UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30,December 31, 2010

OR

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

For the transition period from____ to ____ .

Commission file number: 1-34167

ePlus inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware54-1817218
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

13595 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, VA 20171-3413
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

Registrant’sRegistrant’s telephone number, including area code: (703) 984-8400

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 xT   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 229.405232.405 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 o   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company xT

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

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 29, 2010January 31, 2011 was 8,227,664.8,464,489.
 
 
1
 

TABLETABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Part I. Financial Information:  
    
Item 1.Financial Statements  
    
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010
 4
    
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and SixNine Months Ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009
 5
    
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the SixThree and Nine Months Ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009
 6
    
 
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 8
    
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 2224
    
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 36
    
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 36
    
Part II. Other Information:  
    
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 3738
    
Item 1A. 
Risk Factors
 3738
    
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 3839
    
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
38
Item 4.
(Removed and Reserved)
38
Item 5.
Other Information
38
Item 6.
Exhibits
 39
    
Item 4.
Signatures(Removed and Reserved)
 40
Item 5.
Other Information
40
Item 6.
Exhibits
40
Signatures
41

 
2

Cautionary Language About Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are made in reliance upon the protections provided by such acts for forward-looking statements. Such statements are not based on historical fact, but are based upon numerous assumptions about future conditions that may not occur. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “should,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “potential,” “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project, ” and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Forward-looking statements are made based upon information that is currently available or management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon us, speak only as of the date hereof, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties.  We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which we hereafter become aware. Actual events, transactions and results may materially differ from the anticipated events, transactions or results described in such statements. Our ability to consummate such transactions and achieve such events or results is subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the matters set forth below:

 
●
we offer a comprehensive set of solutions—the bundling of our direct IT sales, professional services and financing along with our proprietary software, and may encounter some of the challenges, risks, difficulties and uncertainties frequently faced by similar companies, such as:
 omanaging a diverse product set of solutions in highly competitive markets;
 oincreasing the total number of customers utilizing bundled solutions by up-selling within our customer base and gaining new customers;
 oadapting to meet changes in markets and competitive developments;
 omaintaining and increasing advanced professional services by retaining highly skilled personnel and vendor certifications;
 ointegrating with external IT systems, including those of our customers and vendors; and
 ocontinuing to enhance our proprietary software and update our technology infrastructure to remain competitive in the marketplace.
 
●
our ability to hire and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
 
●
a decrease in the capital spending budgets of our customers or purchases by our customers from us;
 
●
our ability to protect our intellectual property;
 
●
the creditworthiness of our customers;
 
●
the possibility of goodwill impairment charges in the future;
 
●
uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and financial markets;
 
●
changes in the IT industry;
 
●
our ability to raise capital, maintain or increase as needed our line of credit or floor planning facilities, or obtain non-recourse financing for our transactions;
 
●
our ability to realize our investment in leased equipment;
 
●
our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses;
 
●
significant adverse changes in, reductions in, or losses of relationships with major customers or vendors; and
 
●
significant changes in accounting guidance related to the financial reporting of our leases both as a lessor and lessee.

We cannot be certain that our business strategy will be successful or that we will successfully address these and other challenges, risks and uncertainties. For a further list and description of various risks, relevant factors and uncertainties that could cause future results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements, see the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections contained elsewhere in this report, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, any subsequent Reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and other filings with the SEC.

 
3

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.  Financial Statements

ePlusPlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
       As of  As of 
 
As of
September 30, 2010
  
As of
March 31, 2010
  
December 31, 2010
  
March 31, 2010
 
ASSETS (in thousands)  (in thousands, except shares and per share data) 
            
Cash and cash equivalents $68,287  $85,077  $59,001  $85,077 
Accounts receivable—net  124,352   108,752   139,982   108,752 
Notes receivable  2,217   1,991   980   1,991 
Inventories—net  11,447   9,316   21,655   9,316 
Investment in leases and leased equipment—net  124,724   153,553   123,084   153,553 
Property and equipment—net  1,891   2,057   1,914   2,057 
Other assets  40,313   27,312   37,215   27,312 
Goodwill  17,573   17,573   18,602   17,573 
TOTAL ASSETS $390,804  $405,631  $402,433  $405,631 
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
                
LIABILITIES                
                
Accounts payable—equipment $11,737  $40,894  $7,117  $40,894 
Accounts payable—trade  13,867   17,501   19,657   17,501 
Accounts payable—floor plan  63,617   57,613   71,068   57,613 
Salaries and commissions payable  7,138   5,763   8,566   5,763 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  47,789   40,502   47,443   40,502 
Income taxes payable  3,938   2,385   4,681   2,385 
Recourse notes payable  —   102   -   102 
Non-recourse notes payable  41,320   53,577   34,782   53,577 
Deferred tax liability  1,803   1,803   1,754   1,803 
Total Liabilities  191,209   220,140   195,068   220,140 
                
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)                
                
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
                
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
  –    –   $-  $- 
Common stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 12,141,658 issued and 8,224,509 outstanding at September 30, 2010 and 11,917,129 issued and 8,123,508 outstanding at March 31, 2010
  121   119 
Common stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 12,401,644 issued and 8,468,649 outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 11,917,129 issued and 8,123,508 outstanding at March 31, 2010  124   119 
Additional paid-in capital  87,765   84,100   88,309   84,100 
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,917,149 and 3,793,621 shares, respectively  (45,502)  (43,346)
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,932,995 and 3,793,621 shares, respectively  (45,888)  (43,346)
Retained earnings  156,819   144,197   164,369   144,197 
Accumulated other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustment
  392   421   451   421 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
  199,595   185,491 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 $390,804  $405,631 
Total Stockholders' Equity  207,365   185,491 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $402,433  $405,631 

See Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
4

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
Three months ended
December 31,
  
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
       2010  2009  2010  2009 
 
Three months ended
September 30,
  
Six Months Ended
September 30,
             
 2010  2009  2010  2009  (amounts in thousands, except shares and per share data) 
 (amounts in thousands, except shares and per share data)             
                        
Sales of product and services $221,910  $157,271  $397,803  $297,721  $219,216  $163,178  $617,019  $460,899 
Sales of leased equipment  1,101   788   1,101   2,276   -   -   1,101   2,276 
  223,011   158,059   398,904   299,997   219,216   163,178   618,120   463,175 
                                
Lease revenues  8,559   8,884   18,693   16,959   8,659   12,957   27,352   29,916 
Fee and other income  2,782   2,372   5,760   4,779   2,598   2,576   8,358   7,355 
Patent settlement income  125   3,400   125   3,400   -   -   125   3,400 
  11,466   14,656   24,578   25,138   11,257   15,533   35,835   40,671 
                                
TOTAL REVENUES  234,477   172,715   423,482   325,135   230,473   178,711   653,955   503,846 
                                
COSTS AND EXPENSES                                
                                
Cost of sales, product and services  189,791   134,360   340,782   254,931   185,512   141,234   526,294   396,165 
Cost of leased equipment  1,096   779   1,096   2,189   -   -   1,096   2,189 
  190,887   135,139   341,878   257,120   185,512   141,234   527,390   398,354 
                                
Direct lease costs  1,856   3,142   4,526   5,690   2,153   2,581   6,679   8,271 
Professional and other fees  3,701   2,657   7,228   4,474   3,709   3,313   10,937   7,787 
Salaries and benefits  20,597   18,256   40,647   36,181   21,506   18,837   62,153   55,018 
General and administrative expenses  3,653   3,624   6,798   7,130   3,704   3,797   10,502   10,927 
Impairment of goodwill  -   4,029   -   4,029 
Interest and financing costs  696   1,098   1,482   2,403   585   896   2,067   3,299 
  30,503   28,777   60,681   55,878   31,657   33,453   92,338   89,331 
                                
TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES (1)(2)  221,390   163,916   402,559   312,998   217,169   174,687   619,728   487,685 
                                
EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  13,087   8,799   20,923   12,137   13,304   4,024   34,227   16,161 
                                
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  5,178   3,801   8,301   5,238   5,755   1,708   14,056   6,946 
                                
NET EARNINGS $7,909  $4,998  $12,622  $6,899  $7,549  $2,316  $20,171  $9,215 
                                
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE—BASIC $0.97  $0.61  $1.55  $0.84 
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE—DILUTED $0.94  $0.58  $1.51  $0.81 
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE—BASIC
 $0.91  $0.27  $2.47  $1.11 
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE—DILUTED
 $0.89  $0.27  $2.41  $1.08 
                                
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING—BASIC  8,131,088   8,331,302   8,127,228   8,239,995 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING—DILUTED  8,384,154   8,547,616   8,348,346   8,480,516 
                
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING—BASIC
  8,251,715   8,388,795   8,170,866   8,289,776 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING—DILUTED
  8,451,130   8,554,247   8,383,415   8,504,966 

(1)
Includes amounts to related parties of $188 thousand and $278$359 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2010 andDecember 31, 2009 respectively.

