized over time

  

Revenue for performance obligations recognized at a point in time

  

Total

 

Agency & Digital Services

 $18,793  $407  $19,200 

Contact Centers

  46,688      46,688 

Database Marketing Solutions

  16,745   2,537   19,282 

Direct Mail, Logistics, and Fulfillment

  67,853   12,227   80,080 

Total Revenues

 $150,079  $15,171  $165,250 

Our contracts with customers may consist of multiple performance obligations. If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) basis unless the transaction price is variable and meets the criteria to be allocated entirely to a performance obligation or to a distinct good or service that forms part of a single performance obligation. For most performance obligations, we determine SSP based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. Although uncommon, if the SSP is not observable through past transactions, we estimate the SSP taking into account available information such as market conditions and internally approved pricing guidelines related to the performance obligations. Further discussion of other performance obligations in each of our major revenue streams follows:

Agency & Digital Services

Our agency services include full-service, customer engagement agencies specializing in direct and digital communications for both consumer and business-to-business markets. Our digital solutions integrate online services within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2017. Wethe marketing mix and include: search engine management, display, digital analytics, website development and design, digital strategy, social media, email, e-commerce, and interactive relationship management. Our contracts may include a promise to purchase media or acquire search engine marketing solutions on behalf of our clients; in such cases, we have determined we are evaluatingan agent rather than a principal, and therefore recognize the effect that this will havenet consideration as revenue.

Most agency and digital services performance obligations are satisfied over time and often offered on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.a project basis. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determinedconcluded that the effectbest approach to measure the progress toward completion of the standardproject-based performance obligations is the input method, which is based on either the costs or labor hours incurred to date depending upon whether costs or labor hours more accurately depict the transfer of value to the customer.

The variable consideration in these contracts primarily relates to time and material-based services and reimbursable out-of-pocket travel costs, both of which are estimated using the expected value method. For time and material-based contracts, we use the “as invoiced” practical expedient.

Contact Centers

We operate tele-service workstations in the United States, Asia, and Europe to provide advanced contact center solutions such as: speech, voice and video chat, integrated voice response, analytics, social cloud monitoring, and web self-service.

Performance obligations are stand-ready obligations and are satisfied over time. With regard to account management and software as a service (“SaaS”), we use a time-elapsed output method to recognize revenue. For performance obligations where we charge customers a transaction-based fee, we use the output method based on transaction quantities. In most cases, our ongoing financial reporting.


Note C — Fair Valuecontracts provide us the right to invoice for services provided, therefore, we generally use the “as invoiced” practical expedient to recognize revenue associated with these performance obligations unless significant discounts are offered in a contract and prices for services do not represent their SSPs.

The variable consideration in our contracts results primarily from the transaction-based fee structure of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurementssome performance obligations with their total transaction quantities to be provided unknown at the onset of a contract, which are estimated using the expected value method.

Database Marketing Solutions

Our solutions are built around centralized marketing databases with services rendered to build custom databases, database hosting services, customer or target marketing lists and Disclosures, defines fair value asdata processing services.

These performance obligations, including services rendered to build a custom database, database hosting services, professional services, customer or target marketing lists and data processing services, may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. We provide SaaS solutions to host data for customers and have concluded that they are stand-ready obligations to be recognized over time on a monthly basis. Our promise to provide certain data related services meets the price that would be received to sellover-time recognition criteria because our services do not create an asset with an alternative use, and we have an enforceable right to payment. For performance obligations recognized over time, we choose either the input (i.e. labor hour) or paidoutput method (i.e. number of customer records) to measure the progress toward completion depending on the nature of the services provided. Some of our other data-related services do not meet the over-time criteria and are therefore, recognized at a point-in-time, typically upon the delivery of a specific deliverable.

We charge our customers for certain data-related services at a fixed transaction-based rate, e.g., per thousand customer records processed. Because the quantity of transactions is unknown at the onset of a contract, our transaction price is variable, and we use the expected value method to estimate the transaction price. The uncertainty associated with the variable consideration generally resolves within a short period of time since the duration of these contracts is generally less than two months.

Direct Mail, Logistics, and Fulfillment

Our services, delivered internally and with our partners, include: digital printing, print on demand, advanced mail optimization, logistics and transportation optimization, tracking, commingling, shrink wrapping, and specialized mailings. We also maintain fulfillment centers where we provide custom kitting services, print on demand, product recalls, and freight optimization, thereby allowing our customers to distribute literature and other marketing materials.

The majority of performance obligations offered within this revenue stream are satisfied over time and utilize the input or output method, depending on the nature of the service, to measure progress toward satisfying the performance obligation. For performance obligations where we charge customers a transaction-based fee, we utilize the output method based on the quantities fulfilled. Services provided through our fulfillment centers are typically priced at a per transaction basis and our contracts provide us the right to invoice for services provided and reflects the value to the customer of the services transferred to date. In most cases, we use the “as invoiced” practical expedient to recognize revenue associated with these performance obligations unless significant discounts are offered in a contract and prices for services do not represent their standalone selling prices. For our direct mail revenue stream, our contracts may include a promise to purchase postage on behalf of our clients; in such cases, we have determined we are an agent, rather than principal and therefore recognize net consideration as revenue.

The variable consideration in our contracts results primarily from the transaction-based fee structure of some performance obligations with their total transaction quantities to be provided unknown at the onset of a contract, which is estimated using the expected value method.

Upfront Non-Refundable Fees

We may receive non-refundable upfront fees from customers for implementation of our SaaS database solutions products or for providing training in connection with our contact center solutions. These activities are not deemed to transfer a liability inseparate promised service and therefore, represent advanced payments. As we do not deem these activities as transferring a separate promised service, the receipt of such fees represents advanced payments. Where customers have an orderly transaction between market participantsoption to renew a contract, the customer is not required to pay similar upfront fees upon renewal. As a result, we have determined that these renewal options provide for the purchase of future services at a reduced rate and therefore, provide a material right. These upfront non-refundable fees are recognized over the measurement date.period of benefit which is generally consistent with estimated customer life (four to five years for database solutions contracts and six months to one year for contact center contracts). The guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in valuation methodologies into three levels:

Level 1Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
Becausebalance of their maturities and/or variable interest rates, certain financial instruments have fair values approximating their carrying values. These instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and trade payables. The fair value of our outstanding debt is disclosed in Note E, Long-Term Debt. Our calculation of the acquisition related contingent consideration accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis is disclosed in Note L, Acquisition and Disposition.

Note D — Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Under the provisions of FASB ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (ASC 350), goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. We perform our annual goodwill impairment assessmentupfront non-refundable fees collected from customers was immaterial as of November 30thSeptember 30, 2020 and 2019.

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations

We have elected to apply certain optional exemptions that limit the disclosure requirements over remaining performance obligations at period end to exclude: performance obligations that have an original expected duration of each year.



one year or less, transactions using the “as invoiced” practical expedient, or when a performance obligation is a series and we have allocated the variable consideration directly to the services performed. As of September 30, 2020, we had no transaction prices allocated to unsatisfied or partially satisfied performance obligations.

Contract Balances

We continuously monitor potential triggering events, including changes inrecord a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing when we have an unconditional right to consideration (only the business climate in which we operate, attritionpassage of key personnel,time is required before payment of that consideration is due) and a contract asset when the current volatility inright to payment is conditional upon our future performance such as delivery of an additional good or service (e.g. customer contract requires customer’s final acceptance of custom database solution or delivery of final marketing strategy presentation before customer payment is required). If invoicing occurs prior to revenue recognition, the capital markets,unearned revenue is presented on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a contract liability, referred to as deferred revenue. The following table summarizes our contract balances as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

In thousands

 

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 

Contract assets

 $400  $805 

Deferred revenue and customer advances

  5,952   4,397 

Deferred revenue, included in other long-term liabilities

  800   886 

Revenue recognized during the company’s market capitalization compared to our book value, our recent operating performance, and financial projections. During the quarternine months ended September 30, 2017,2020 from amounts included in deferred revenue at December 31, 2019 was approximately $4.3 million. 

Costs to Obtain and Fulfill a Contract

We recognize an asset for the direct costs incurred to obtain and fulfill contracts with customers to the extent that we didexpect to recover these costs and if the benefit is longer than one year. These costs are amortized to expense over the expected period of the benefit in a manner that is consistent with the transfer of the related goods or services to which the asset relates. We capitalized a portion of commission expense, implementation and other costs that represents the cost to obtain a contract. The remaining unamortized contract costs were $1.6 million as of September 30, 2020. For the periods presented, no impairment was recognized.

Note D - Leases

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective approach with optional transition method. The Company recorded operating lease assets (right-of-use assets) of $22.8 million and operating lease liabilities of $23.9 million. There was minimal impact to retained earnings upon adoption of Topic 842. 

We have operating and finance leases for corporate and business offices, service facilities, call centers and certain equipment. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are generally not identify any triggering eventsrecorded on the balance sheet, unless the arrangement includes an option to purchase the underlying asset, or an option to renew the arrangement, that require testing for impairment. The occurrencewe are reasonably certain to exercise (short-term leases). Our leases have remaining lease terms of one or more triggering events could requireyear to six years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to an additional impairment testing,five years, and some of which could result in impairment chargesinclude options to terminate the leases within one year.

We sublease our Fullerton, Jacksonville and Manila facilities. Our current subleases have lease terms ranging from five to 35 months, which will each expire at various dates by fiscal year 2023.

As of September 30, 2020, assets recorded under finance and operating leases were approximately $1.0 million and $13.4 million respectively, and accumulated depreciation associated with finance leases was $0.5 million. Operating lease right of use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The discount rate used to determine the commencement date present value of lease payment is the interest rate implicit in the future.


The changeslease, or when that is not readily determinable, we utilized our incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term at an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid or incentives received.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we modified the terms of some of our existing leases which resulted in the carrying amountre-measurement of goodwillthe related ROU assets and lease liabilities. We also exercised early termination options and impaired a lease for a facility we were vacating. The resulting impairment and early termination charges are included in our restructuring expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.  Please refer to Note O - Restructuring Activities for more details.

The following table presents supplemental balance sheet information related to our financing and operating leases:

In thousands

 

As of September 30, 2020

     
  

Operating Leases

  

Finance Leases

  

Total

 
Right-of-use Assets $13,410  $998  $14,408 
             

Liabilities

            
Short-term lease liabilities  6,580   223   6,803 
Long-term lease liabilities  10,373   454   10,827 

Total Lease Liabilities

 $16,953  $677  $17,630 

In thousands

 

As of December 31, 2019

     
  

Operating Leases

  

Finance Leases

  

Total

 

Right-of-use Assets

 $17,679  $1,138  $18,817 
             

Liabilities

            

Short-term lease liabilities

  7,226   390   7,616 

Long-term lease liabilities

  12,514   564   13,078 

Total Lease Liabilities

 $19,740  $954  $20,694 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the components of lease expense were as follows:

In thousands

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

Operating lease cost

 $1,951  $2,347 
         

Finance lease cost:

        

Amortization of right-of-use assets

  59   75 

Interest on lease liabilities

  10   16 

Total Finance lease cost

  69   91 

Variable lease cost

  604   614 
Sublease income  (228)   

Total lease cost, net

 $2,396  $3,052 

In thousands

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

Operating lease cost

 $6,435  $6,940 
         

Finance lease cost:

        

Amortization of right-of-use assets

  191   225 

Interest on lease liabilities

  37   54 

Total Finance lease cost

  228   279 

Variable lease cost

  2,246   1,991 
Sublease income  (228)   

Total lease cost, net

 $8,681  $9,210 

Other information related to leases was as follows:

In thousands

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

Supplemental Cash Flows Information

        
         

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

        

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 $14,535  $13,076 

Operating cash flows from finance leases

  32   63 

Financing cash flows from finance leases

  357   344 
         

Weighted Average Remaining Lease term

        
         

Operating leases

  3.0   3.5 

Finance leases

  3.2   2.9 
         

Weighted Average Discount Rate

        

Operating leases

  4.67%  4.71%

Finance leases

  5.28%  6.68%

The maturities of the Company’s finance and operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2020 are as follows:

In thousands

 

Operating Leases (1)

  

Finance Leases

 

Year Ending December 31,

        

Remainder of 2020

 $7,171  $249 

2021

  4,842   220 

2022

  3,490   196 

2023

  2,377   59 

2024

  300   13 

2025

      

Total future minimum lease payments

  18,180   737 

Less: Imputed interest

  1,227   60 

Total lease liabilities

 $16,953  $677 
(1) Non-cancelable sublease proceeds for the remainder of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and the fiscal years ending December 31, 2021, 2022, and 2023 of $254k, $647k, $540k, and $154k, respectively, are not included in the table above.        