(2)
Includes amounts to related parties of $482 thousand and $561$920 thousand for the sixnine months ended  September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

See Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
5

ePlus inc.inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
    
  Six Months Ended September 30, 
  2010  2009 
  (in thousands) 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:      
Net earnings $12,622  $6,899 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  4,697   5,982 
Reserves for credit losses and sales returns  (494)  482 
Provision for inventory allowances and inventory returns  489   512 
Share-based compensation expense  490   61 
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation  (94)  (187)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation  273   414 
Payments from lessees directly to lenders—operating leases
  (2,836)  (3,737)
(Gain)/loss on disposal of property and equipment  (1)  11 
(Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of operating lease equipment  (157)  23 
Excess increase in cash value of officers’ life insurance
  (71)  (43)
Changes in:        
Accounts receivable—net
  (15,554)  (10,930)
Notes receivable  (226)  504 
Inventories—net  (2,620)  (2,515)
Investment in direct financing and sale-type leases—net  17,407  ��(24,422)
Other assets  (12,936)  (3,198)
Accounts payable—equipment
  (29,219)  5,228 
Accounts payable—trade
  (3,809)  (5,199)
Salaries and commissions payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities  10,215   5,686 
Net cash used in operating activities  (21,824)  (24,429)
         
         
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:        
Proceeds from sale or disposal of operating lease equipment  1,922   2,308 
Purchases of operating lease equipment  (6,193)  (943)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment  3   – 
Purchases of property and equipment  (272)  (368)
Premiums paid for officers’ life insurance
  (70)  (128)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (4,610)  869 

  Nine Months Ended December 31, 
  2010  2009 
  (in thousands) 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:      
Net earnings $20,171  $9,215 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  6,864   8,783 
Impairment of goodwill  -   4,029 
Reserves for credit losses and sales returns  181   1,204 
Provision for inventory allowances and inventory returns  698   591 
Share-based compensation expense  874   270 
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation  (233)  (188)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation  438   406 
Deferred taxes  (49)  - 
Payments from lessees directly to lenders-operating leases  (4,039)  (5,486)
Gain on sale or disposal property, equipment and operating lease equipment  (911)  (886)
Excess increase in cash value of life insurance  (73)  (44)
Changes in:        
Accounts receivable—net
  (29,727)  (26,522)
Notes receivable  1,011   (344)
Inventories—net  (13,018)  (2,458)
Investment in direct financing and sale-type leases—net  15,830   (34,697)
Other assets  (9,771)  (10,337)
Accounts payable—equipment
  (33,981)  1,669 
Accounts payable—trade
  1,219   (4,281)
Salaries and commissions payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities  11,883   13,782 
Net cash used in operating activities  (32,633)  (45,294)
         
         
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:        
Proceeds from sale of property, equipment and operating lease equipment  3,702   3,673 
Purchases of operating lease equipment  (12,135)  (6,976)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment      - 
Purchases of property and equipment  (567)  (502)
Premiums paid for life insurance  (105)  (163)
Cash used in acquisition, net of cash acquired  (1,761)  - 
Net cash used in investing activities  (10,866)  (3,968)


ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - continued
(UNAUDITED)
       
  Six Months Ended September 30, 
  2010  2009 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: (in thousands) 
       
Borrowings:      
Non-recourse  6,694   3,501 
Repayments:        
Non-recourse  (3,785)  (7,003)
Recourse  (102)  – 
Repurchase of common stock  (2,156)  (239)
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock through option exercise  2,904   2,247 
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options  94   187 
Net borrowings on floor plan facility  6,004   5,584 
Net cash provided by financing activities  9,653   4,277 
         
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash  (9)  (162)
         
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents  (16,790)  (19,445)
         
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period  85,077   107,788 
         
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $68,287  $88,343 
         
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information        
Cash paid for interest $1,352  $118 
Cash paid for income taxes $6,790  $2,968 
         
Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:        
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable $75  $116 
Purchase of operating lease equipment included in accounts payable $194  $27 
Principal payments from lessees directly to lenders $15,164  $16,957 

  
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
  2010  2009 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: (in thousands) 
       
Borrowings of non-recourse notes payable  8,570   10,770 
Repayments of non-recourse and recourse notes payable  (5,190)  (4,431)
Repurchase of common stock  (2,542)  (2,563)
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock through option exercise  2,902   2,429 
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options  233   188 
Net borrowings on floor plan facility  13,455   17,185 
Net cash provided by financing activities  17,428   23,578 
         
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash  (5)  (23)
         
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents  (26,076)  (25,707)
         
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period  85,077   107,788 
         
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $59,001  $82,081 
         
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:        
Cash paid for interest $27  $255 
Cash paid for income taxes $11,814  $5,758 
         
Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:        
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable $175  $43 
Purchase of operating lease equipment included in accounts payable $218  $1,215 
Principal payments from lessees directly to lenders $22,276  $32,913 

See Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
7

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of ePlus inc. and subsidiaries and notes thereto included herein are unaudited and have been prepared by us, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods. All adjustments made were of a normal recurring nature.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations.

In the description of the Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) and Accounting Standards Updates throughout the report, references in italics relate to Codification Topics and Subtopics, and their descriptive titles, as appropriate.

These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2010, which was filed on June 15, 2010.  Operating results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for an entire year.  A detailed description of our significant accounting policies can be found in the audited consolidated financial statements, included in the Form 10-K.  There have been no significant changes to the accounting policies that were included in the Form 10-K.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION — The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ePlus inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS – Management has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date through the date our financial statements are issued.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME — Comprehensive income consists of net income and foreign currency translation adjustments. For the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, other comprehensive lossincome was $29$30 thousand, and net income was $12.6earnings were $20.2 million. This resulted in total comprehensive income of $12.6$20.2 million for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010.  For the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009, other comprehensive income was $246$276 thousand, and net income was $6.9earnings were $9.2 million, resulting in total comprehensive income of $7.1$9.5 million.

RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES — Our receivables consist of accounts and notes receivable, and minimum lease payments associated with our investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. We maintain our reserves for credit losses at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential losses inherent in the respective balances. The reserve for credit losses is increased by provisions for potential credit losses, which increases expenses, and by subsequent recoveries. The reserve for credit losses is decreased by write-offs and reductions to the provision for potential credit losses. Accounts are either written off or written down when the loss is both probable and determinable.

Accounts and notes receivable consist of amounts billed and currently due from customers, amounts earned but unbilled, vendor rebates, and other receivables. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses is based on the age of the accounts receivable balance, an evaluation of historical credit losses, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. Management regularly reviews the notes receivable portfolio to assess whether any balances should be impaired or placed on nonaccrual status. As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, no loans were impaired or were placed on nonaccrual status.

Investments in direct financing and sales-type leases consist of minimum lease payments, estimated unguaranteed residual values, initial direct costs and unearned lease income. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses is based on an internally assigned credit quality rating, historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, volume, growth, the composition of the lease portfolio, the fair value of the underlying collateral, and the funding status (i.e. not funded, funded on a recourse or partial recourse basis, or funded on non-recourse basis). We assign an internal credit quality rating to each customer at the inception of the lease based on the customer’s financial status, rating agency reports and other financial information. We update the internal credit quality rating annual ly or when an indicator of a change in credit risk arises, such as a delinquency or bankruptcy.

8

CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK—Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, notes receivable and investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained principally with financial institutions in the United States, which have high credit ratings. Risk on accounts receivable, notes receivable and investments in direct financing and sales-type leases is reduced by the large number of entities comprising our customer base and through the ongoing evaluation of collectability of our portfolio. Our credit risk is further mitigated through the underlying collateral and whether the lease is funded with debt.

A substantial portion of our sales of product and services are from sales of Cisco and Hewlett Packard products, which represent approximately 35.3% and 19.6%, respectively, of our technology sales business segment sales of product and services for the three months ended December 31, 2010, as compared to 35.5% and 18.8%, respectively, of our technology sales business segment sales of product and services for the three months ended December 31, 2009. Any changes in our vendors’ ability to provide products could also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS —In June 2009, the FASB issued an update to amend Transfers and Servicing in the Codification. This update removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity and clarifies the determination of whether a transferor and all of the entities included in the transferor’s financial statements being presented have surrendered control over the transferred financial assets. That determination must consider the transferor’s continuing involvement in the transferred financial asset, including all arrangements or agreements made contemporaneously with, or in contemplation of, the transfer, even if they were not entered into at the time of the transfer. This update was effective fo rfor us beginning April 1, 2010. The adoption of thist his update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In January 2010, the FASB issued an update to Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. in the Codification. This update requires new disclosures of transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. The update also clarifies the existing disclosures for levels of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. This update was effective for us b eginningbeginning April 1, 2010. The adoptionadop tion of this update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED—In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to amend Revenue Recognition in the Codification. This update removes the fair value criterion from the separation criteria that we use to determine whether a multiple deliverable arrangement involves more than one unit of accounting. It also replaces references to “fair value” with “selling price” to distinguish from the fair value measurements required under Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures in the Codification, provides a hierarchy that entities must use to estimate the selling price, eliminates the use of the residual method for allocation, and expands the ongoing disclosure requirements. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the timing and the effect that adoption of this update will have on our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Concurrently to issuing the above update, the FASB also issued another update to the Codification that excludes certain software from the scope of software revenue recognition guidance. If software is contained in a tangible product and is essential to the tangible product’s functionality, the software and the tangible product can be accounted for as a multiple deliverable arrangement under Revenue Recognition. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the timing and the effect that adoption of this update will have on our unaudited condens ed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In April 2010, an update was made to Compensation – Stock Compensation. This update provides amendments to clarify that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Earlier adoption is permitted. We will adopt the provisions of this update and do not anticipate a mate rial impact to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In July 2010, the FASB issued an update to amend Receivables in the Codification. This update requires more robust and disaggregated disclosures about the credit quality of an entity’s financing receivables and its allowance for credit losses. A financing receivable is defined as a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the entity’s statement of financial position. Thus, examples of financing receivables include (1) loans, (2) trade accounts receivable, (3) notes receivable, (4) credit cards, and (5) lease receivables (other than operating leases). The new and amended disclosures that relate to information as of the end of a reporting period will be ef fectivewere effective for us for the period ending December 31,beginning October 1, 2010. The disclosuresdisc losures that include information for activity that occurs during a reporting period will be effective foras of the periodbeginning of the fourth quarter ending March 31, 2011. We will adopt the provisionsThe adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED—In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to amend Revenue Recognition in the Codification. This update removes the fair value criterion from the separation criteria that we use to determine whether a multiple deliverable arrangement involves more than one unit of accounting. It also replaces references to “fair value” with “selling price” to distinguish from the fair value measurements required under Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures in the Codification, provides a hierarchy that entities must use to estimate the selling price, eliminates the use of the residual method for allocation, and expands the ongoing disclosure requirements. This upd ate is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We expect to adopt this standard on a prospective basis and that revenue from technology sales that contain both products and services will be accounted for as separate units of accounting. Accordingly, revenue for technology product sales will generally be recognized upon delivery to the customers and revenue for the services will generally be recognized when the services are complete.

Concurrently to issuing the above update, the FASB also issued another update to the Codification that excludes certain software revenue from the scope of software revenue recognition guidance. If software is contained in a tangible product and is essential to the tangible product’s functionality, the software and the tangible product can be accounted for as a multiple deliverable arrangement under Revenue Recognition. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations or financial statements.condition.

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In April 2010, an update was made to Compensation – Stock Compensation. This update provides amendments to clarify that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Earlier adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2010, an update was made to Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. The amendments in this update clarify when an entity should perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2010, an update was made to Business Combinations. The amendments in this update specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments in this update also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The amendments in this update are effective for us for business combinations occurring after April 1, 201 1. Early adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

2. INVESTMENT IN LEASES AND LEASED EQUIPMENT—NET

Investment in leases and leased equipment—net consists of the following (in thousands):

      
 As of 
 
September 30,
2010
  
March 31,
2010
  As of 
       December  31, 2010  March 31, 2010 
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net $105,404  $135,221  $98,914  $133,291 
Investment in operating lease equipment—net  20,861   20,262   24,170   20,262 
Less: Reserve for credit losses  (1,541)  (1,930)
 $124,724  $153,553  $123,084  $153,553 

 
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INVESTMENT IN DIRECT FINANCING AND SALES-TYPE LEASES—NET

Our investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net consists of the following (in thousands):
      
 As of  As of 
 
September 30,
2010
  
March 31,
2010
  December 31, 2010  March 31, 2010 
Minimum lease payments $110,503  $135,352  $105,435  $135,352 
Estimated unguaranteed residual value (1)  8,030   11,246   7,027   11,246 
Initial direct costs, net of amortization (2)  715   847   600   847 
Less: Unearned lease income  (13,844)  (12,224)  (12,545)  (12,224)
Less: Reserve for credit losses  (1,603)  (1,930)
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net $105,404  $135,221  $98,914  $133,291 

(1)
Includes estimated unguaranteed residual values of $1,717$1,622 thousand and $2,457 thousand as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively, for direct-financing leases accounted for as sales under Transfers and Servicing of the Codification.
(2)Initial direct costs are shown net of amortization of $674$570 thousand and $810 thousand as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively.

Certain lease schedules included inequipment underlying our net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases is collateral for non-recourse and recourse equipment notes, if any.notes. See Note 6, “Recourse and Non-Recourse Notes Payable.”

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During the nine months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we sold portions of our lease portfolio, which were accounted for as sales under Transfers and Servicing. The nature of the agreements includes the assignment of our rights, title, and interests in our leases to a third-party. We provide certain operational services for leases that have been accounted for as sales and have no recorded servicing assets or liabilities, as the services we perform are insignificant. Net gains on transfers of lease payments where we retain rights to the residual value are reported in lease revenues and were $2,181 thousand and $1,607 thousand for the nine months ended December, 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Ther e was a corresponding reduction of investment in leases and lease equipment—net of $57.7 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2010.

INVESTMENT IN OPERATING LEASE EQUIPMENT—NET

Investment in operating lease equipment—net primarily represents leases that do not qualify as direct financing leases or are leases that are short-term renewals on a month-to-month basis.renewals. The components of the net investment in operating lease equipment are as follows (in thousands):
      
 As of 
 
September 30,
2010
  
March 31,
2010
  As of 
          December 31, 2010   March 31, 2010 
Cost of equipment under operating leases $43,245  $46,639  $46,137  $46,639 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization  (22,384)  (26,377)  (21,967)  (26,377)
Investment in operating lease equipment—net (1) $20,861  $20,262  $24,170  $20,262 

(1)Includes estimated unguaranteed residual values of $8,725$8,807 thousand and $9,750 thousand as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively.
During the six months ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, we sold portions of our lease portfolio. The sales were reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as sales of leased equipment totaling approximately $1.1 million and $2.3 million, and cost of leased equipment of approximately $1.1 million and $2.2 million, for the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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3. GOODWILL

Goodwill is recorded in excess ofrepresents the purchase pricepremium paid over the fair value of the identifiable net tangible and intangible assets we have acquired in purchase transactions. Our annual impairment test forbusiness combinations. We review goodwill is performed duringannually in the third quarter of our fiscal year, or when eventsmore frequently if an event occurs or circumstances indicate there might be impairment, and followschange that would more likely than not reduce the two-step process prescribedfair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. A significant amount of judgment is involved in Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. As of September 30, 2010, no indicatorsdetermining if an indicator of impairment have been identified.has occurred. Such indicators may include a sustained, significant decline in our share price and market capitalization, a decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, unanticipated competition, the testing for recoverability of a significant asset group wi thin a reporting unit, and reductions in growth rates, among others.

Goodwill should be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which can be either an operating segment, as defined by Codification Topic Segment Reporting, or one level below an operating segment. We have two reportableoperating segments based on the product and services offered – the financing business segment and the technology sales business segment. Below business segments are reporting units. Based on the nature of products, the nature of production, the type of customers and management, we have four reporting units. Our reporting units areunits; Leasing, Technology, Software Procurement and Software Document Management, two of which contained goodwill as of September 30, 2010.Management. The following table summarizes the amount of goodwill allocated to our reporting units (in thousands):units:

  Financing Business Segment  Technology Sales Business Segment    
  Leasing  Technology  Software Procurement  Software Document Management  Total 
                
Goodwill - gross balance $4,029  $16,484  $4,644  $1,089  $26,246 
Accumulated impairment losses  (4,029)  —   (4,644)  —   (8,673)
Goodwill - net balance March 31, 2010 $—  $16,484  $—  $1,089  $17,573 
                     
Impairment  —   —   —   —   — 
Goodwill - net balance September 30, 2010 $—  $16,484  $—  $1,089  $17,573 
  Financing Business Segment  Technology Sales Business Segment    
  Leasing  Technology  Software Procurement  Software Document Management  Total 
Balance April 1, 2010               
Goodwill - gross balance $4,029  $16,484  $4,644  $1,089  $26,246 
Accumulated impairment losses  (4,029)  -   (4,644)  -   (8,673)
   -   16,484   -   1,089   17,573 
                     
Acquisition  -   1,029   -   -   1,029 
                     
Balance December 31, 2010                    
Goodwill  4,029   17,513   4,644   1,089   27,275 
Accumulated impairment losses  (4,029)  -   (4,644)  -   (8,673)
Goodwill - net balance December 31, 2010 $-  $17,513  $-  $1,089  $18,602 

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During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we performed our annual impairment test of goodwill and concluded that the fair value of our Technology and Software Document Management reporting units were in excess of their book values. We estimated fair values of our reporting units using the best information available, including prices for similar assets and liabilities and other valuation techniques. We employed both the market approach and the income approach to determine fair value. The market approach measures the value of an entity through an analysis of recent sales or by comparison to comparable companies. The income approach measures the value of reporting units by discounting expected future cash flows.

Under the market approach, we used the guideline public company method and similar transactions method. Under the guideline public company method, we analyzed companies that were in the same industry, performed the same or similar services, had similar operations, and are considered competitors. Multiples that related to some level of earnings or revenue were considered most appropriate for the industry in which we operate. The multiples selected were based on our analysis of the guideline companies’ profitability ratios and return to investors. We compared our reporting units’ size and ranking against the guideline companies, taking into consideration risk, profitability and growth along with guideline medians and averages. We then selected pricing multiples, adjusted appropriately for size and risk, to apply to our reporting unit's financial data.

Multiples were weighted based on the consistency and comparability of the guideline companies along with the respective reporting units, including margins, profitability and leverage. For each of the reporting units, we used the following multiples: enterprise value (“EV”) to trailing twelve months (“TTM”) revenue, EV to TTM earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”), and EV to forward twelve months revenue. Under the similar transactions method, we examined the recently completed transactions of sales of stock of private or public companies, which are in the same industry or similar lines of business to compute the enterprise value to trailing twelve months revenue multiple. This multiple, adjusted for differences in size, was used to estimate the fair value.

Under the income approach, we used the discounted future cash flow method to estimate the fair value of each of the reporting units by discounting the expected future cash flows to their present value using the weighted average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk involved in our reporting units and the rate of return an outside investor would expect to earn. To estimate cash flows beyond the final year of our model, we used a terminal value approach. Under this approach, we used the estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the final year of our model, adjusted to estimate a normalized cash flow, applied a perpetuity growth assumption and discounted by a perpetuity discount factor to determine the terminal value. We incorporated the present value of the resulting terminal va lue into our estimate of fair value.

The estimated fair value of our reporting units is dependent on several significant assumptions underlying our forecasted cash flows and weighted average cost of capital. The forecasted cash flows were based on management’s best estimates after considering economic and market conditions over the projection period, including business plans, growth rates in sales, costs, estimates of future expected changes in operating margins and cash expenditures. Any adverse change including a significant decline in our expected future cash flows; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; or slower growth rates may impact our ability to meet our forecasted cash flow estimates.

The fair value of our Technology and Software Document Management reporting units substantially exceeded their respective carrying values and our conclusions regarding the recoverability of goodwill would not have been impacted by a 10% change in the fair values.