As of September 30, 2020, wehave one operating lease for our new fulfillment center in Kansas City that has not yet commenced.

In thousands Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 $34,510
Additions to goodwill 
Impairment 
Balance at September 30, 2017 $34,510

Other intangible assets with definite lives relate to contact databases, client relationships, and non-compete agreements. They are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective estimated useful lives, typically a 2 to 10-year period. Other intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstance indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

The changes in the carrying amount of other intangible assets with definite lives are as follows:
In thousands Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 $3,302
Amortization (544)
Balance at September 30, 2017 $2,758

Note E — Long-Term Debt


Credit Facilities

- Convertible Preferred Stock

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue 1.0 million shares of preferred stock. On March 10, 2016,January 30, 2018, we entered into a secured credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, consisting of a maximum $65.0 million revolving credit facility and a $45.0 million term loan facility (together the "2016 Secured Credit Facility"). The 2016 Secured Credit Facility was secured by substantially allissued 9,926 shares of our assets and material domestic subsidiaries. The 2016 Secured Credit Facility was usedSeries A Preferred Stock to Wipro at an issue price of $1,000 per share, for general corporate purposes, and to replace and repay outstanding borrowings.


Prepayment of the 2016 Secured Credit Facility was required upon the completion of the sale of Trillium in accordance with its terms. Thegross proceeds of $9.9 million pursuant to a Certificate of Designation filed with the Trillium sale were used to repay in full all outstanding loans, together with interest, and all other amounts dueState of Delaware on January 29, 2018. We incurred $0.2 million of transaction fees in connection with repayment. Prepayment penaltiesthe issuance of approximately $1.3the Series A Preferred Stock which are netted against the gross proceeds of $9.9 million were incurred on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Series A Preferred Stock has the following rights and privileges:

Liquidation Rights

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding down of the Company or a Fundamental Transaction (defined in the Certificate of Designation for the Series A Preferred Stock), whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, prior to and in preference to the holders of common stock, from the assets of the Company available for distribution, an amount equal to the greater of (i) the original issue price, plus any dividends accrued but unpaid thereon, and (ii) such amount as would have been payable to Wipro had all shares of Series A Preferred Stock been converted into common stock immediately before such liquidation.

Upon liquidation, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of common stock.

Dividends

Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding down of the Company, or a Fundamental Transaction (collectively, a “Liquidation”), shares of Series A Preferred Stock which have not been otherwise converted to common stock, shall be entitled to receive dividends that accrue at a rate of (i) 5.0% each year, or (ii) the rate that cash dividends are paid in respect of shares of common stock (with Series A Preferred Stock being paid on an as-converted basis in such case) for such year if such rate is greater than 5.0%. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are cumulative and accrue to the holders thereof whether or not declared by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). Dividends are payable solely upon a Liquidation, and only if prior to such Liquidation such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have not been converted to common stock. As of September 30, 2020, cumulative dividends payable to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon a Liquidation totaled $1.3 million or $133.46 per share of Series A Preferred Stock.

Conversion

At the option of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be converted into common stock at a rate of 100.91 shares of common stock for one share of Series A Preferred Stock, subject to certain future adjustments.

Voting and Other Rights

The Series A Preferred Stock does not have voting rights, except as otherwise required by law. Other rights afforded the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, under defined circumstances, include the election and removal of one member of the Board as a resultseparate voting class, the ability to approve certain actions of repaying the 2016 Secured Company prior to execution, and preemptive rights to participate in any future issuance of new securities. In addition, under certain circumstances, the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to appoint an observer to our Board. The holder of the Series A Preferred Stock has elected to exercise its observer appointment rights but has not exercised its right to appoint the board member.

We determined that the Series A Preferred Stock has contingent redemption provisions allowing redemption by the holder upon certain defined events. As the event that may trigger the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock is not solely within our control, the Series A Preferred Stock is classified as mezzanine equity (temporary equity) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2020.

Note F — Long-Term Debt

In thousands

 

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 

Revolving credit facility

 $17,100  $18,700 

Paycheck Protection Program Term Note

  10,000    

Total debt

  27,100   18,700 

Less: current portion of long-term debt

  (6,681)   

Long-term debt

 $20,419  $18,700 

Credit Facility. The creditFacility

As of September 30, 2020 and guarantee agreements related toDecember 31, 2019, we had $17.1 million and $18.7 million borrowings outstanding under the 2016 SecuredTexas Capital Credit Facility were likewise terminated.


(as defined below), respectively. As of September 30, 2020, we had the ability to borrow an additional of $0.1 million under the facility.

On April 17, 2017, we entered into a secured credit facility with Texas Capital Bank, N.A.N.A (“Texas Capital Bank”), that providesprovided a $20$20.0 million revolving credit facility (the "Texas“Texas Capital Credit Facility"Facility”). The Texas Capital Credit Facility is being used for general corporate purposes and to provide collateral for letters of credit issued by Texas Capital Bank up to $5.0 million. The Texas Capital Credit Facility is secured by substantially all assets of the companyCompany’s and its material domestic subsidiaries.subsidiaries’ assets. The Texas Capital Credit Facility is guaranteed by HHS Guaranty, LLC, an entity formed to provide credit support for Harte Hanks by certain members of the Shelton family (descendants of one of our founders).


The

Under the Texas Capital Credit Facility, is due and payable in full on April 17, 2019. Wewe can elect to accrue interest on outstanding principal balances at either LIBOR plus 1.95% or prime less plus 0.75%. Unused creditcommitment balances will accrue interest at 0.50%. Harte Hanks isWe are required to pay an annuala quarterly fee of $0.5 million0.5% as consideration for the collateral balances provided byguarantee to HHS Guaranty, LLC and reimburse it for certain costs if incurred as a result of the guarantee.


value of the collateral it actually pledged to secure the facility, which for the three months ended September 30, 2020 amounted to $0.1 million.

The Texas Capital Credit Facility is subject to customary covenants requiring insurance, legal compliance, payment of taxes, prohibition of second liens, and secondary indebtedness, as well as the filing of quarterly and annual financial statements.


As of August 9, 2017, we were not The Company has been in compliance withof all the requirements.

The Texas Capital Credit Facility's covenant requiring us to file our financial reports for the quarter ending June 30, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission within forty-five daysFacility originally had an expiration date of the quarter end.April 17, 2019, at which point all outstanding amounts would have been due. On August 14, 2017,January 9, 2018, we entered into a waiver with Texas Capital Bank that waived our noncompliance through October 20,


2017. We filed our financial reports for the quarter ending June 30,2017 on October 2, 2017. We are requiredan amendment to meet covenants established by the Texas Capital Credit Facility followingthat increased the expiration ofborrowing capacity to $22.0 million and extended the waiver.

Our long-term debt obligations were as follows:
In thousands September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
Texas Capital Credit Facility ($20.0 million capacity), various interest rates based on (a) LIBOR plus 1.95% or (b) prime minus 0.75% (effective rate of 3.18% at September 30, 2017), due April 17, 2019 $12,000
 $
Total debt 12,000
 
Less current maturities 
 
Total long-term debt $12,000
 $

The carrying values and estimated fair value of our outstanding debt were as follows:
  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
In thousands Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value
Total debt $12,000
 $12,000
 $
 $

Based on the recent entrymaturity by one year to April 17, 2020. On May 7, 2019, we entered into a second amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility carrying values estimate fair value. These current rates are considered Level 2 inputs underwhich further extended the fair value hierarchy establishedmaturity of the facility by ASC 820,one year to April 17, 2021. On May 11, Fair Value Measurement, as they are based upon information obtained from2020, we entered into a third party banks.

amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility which further extended the maturity of the facility by one year to April 17, 2022 and decreased the borrowing capacity to $19.0 million. The Texas Capital Credit Facility remains secured by substantially all of our assets and continues to be guaranteed by HHS Guaranty, LLC.

At September 30, 2017,2020, we had letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $3.8$1.8 million. $3.3 million of ourNo amounts were drawn against these letters of credit were backed by cash collateral with the other $0.5 million offset against our availability on the Texas Capital Credit Facility.at September 30, 2020. These letters of credit exist to support insurance programs relating to workers’ compensation, automobile liability, and general liability. No amounts were drawn against these letters

Paycheck Protection Program Term Note

On April 14, 2020, the Company entered into a promissory note with Texas Capital Bank,  for an unsecured loan with a principal amount of credit$10.0 million made to the Company pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP Term Note”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The PPP Term Note is guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration.

The PPP Term Note bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 1.00%, with interest deferred for the first six months. Beginning in November 2020, the Company will be required to make 18 equal monthly payments of principal and interest with the final payment due in April 2022, unless the loan is forgiven as described below. The PPP Term Note may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default.

The proceeds may be used to maintain payroll or make certain covered interest payments, lease payments and utility payments. Under the terms of the CARES Act, the Company can be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of the loan granted under the Paycheck Protection Program, with such forgiveness to be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of the loan proceeds for permitted expenses.

At this time, the Company anticipates forgiveness of the entire amount of the PPP Term Note; however, we are not in a position to estimate the timing of the completion of the forgiveness process. We expect to apply for forgiveness of the PPP Term Note in the fourth quarter of 2020. We have elected to classify the principal balance of the PPP Term Note within both Short-term and Long-term debt, net, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017. 2020. Under the existing terms of the PPP Term Note, if no forgiveness is granted, approximately $6.7 million of the principal amount of the PPP Term Note would be due within twelve months from September 30, 2020.


Note FG — Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain stock incentive plans for the benefit of certain officers, directors, and employees, including the 2013 OmnibusEquity Incentive Plan (the "2013“2013 Plan”). We recently established our 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2020 Plan").  which has taken the place of the 2013 Plan going forward. Any shares of common stock that remain eligible for issuance under the 2013 Plan are now eligible for issuance under the 2020 Plan. Our stock incentive plans provide for the ability to issue stock options, cash stock appreciation rights, performance stock units, phantom stock units and cash performance stock units. Our cash stock appreciation rights, phantom stock units and cash performance stock units settle solely in cash and are treated as a liability, which are adjusted each reporting period based on changes in our stock price.

Compensation expense for stock-based awards is based on the fair values of the awards on the date of grant and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award in the “Labor” line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.Income (Loss). We recognized $1.8$0.3 million and $2.4 $0.3 million of stock-based compensation expense during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We recognized $0.6 million and $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense during the nine months ended September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.


All stock-based awards granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were granted under the 2013 Plan.

Stock Options

Stock options become exercisable in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date, and expire on the tenth anniversary of their grant date. Options are granted at an exercise price equal to the market value of the common stock at the market close on the day prior to the grant. Options granted prior to the 2013 Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with their respective terms.

The following table summarizes all stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
  Number of
Shares
 Weighted
Average Exercise Price
 Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual
Term (Years)
Balance as of December 31, 2016 3,705,893
 $7.72
 4.74
Granted 
 
  
Exercised 
 
  
Forfeited (89,630) 7.13
  
Vested options expired (847,898) 11.07
  
Balance as of September 30, 2017 2,768,365
 6.72
 5.10
       
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2017 2,768,365
 $6.72
 5.10
       
Exercisable as of September 30, 2017 2,003,764
 $7.59
 3.73


As of September 30, 2017, there was $0.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.82 years.

Cash Stock Appreciation Rights

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Board approved cash settling stock appreciation rights under the 2013 Plan.

Cash stock appreciation rights vest in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date. Cash stock appreciation rights settle solely in cash and are treated as a liability.