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4. RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES

During the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, our activities in our reserves for credit losses were as follows (in thousands):
         
 Accounts Receivable  Lease- Related Assets  Total  Accounts and Notes Receivable  Lease-Related Assets  Total 
Balance March 31, 2010 $1,655  $1,930  $3,585  $1,655  $1,930  $3,585 
                        
Provision for Bad Debts  (191)  93   (98)
Provision for bad debts  (330)  198   (132)
Recoveries  (7)  —   (7)  12   -   12 
Write-offs and other  (317)  (482)  (799)  (371)  (525)  (896)
Balance September 30, 2010 $1,140  $1,541  $2,681 
Balance December 31, 2010 $966  $1,603  $2,569 
  Accounts Receivable  Lease- Related Assets  Total 
Balance March 31, 2009 $1,493  $1,599  $3,092 
             
Provision for Bad Debts  55   337   392 
Recoveries  53   35   88 
Write-offs and other  (148)  (1)  (149)
Balance September 30, 2009 $1,453  $1,970  $3,423 

  Accounts and Notes Receivable  Lease-Related Assets  Total 
Balance March 31, 2009 $1,493  $1,599  $3,092 
             
Provision for bad debts  268   495   763 
Recoveries  65   49   114 
Write-offs and other  (207)  (53)  (260)
Balance December 31, 2009 $1,619  $2,090  $3,709 

Our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations includeincludes a reduction in bad debt expense of $156$34 thousand and $98$132 thousand for the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, respectively, and an increase in bad debt expense of $460$371 thousand and $392$763 thousand for the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009, respectively.

Our reserve for credit losses and minimum lease payments associated with our investment in direct financing and sales-type lease balances disaggregated on the basis of our impairment method were as follows (in thousands):

  As of 
  December 31, 2010  March 31, 2010 
Reserve for credit losses:      
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $1,603  $1,444 
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment (1)  -   486 
Ending balance $1,603  $1,930 
         
Minimum lease payments:        
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $105,435  $134,048 
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment (1)  -   1,304 
Ending balance $105,435  $135,352 

(1)The net credit exposure for the balance evaluated individually for impairment was $556 thousand due to unearned income of $24 thousand and non-recourse debt of $724 thousand, which are not included in the minimum lease payments.

 
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As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, the age of the recorded minimum lease payments associated with our investment in direct financing and sales-type leases that are past due disaggregated based on our internally assigned credit quality rating (“CQR”) were as follows (in thousands):

  31-60 Days Past Due  61-90 Days Past Due  Greater than 90 Days Past Due  Total Past Due  Current  Unbilled Minimum Lease Payments  Total Minimum Lease Payments  Unearned Income  Non-Recourse Debt  Net Credit Exposure 
December 31, 2010                              
                               
Highest CQR $759  $152  $314  $1,225  $1,270  $58,245  $60,740  $(4,900) $(9,106) $46,734 
Average CQR  90   9   23   122   160   44,413   44,695   (6,878)  (10,936)  26,881 
Low CQR  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Total $849  $161  $337  $1,347  $1,430  $102,658  $105,435  $(11,778) $(20,042) $73,615 
                                         
March 31, 2010                                        
                                         
Highest CQR $1,197  $9  $617  $1,823  $468  $93,557  $95,848  $(6,598) $(17,812) $71,438 
Average CQR  177   11   36   224   215   37,714   38,153   (4,187)  (18,566)  15,400 
Low CQR  -   -   1,306   1,306   -   45   1,351   (24)  (726)  601 
Total $1,374  $20  $1,959  $3,353  $683  $131,316  $135,352  $(10,809) $(37,104) $87,439 

We estimate losses on our net credit exposure to be between 0%-5% for customers with highest CQR, as these customers are investment grade or the equivalent of investment grade.  We estimate losses on our net credit exposure to be between 2%-25% for customers with average CQR, and between 50%-100% for customers with low CQR, which includes customers in bankruptcy.

5. OTHER ASSETS AND ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES

Our other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
       As of 
 As of  
December 31, 2010
  
March 31, 2010
 
 
September 30,
2010
  
March 31,
2010
       
Deferred costs related to sales of bundled hardware and services $29,755  $19,879  $26,267  $19,879 
Prepaid assets  3,907   3,757 
Other  10,558   7,433   7,041   3,676 
Other assets $40,313  $27,312  $37,215  $27,312 
  As of 
  
September 30,
2010
  
March 31,
2010
 
Deferred revenue related to sales of bundled hardware and services $32,776  $22,289 
Other  15,013   18,213 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities $47,789  $40,502 

  As of 
  
December 31, 2010
  
March 31, 2010
 
       
Deferred revenue related to sales of bundled hardware and services $29,743  $22,289 
Deferred revenue- other  3,833   3,183 
Other  13,867   15,030 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities $47,443  $40,502 
Other assets include deferred costs, prepaid assets and certain intangible assets. Accrued expenses and other liabilities includes accrued expenses, deferred revenue and amounts collected and payable, such as sales taxes and lease rental payments due to third parties.
Deferred revenue and deferred costs are related to bundled hardware and service arrangements that were not completed by the end of the quarter. We will recognize revenue on multiple deliverable revenue arrangements when the service is completed. Other assets include deferred costs, capitalized software development costs and certain intangible assets. Other liabilities include accrued expenses, accrued sales taxes and lease rental payments due to third parties.

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6. RECOURSE AND NON-RECOURSE NOTES PAYABLE

As of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, recourse and non-recourse obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):

 As of  As of 
 
September 30,
2010
  
March 31,
2010
  
December 31, 2010
  
March 31, 2010
 
First Bank of Highland Park recourse note payable at 5.5% expired on August 1, 2010 $–  $102  $-  $102 
                
Non-recourse equipment notes secured by related investments in leases with interest rates ranging from 3.05% to 9.50% at September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010.
 $41,320  $53,577 
Non-recourse equipment notes secured by related investments in leases with interest rates ranging from 3.05% to 9.50% at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010. $34,782  $53,577 

Principal and interest payments on the non-recourse notes payable are generally due monthly in amounts that are approximately equal to the total payments due from the lessee under the leases that collateralize the notes payable. Under recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the lender has recourse against the lessee, the equipment serving as collateral, and us. Under non-recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the lender generally only has recourse against the lessee, and the equipment serving as collateral, but not against us.

Our technology sales business segment, through our subsidiary ePlus Technology, inc., finances its operations with funds generated from operations, and with a credit facility with GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation (“GECDF”). This facility provides short-term capital for our reseller business. There are two components of the GECDF credit facility: (1) a floor plan component and (2) an accounts receivable component. Under the floor plan component, we had outstanding balances of $63.6$71.1 million and $57.6 million as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively.
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Under the accounts receivable component, we had no outstanding balances as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010. As of September 30,December 31, 2010, the facility agreement had an aggregate limit of the two components of $125 million, and the accounts receivable component had a sub-limit of $30 million, which bears interest at prime less 0.5%, or 4.75%. Availability under the GECDF facility may be limited by the asset value of equipment we purchase or accounts receivable, and may be further limited by certain covenants and terms and conditions of the facility. These covenants include, but are not limited to, a minimum total tangible net worth and subordinated debt of ePlus Technology, inc., and maximum debt to tangible net worth ratio of ePlus Technology, inc. We were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30,December 31, 2010. The GECDF credit facility does not have a fixed maturity date, but either party may terminate with 90 days’days advance notice. We are not, and do not believe that we are reasonably likely to be, in breach of the GECDF credit facility. In addition, we do not believe that the covenants of the GECDF credit facility materially limit our ability to undertake financing. In this regard, the covenants apply only to our subsidiary, ePlus Technology, inc. This credit facility is secured by the assets of only ePlus Technology, inc. and the guaranty as described below.

The facility provided by GECDF requires a guaranty of up to $10.5 million by ePlus inc. The guaranty requires ePlus inc. to deliver its annual audited financial statements by certain dates. We have delivered the annual audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2010, as required. The loss of the GECDF credit facility could have a material adverse effect on our future results as we currently rely on this facility and its components for daily working capital and liquidity for our technology sales business segment and as an operational function of our accounts payable process.

On October 26, 2009, we entered into an agreement with 1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia to provide us with a $500 thousand credit facility, which matured on October 26, 2010. This credit facility was renewed for two years, effective October 27, 2010. This credit facility is available for use by us and our affiliates and the lender has full recourse to us. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at the Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime rate plus 1%. The primary purpose of the facility is to provide letters of credit for landlords, taxing authorities and bids. As of September 30December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, we had no outstanding balance on this credit facility.

7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, we leased approximately 55,880 square feet for use as our principal headquarters. Through September 21, 2010, the headquarters building was owned by Norton Building 1, LLC, a limited liability company owned in part by Mr. Norton’s spouse and in part in trust for a monthly payment of approximately $96 thousand which includes renthis children. Mr. Norton, our President and operating expenses.CEO, has no managerial or executive role in Norton Building 1, LLC. We entered into amendments to the office lease agreement on June 18, 2009 and June 22, 2010 pursuant to which we will continue to lease 55,880 square feet for use as our principal headquarters. The term of the amended lease began on January 1, 2010, and will continue through December 31, 2014. In addition, we have the right to terminate the lease, with no penalty fee, on December 31, 2012 in the event that the facilityfacilit y no longer meets our needs, by giving six months’ prior written notice.

 
Through September 21, 2010, the headquarters building was owned by Norton Building 1, LLC, a limited liability company owned in part by Mr. Norton’s spouse and in part in trust for his children. Mr. Norton, our President and CEO, has no managerial or executive role in Norton Building 1, LLC. 15

On September 21, 2010, Norton Building 1, LLC sold the building to an unrelated third party. Rent paid subsequent to the sale was paid to that third party. The sale does not impact any aspect of our lease. However, in connection with the sale of the building, the buyer deposited $600,000 of the purchase price into an escrow account, which will be payable to Norton Building 1, LLC in the event we do not exercise our right to terminate the lease on December 31, 2012.

The annual base rent, which includes an expenses factor, is $20.84 per square foot for the first year, with an annual rent escalation for operating cost increases, if any, plus 2.75% of the annual base rent, net of the expenses factor, for each year thereafter. We paid rentNorton Building 1, LLC a monthly payment of approximately $96 thousand, which includes operating expenses. Due to the sale of the headquarters building on September 21, 2010, we made no payments to Norton Building 1, LLC which includes operating expenses, induring the amount of $188 thousandthree months ended December 31, 2010 and we paid $482 thousand during the nine months ended December 31, 2010. For the three and sixnine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, and $278December 31, 2009, we paid $359 thousand and $561$920 thousand, during the same periods in 2009, respectively.

To the extent required by our Related Person Transactions Policy, the amendments to the lease were approved by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with such Policy, and subsequently approved by our Board of Directors, with Mr. Norton abstaining.
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8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LitigationLegal Proceedings

We have been involved in several matters relating to a customer named Cyberco Holdings, Inc. (“Cyberco”). The Cyberco principals were perpetrating a scam, and at least five principals have pled guilty to criminal conspiracy and/or related charges, including bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. One lender who financed our transaction with Cyberco, Banc of America Leasing and Capital, LLC (“BoA”), filed a lawsuit against ePlus inc. in the Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Virginia on November 3, 2006, seeking to enforce a guaranty in which ePlus inc. guaranteed ePlus Group’s obligations to BoA relating to the Cyberco transaction. The suit, as well as a related suit by ePlus Group against BoA, was settled effective September 7, 2010. In connection with the settlement, BoA assigned to ePlus BoA’s interest in various matters relating to the Cyberco transaction, including BoA’s interest in the lease schedule, certain proofs of claim filed by BoA in Cyberco-related bankruptcy cases, two judgments BoA obtained against Cyberco principals, and certain claims against the United States government resulting from its seizure of Cyberco-related assets.
On May 19, 2009, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (the “federal court”) against four defendants, alleging that they used or sold products, methods, processes, services and/or systems that infringe on certain of our patents. During July and August 2009, we entered into settlement and license agreements with three of the defendants. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, we received payments in the aggregate amount of approximately $3.65 million, and the complaint has been dismissed with prejudice with regard to those three defendants. The settlement agreements also granted each of those defendants a license in specified ePlusePlus patents. The case is proceeding with regardWe do not anticipate incurring any additional costs arising as a result of these settlement agreements and there are no further actions to be taken by us. We recorded the settlement income when received in patent license and settlement income in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. We recognized the related legal fees and expenses as they occured in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Trial against the remaining def endant.defendant, Lawson Software, Inc. (“Lawson”) was held in January 2011. On January 27, 2011, the jury unanimously found that Lawson infringed certain ePlus patents relating to electronic procurement systems. The jury additionally determined that all ePlus patent claims tried in court were valid. Prior to trial, the federal court had granted an evidentiary motion precluding us from seeking damages at trial. IfWe may seek to appeal that ruling. Additionally, we are successful in proving liability, we will seekseeking an injunction to preclude Lawson’s sales of its infringing software products, as well as any of Lawson’s maintenance, installation, implementation and appealother services for its infringing software products. We expect briefing and oral argum ent on the court’s ruling on damages. The case is currently scheduledinjunction to go to trialbe completed in January 2011,April 2011; however, court schedules are inherently unpredictable, and the actual trial date on which the federal court will rule on the injunction is subject to change.unknown. While we believe that we have a basis for our claims, these types of cases are complex in nature, are likely to have significant expenses associated with them, and we cannot predict whether we will be successful in our claimsclaim for an injunction or damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed the costs incurred to pursue these matters,this matter, or how long it will take to bring these mattersthis matter to resolution.

Other Matters

We are also engaged in other ordinary and routine litigation incidentalmay become party to our business. While we cannot predict the outcome of these various legal proceedings management does not believe thatarising in the ultimate resolution will havenormal course of business, including preference payment claims asserted in customer bankruptcy proceedings, claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. We accrue for costs associated with these contingencies when a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.loss is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable.

9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the basic weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the basic weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of “in-the-money” stock options and other common stock equivalents during each period.

 
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The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used to calculate basic and diluted net income per common share as disclosed on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and September 30,December 31, 2009 (in thousands, except per share data).
 
  
Three months ended December 31,
  
Nine months ended December 31,
 
  2010  2009  2010  2009 
             
Net income available to common shareholders—basic and diluted $7,549  $2,316  $20,171  $9,215 
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic  8,252   8,389   8,171   8,290 
Effect of dilutive shares  199   165   212   215 
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted  8,451   8,554   8,383   8,505 
                 
Income per common share:                
Basic $0.91  $0.27  $2.47  $1.11 
Diluted $0.89  $0.27  $2.41  $1.08 
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  Three months ended September 30,  Six months ended September 30, 
  2010  2009  2010  2009 
             
Net income available to common shareholders—basic and diluted $7,909  $4,998  $12,622  $6,899 
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic  8,131   8,331   8,127   8,240 
                 
Effect of dilutive shares  253   216   221   241 
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted  8,384   8,547   8,348   8,481 
                 
Income per common share:                
Basic $0.97  $0.61  $1.55  $0.84 
Diluted $0.94  $0.58  $1.51  $0.81 

All unexercised stock options arewere included in the computations of diluted EPS for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010. Unexercised stock options for 195,000194,000 shares of our common stock were not included in the computations of diluted EPS for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009. These options were excluded because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common stock during the applicable periods. Inclusion of these options in our diluted EPS calculation would have been anti-dilutive.

10. SHARE REPURCHASE

On August 11, 2009, our Board authorized a share repurchase plan, which has been amended over time. The most recent amendment was on August 12, 2010 whereby our Board authorized up to 500,000 of share repurchases commencing on September 16, 2009. The share repurchase plan was for a 12-month period that ended September 15, 2010 for up to 500,000 shares of ePlus’ outstanding common stock. The previous stock repurchase program commenced on July 31, 2008 and expired on September 15, 2009. On February 12, 2010, our Board amended the current share repurchase plan, which authorizes us to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of ePlus’ outstanding common stock beginning February 15, 2010 through September 15, 2010. On August 12, 2010, our Board amended our share repurchase plan, which commenced on September 16, 2010 and authorizes us to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of ePlus’ outstanding common stock. The purchases may be made from time to time in the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to availability. Any repurchased shares will have the status of treasury shares and may be used, when needed, for general corporate purposes.

During the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, we repurchased 99,8096,725 shares of our outstanding common stock at an average cost of $17.52$23.58 per share for a total purchase price of $1.7$0.2 million. Since the inception of our initial repurchase program on September 20, 2001 to September 30,December 31, 2010, we have repurchased 3,917,1493.9 million shares of our outstanding common stock at an average cost of $11.62$11.64 per share for a total purchase price of $45.5$45.7 million.

11. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Share-Based Plans

We have issued share-based awards under the following plans: (1) the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “1998 LTIP”), (2) Amendment and Restatement of the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (2001) (the “Amended LTIP (2001)”), (3) Amendment and Restatement of the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (2003) (the “Amended LTIP (2003)”), (4) the 2008 Non-Employee Director Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2008 Director LTIP”) and (5) the 2008 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2008 Employee LTIP”). Currently, awards are only issued under the 2008 Director LTIP and the 2008 Employee LTIP. Sections of these plans are summarized below. All the share-based plans require the use of the previous trading day&# 8217;sday’s closing price when the grant date falls on a date the stock was not traded.

Vesting periods varied for the 1998 LTIP, the Amended LTIP (2001), and the Amended LTIP (2003) depending on individual award agreement. Vesting periods for the 2008 Director LTIP and the 2008 Employee LTIP are discussed below.
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1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan

The 1998 LTIP was adopted by the Board on July 28, 1998, which is its effective date, and approved by the shareholders on September 16, 1998. The allowable number of shares under the 1998 LTIP was 20% of the outstanding shares, less shares previously granted and shares purchased through our then-existing employee stock purchase program. It specified that options shall be priced at not less than fair market value. The 1998 LTIP consolidated our preexisting stock incentive plans and made the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”) responsible for its administration. The 1998 LTIP required that grants be evidenced in writing, but the writing was not a condition precedent to the grant of the award.

Under the 1998 LTIP, options were to be automatically awarded to non-employee directors the day after the annual shareholders meeting to all non-employee directors in service as of that day. No automatic annual grants may be awarded under the LTIP after September 1, 2006. The LTIP also permits for discretionary option awards to directors.

 
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Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Minor amendments were made to the 1998 LTIP on April 1, April 17 and April 30, 2001. The amendments change the name of the plan from the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan to the Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan. In addition, provisions were added “to allow the Compensation Committee to delegate to a single board member the authority to make awards to non-Section 16 insiders, as a matter of convenience,” and to provide that “no option granted under the Plan may be exercisable for more than ten years from the date of its grant.”

The Amended LTIP (2001) was amended on July 15, 2003 by the Board and approved by the stockholders on September 18, 2003. Primarily, the amendment modified the aggregate number of shares available under the plan to a fixed number (3,000,000). Although the language varies somewhat from earlier plans, it permits the Board or Compensation Committee to delegate authority to a committee of one or more directors who are also officers of the corporation to award options under certain conditions. The Amended LTIP (2003) replaced all the prior plans, and covered option grants for employees, executives and outside directors.

On September 15, 2008, our shareholders approved the 2008 Director LTIP and the 2008 Employee LTIP.  Both of the plans were adopted by the Board on June 25, 2008. As a result of the approval of these plans, we do not intend to grant any awards under the Amended LTIP (2003) or any earlier plan.