The following table summarizes all stock appreciation rights activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
  Number of
Shares
 Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2016 
 $
Granted 866,196
 0.97
Vested 
 
Forfeited 
 
Cash stock appreciation rights outstanding at September 30, 2017 866,196
 $0.97

As of September 30, 2017, there was $0.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to cash stock appreciation rights. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.73 years. Changes in our stock price, the volatility of our stock price, and the risk-free rate of interest will result in adjustments to compensation expense and the corresponding liability over the applicable service period.

Unvested Shares

Unvested shares vest in three equal increments on the first three anniversaries of their grant date. Unvested shares settle solely in common stock and are treated as equity.

The following table summarizes all unvested share activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
  Number of
Shares
 Weighted Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2016 945,252
 $3.76
Granted 1,336,060
 0.98
Vested (405,241) 4.13
Forfeited (132,468) 2.76
Unvested shares outstanding at September 30, 2017 1,743,603
 $1.61

As of September 30, 2017, there was $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested shares. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.96 years.

Phantom Stock Units

Phantom stock units vest in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date. Phantom stock units settle solely in cash and are treated as a liability.

The following table summarizes all phantom stock activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
  Number of
Shares
 Weighted Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2016 531,820
 $2.69
Granted 560,000
 0.97
Settled (125,046) 2.69
Forfeited (112,360) 2.51
Phantom stock units outstanding at September 30, 2017 854,414
 $1.59

As of September 30, 2017, there was $0.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to phantom stock. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.32 years. Changes in our stock price will result in adjustments to compensation expense and the corresponding liability over the applicable service period.

Performance Stock Units

Performance stock units vest in a range between 0% to 100% based upon certain performance criteria in a three-year period. At the end of the performance period, the number of shares paid will be based on our performance versus the target. Performance stock units settle solely in common stock and are treated as equity.

The following table summarizes all performance stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
  Number of
Shares
 Weighted Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2016 844,315
 $2.56
Granted 711,268
 0.99
Settled 
 
Forfeited (104,946) 4.79
Performance stock units outstanding at September 30, 2017 1,450,637
 $1.63

As of September 30, 2017, there was $1.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance stock units. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.90 years.

Cash Performance Stock Units

Cash performance stock units vest in a range between 0% to 100% based upon certain performance criteria measured over a three-year period. At the end of the performance period, the number of shares settled in cash will be based on our performance versus the target. Cash performance stock units settle solely in cash and are treated as a liability.

The following table summarizes all cash performance stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:
  Number of
Shares
 Weighted Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2016 444,005
 $2.69
Granted 1,098,871
 1.01
Settled 
 
Forfeited (37,784) 2.69
Cash performance stock units outstanding at September 30, 2017 1,505,092
 $1.46

As of September 30, 2017, there was $1.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance stock units. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.38 years. Changes in our stock price will result in adjustments to compensation expense and the corresponding liability over the applicable service period. Expense is also adjusted up or down based on the current estimate of future performance against the established performance goals.

Note GH — Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Prior to January 1, 1999, we maintainedprovided a defined benefit pension plan for which most of our employees were eligible to participate (the "Qualified“Qualified Pension Plan"Plan”).  WeIn conjunction with significant enhancements to our 401(k) plan, we elected to freeze benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan as of December 31, 1998.


In 1994, we adopted a non-qualified, unfunded, supplemental pension plan (the "Restoration“Restoration Pension Plan"Plan”) covering certain employees, which provides for incremental pension payments so that total pension payments equal those amounts that would have been payable from our Qualified Pension Planthe principal pension plan were it not for limitations imposed by income tax regulation. The benefits under the Restoration Pension Plan waswere intended to provide benefits equivalent to our Qualified Pension Plan as if such plan had not been frozen. We elected to freeze benefits under the Restoration Pension Plan as of April 1, 2014.



Net pension cost for both plans included the following components:

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Interest cost

 $1,473  $1,813  $4,419  $5,439 

Expected return on plan assets

  (1,384)  (1,111)  (4,152)  (3,333)

Recognized actuarial loss

  812   732   2,436   2,197 

Net periodic benefit cost

 $901  $1,434  $2,703  $4,303 
  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2017 2016 2017 2016
Interest cost $1,837
 $1,950
 $5,511
 $5,851
Expected return on plan assets (1,832) (2,061) (5,496) (6,183)
Recognized actuarial loss 688
 596
 2,065
 1,789
Net periodic benefit cost $693
 $485
 $2,080
 $1,457

We are not required to make and do not intend to make, any contributionsa $6.0 million minimum contribution to our Qualified Pension Plan in 2017. Based on current estimates we will not be required to make any contributions to our Qualified Pension Plan until the 2018 plan year.


2020.

We are not required to make, and do not intend to make, any contributions to our Restoration Pension Plan other than to the extent needed to cover benefit payments. We made benefit payments under our Restoration Pension Planthis supplemental plan of $0.4 million and$1.3$1.3 million in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.

Note I - Income Taxes

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020. The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“2017 Tax Act”). Under the CARES Act, corporate taxpayers may carryback net operating losses (“ NOLs”) realized during 2018 through 2020 for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the 2017 Tax Act. The CARES Act also eliminates the 80% of taxable income limitations by allowing corporate entities to fully utilize NOL carryforwards to offset taxable income in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Taxpayers may generally deduct interest up to the sum of 50% of adjusted taxable income plus business interest income (30% limit under the 2017 Tax Act) for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and 2020. The CARES Act allows taxpayers with alternative minimum tax credits to claim a refund in 2020 for the entire amount of the credits instead of recovering the credits through refunds over a period of years, as originally enacted by the 2017 Tax Act. In addition, the CARES Act raises the corporate charitable deduction limit to 25% of taxable income and makes qualified improvement property generally eligible for 15-year cost-recovery and 100% bonus depreciation. 

Our income tax benefit of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 resulted in an effective income tax rate of 3.2%. Our income tax benefit of $12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 resulted in an effective income tax rate of 82.4%. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.


2020 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0%, primarily due to the change in valuation allowances recorded on our deferred tax assets for federal net operating losses incurred as a result of the enactment of the CARES Act during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020
Note H — Income Taxes

For. These losses will be carried back to tax years when the federal statutory rate was 35%, resulting in an additional tax benefit.

Our income tax expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an income tax expense of $0.4 million2019 resulted in a negative effective income tax rate of 18.2%1.7%. ForOur income tax expense of $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an income tax benefit of $3.3 million2019 resulted in ana negative effective income tax rate of 20.8%3.7%. We have calculated the provision forThe effective income taxestax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172019 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0%, primarily due to valuation allowances recorded on our deferred tax assets for current period federal net operating losses incurred, as we have concluded that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized.

We have in general historically calculated the provision for income taxes during interim reporting periods by applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the full calendar year to ordinary income or loss for the reporting period. The effective income tax rate calculated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 differs from the federal statutory rate of 35.0%, primarily due to the nondeductible interest associated with the 3Q Digital contingent consideration and foreign tax credit limitations on dividends paid from foreign subsidiaries.


For the three months ended September 30, 2016, an income tax benefit of $1.1 million resulted in an effective income tax rate of 20.4%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an income tax benefit of $5.8 million resulted in an effective income tax rate of 25.5%. WeHowever, we have used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20162020 and September 30, 2019 because we determined that our ordinary income or loss cannot be reliably estimated and small changes in estimated ordinary income would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate, such thatrate.

Effective January 1, 2019 we adopted ASU 2018-02 which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings of stranded tax effects resulting from the historical method would not provide a reliable estimate forreduction of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. The effectiveU.S. federal statutory income tax rate calculated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 differs from the federal statutory rate of 35.0%, primarily35% to 21% due to the nondeductible interest associated withenactment of the 3Q Digital contingent consideration and foreignTax Reform Act. As a result of the adoption, we reclassified $11.4 million of stranded tax credit limitations on dividends paideffects from foreign subsidiaries.


accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

Harte Hanks, or one of our subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, U.S. state, and foreign jurisdictions. For U.S. state returns, we are no longer subject to tax examinations for tax years prior to 2012.2014. For U.S. federal and foreign returns, we are no longer subject to tax examinations for tax years prior to 2014.


2016.

We have elected to classify any interest expense and penalties related to income taxes within income tax expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.Income (Loss). We did not have a significant amount of interest or penalties accrued at September 30, 20172020 or December 31, 2016.2019.


Note I —J - Earnings Per Share

In periods in which the companyCompany has net income, from continuing operations, the companyCompany is required to calculate earnings per share (“EPS”) using the two-class method. The two-class method is required because the company's unvested shares granted before 2017 areCompany’s Series A Preferred Stock is considered a participating securities. Participating securitiessecurity with objectively determinable and non-discretionary dividend participation rights. Series A Preferred stockholders have the right to receiveparticipate in dividends above their five percent dividend rate should the companyCompany declare dividends on its common stock.stock at a dividend rate higher than the five percent (on an as-converted basis). Under the two-class method, undistributed and distributed earnings are allocated on a pro-rata basis to the common and restrictedthe preferred stockholders. The weighted-average number of common and restricted sharespreferred stock outstanding during the period is then used to calculate earnings per share ("EPS")EPS for each class of shares.


In periods in which the companyCompany has a net loss, from continuing operations, basic loss per share is calculated using the treasury stock method. The treasury stock method is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The two-class method is not used, because the calculation would be anti-dilutive.



Reconciliations of basic and diluted EPS arewere as follows:

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands, except per share amounts

 

2020

  

2019

 
Numerator:        

Net loss

 $(1,621) $(5,988)

Less: Preferred stock dividends

  125   125 

Numerator for basic EPS: loss attributable to common stockholders

  (1,746) $(6,113)
         

Denominator:

        

Basic EPS denominator: weighted-average common shares outstanding

  6,523   6,291 
         
Diluted EPS denominator  6,523   6,291 
         

Basic loss per Common Share

 $(0.27) $(0.97)

Diluted loss per Common Share

 $(0.27) $(0.97)
  Three Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except per share amounts 2017 2016
Net Loss    
Loss from continuing operations $(2,480) $(4,285)
Income from discontinued operations 
 1,244
Net loss $(2,480) $(3,041)
     
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Common Share    
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 62,012
 61,543
Basic earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.04) $(0.07)
Discontinued operations 
 0.02
Basic earnings (loss) per common share $(0.04) $(0.05)
     
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Common Share  
  
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 62,012
 61,543
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.04) $(0.07)
Discontinued operations 
 0.02
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $(0.04) $(0.05)
     
Computation of Shares Used in Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share  
  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 62,012
 61,543
Weighted-average common equivalent shares-dilutive effect of stock options and awards 
 
Shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per common share computations 62,012
 61,543

2.8 million

For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 4.1 million of anti-dilutive market price options2019, respectively, the following shares have been excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 1.7calculation: 0.1 million and 1.30.1 million anti-dilutive unvested shares were excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


  Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands, except per share amounts 2017 2016
Net Loss    
Loss from continuing operations $(12,519) $(16,886)
Income from discontinued operations 
 3,980
Net loss $(12,519) $(12,906)
     
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Common Share    
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 61,866
 61,445
Basic earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.20) $(0.27)
Discontinued operations 
 0.06
Basic earnings (loss) per common share $(0.20) $(0.21)
     
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Common Share  
  
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 61,866
 61,445
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share    
Continuing operations $(0.20) $(0.27)
Discontinued operations 
 0.06
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $(0.20) $(0.21)
     
Computation of Shares Used in Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share  
  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 61,866
 61,445
Weighted-average common equivalent shares-dilutive effect of stock options and awards 
 
Shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per common share computations 61,866
 61,445

3.1 million and 4.2 million of anti-dilutive market price optionsoptions; 0.7 million and 0.2 million of anti-dilutive unvested shares; and 1.0 million and 1.0 million shares of anti-dilutive Series A Preferred Stock (as if converted).

  Nine Months Ended September 30, 

In thousands, except per share amounts

 

2020

  

2019

 

Numerator:

        

Net loss

 $(2,738) $(23,318)

Less: Preferred stock dividend

  372   371 

Numerator for basic EPS: loss attributable to common stockholders

  (3,110)  (23,689)
         

Denominator:

        

Basic EPS denominator: weighted-average common shares outstanding

  6,432   6,277 
         

Diluted EPS denominator

  6,432   6,277 
         

Basic loss per Common Share

 $(0.48) $(3.77)

Diluted loss per Common Share

 $(0.48) $(3.77)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, the following shares have been excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2017calculation: 32 thousand and 2016, respectively. 1.10.1 million shares of anti-dilutive market price options; 0.4 million and 1.10.2 million of anti-dilutive unvested shares; and 1.0 million and 1.0 shares were excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.anti-dilutive Series A Preferred Stock (as if converted).


Note JK — Comprehensive Loss

income (loss)

Comprehensive lossincome (loss) for a period encompasses net lossincome (loss) and all other changes in equity other than from transactions with our stockholders. Our comprehensive lossincome (loss) was as follows:

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Net loss

 $(1,621) $(5,988) $(2,738) $(23,318)
                 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                

Adjustment to pension liability

  812   732   2,436   2,197 

Tax expense

  (203)  (183)  (609)  (549)
   609   549   1,827   1,648 

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

  1,129   (660)  1,067   (311)
Adoption of ASU 2018-2           (11,355)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  1,738   (111)  2,894   (10,018)
                 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 $117  $(6,099) $156  $(33,336)

21

  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2017 2016 2017 2016
Net loss $(2,480) $(3,041) $(12,519) $(12,906)
         
Other comprehensive income (loss):  
  
  
  
Adjustment to pension liability 688
 596
 1,940
 2,063
Tax expense (275) (238) (776) (825)
Adjustment to pension liability, net of tax 413
 358
 1,164
 1,238
Foreign currency translation adjustment 33
 (437) 677
 (1,856)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) 446
 (79) 1,841
 (618)
         
Total comprehensive loss $(2,034) $(3,120) $(10,678) $(13,524)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component arewere as follows:

  

Defined Benefit

  

Foreign Currency

     

In thousands

 

Pension Items

  

Items

  

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 $(63,887) $753  $(63,134)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax, before reclassifications     1,067   1,067 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, to other, net, on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss  1,827      1,827 

Net current period other comprehensive loss, net of tax

  1,827   1,067   2,894 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 $(62,060) $1,820  $(60,240)

In thousands Defined Benefit
Pension Items
 Foreign Currency Items Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 $(46,977) $799
 $(46,178)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax, before reclassifications 
 677
 677
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax 1,164
 
 1,164
Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax 1,164
 677
 1,841
Balance at September 30, 2017 $(45,813) $1,476
 $(44,337)
  

Defined Benefit

  

Foreign Currency

     

In thousands

 

Pension Items

  

Items

  

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 $(46,584) $101  $(46,483)

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax, before reclassifications

     (311)  (311)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, to other, net, on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss

  1,648      1,648 
Adoption of ASU 2018-02  (11,355)     (11,355)

Net current period other comprehensive loss, net of tax

  (9,707)  (311)  (10,018)

Balance at September 30, 2019

 $(56,291) $(210) $(56,501)
In thousands Defined Benefit
Pension Items
 Foreign Currency Items Total
Balance at December 31, 2015 $(43,915) $355
 $(43,560)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax, before reclassifications 
 (1,856) (1,856)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax 1,238
 
 1,238
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 1,238
 (1,856) (618)
Balance at September 30, 2016 $(42,677) $(1,501) $(44,178)

Reclassification amounts related to the defined pension plans are included in the computation of net periodic pension benefit cost (see Note G, H, Components of Net Periodic Pension Benefit Cost).


Note KL — Litigation and Contingencies

In the normal course of our business, we are obligated under some agreements to indemnify our clients as a result of claims that we infringe on the proprietary rights of third parties. The terms and duration of these commitments vary and, in some cases, may be indefinite, and certain of these commitments do not limit the maximum amount of future payments we could become obligated to make thereunder; accordingly, our actual aggregate maximum exposure related to these types of commitments is not reasonably estimable. Historically, we have not been obligated to make significant payments for obligations of this nature, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations in our condensed consolidated financial statements.


We are also subject to various claims and legal proceedings in the ordinary course of conducting our businesses and, from time to time, we may become involved in additional claims and lawsuits incidental to our businesses. We routinely assess the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as ranges of probable losses; to the extent losses are reasonably estimable. Accruals are recorded for these matters to the extent that management concludes a loss is probable and the financial impact, should an adverse outcome occur, is reasonable estimable.


In the opinion of management, appropriate and adequate accruals for legal matters have been made, and management believes that the probability of a material loss beyond the amounts accrued is remote. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future developments affecting our pending or future claims and lawsuits. We expense legal costs as incurred, and all recorded legal liabilities are adjusted as required as better information becomes available to us. The factors we consider when recording an accrual for contingencies include, among others: (i) the opinions and views of our legal counsel; (ii) our previous experience; and (iii) the decision of our management as to how we intend to respond to the complaints.

22


Note L — Acquisition and Disposition

 

Note M — Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

From 2016 until October 2020, we conducted business with Wipro, whereby Wipro provided us with a variety of technology-related services. We have since terminated all service agreements. 

Effective January 30, 2018, Wipro became a related party when it purchased 9,926 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock (which are convertible at Wipro’s option into 1,001,614 shares, or 16% of our common stock), for aggregate consideration of $9.9 million. For information pertaining to the Company’s preferred stock, See Note E, Convertible Preferred Stock.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded no revenue from services we provided to Wipro.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded an immaterial amount of revenue for services we provided to Wipro.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded immaterial amount of expenses for technology-related services Wipro provided to us. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded $2.6 million and $9.5 million of expense, respectively, for technology-related services and lease expense for a facility Wipro provided to us.

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had trade payables due to Wipro of $0 and $1.5 million respectively.  As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had no trade receivables due from Wipro.

In the third quarter of 2019, we entered into a business relationship with Snap Kitchen, the founder of which is a 9% owner of Harte Hanks. We recorded $164,000 of revenue earned from Snap Kitchen in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

As described in Note F, Long-Term Debt, the Company’s Texas Capital Credit Facility is secured by HHS Guaranty, LLC, an entity formed to provide credit support for the Company by certain members of the Shelton family (descendants of one of our founders). Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Fee, Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement, dated January 9, 2018, between HHS Guaranty, LLC and the Company, HHS Guaranty, LLC has the right to appoint one representative director to the Board and is paid a fee to provide the guarantee. Currently, David L. Copeland serves as the HHS Guaranty, LLC representative on the Board.

Note N — Sale of Direct Mail Assets and Equipment

On March 4, 2016,April 24, 2020, we completedsold the acquisitionmajority of Aleutian Consulting,the production equipment from our Jacksonville facility to Summit Direct Mail Inc. (“Summit”) for $1.5 million.  Subsequent to April 2020, the Company sold or scrapped the remaining supplies and equipment in Jacksonville for additional proceeds of $0.5 million.  In addition to the asset sale, the Company entered into a strategic partnership with Summit, pursuant to which has been integratedthe Company continues to manage client relationships, and may at its discretion and direction, use Summit to perform direct mail campaigns.  We act as principal in these transactions, and will account for the associated revenue on a gross basis.

The Company is well positioned to provide the full suite of marketing solutions to Summit customers and will leverage the expanded print and direct mail capabilities provided by the partnership with Summit to grow our continuing operations. The resultsbusiness. 

As a result of Aleutian Consulting operations have been this sale, we booked a $1.9 million impairment charge on our Jacksonville facility and recognized a $1.4 million capital loss and impairment expense from the fixed asset disposal and impairment associated with the Summit deal.  These expenses were included in our financial statementsrestructuring expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Note O — Restructuring Activities

In 2019, our management team, along with members of the Board, formed a project committee focused on cost-saving initiatives and other restructuring efforts. This committee reviewed each of our business segments and other operational areas to identify both one-time and recurring cost-saving opportunities. In 2020, our management team continues to review and adjust our cost structure and operating footprint, optimize our operations, and invest in improved technology.

During 2020, in an effort to right-size our operating footprint, we terminated leases in Wilkes Barre and Grand Prairie and exited our last direct mail facility in Jacksonville.  We will migrate our fulfillment business from the Grand Prairie operations into a new 300,000 square foot facility in Kansas City by the end of 2020.  The new Kansas City location will be our primary facility in the Midwest. We have successfully reduced the footprint of our Customer Care business by reducing our Austin office location by 50,000 square feet in addition to exiting and subleasing one of our Manila offices since that datethe business is operating effectively in a work-from-home environment. 

In the three months ended September 30, 2020 and are reported in continuing operations. 2019 we recorded restructuring charges of $1.4 million and $3.1 million respectively.  The purchase price was $3.5charges for the three months ended September 30, 2020 included $0.6 million of severance charges, $0.6 million of facility related and other expenses, and $0.2 million in cash.capital losses from the asset disposal associated with the Summit deal.  The fair valuecharges for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were primarily related to or comprised of $1.1 million of severance expense, $1.3 million of lease impairment and other charges, and $0.7 million contract termination fee.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded restructuring charges of $8.0 million and $10.9 million respectively. The charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 included $3.0 million of lease impairment charges related to the exit from our direct mail facilities, $2.0 million of severance charges, $1.3 million in capital losses from the asset disposal associated with the Summit deal and $2.0 million of facility related and other expenses. The charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were primarily related to or comprised of the identified tangible assets residual purchase price methodology used in the calculation to determine goodwill allocation relied on management's assumptions. These assumptions, which are significant to the calculated fair values, are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820, as they are unobservable.


The purchase agreement for the 2015 acquisition$4.0 million write off of 3Q Digital includes a contingent consideration arrangement that requires us to pay the former ownersour customer databases and $2.8 million contract termination fee, $1.8 million of 3Q Digital an additional cash payment depending on achievement of certain revenue growth goals. The potential undiscounted amount of all future payments that could be required to be paid under this contingent consideration arrangement up to $35.0severance expense, $1.0 million in cash payable in 2018.


On May 1, 2017, we entered into the 3Q Agreement, which defers our obligation to pay the contingent consideration to the former owners until April 1, 2019 or the sale of the 3Q Digital business, whichever is earlier. Any portion of the contingent consideration that remains unpaid after March 1, 2018 will accrue interest at a rate of 8.5%. In addition, under the 3Q Agreement we agreed to pay a special bonus pool to the former owners of the 3Q Digital businesslease impairment charge, and $0.6 million asset impairment charge as well as a sale bonus for certain current employees$0.7 million of 3Q Digitalfacility and other expenses. 

The following table summarizes the restructuring charges which are recorded in “Restructuring Expense” in the eventCondensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Customer database build write off

 $  $  $  $4,036 

Contract termination fee

     667      2,767 
Adjustment to Contract termination fee        (306)   

Severance

  641   1,116   2,053   1,760 
Facility, asset impairment and other expense                
Lease impairment and termination expense     888   2,974   956 
Fixed Asset disposal and impairment charges  154   26   1,294   589 
Facility and other expenses  624   383   1,990   759 

Total facility, asset impairment and other expense

  778   1,297   6,258   2,304 
                 

Total

 $1,419  $3,080  $8,005  $10,867 

The following table summarizes the business is sold priorchanges in liabilities related to April 1, 2019.restructuring activities:

In thousands

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Contract Termination Fee

  

Severance

  

Facility, asset impairment and other expense

  

Total

 

Beginning Balance:

 $695  $775  $2  $1,472 
Additions     611   576   1,187 
Payments and adjustments  (695)  (608)  (570)  (1,873)

Ending Balance:

 $  $778  $8  $786 


In thousands

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Contract Termination Fee

  

Severance

  

Facility, asset impairment and other expense

  

Total

 

Beginning balance:

 $1,491  $360  $70  $1,921 
Additions     2,022   3,145   5,167 
Payments and adjustments  (1,491)  (1,604)  (3,207)  (6,302)

Ending balance:

 $  $778  $8  $786 

The estimate

In thousands

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 
  

Contract Termination Fee

  

Severance

  

Facility, asset impairment and other expense

  

Total

 

Beginning Balance:

 $2,100  $231  $76  $2,407 

Additions

  667   1,116   452   2,235 

Payments

  (700)  (739)  (387)  (1,826)

Ending Balance:

 $2,067  $608  $141  $2,816 

  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 
  

Contract Termination Fee

  

Severance

  

Facility, asset impairment and other expense

  

Total

 
Beginning Balance: $  $  $  $ 

Additions

  2,767   1,760   528   5,055 

Payments

  (700)  (1,152)  (387)  (2,239)

Ending Balance:

 $2,067  $608  $141  $2,816 

We expect that in connection with our cost-saving and restructuring initiatives, we will incur total restructuring charges of fair valueapproximately $21.0 million through the end of the contingent consideration requires subjective assumptions to be made regarding revenue growth, discount rates, discount periods, and probability assessments with respect to the likelihood2020. We recognized $8.0 million of reaching the established targets. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs unobservablerestructuring expense in the marketnine months ended September 30, 2020 and thus represents a Level 3 measurement. Measurement is sensitive to changes in revenue projections usedrecognized $11.8 million of restructuring expense in the assumptions. Changes in current expectations and revenue performance could change the probability of achieving the targets within the measurement period and result in an increase or decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration. As of September 30, 2017, weyear ended December 31, 2019.  We expect that the contingent consideration will be paid at the maximum potential amount of $35.0 million.