2008 Non-Employee Director Plan

Under the 2008 Director LTIP, 250,000 shares were authorized for grant to non-employee directors. The purpose of the 2008 Director LTIP is to align the economic interests of the directors with the interests of shareholders by including equity as a component of pay and to attract, motivate and retain experienced and knowledgeable directors. Under the 2008 Director LTIP, each non-employee director received a one-time grant of a number of restricted shares of common stock having a grant-date fair value of $35 thousand. The grant-date fair value for this one-time grant was determined based on the share closing price on September 25, 2008.  In addition, each director will receive an annual grant of restricted stock having a grant-date fair value equal to the cash compensation earned by an outside director during our fiscal year ended immediately before the respective annual grant-date. DirectorsIn addition, directors may elect to receive theirrestricted stocks in lieu of quarterly cash compensation in restricted stock.compensation.. These restricted shares are prohibited from being sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of.of; however, these shares are not subject to forfeiture. Half of these shares will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries from the date of the grant.
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2008 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan

Under the 2008 Employee LTIP, 1,000,000 shares were authorized for grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, or other share-based awards to ePlus employees. The purposes of the 2008 Employee LTIP are to encourage our employees to acquire a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of ePlus, thus enhancing the value of ePlus for the benefit of its stockholders, and to enhance our ability to attract and retain exceptio nallyexceptionally qualified individuals. The 2008 Employee LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee. Shares issuable under the 2008 Employee LTIPLT IP may consist of authorized but unissued shares or shares held in our treasury. Shares under the 2008 Employee LTIP will not be used to compensate our outside directors, who may be compensated under the separate 2008 Director LTIP, as discussed above. Under the 2008 Employee LTIP, the Compensation Committee will determine the time and method of vesting of the awards.

 
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Stock Option Activity

During the three months and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, there were no stock options granted to employees.
  Number of Shares  Exercise Price Range  Weighted Average Exercise Price  
Weighted Average Contractual Life Remaining
(in years)
  Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
                
Outstanding, April 1, 2010  507,700   $6.86 - $17.38  $12.09   2.3  $2,770,219 
Options granted  –   –   –       – 
Options exercised  (200,800)  $6.86 - $17.38  $15.82       493,916 
Options forfeited  (6,500)  $17.38 - $17.38  $17.38       – 
Outstanding, September 30, 2010  300,400   $6.86 - $15.25  $9.49   2.6  $3,593,230 
                     
Vested at September 30, 2010  300,400      $9.49   2.6  $3,593,230 
Exercisable at September 30, 2010  300,400      $9.49   2.6  $3,593,230 

  Number of Shares  Exercise Price Range  Weighted Average Exercise Price  Weighted Average Contractual Life Remaining (in years)  Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
                
Outstanding, April 1, 2010  507,700  $6.86 - $17.38  $12.09       
Options exercised  (217,600) $6.86 - $17.38  $15.16       
Options expired  (6,500) $17.38 - $17.38  $17.38       
Outstanding, December 31, 2010  283,600  $6.86 - $15.25  $9.62   2.2  $3,976,144 
                    
Vested at December 31, 2010  283,600     $9.62   2.2  $3,976,144 
Exercisable at December 31, 2010  283,600     $9.62   2.2  $3,976,144 

Additional information regarding stock options outstanding as of September 30,December 31, 2010 is as follows:
         
 Options Outstanding and Exercisable   Options Outstanding and Exercisable 
Range of
Exercise Prices
 Options Outstanding  Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share  Weighted Average Contractual Life Remaining   Options Outstanding  Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share  Weighted Average Contractual Life Remaining 
                   
$6.86 - $9.00  180,400  $7.22   1.5    163,600   7.21   1.0 
$9.01 - $13.50  80,000  $11.74   4.7    80,000   11.74   4.2 
$13.51 - $17.38  40,000  $15.23   3.3    40,000   15.23   2.8 
                         
$6.86 - $17.38  300,400  $9.49   2.6    283,600   9.62   2.2 

We issue shares from our authorized but unissued common stock to satisfy stock option exercises.  At September 30,December 31, 2010, all of our options are vested.

Restricted Stock Activity

Under the 2008 Director LTIP, each director will receive an annual grant of restricted stock having a grant-date fair value equal to the cash compensation earned by an outside director during our fiscal year ended immediately before the respective annual grant-date. DirectorsIn addition, directors may elect to receive theirrestricted stocks in lieu of quarterly cash compensation in restricted stock.compensation.  These restricted shares are prohibited from being sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of.of; however, these shares are not subject to forfeiture.  These shares will vest over a two-year period and we will recognize share-based compensation expense over the service period. We estimate the forfeiture rate of the restricted stock to be zero. As of September 30,December 31, 2010, we have granted 71,63272,166 shares under the 2008 Director LTIP.
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Under the 2008 Employee LTIP, employees may receive grants of restricted stock as determined by the Compensation Committee. These restricted shares are prohibited from being sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of. The vesting schedule of restricted stock will be determined by the Compensation Committee, at its discretion. We estimate the forfeiture rate of the restricted stock to be zero. As of September 30,December 31, 2010, we have granted 219,500 restricted shares under the 2008 Employee LTIP.

Restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the time of grant as the stock holders are entitled to voting rights. Unvested restricted stock awards are not considered outstanding in the computation of basic earnings per share.

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A summary of restricted stock activity during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 is as follows:
      
 Number of Shares  Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value  Number of Shares  Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value 
           
Outstanding, April 1, 2010  144,427  $14.43   144,427  $14.43 
Shares granted (1)(2)  146,705  $18.31   147,239  $18.32 
Shares forfeited (3)  (5,479) $12.77   (5,479) $12.77 
Outstanding, September 30, 2010  285,653  $16.45 
Outstanding, December 31, 2010  286,187  $16.46 

 (1)One of our non-employee directors receivedelected to receive restricted shares in lieu of his quarterly cash compensation. Therefore, during the three months ended June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 30, 2010 the director was issued 635 shares with a grant-date fair value of $17.70 per share. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, the director was issuedshare, 650 shares with a grant-date fair value of $17.29 per share.share, and 534 shares with a grant-date fair value of $21.05 per share, respectively.
 (2)Includes a grant of 20,000 restricted shares to employees with a grant-date value of $18.46 per share during the three months ended June 30, 2010; and various employee grants of 114,500 shares with a grant-date fair value of $18.01 per share during the three months ended September 30, 2010.
 (3)Includes cancellation of 5,479 unvested restricted shares of one of our non-employee directors. 3,210 shares had a grant-date fair value of $10.90 and 2,269 shares had a grant-date value of $15.42 per share.

A summary of the nonvested restricted shares activity is presented as follows:

 Number of Shares  Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value  Number of Shares  Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value 
            
Nonvested April 1, 2010  125,155  $14.98   125,155  $14.98 
Granted  146,705  $18.31   147,239  $18.32 
Vested  (23,729) $12.17   (52,915) $14.21 
Forfeited  (5,479) $12.77   (5,479) $12.77 
Nonvested September 30, 2010  242,652  $17.32 
Nonvested December 31, 2010  214,000  $17.52 

Upon each vesting period of the restricted stock awards, participants are subject to minimum tax withholding obligations. The 2008 Director LTIP and 2008 Employee LTIP allows the Company, at the participant’s election, to withhold a sufficient number of shares due to the participant to satisfy their minimum tax withholding obligations. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had withheld 9,121 shares of common stock at a value of $227 thousand, which was included in treasury stock.

Share-based Compensation Expense

Share-based compensation expense for stock options is calculated by valuing all options at their grant-date fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes model uses various assumptions to estimate the fair value of these options, including: historical volatility of our stock, risk-free interest rate, and estimated forfeitures rates. The estimated fair values of these options are then amortized using the straight-line method as compensation cost over the requisite service period. Share-based compensation expense for restricted stock is calculated by multiplying the shares granted by the closing price of the shares on the date of the awards and amortizing it over the vesting period.
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During the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, we recognized $320$383 thousand and $61$153 thousand of total share-based compensation expense, respectively. During the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, we recognized $490$874 thousand and $117$270 thousand of total share-based compensation expense, respectively. All of the share-based compensation expense was related to restricted stock.  This amount was recorded as professional and other fees and salaries and benefits in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

At September 30,December 31, 2010, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested options because all outstanding options were vested. Unrecognized compensation expense related to the restricted stock was $3.6$3.3 million, which will be fully recognized over the next 3633 months.

 
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12. INCOME TAXES

We recognize interest and penalties for uncertain tax positions. As of September 30,December 31, 2010, our gross tax liability related to uncertain tax positions was $461 thousand. At September 30,December 31, 2010, if the unrecognized tax benefits of $461 thousand were to be recognized, including the effect of interest, penalties and federal tax benefit, the impact would have been $593$610 thousand. We also recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense. Our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations included interest of $8 thousand for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and $9 thousand for the same period last year. We did not recognize any additional penalties. We had $144have accrued $152 thousand and $111$120 thousand accrued for the payment of interest and penalties at September 30,December 31, 2010 and 20 09, respectively.2009, resp ectively.

13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We account for the fair values of our assets and liabilities in accordance with Codification Topic Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure. However, we continue to carry our non-recourse notes payable at carrying values on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as we did not adopt the Fair Value Optionfair value option in Financial Instruments in the Codification. According to the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, we established a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. For additional i nformation,information, see Note 1, “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included elsewhere in this report. The followingfollowin g table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of our financial instruments (in thousands):

 Carrying Value  Fair Value Measurement Using 
 Carrying Value  Fair Value Measurement Using  December 31, 2010  
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
  
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
 September 30, 2010  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)  Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)  Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)             
                        
Liabilities:                            
Non-recourse notes payable $41,320  $–  $41,312  $–  $34,782  $-  $34,761  $- 

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14. SEGMENT REPORTING

We manage our business segments on the basis of the products and services offered. Our reportable segments consist of our technology sales business segment and our financing business segment. The technology sales business segment sells information technology equipment and software and related services primarily to corporate customers on a nationwide basis. The technology sales business segment also provides Internet-based business-to-business supply chain management solutions for information technology and other operating resources. The financing business segment offers lease-financing solutions to corporations and governmental entities nationwide. We evaluate segment performance on the basis of segment revenue and earnings.earnings before income taxes.

Both segments utilize our proprietary software and services within the organization. Sales and services and related costs of our software are included in the technology sales business segment.

  Three months ended December 31, 2010  Three months ended December 31, 2009 
  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total 
                   
Sales of product and services $218,844  $372  $219,216  $162,824  $354  $163,178 
Lease revenues  -   8,659   8,659   -   12,957   12,957 
Fee and other income  2,070   528   2,598   2,362   214   2,576 
Total revenues  220,914   9,559   230,473   165,186   13,525   178,711 
Cost of sales  185,018   494   185,512   140,870   364   141,234 
Direct lease costs  -   2,153   2,153   -   2,581   2,581 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  25,796   3,123   28,919   21,935   4,012   25,947 
Impairment of goodwill  -   -   -   -   4,029   4,029 
Segment earnings  10,100   3,789   13,889   2,381   2,539   4,920 
Interest and financing costs  19   566   585   19   877   896 
Earnings before income taxes $10,081  $3,223  $13,304  $2,362  $1,662  $4,024 
Assets $218,969  $183,464  $402,433  $192,049  $184,942  $376,991 
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  Nine months ended December 31, 2010  Nine months ended December 31, 2009 
  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total 
                   
Sales of product and services $615,729  $1,290  $617,019  $459,826  $1,073  $460,899 
Sales of leased equipment  -   1,101   1,101   -   2,276   2,276 
Lease revenues  -   27,352   27,352   -   29,916   29,916 
Fee and other income  6,345   2,013   8,358   6,840   515   7,355 
Patent and license settlement income  125   -   125   3,400   -   3,400 
Total revenues  622,199   31,756   653,955   470,066   33,780   503,846 
Cost of sales  525,285   2,105   527,390   394,942   3,412   398,354 
Direct lease costs  -   6,679   6,679   -   8,271   8,271 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  73,795   9,797   83,592   63,203   10,529   73,732 
Impairment of goodwill  -   -   -   -   4,029   4,029 
Segment earnings  23,119   13,175   36,294   11,921   7,539   19,460 
Interest and financing costs  65   2,002   2,067   55   3,244   3,299 
Earnings before income taxes $23,054  $11,173  $34,227  $11,866  $4,295  $16,161 
Assets $218,969  $183,464  $402,433  $192,049  $184,942  $376,991 
  Three months ended September 30, 2010  Three months ended September 30, 2009 
  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total 
                   
Sales of product and services $221,275  $635  $221,910  $157,010  $261  $157,271 
Sales of leased equipment  —   1,101   1,101   —   788   788 
Lease revenues  —   8,559   8,559   —   8,884   8,884 
Fee and other income  2,074   708   2,782   2,221   151   2,372 
Patent and license settlement income  125   —   125   3,400   —   3,400 
Total revenues  223,474   11,003   234,477   162,631   10,084   172,715 
Cost of sales  189,427   1,460   190,887   134,010   1,129   135,139 
Direct lease costs  —   1,856   1,856   —   3,142   3,142 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  24,800   3,151   27,951   21,327   3,210   24,537 
Segment earnings  9,247   4,536   13,783   7,294   2,603   9,897 
Interest and financing costs  23   673   696   19   1,079   1,098 
Earnings before income taxes $9,224  $3,863  $13,087  $7,275  $1,524  $8,799 
Assets $210,016  $180,788  $390,804  $175,846  $188,614  $364,460 
  Six months ended September 30, 2010  Six months ended September 30, 2009 
  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total  Technology Sales Business Segment  Financing Business Segment  Total 
                         
Sales of product and services $396,885  $918  $397,803  $297,002  $719  $297,721 
Sales of leased equipment  —   1,101   1,101   —   2,276   2,276 
Lease revenues  —   18,693   18,693   —   16,959   16,959 
Fee and other income  4,275   1,485   5,760   4,478   301   4,779 
Patent and license settlement income  125   —   125   3,400   —   3,400 
Total revenues  401,285   22,197   423,482   304,880   20,255   325,135 
Cost of sales  340,266   1,612   341,878   254,073   3,047   257,120 
Direct lease costs  —   4,526   4,526   —   5,690   5,690 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  47,998   6,675   54,673   41,268   6,517   47,785 
Segment earnings  13,021   9,384   22,405   9,539   5,001   14,540 
Interest and financing costs  47   1,435   1,482   36   2,367   2,403 
Earnings before income taxes $12,974  $7,949  $20,923  $9,503  $2,634  $12,137 
Assets $210,016  $180,788  $390,804  $175,846  $188,614  $364,460 

Included in the technology sales business segment above areis inter-segment accounts payable of $39.3$44.1 million at September 30,December 31, 2010. Included in the financing business segment above areis inter-segment accounts receivable of $39.3$44.1 million at September 30,December 31, 2010.

Our technology sales business segment sells products to our financing business segment.  For the three and sixnine months ended September 30, 2010,December 31, we eliminated revenue of $1.2$0.6 million and $2.0$2.5 million, respectively, in our technology sales business segment as a result of these intersegment transactions, respectively.transactions.  For the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009, we eliminated revenue of $0.5$0.9 million and $0.8$1.7 million, respectively, in our technology sales business segment as a result of these intersegment transactions, respectively.transactions.

 
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15. LEGAL SETTLEMENTBUSINESS COMBINATION

On May 19, 2009,November 10, 2010, we filedacquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Interchange Technologies, Inc. (“ITI”) for $1.8 million in cash, which includes amounts held in escrow for New Jersey sales tax and adjustments to the purchased accounts receivable balance. ITI is a complaintTandberg Platinum Partner with advanced expertise in visual communication and collaboration technologies. With the acquisition, ePlus gained Tandberg Platinum Partner status, adding to its current credentials as a Cisco TelePresence authorized technology provider as well as a Cisco Master Unified Communications specialized and Cisco WebEx certified collaboration solutions partner. The acquisition enables ePlus to provide customers a single source for a full spectrum of solu tions and services in the United States District Court forteleconferencing, audio and video, unified communications, and collaboration market space to meet their diverse business communications needs. Tandberg was acquired by Cisco in April 2010. All the Eastern District of Virginia against four defendants, alleging that they used or sold products, methods, processes, services and/or systems that infringe on certain of our patents. During Julyassets acquired and August 2009, we entered into settlementliabilities assumed were recorded at fair value and license agreements with three of the defendants which granted each of those defendants a license in specified ePlus patents. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, we received paymentswere included in the aggregate amounttechnology sales business segment as of $3.65 million, and the complaint was dismissed with prejudice with regard to those three defendants. We do not anticipate incurring any additional costs arising as a result of these settlement agreemen ts and there are no further actions to be taken by us. Except as noted below, we recorded the settlement agreements of $3.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2009 in patent license and settlement income in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. We subsequently received payment of $125 thousand in February 2010 and a final payment under the settlement agreement of $125 thousand in SeptemberDecember 31, 2010. Both of these payments were recognized as patent settlement income when they were received. We recognized the related legal fees and expenses as they occur in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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

This discussion is intended to further the reader’s understanding of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. It should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2010 (the “2010 Annual Report”).  These historical financial statements may not be indicative of our future performance. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains a number of forward-looking statements, all of which are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2010 Annual Report.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Business Description

ePlus and its consolidated subsidiaries provide leading IT products and services, flexible leasing solutions, and enterprise supply management to enable our customers to optimize their IT infrastructure and supply chain processes. Our revenues are composed of sales of product and services, sales of leased equipment, lease revenues and fee and other income. Our operations are conducted through two business segments: our technology sales business segment and our financing business segment.

Financial Summary

During the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, total revenue increased 35.8%29.0% to $234.5$230.5 million while total costs and expenses increased 35.1%24.3% to $221.4$217.2 million, compared to the same period last year. Net earnings increased 58.3%225.9% to $7.9$7.5 million, as compared to the same period last fiscal year. During the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, total revenue increased 30.2%29.8% to $423.5$654.0 million while total costs and expenses increased 28.6%27.1% to $402.6$619.7 million. Total revenue included patent settlement income of $125 thousand and $3.4 million for both the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by strong sales in the technology sales business segment. The economy appears to be stabilizing somewhat andas we have had sequential revenue growthgrow th over the pastprevious six quarters.quarters prior to this quarter and this quarter, while not in excess of, was comparable to last quarter in terms of total revenue.

Gross margin for product and services was 14.5%15.4% and 14.6%13.4% during the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 14.3%14.7% and 14.4%14.0% during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Our gross margin on sales of product and services was affected by our customers’ investment in technology equipment, the mix and volume of products sold and changes in incentives provided to us by manufacturers. In addition, in certain circumstances, we may modify payment terms with our vendors for better incentives which may enhance gross margin. Cash decreased $16.8$26.1 million or 19.7%30.6% to $68.3$59.0 million at September 30,December 31, 2010 compared to March 31, 2010. The decrease in cash was primarily due to cash used in part, to lower balance in accounts payable – equipment, an increase in accounts receivable and inventory, and our share repurchase program.operating activities.

In recent years, thethe United States has experienced an unstable economy and deteriorated economic conditions, including financial market disruption. As a result of the economic turmoil, softness in the housing markets, difficulties in the financial services sector and continuing economic uncertainties, the direction and relative strength of the U.S. economy is somewhat uncertain. Continuing deterioration of economic conditions could cause our current and potential customers to once again delay or reduce technology purchases and result in longer sales cycles, slower adoption of new technologies and increased price competition. Restrictions on credit may impact economic activity and our results. Credit risk associated with our customers and vendors may also be adversely impacted. In addition, although we do not anticipate the need for additionaladditi onal capital in the near term due to our current financial position, financial market disruption may adversely affect our access to additional capital.

Business Segment Overview

Technology Sales Business Segment

The technology sales business segment sells information technology equipment and software and related services primarily to corporate customers, state and local governments, and higher education institutions on a nationwide basis, with geographic concentrations relating to our physical locations. The technology sales business unit also provides Internet-based business-to-business supply chain management solutions for information technology products.