A reconciliation of accrued balances of the contingent consideration using significant unobservable inputs is as follows:
In thousands Fair Value
Balance at December 31, 2016 $29,725
Accretion of interest 3,122
Balance at September 30, 2017 $32,847

Any adjustments to the fair value of the contingent consideration are recorded within the "Other, net" line in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

Note M — Discontinued Operations

On December 23, 2016, we completed the sale of our Trillium business to Syncsort. The decision to sell Trillium was largely based on the prioritization of investments in support of optimizing our clients' customer journey across an omni-channel delivery platform, and the determination that the Trillium business is likely to be a better strategic fit and more valuable asset to other parties. The business was sold for gross proceeds of approximately $112.0 million in cash and resulted in a loss on the sale of $39.9 million, net of $4.6incur $1.2 million of income tax benefit.

Because the sale of Trillium represented a strategic shift that has a major effect on our operations and financial results, the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for Trillium are reported separately as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Results of the remaining Harte Hanks business are reported as continuing operations.

Summarized operating results for the Trillium discontinued operations,restructuring charges through the datesend of disposal, are as follows:2020.

  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2017 2016 2017 2016
Revenue $
 $11,683
 $
 $35,554
         
Labor 
 4,413
 
 14,916
Production and distribution 
 171
 
 583
Advertising, selling, general and administrative 
 2,535
 
 8,299
Depreciation and software amortization 
 576
 
 1,677
Interest expense, net 
 1,784
 
 3,870
Other, net 
 587
 
 765
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes 
 1,617
 
 5,444
Income tax expense 
 373
 
 1,464
Net income from discontinued operations $
 $1,244
 $
 $3,980


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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A)(“MD&A”), contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All such statements are qualified by this cautionary note, which is provided pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange1934 Act, of 1934.as amended. Forward-looking statements may also be included in our other public filings, press releases, our website, and oral and written presentations by management. Statements other than historical facts are forward-looking and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “could,” “intends,” or “the negative thereof” or similar words of similar meaning. Examples include statements regarding (1) the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had and the anticipated impact it will have on our business, strategies and initiatives, related thereto, (2) the impact of restructuring activities and other adjustments to our cost structure and other actions designed to respond to market conditions and improve our performance, and the anticipated effectiveness and expenses associated with these actions, (3) our financial outlook for revenues, earnings per share, operating income, expense related to equity-based compensation, capital resources and other financial items, (4) expectations for our businesses and for the industries in which we operate, including the impact of economic conditions of the markets we serve and on the marketing expenditures and activities of our clients and prospects, (5) competitive factors, (6) acquisition, disposition, and development plans, (7) expectations for and effects of acquired and disposed businesses and our ability to effect such acquisitions and dispositions, (8) our stock repurchase program, (9) expectations regarding legal proceedings and other contingent liabilities, (8) the impact of recent tax reform legislation on our results of operations, and (10)(9) other statements regarding future events, conditions, or outcomes.

These forward-looking statements are based on current information, expectations, and estimates and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. In that event, our business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity could be materially adversely affected and investors in our securities could lose part or all of their investments. Some of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,SEC, including the factors discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in ourthe Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,2019 (the “2019 10-K”), Part II, Item 1a. “ Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017,2020 and in our other reports filed or furnished with the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our third quarter 2017 earnings release issued on September 28, 2017.SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this report and those included in our other public filings, press releases, our website, and oral and written presentations by management are made only as of the respective dates thereof, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement in this report or in other documents, our website, or oral statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

future, except as required by law.

Overview

The following MD&A section is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of Harte Hanks, Inc.Hanks. This section is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statementsCondensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statementsincluded herein as well as our 2016 Form2019 10-K. Our 2016 Form2019 10-K contains a discussion of other matters not included herein, such as disclosures regarding critical accounting policies and estimates, and contractual obligations.


 See Note A, Overview and Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Harte Hanks partners with clients to deliver relevant, connected, and quality customer interactions. Our approach starts with discovery and learning, which leads to customer journey mapping, creative and content development, analytics, and data management, and ends with execution and support in a variety of digital and traditional channels. We do something powerful: we produce engaging and memorable customer interactions to drive business results for our clients, which is why Harte Hanks is famousknown for developing better customer relationships and experiences and defining interaction-led marketing.


Our services provide our clients around the globe withinclude a wide variety of integrated, multichannel,multi-channel, data-driven solutions for top brands around the globe. We help our clients gain insight into their customers’ behaviors from their data and use that insight to create innovative multi-channel marketing programs to deliver a return on marketing investment. We believe our clients’ success is determined not only by how good their tools are, but how well we help them use thosethe tools to gain insight and analyze their consumers.consumers’ preferences. This results in a strong and enduring relationship between our clients and their customers.customers which is key to being leaders in customer interaction. We offer a full complementsuite of capabilities and resources to provide a broad range of marketing services, in print and electronicutilizing a variety of media from direct mail to email, including:

Agency


Digital Solutions

agency

Database Marketing Solutions

Direct mail

Mail and digital services;Product Fulfillment

database marketing solutions and business-to-business lead generation;

Logistics

direct mail; and

Contact centers

contact centers.
25


We are affected by the general, national, and international economic and business conditions in the markets where we and our customers operate. Marketing budgets are largely discretionary in nature, and as a consequence are easier for our clients to reduce in the short-term than all other expenses should they face expense pressure.expenses. Our revenues are also affected by the economic fundamentals of each industry that we serve, various market factors, including the demand for services by our clients, and the financial condition of and budgets available to specificour clients, among other factors. In particular, for most of our recent history our retail client vertical was our largest, usually representing well over a quarter of our revenues. As the retail industry has struggled in the face of internet-based shopping models, many of our clients, and consequently our revenues, have suffered.


We remain committed to making the investments necessary to execute our multichannel strategy while also continuing to adjust our cost structure to reduce costs in the parts of our business that are not growing as fast. We believe these actions, such as the adoption of a new database platform and the development of our DataView™ marketing data facility, will improve our profitability in future periods.

Our business experiences some seasonal variations from quarter to quarter due to increased marketing activity prior to and during the holiday season, primarily in the retail vertical. Because of the seasonality of our business, results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.

Our principal operating expense items are labor, outsourced costs, and mail supply chain management.

costs.

We continued to face a challenging competitive environment in 2017.2020. The sale of Trilliumour direct mail assets and equipment to Summit in 2016, the new credit facility we entered intoApril 2020, together with our restructuring activities, have and will continue to result in 2017, and our announced intention to seek strategic alternatives for 3Q Digitala decrease of recurring expenses. These are all parts of our efforts to prioritize our investments and focus on our core business of optimizing the journey of our clients' customer journeycustomers’ clients across an omni-channel delivery platform. We expect these actions will continue to enhance our liquidity and financial flexibility. For additional information, see Liquidity“Liquidity and Capital ResourcesResources” section.

COVID-19

In the first quarter of 2020, we took a number of precautionary measures designed to help minimize the risk of the spread of the virus among our employees, including suspending all non-essential employee travel worldwide, temporarily closing the majority of our domestic and foreign offices, extensively and frequently disinfecting our offices that remained open, enforcing social distancing to the extent possible and requiring the majority of our employees to work remotely. These measures will remain in effect until we can safely re-open our offices.

We continue to closely monitor the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of our business, including how the pandemic continues to impact our customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and business partners, as well as how it has impacted our liquidity and ability to comply with covenants in our credit agreement. 

In connection with the pandemic, some of our customers have reduced the amount of work we provide to them while other customers have requested accommodations including extensions of payment or restructuring of agreements.  In addition, some of our customers have declared bankruptcy and it is possible that additional customers will file for bankruptcy in the coming months.  We have also seen a number of wins for our contact centers solutions services as well as increased volume for existing customers as a result of the environment caused by the pandemic including an increased need for contact center services. While the pandemic has not had a material effect on our business, liquidity or ability to comply with covenants to date, given the dynamic nature of the pandemic, we may experience material impacts in the future. We recommend that you review  “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further discussion on COVID-19.  

Recent Developments

Restructuring Activities

In 2019, our management team, along with members of the Board, formed a project committee focused on our cost-saving initiatives and other restructuring efforts. This committee reviewed each of our business lines and other operational areas to identify both one-time and recurring cost-saving opportunities. In 2020, our management team continues to review and adjust our cost structure and operating footprint, optimize our operations, and invest in improved technology.

During 2020, in an effort to right-size our operating footprint, we terminated leases in Wilkes Barre and Grand Prairie and exited our last direct mail facility in Jacksonville.  We will migrate our fulfillment business from the Grand Prairie operations into a new 300,000 square foot facility in Kansas City by the end of 2020.  The new Kansas City location will be our primary facility in the Midwest. We have successfully reduced the footprint of our Customer Care business by reducing our Austin office location by 50,000 square feet in addition to exiting and subleasing one of our Manila offices since the business is operating effectively in a work-from-home environment. 


In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded restructuring charges of $1.4 million and $8.0 million, respectively. These charges were mainly related to lease termination and impairment charges, fixed asset impairment and disposal charges and other facility related expenses as well as severance payments. 

We expect that in connection with our cost-saving restructuring initiatives, we will incur total restructuring charges of approximately $21.0 million through the end of 2020. We recognized $8.0 million of restructuring expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and $11.8 million of restructuring expense in the year ended December 31, 2019. We expect to incur another $1.2 million of restructuring charges in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Sale of assets and production equipment from Jacksonville facility and strategic partnership with Summit

On April 24, 2020, we sold the majority of the production equipment from our Jacksonville facility to Summit Direct Mail Inc.(“Summit”) for $1.5 million.  Subsequent to April 2020, the Company sold or scrapped the remaining supplies and equipment in Jacksonville for additional proceeds of $0.5 million.  In addition to the asset sales, the Company entered into a strategic partnership with Summit, pursuant to which the Company continues to manage client relationships, and may at its discretion and direction, use Summit to perform direct mail campaigns.  The Company is well positioned to provide the full suite of marketing solutions to Summit customers and will leverage the expanded print and direct mail capabilities provided by the partnership with Summit to grow our business.  

As a result of this sale, we booked a $1.9 million impairment charge on our Jacksonville facility and recognized a $1.4 million capital loss and impairment expense from the fixed asset disposal and impairment associated with the Summit deal.  These expenses were included in our restructuring expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.


Results of Continuing OperationsPaycheck Protection Program Term Note
 
Previously, Harte Hanks also provided data quality solutions through Trillium. As discussed

On April 14, 2020, the Company entered into a promissory note with Texas Capital Bank,  for an unsecured loan with a principal amount of $10.0 million made to the Company pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP Term Note”) under the CARES Act. The PPP Term Note is guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration.

The PPP Term Note bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 1.00%, with interest deferred for the first six months. Beginning in November 2020, the Company will be required to make 18 equal monthly payments of principal and interest with the final payment due in April 2022, unless the loan is forgiven as described below. The PPP Term Note M, Discontinued Operations,may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default.

The proceeds may be used to maintain payroll or make certain covered interest payments, lease payments and utility payments. Under the terms of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements we sold our Trillium operations on December 23, 2016 for gross proceeds of $112.0 million. Because Trillium represented a distinct business unit with operations and cash flows thatCARES Act, the Company can be clearly distinguished from the rest of Harte Hanks, both operationally andgranted forgiveness for financial purposes, the resultsall or a portion of the Trillium operationsloan granted under the Paycheck Protection Program, with such forgiveness to be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of the loan proceeds for permitted expenses.

At this time, the Company anticipates forgiveness of the entire amount of the PPP Term Note; however, we are reportednot in a position to estimate the timing of the completion of the forgiveness process. We expect to apply for forgiveness of the PPP Term Note in the fourth quarter of 2020. We have elected to classify the principal balance of the PPP Term Note within both Short-term and Long-term debt, net, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as discontinued operations for all periods presentedof September 30, 2020. Under the existing terms of the PPP Term Note, if no forgiveness is granted, approximately $6.7 million of the principal amount of the PPP Term Note would be due within twelve months.

Texas Capital Credit Facility

On May 11, 2020, we entered into an amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility which further extended the maturity of the facility by one year to April 17, 2022 and are excluded from Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and decreased availability under the facility to $19 million.

Results of Operations below. Results of the remaining Harte Hanks business are reported as continuing operations.


Operating results from continuing operations were as follows:

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

      

Nine Months Ended September 30,

     

In thousands, except percentages

 

2020

  

2019

  

% Change

  

2020

  

2019

  

% Change

 

Revenues

 $47,702  $51,414   (7.2)% $129,825  $165,250   (21.4)%

Operating expenses

  46,917   55,889   (16.1)%  140,033   187,278   (25.2)%

Operating income (loss)

 $785  $(4,475)  117.5% $(10,208) $(22,028)  (53.7)%
                         

Operating margin

  1.6%  (8.7)%      (7.9)%  (13.3)%    
                         

Loss before income taxes

 $(1,674) $(5,886)  (71.6)% $(15,601) $(22,478)  (30.6)%
                         

Diluted loss per common share from operations

 $(0.27) $(0.97)  (72.4)% $(0.48) $(3.77)  (87.2)%

26

  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  
In thousands 2017 2016 % Change 2017 2016 % Change
Revenues $94,424
 $97,425
 (3.1)% $284,040
 $294,305
 (3.5)%
Operating expenses 93,474
 101,511
 (7.9)% 291,222
 313,626
 (7.1)%
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations $950
 $(4,086) (123.3)% $(7,182) $(19,321) (62.8)%
     
      
  
Operating margin 1.0% (4.2)%   (2.5)% (6.6)%  
             
Loss from continuing operations before taxes $(2,098) $(5,386) (61.0)% $(15,812) $(22,664) (30.2)%
             
Loss per common share from continuing operations (0.04) (0.07) (42.9)% (0.20) (0.27) (25.9)%


Revenues

Three months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Third Quarter of 2016


Three months ended September 30, 2019

Revenues from continuing operations decreased $3.0declined $3.7 million, or 3.1%7.2%, in the third quarter of 2017three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the third quarter of 2016.three months ended September 30, 2019. These results reflect the impact of declines in most of our industry verticals. Revenues declined in our financial services, retail, B2B,transportation, and consumerhealthcare verticals decreasing $1.7by $5.1 million, or 6.4%43.9%, $2.2$3.4 million, or 10.1%38.9%, $2.7 million, or 83.7%, and $0.2$1.2 million, or 0.8%21.8%, respectively. This isThese declines were primarily due to lost clients and clients reducing their marketing spend with us.lower volumes of sales to existing clients. These decreasesdeclines were partially offset slightly by anthe increase in our financial services verticalB2B and consumer brands verticals of $1.2$5.8 million, or 8.4%. This increase was generated by expansion of work from existing clients. Our transportation51.0%, and healthcare verticals were flat to the prior year.


First Nine Months of 2017 vs. First Nine Months of 2016
Revenues from continuing operations decreased $10.3$2.9 million or 3.5%26.1%, respectively, driven by increased demand.

Nine months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Nine months ended September 30, 2019

Revenues declined $35.4 million, or 21.4%, in the first nine months of 2017ended September 30, 2020, compared to the first nine months of 2016.ended September 30, 2019. These results reflect the impact of declines in most of our industry verticals. Revenues declined in our retail, financial services, transportation and healthcare and B2B verticals decreasing $6.8by $17.7 million, or 8.8%55.9%, $5.4$15.3 million, or 24.9%41.6%, and $2.0$9.5 million, or 3.2%83.9%,and $2.7 million, or 17.8%, respectively. This isThese declines were primarily due to lost clients and clients reducing their marketing spend on programs with us.lower volumes of sales to existing clients. These decreasesdeclines were partially offset slightly by increasesthe increase in ourthe B2B and consumer and financial services verticalsbrands vertical of $1.2$7.3 million, or 1.8%20.8%, and $3.0$2.5 million, or 7.2%7.1%, respectively. These increases were generatedrespectively, driven by expansion of work from existing clients. Our transportation vertical was flat to the prior year.


Revenues from our vertical markets are impacted by, among other things, the economic fundamentals of each industry, various market factors, including the demand for our services by our clients, and the financial condition of and budgets available to specific clients.

increased demand.

Operating Expenses


Third Quarter of 2017

Three months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Third Quarter of 2016


Three months ended September 30, 2019

Operating expenses from continuing operations were $93.5$46.9 million in the third quarter of 2017,three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $101.5$55.9 million in the third quarter of 2016. Labor costs decreased $4.4three months ended September 30, 2019. Production and distribution expenses declined $4.1 million, or 7.5%23.9%, compared to the third quarter of 2016three months ended September 30, 2019 primarily due to lower managed payroll expenserevenue, consolidation of locations and closure of mail facilities as a result of our expensewell as cost reduction efforts. General and administrative expense decreased $2.4initiatives. Labor costs declined $1.5 million, or 21.1%5.4%, compared to the prior year primarily due a reduction in employee related expenses. Production and distribution decreased $0.5 million, or 2.0%three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to the same quarter of the prior year primarily due to a decreaselower payroll expense from lower revenue across most revenue streams and our expense reduction efforts, which was partially offset by higher temporary labor expenses in outsourced servicesContact Center driven by an increased volume of work. Advertising, Selling, General and mail supply chain expenses. Depreciation and intangible asset and software amortizationAdministrative expense decreased $0.6$1.1 million, or 19.3%, compared to the third quarter of 2016.


First Nine Months of 2017 vs. First Nine Months of 2016

Operating expenses from continuing operations were $291.2 million in the first ninethree months of 2017, compared to $313.6 million in the first nine months of 2016. Labor costs decreased $12.0 million, or 6.5%ended September 30, 2019, compared to the first nine months of 2016 primarily due to lower managed payrollbad debt expense as a result of ourand lower accrued consulting expense.  Depreciation expense reduction efforts. General and administrative expense decreased $4.7declined $0.5 million, or 13.5%42.2%, compared to the prior year primarily due a reduction in employee-related expenses. Production and distribution decreased $4.5 million, or 5.3%, compared to the prior yearquarter, primarily due to a decrease in outsourced serviceslower capital expenditures and disposal of mail supply chain expenses. Depreciation and intangible asset and software amortization expense decreased $1.2 million, or 13.2%, compared to the first nine monthsequipment.

The largest components of 2016.


Our largest cost componentsour operating expenses are labor, outsourced costs,mail transportation expenses and mail supply chainoutsourced costs. Each of these costs are somewhatis, at least in part, variable and tendtends to fluctuate in line with revenues and the demand for our services. Mail supply chaintransportation rates have increased over the last few years due to demand and supply fluctuations within the transportation industry. Future changes in mail supply chain ratestransportation expenses will continue to impact our total production costs and total operating expenses and may have an impact on future demand for our supply chain management services.

Postage costs offor mailings are borne by our clients and are not directly reflected in our revenues or expenses.

Nine months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Nine months ended September 30, 2019

Operating expenses were $140.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $187.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Production and distribution expenses declined $21.2 million, or 36.5%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019 primarily due to lower revenue and cost reduction initiatives.  Labor costs declined $17.4 million, or 18.5%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to lower payroll expense from lower revenue across most revenue streams and our expense reduction efforts, which was partially offset by higher temporary labor expenses in Contact Center driven by an increased volume of work. Advertising, Selling, General and Administrative expense decreased $4.6 million, or 23.0%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to $1.8 million of lower business services expense resulting from the reduction in IT services expenses including data processing fees, software license fees and data network services, $0.8 million of lower employee expenses as a result of less travel and related expenses, $0.6 million of lower accrued consulting expense and $0.5 million lower bad debt expenses.  Depreciation expense declined $1.1 million, or 27.8%, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower capital expenditures and disposals of mail equipment.

The largest components of our operating expenses are labor, mail transportation expenses and outsourced costs. Each of these costs is, at least in part, variable and tends to fluctuate in line with revenues and the demand for our services. Mail transportation rates have increased over the last few years due to demand and supply fluctuations within the transportation industry. Future changes in mail transportation expenses will continue to impact our total production costs and total operating expenses and may have an impact on future demand for our supply chain management services.

Postage costs for mailings are borne by our clients and are not directly reflected in our revenues or expenses.

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Operating Income (loss)

Three months ended September 30, 2020vs. Three months ended September 30, 2019

Operating income was $0.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to a $4.5 million operating loss in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The $5.3 million improvement was primarily driven by the impact of restructuring activities with a $8.4 million reduction in operating expenses which exceeded the revenue decline of $3.7 million.

Nine months ended September 30, 2020vs. Nine months ended September 30, 2019

Operating loss was $10.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $22.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The $11.8 million improvement was primarily driven by the impact of restructuring activities with a $46.7 million reduction in operating expenses which exceeded the revenue decline of $35.4 million.

Interest Expense,

Third Quarter of 2017 net

Three months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Third Quarter of 2016


Three months ended September 30, 2019

Interest expense, net, in the third quarter of 2017 increased $0.6three months ended September 30, 2020 decreased $0.1 million compared to the third quarterthree months ended September 30, 2019 due to lower interest rate compared to prior year period.

Nine months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Nine months ended September 30, 2019

Interest expense, net, in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 decreased $0.1 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019 due to lower interest rate compared to prior year period. 

Gain on sale

The gain on sale for three and nine months ended  September 30, 2019  was the result of 2016. This increase is$5.0 million earn out we received related to the qualified sale of 3Q Digital. There was no gain on sale recognized in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Other Expense

Three months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Three months ended September 30, 2019

Other expense, net, increased $1.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019 mainly due to an increase in interest accretion related to the 3Q Digital contingent consideration and interestcurrency revaluation expense incurred on the Texas Capital Credit Facility. Interestof $1.5 million which was partially offset by $0.5 million of lower pension expense.

Nine months ended September 30, 2020 vs. Nine months ended September 30, 2019

Other expense, incurred in 2016 related to the 2016 Secured Credit Facility was reclassified to discontinued operations in accordance with ASC 205-20-45-6 and is not reflectednet, were flat in the change in interest expense.


First Nine Months of 2017 vs. First Nine Months of 2016

Interest expense, net, in the first nine months of 2017 increased $1.1 millionended September 30, 2020, compared to the first nine months ended September 30, 2019

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Third QuarterTaxes

Three months ended September 30, 2020vs. Three months ended September 30, 2019

The income tax benefit of 2017 vs. Third Quarter of 2016


Other expense, net, increased $1.2$0.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to third quarter of 2016. The increase is primarily the result of an increase in pension expense and losses on fixed asset disposals.

First Nine Months of 2017 vs. First Nine Months of 2016

Other expense, net, increased $4.1 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016. The increase is primarily the result of an increase in pension expense and losses on fixed asset disposals.

Income Taxes

Third Quarter of 2017 vs. Third Quarter of 2016

The income tax expense of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 20172020 represents an increase in expenseincome tax benefit of $1.5$0.2 million when compared to the third quarter of 2016.2019. Our incomeeffective tax expense inrate was 3.2% for the third quarter of 2017 resulted in2020, increasing from a negative effective tax rate of 18.2%, decreasing from a rate of 20.4%1.7% for the third quarter of 2016.2019. The effective income tax rate calculated for the three months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the federal statutory rate of 35.0%21.0%, primarily due to the nondeductible interest associated withchange in valuation allowances recorded on our deferred tax assets for federal net operating losses incurred as a result of the 3Q Digital contingent consideration and foreignenactment of the CARES Act during the three months ended September 30, 2020.  As permitted under the CARES Act, these losses will be carried back to tax credit limitations on dividends paid from foreign subsidiaries.

First Nine Months of 2017 vs. First Nine Months of 2016

The income tax benefit of $3.3 million in the first nine months of 2017 represents a decrease in benefit of $2.5 millionyears when compared to the first nine months of 2016. Our effective tax rate was 20.8% for the first nine months of 2017, decreasing from a rate of 25.5% for the first nine months of 2016. The effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to the nondeductible interest associated with the 3Q Digital contingent consideration and foreignwas 35%, resulting in an additional tax credit limitations on dividends paid from foreign subsidiaries.

benefit.

We have in general historically calculated the provision for income taxes for 2017during interim reporting periods by applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the full calendar year to ordinary income or loss for the reporting period. However, we used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes in 2016for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 because we determined that our ordinary income or loss cannot be reliably estimated and small changes in estimated ordinary income would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rates.

Nine months ended September 30, 2020vs. Nine months ended September 30, 2019

The income tax benefit of $12.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 represents an increase in benefit of $13.7 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Our effective tax rate suchwas 82.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, increasing from a negative effective tax rate of 3.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The effective income tax rate calculated for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21.0%, primarily due to the change in valuation allowances recorded on our deferred tax assets for federal net operating losses incurred, as a result of the enactment of the CARES Act during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.  These losses will be carried back to tax years when the federal statutory rate was 35%, resulting in an additional tax benefit.

We have in general historically calculated the provision for income taxes during interim reporting periods by applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the full calendar year to ordinary income or loss for the reporting period. However, we used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 because we determined that our ordinary income or loss cannot be reliably estimated and small changes in estimated ordinary income would result in significant changes in the historical method would not provide a reliable estimate for 2016.estimated annual effective tax rates.

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Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Continuing Operations
 
Third Quarter of 2017 vs. Third Quarter of 2016

We recorded net loss from continuing operations of $2.5 million and loss per share from continuing operations of $0.04 in the third quarter of 2017. These results compare to net loss from continuing operations of $4.3 million and loss per share from continuing operations of $0.07 per share in the third quarter of 2016.

First Nine Months of 2017 vs. First Nine Months of 2016

We recorded net loss from continuing operations of $12.5 million and loss per share from continuing operations of $0.20 in the first nine months of 2017. These results compare to net loss from continuing operations of $16.9 million and loss per share from continuing operations of $0.27 per share in the first nine months of 2016.

Liquidity and Capital Resources


Sources and Uses of Cash


Our cash and cash equivalent and restricted cash balances were $11.4$31.8 million and $46.0$34.1 million at September 30, 20172020 and December 31, 2016,2019, respectively. On April 20, 2020, the Company received PPP Loan proceeds in the amount of $10 million. On August 5, 2020, we received $3.3 million in federal tax refunds related to our 2018 NOL carryback. We also expect to receive additional tax refunds of $6.6 million and $2.9 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively, as a result of the change to the tax NOL carryback provisions included in the CARES Act.  

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities, borrowings, and proceeds from asset sales.borrowings. Our cash is primarily used for general corporate purposes, working capital requirements, and capital expenditures.



At this time, we believe that we will be able to continue to meet our liquidity requirements and fund our fixed obligations (such as debt services, operating leases and unfunded pension plan benefit payments) and other cash needs for our operations for at least the next twelve months through a combination of cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under the Texas Capital Credit Facility. Although the Company believes that it will be able to meet its cash needs for the foreseeable future, if unforeseen circumstances arise the Company may need to seek alternative sources of liquidity. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material impact on the Company’s liquidity or on the Company’s ability to meet its obligations under the Texas Capital Credit Facility, including its ability to comply with all covenants. We will continue to closely monitor the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on the Company’s liquidity and assess whether any additional cost saving measures, including capital expenditure deferral or human capital decisions, are needed. 

Operating Activities


Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 20172020 was $42.0$11.4 million, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $26.5$9.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The $20.8 million year-over-year decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to the $15.9 million tax refund and $5.0 million earn out related to the Qualified Sale of 3Q Digital each of which we received in the second quarter of 2019. 

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities was $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019   The change was mainly due to the $1.7 million of proceeds from the sale of direct mail assets and equipment to Summit and other vendors in 2020 and less capital expenditure activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $7.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $3.4 million net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The $4.1 million year-over-year increase was primarily due to the $10 million PPP loan we received in the second quarter of 2020,  which was partially offset by the repayment of $1.6 million of the borrowings outstanding under our Texas Capital Credit Facility in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The $68.5 million year-over-year decrease is primarily the result of a $69.4 million difference in cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities. This difference is driven by a $28.4 million decrease in other accrued expenses and liabilities, which reflects the tax payment made in 2017 related to the taxable gain on the sale of our Trillium business in 2016. The other principal driver is the $27.9 million decrease in cash provided by accounts receivable due to our year over year revenue decline.


Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $12.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Current year investing activities consisted of capital expenditures of $4.1 million. This compares to prior year investing activities consisting of the acquisition of Aleutian Consulting in March of 2016 for $3.5 million, capital expenditures of $6.9 million, and cash used for discontinued operations of $2.4 million.

Financing Activities

Net cash flows from financing activities was $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to net cash used of $21.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The $32.6 million increase is primarily due to the net cash borrowed from credit facilities of $11.8 million in 2017 as opposed to net cash paid of $14.3 million in 2016,2020 as well as $4.5 million increased borrowing under the lone dividend payment of $5.3 million madeCompany’s Texas Capital Credit Facility in the first quarter of 2016.

2019.

Foreign Holdings of Cash


Consolidated foreign holdings of cash as of September 30, 20172020 and 20162019 were $3.4 million and $3.2 million, and $4.0 million, respectively. The company is subject to, and has accrued additional U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes for repatriated cash.


Credit Facilities


On March 10, 2016, we entered the 2016 Secured Credit Facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent. This facility consisted of a maximum $65.0 million revolving credit facility and a $45.0 million term loan. The lenders provided waivers of our noncompliance of the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and leverage ratios under the 2016 Secured Credit Facility as of April 30, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016, and October 31, 2016. Additional covenants in the 2016 Secured Credit Facility included, among other things, restrictions on the company and its subsidiaries from liquidating, dissolving, suspending, or ceasing subsidiaries or a substantial portion of the business. As such, repayment was required following the completion of the sale of Trillium. Outstanding loans were repaid in full on December 23, 2016 using the proceeds of the sale and the 2016 Secured Credit Facility was likewise terminated.


On April 17, 2017,January 9, 2018, we entered into an amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility withthat increased our borrowing capacity to $22.0 million and extended the maturity by one year to April 17, 2020. On May 7, 2019, we entered into a second amendment to the Texas Capital Bank, N.A. as lender.Credit Facility which further extended the maturity of the facility by one year to April 17, 2021. On May 11, 2020, we entered into a third amendment to the Texas Capital Credit Facility which further extended the maturity of the facility by one year to April 17, 2022 and decreased the borrowing capacity to $19.0 million. The Texas Capital Credit Facility consists of a two-year $20 million revolving credit facilityremains secured by substantially all of our assets and continues to be guaranteed by HHS Guaranty, LLC. We pay HHS Guaranty, LLC an entity formed by certain membersa quarterly fee as consideration for the guarantee of 0.5% of the Shelton family, descendants of onevalue of the company's founders. collateral actually pledged to secure the facility, which for the three months ended September 30, 2020 amounted to $0.1 million. 

At September 30, 2020, we had letters of credit in the amount of $1.8 million outstanding. No amounts were drawn against these letters of credit at September 30, 2020  These letters of credit exist to support insurance programs relating to workers’ compensation, automobile, and general liability.  We had no other off-balance sheet financing activities at September 30, 2020.

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had $17.1 million and $18.7 million of borrowings outstanding under the Texas Capital Facility, respectively. As of September 30, 2020, we had the ability to borrow an additional $0.1 million under the facility.

On April 20, 2020, the Company received loan proceeds in the amount of $10 million under the Small Business Administration PPP.  The credit facility adds additional financial flexibilityPPP, established as part of the CARES Act, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the companyaverage monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The loans and accrued interest are forgivable so long as, over the eight-week period following the receipt by the Company of the PPP Loan, the Company uses the loan proceeds for eligible purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities, and maintains its payroll levels. The amount of loan forgiveness will be reduced if the borrower terminates employees or reduces salaries during the eight-week period.

The unforgiven portion of the PPP Term Notes is payable over two years at a fixed annual rate of 1.00%, with interest deferred for the first six months .  The Company used the proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. See purposes consistent with the Paycheck Protection Program. While the Company currently believes that its use of the loan proceeds will meet the conditions for forgiveness of the loan, we cannot assure you that we will not take actions that could cause the Company to be ineligible for forgiveness of the loan, in whole or in part.  At this time, the Company anticipates forgiveness of the entire amount of the PPP Term Note; however, we are not in a position to estimate the timing of the completion of the forgiveness process. We expect to apply for the forgiveness of the PPP Term Note E, Long-Term Debt, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.


Dividends

We paid a quarterly dividend of 8.5 cents per share in the firstfourth quarter of 2016.2020. We currently intend to retain any future earnings and do not expect to pay dividends on our common stock. Any future dividend declaration can be made only upon, and subject to, approval of our board of directors, based on its business judgment.

Share Repurchase

During 2017, we have not repurchased any shares of our common stock under our current stock repurchase program that was publicly announced in August 2014. Under our current program, we are authorized to spend up to $20.0 million to repurchase shares of our outstanding common stock. Athad no other off-balance sheet financing activities at September 30, 2017, we had $11.4 million of remaining authorization under this program. From 1997 through September 30, 2017, we have repurchased 67.9 million shares for an aggregate of $1.2 billion.


We are unlikely to make any repurchases in the near term. Any future decisions to repurchase shares of our common stock will be based upon determination by our board that such repurchases are in the best interest of our stockholders after considering our financial position, results of operations, the price of our common stock, credit conditions, and other relevant factors.

2020.

Outlook


We consider such factors as total cash and cash equivalents, current assets, current liabilities, total debt, revenues, operating income, cash flows from operations, investing activities, and financing activities when assessing our liquidity. Our principal sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities, and borrowings. Our management of cash is designed to optimize returns on cash balances and to ensure that it is readily available to meet our operating, investing, and financing requirements.


Our recent operating and financial performance has been marked by declining revenues, although the rate of those declines has abated in each of the past three quarters. Despite these declining revenues and continuing operating losses, we do believe that we are making progress that will ultimately return us to revenue growth and profitability.

On April 17, 2017, we entered into the Texas Capital Credit Facility. The Texas Capital Credit Facility provides $20.0 million in borrowing capacity under a revolving credit line and has far more favorable covenant requirements than our prior credit facility.as they arise. We believe that the liquidity provided by the Texas Capital Credit Facility is sufficient for our needs given the nature and performance of our operations.

We have also obtained the deferral of a significant contingent liability that otherwise would have been due in 2018. Wethere are required (under the terms of the purchase agreement for the acquisition of 3Q Digital) to pay the former owners of 3Q Digital an additional consideration contingent on achievement of certain revenue growth goals for that business; the maximum amount of contingent consideration payment is $35 million. On May 1, 2017, we entered into an Agreement (the "3Q Agreement"), which defers our obligation to pay the contingent consideration to the former owners until April 1, 2019no conditions or the sale of the 3Q Digital business, whichever is earlier.

We have taken actions to return the business to profitability and improve our cash, liquidity, and financial position. We have made expense reductions through downsizing our workforce and consolidating back-office and information technology functions. We also completed the closure of our Baltimore direct mail facilityevents, considered in the first quarter of 2017 in response to the declining demand for printed marketing materials. Continuing work from this facility was transitioned to other facilities, allowing for higher utilization rates. We have started to see the favorable impact of these actions and intend to continue efforts to reduce expenses through the end of 2017.
In addition to the actions discussed above, we are taking additional steps to improve our operational and financial performance. We continue to identify and act to secure additional cost reductions and operating efficiencies. We have also focused investments toward improving product offeringsaggregate, that we believe will improve revenue growth.

On April 18, 2017, we announced that as part of an initiative to enhance our strategic position and increase financial flexibility, we would seek strategic alternatives for our 3Q Digital business. The potential liquidity from this initiative would enhanceraise substantial doubt about our ability to invest in strategies to strengthen our core offerings.continue as a going concern for the 12 months following the issuance of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical Accounting Policies


Critical accounting policies are defined as those that, in our judgment, are most important to the portrayal of our company’sCompany’s financial condition and results of operations and which require complex or subjective judgments or estimates. We considerRefer to the following to be2019 10-K for a discussion of our critical accounting policies.

Our Significant Accounting policies asare described in detailNote A, Overview and Significant Accounting Policies, in our 2016 Form 10-K:

Revenue recognition;
Goodwill and other intangible assets;
Income taxes; and
Accounting for contingent consideration.

There have not been any material changesthe Notes to the critical accounting policies described above and in our 2016 Form 10-K.

As discussed in Note B, Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Recent Accounting Pronouncements, under Note B of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of certain new financial accounting pronouncementsstandards that have been issued which either have already been reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, or will become effective for our financial statements at various dates in the future. The adoptions of these new accounting pronouncements have not had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements; however, the company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance and method of adoption.recently issued.


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk includes the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. We face market risks related to interest rate variations and to foreign exchange rate variations. WeFrom time to time, we may utilize derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to such risks.

The interest rate on the Texas Capital Credit Facility is variable based upon the prime rate or LIBOR and, therefore, is affected by changes in market interest rates. We do not believeestimate that a one percentage100-basis point changeincrease in averagemarket interest rates on the actual borrowings in 2019 would have a materialan immaterial impact on our interest expense. As such,At September 30, 2020, the company had $17.1 million of debt outstanding under the Texas Capital Credit Facility.  The nature and amount of our borrowings can be expected to fluctuate as a result of business requirements, market conditions, and other factors. Due to our overall debt level and cash balance at September 30, 2020, anticipated cash flows from operations, and the various financial alternatives available to us, we do not believe that we currently have significant exposure to market risks associated with changingan adverse change in interest rates. At this time, we have not entered into any interest rate swap or other derivative instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in interest rates.


Our earnings are also affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates as a result of our operations in foreign countries. Our primary exchange rate exposure is to the Euro, British Pound, and Philippine Peso. We monitor these risks throughout the normal course of business. The majority of the transactions of our U.S. and foreign operations are denominated in the respective local currencies. Changes in exchange rates related to these types of transactions are reflected in the applicable line items making up operating income (loss) in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.Income (Loss). Due to the current level of operations conducted in foreign currencies, we do not believe that the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on these types of transactions is significant to our overall annual earnings. A smaller portion of our transactions are denominated in currencies other than the respective local currencies. For example, intercompany transactions that are expected to be settled in the near-term are denominated in U.S. Dollars. Since the accounting records of our foreign operations are kept in the respective local currency, any transactions denominated in other currencies are accounted for in the respective local currency at the time of the transaction. Any foreign currency gain or loss from these transactions, whether realized or unrealized, results in an adjustment to income, which is recorded in “Other, net” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.Income (Loss). Transactions such as these amounted to $0.7$1.0 million in pre-tax currency transaction losses in the first nine months of 2017.ended September 30, 2020. At this time, we are not entered intoparty to any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

We do not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging.purpose. We do not speculate using derivative instruments.


Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures


Disclosure

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures are controlsas defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and procedures15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted 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 controlsforms, and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in such reportsinformation is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller(“CFO”), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,CEO and Corporate Controller, carried out an evaluation ofCFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rulepursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of September 30, 2017.2020, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on thatupon such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,CEO and Corporate ControllerCFO concluded that the company'sdesign and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, as of September 30, 2017 dueat the “reasonable assurance” level, to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as described in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.


Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We identified material weaknessesensure information required to be disclosed by us in the following areas (i)reports that we file or submit under the effectivenessExchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms.

31


Notwithstanding the material weaknesses, each of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Controller concluded that the consolidated financial statements included in this report present fairly, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented, in conformity with U.S. GAAP.


Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting


As discussed

There were no changes in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, weinternal controls over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that have undertaken actionsmaterially affected, or are reasonably likely to redesign processes and controls to address all of the material weaknesses. We have engaged specialists to assist us with reviewing, documenting, and (as needed) supplementing our controls, with a goal of providing controls that not only better address both the accuracy and precision of management’s review, but also enhance our ability to manage our business as it has evolved. We continue to evaluate our financial team and organizational structure, and have begun to make changes to roles and responsibilities to enhance controls and compliance, including the recently announced hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer. We expect to make further changes as our specialists deliver recommendations from their reviews. As we implement these plans, management may determine that additional steps may be necessary to remediate the material weaknesses.


Although we intend to resolve all of the material control deficiencies discussed in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, we cannot provide any assurance that these remediation efforts will be successful, will be completed quickly, or thatmaterially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.  We have not experienced any material impact to our internal controls over financial reporting will be effective as a resultdespite the fact that most of these efforts by any particular date. Our remediation plan will last through 2018our employees are working remotely due to the numberCOVID-19 pandemic.  We are continually monitoring and assessing the impact of controls involved, the need for new risk assessments and control design implementation, and ultimately testing of such controls.

Inherent Limitation of the Effectiveness of Internal Control

The effectiveness of any system of internal control over financial reporting is subject to inherent limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing, operating, and evaluating the controls and procedures, and the inability to eliminate misconduct completely. Accordingly, any system of internal control over financial reporting can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurances. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. We intend to continue to monitor and upgradeCOVID-19 on our internal controls as necessary or appropriate for our business, but cannot assure that such improvements will be sufficient to provide us with effective internal control over financial reporting.minimize the impact on their design and operating effectiveness.


PART II.OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note K, L, Litigation and Contingencies, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which information is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 1a.  Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2016 Form2019 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results. The risks described in our 2016 Form2019 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. In our judgment, there wereThere have been no material changes induring the three months ended September 30, 2020 to the risk factors as previously disclosed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors”the 2019 10-K.

   The COVID-19 pandemic may have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business and operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic is severe, widespread, and continues to evolve and may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Recent rises in infection rates across the globe have caused the re-institution of quarantines and lock-down procedures that were relaxed during the summer months in Northern Hemisphere. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused, and may continue to cause significant volatility in the global economic markets and our operating results may be subject to fluctuations based on general economic conditions and the extent to which COVID-19 ultimately impacts our business. While the pandemic and the resulting impact on the global economy have not material adversely affected our business to date, the deterioration of economic conditions could materially reduce our sales and profitability. Any financial distress of our 2016 Form 10-Kcustomers due to declines in the global economy could result in reduced sales and decreased collectability of accounts receivable which would negatively impact our results of operations. Furthermore, the Company faces risks due to the evolving effect of COVID-19 on our employees, customers, suppliers, and third-party providers, including the impact of actions taken by the U.S. and foreign governments to curtail the spread of the virus, including social distancing measures and restrictions on travel and building capacity limits. In addition, if there was an outbreak of COVID-19 at one of our facilities, we may be required to temporarily close such facility.   

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of our employees are working remotely, and it is possible that this could have a negative impact on the execution of our business plans and operations. If a natural disaster, power outage, connectivity issue, or other than as described below. Referevent occurred that impacted our employees’ ability to Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,work remotely, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible, for us to continue our business for a discussionsubstantial period of time. Further, the increase in remote working may also result in consumer privacy, IT security, and fraud concerns.

Although we have developed and continue to develop plans to mitigate the negative impact of the economic climateCOVID-19 pandemic on our business and safeguard all of our IT functions to ensure security and data protection, such efforts may not prevent our business from being materially adversely affected.  Should the adverse impacts described above (or others that are currently unknown) occur, whether individually or collectively, we could experience declines in revenue and profitability. Such impacts could be material to our consolidated financial statements in the fourth quarter and subsequent reporting periods.

As the full extent of COVID-19’s impact on our operations, key metrics, and financial statements.


Our inability to comply withperformance depends on future developments that are uncertain and unpredictable, including the listing requirementsduration and spread of the New York Stock Exchange could result in our common stock being delisted, which could affect our common stock’s market pricedisease, its impact on capital and liquidityfinancial markets, and reduce our abilityany new information that may emerge concerning the severity of the virus, its spread to raise capital.

In additionother regions, as well as the actions taken to our non-compliance withcontain it, among others, the NYSE listing requirement described in the risk factors of our 2016 Form 10-K, on August 9, 2017 we received a noticeimpact from the NYSE indicating that the average closing price ofCOVID-19 pandemic on our common stock had fallen below $1.00 per share over a period of 30 consecutive trading days, which is the minimum average share price for continued listing on the NYSE under Rule 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

Under NYSE rules, we have six months following receipt of the notification to regain compliance with the minimum share price requirement. We can regain compliancebusiness cannot be reasonably estimated at any time during the six-month cure period if our common stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 on the last trading day of any calendar month during the period and also has an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30-trading day period ending on the last trading day of that month or on the last day of the cure period.

If by February 9, 2018 we cannot demonstrate compliance with the minimum share price requirement, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our NYSE listing.

In addition, there are other continued listing requirements of the NYSE, such as a requirement stating that we will be considered to be below compliance if our average market capitalization over a consecutive 30 trading-day period is less than $50,000,000 and, at the same time our stockholders' equity is less than $50,000,000. Our common stock could be delisted if we are not in compliance with any such requirement and are to regain compliance during any applicable cure or grace period. A delisting of our common stock could negatively impact the company by, among other things, reducing the liquidity and market price of the common stock and reducing the number of investors willing to hold or acquire the common stock.

this time.

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

Not applicable.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

33

The following table contains information about our purchases
Period 
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased (1)
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of a Publicly
Announced Plan (2)
 
Maximum Dollar
Amount that May
Yet Be Spent
Under the Plan
July 1-31, 2017 
 $
 
 $11,437,538
August 1-31, 2017 2,290
 $0.80
 
 $11,437,538
September 1-30, 2017 19,364
 $0.87
 
 $11,437,538
Total 21,654
 $0.86
 
  
(1)  Represents shares withheld to offset withholding taxes upon the vesting of unvested shares.
(2) The company does not anticipate purchasing any shares of our common stock through our stock repurchase program that was publicly announced in August 2014 for the foreseeable future. Under this program, from which shares can be purchased in the open market, our Board of Directors has authorized us to spend up to $20.0 million to repurchase shares of our outstanding common stock. As of September 30, 2017, we have repurchased 1.5 million shares and spent $11.4 million under the 2014 stock repurchase program. Through September 30, 2017, we had repurchased a total of 67.9 million shares at an average price of $18.10 per share under all current and previous repurchase programs.

Item 6.  Exhibits


*Filed or furnished herewith, as applicable.

**Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

34


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 hereunto duly authorized.

HARTE HANKS, INC.

November 8, 201713, 2020

/s/ Karen A. PuckettAndrew B. Benett

Date

Karen A. Puckett

Andrew B. Benett

President

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

November 8, 2017

/s/ Robert L. R. Munden

Date

November 13, 2020

Robert L. R. Munden

/s/ Laurilee Kearnes

Date

Executive

Laurilee Kearnes

Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer

and General Counsel and Secretary
November 8, 2017/s/ Carlos M. Alvarado
DateCarlos M. Alvarado
Vice President, Finance and
Corporate Controller



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