 
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Our technology sales business segment derives revenue from the sales of new equipment and service engagements. These revenues are reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations under sales of product and services and fee and other income.  Customers who purchase information technology equipment and services from us may have Customer Master Agreements (“CMAs”) with us which stipulate the terms and conditions of our relationship. Some CMAs contain pricing arrangements, and most contain mutual termination for convenience clauses. Our other customers place orders using purchase orders without a CMA in place or with other documentation customary for the business. Often, our work with governments is based on public bids and our written bid responses. A substantial portion of our sales of product and services are from sales of Cisco and Hewlett Pac kard and Sun MicrosystemPackard products, which representrepresented approximately 47%35.3% and 19.6%, 18% and 5%respectively, of sales of product and services respectively, for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, as compared to 40%35.5% and 18.8%, 18% and 5%respectively, of sales of product and services respectively, for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2009.

Included in the sales of product and services in our technology sales business segment are certain service revenues that are bundled with sales of equipment and are integral to the successful delivery of such equipment. Our service engagements are generally governed by Statementsstatements of Work,work, and are primarily fixed price (with allowance for changes); however, some service agreements are based on time and materials.

We endeavor to minimize the cost of sales in our technology sales business segment through vendor consideration programs provided by manufacturers and other incentives provided by our distributors. The programs we qualified for are generally set by our reseller authorization level with the manufacturer. The authorization level we achieve and maintain governs the types of products we can resell as well as such items as pricing received, funds provided for the marketing of these products and other special promotions. These authorization levels are achieved by us through sales volume, certifications held by sales executives or engineers and/or contractual commitments by us. The authorization levels are costly to maintain and these programs continually change and, therefore, there is no guarantee of future reductions of costs provided by thes e vendor consideration programs. We currently maintain the following authorization levels with our major manufacturers:
 
ManufacturerManufacturer Authorization Level
Hewlett Packard
HP Preferred Elite Partner (National)
Cisco Systems
Cisco Gold DVAR (National)
 
Advanced Wireless LAN
 
Advanced Unified Communications
 
Advanced Data Center Storage Networking
 
Advanced Routing and Switching
 
Advanced Security
 
ATP Video Surveillance
 
ATP Telepresence
 
ATP Rich Media Communications
 
Master Security Specialization
 
Master UC Specialization
 
Master Managed Services Partner
Microsoft
Microsoft Gold (National)
Sun Microsystems
Sun SPA Executive Partner (National)
 
Sun National Strategic Data Center Authorized
IBM
Premier IBM Business Partner (National)
Lenovo
Lenovo Premium (National)
NetApp
NetApp STAR Partner
Citrix Systems, Inc.
Citrix Gold (National)
VMWare
National Premier VMWare Partner

We also generate revenue in our technology sales business segment through hosting arrangements, and sales of our Internet-based business-to-business supply chain management software.software, agent fees received from various manufacturers and settlement fees related to disputes or litigation. These revenues are reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations under fee and other income. In addition, fee and other income results from: (1) income from events that occur after the initial sale of a financial asset; (2) remarketing fees from our off lease equipment; (3) agent fees received from various manufacturers; (4) settlement fees related to disputes or litigation; and (5) interest and other miscellaneous income.
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Financing Business Segment

The financing business segment offers lease financing solutions to corporations and governmental entities nationwide. The financing business segment derives revenue from leasing primarily information technology equipment and sales of leased equipment. These revenues are reflected under lease revenues, and sales of leased equipment and fee and other income on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 
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Lease revenues consist of rentals due under operating leases, amortization of unearned income on direct financing and sales-type leases, sales of leased assets to lessees and other post-term lease revenue. The types of revenue and costs recognized by us are determined by each lease contract’slease’s individual classification. Each lease is classified as either a direct financing lease, sales-type lease, or operating lease, as appropriate.

 ●For direct financing and sales-type leases, we record the net investment in leases, which consists of the sum of the minimum lease payments, initial direct costs (direct financing leases only), and unguaranteed residual value (gross investment) less the unearned income. The unearned income is amortized over the life of the lease using the interest method. Under sales-type leases, the difference between the fair value and cost of the leased property plus initial direct costs (net margins) is recorded as revenue at the inception of the lease.
 ●For operating leases, rental amounts are accrued on a straight-line basis over the lease term and are recognized as lease revenue.

In some direct financing lease transactions, where the non-recourse debt associated with the lease may be assigned to a lender, andWe account for the transfer of lease payments that meet the definition of financial assets and certain criteria outlined in these transactions meetTransfers and Servicing in the criteria forCodification, including surrender of control, the net amount of the lease and non-recourse debt, if any, is accounted for as a salesales for financial reporting purposes and includedpurposes. The net gain on the transfer of these financial assets is recognized in lease revenues.

Sales of leased equipment represent revenue from the sales to a third party other than the lessee of equipment subject to a lease in which we are the lessor. Such sales of equipment may have the effect of increasing revenues and net income during the quarter in which the sale occurs, and reducing revenues and net income otherwise expected in subsequent quarters. If the rental stream on such lease has non-recourse debtnotes payable associated with it, sales revenue is recorded at the amount of consideration received, net of the amount of debtnotes payable assumed by the purchaser. If there is no non-recourse debtnotes payable associated with the rental stream, sales revenue is recorded at the amount of gross consideration received, and costs of sales is recorded at the b ookbook value of the lease.lea se.

We also recognize revenue from events that occur after the initial sale of a financial asset and remarketing fees from our off lease equipment. These revenues are reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations under Fee and other income.

Fluctuations in Revenues

Our results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, customer demand for our products and services, supplier costs, interest rate fluctuations, and differences between estimated residual values and actual amounts realized related to the equipment we lease. Operating results could also fluctuate as a result of the sale of equipment in our lease portfolio prior to the expiration of the lease term to the lessee or to a third party, and changes in incentive programs provided by manufacturers.

We have expanded our product and service offerings under our comprehensive set of solutions which represents the continued evolution of our original implementation of our e-commerce products entitled ePlusSuite®. The expansion to our bundled solution is a framework that combines our IT sales and professional services, leasing and financing services, asset management software and services, procurement software, and electronic catalog content management software and services.

We expect to expand or open new sales locations and hire additional staff for specific targeted market areas in the near future whenever we can find both experienced personnel and desirable geographic areas.
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RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2009, the FASB issued an update to amend Transfers and Servicing in the Codification. This update removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity and clarifies the determination of whether a transferor and all of the entities included in the transferor’s financial statements being presented have surrendered control over the transferred financial assets. That determination must consider the transferor’s continuing involvement in the transferred financial asset, including all arrangements or agreements made contemporaneously with, or in contemplation of, the transfer, even if they were not entered into at the time of the transfer. This update was effective for us beginning April 1, 2010. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our unauditedu naudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In January 2010, the FASB issued an update to Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This update requires new disclosures of transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. The update also clarifies the existing disclosures for levels of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. This update was effective for us b eginningbeginning April 1, 2010. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

 
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED
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Concurrently to issuing the above update, the FASB also issued another update to the Codification that excludes certain software from the scope of software revenue recognition guidance. If software is contained in a tangible product and is essential to the tangible product’s functionality, the software and the tangible product can be accounted for as a multiple deliverable arrangement under Revenue Recognition. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the timing and the effect that adoption of this update will have on our unaudited condens ed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In April 2010, an update was made to Compensation – Stock Compensation. This update provides amendments to clarify that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Earlier adoption is permitted. We will adopt the provisions of this update and do not anticipate a mate rial impact to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In July 2010, the FASB issued an update to amend Receivables in the Codification. This update requires more robust and disaggregated disclosures about the credit quality of an entity’s financing receivables and its allowance for credit losses. A financing receivable is defined as a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the entity’s statement of financial position. Thus, examples of financing receivables include (1) loans, (2) trade accounts receivable, (3) notes receivable, (4) credit cards, and (5) lease receivables (other than operating leases). The new and amended disclosures that relate to information as of the end of a reporting period will bewere effective for us for the period ending December 31,beginning October 1, 2010. The disclosuresdisc losures that include information for activity that occurs during a reporting period will be effective foras of the periodbeginning of the fourth quarter ending March 31, 2011. We will adopt the provisionsThe adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED

In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to amend Revenue Recognition in the Codification. This update removes the fair value criterion from the separation criteria that we use to determine whether a multiple deliverable arrangement involves more than one unit of accounting. It also replaces references to “fair value” with “selling price” to distinguish from the fair value measurements required under Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures in the Codification, provides a hierarchy that entities must use to estimate the selling price, eliminates the use of the residual method for allocation, and expands the ongoing disclosure requirements. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We expect to adopt this standard on a prospective basis and that revenue from technology sales that contain both products and services will be accounted for as separate units of accounting. Accordingly, revenue for technology product sales will generally be recognized upon delivery to the customers and revenue for the services will generally be recognized when the services are complete.

Concurrently to issuing the above update, the FASB also issued another update to the Codification that excludes certain software revenue from the scope of software revenue recognition guidance. If software is contained in a tangible product and is essential to the tangible product’s functionality, the software and the tangible product can be accounted for as a multiple deliverable arrangement under Revenue Recognition. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011 and can be applied prospectively or retrospectively. Early application is permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial statements.condition.

In April 2010, an update was made to Compensation – Stock Compensation. This update provides amendments to clarify that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Earlier adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2010, an update was made to Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. The amendments in this update clarify when an entity should perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. This update is effective for us beginning April 1, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2010, an update was made to Business Combinations. The amendments in this update specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments in this update also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The amendments in this update are effective for us for business combinations occurring after April 1, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. We do not anticipate adoption of this update to have a material impact to our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations and financial condition.


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, or different assumptions were made, it is possible that alternative accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in a change in financial results. On an ongoing basis, we reevaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, residuals,residual values, vendor consideration, lease classification, goodwill and intangibles, reserves for credit losses and income taxes specifically relating to uncertain tax positions. Estimates in the assumptions used in the valuation of our share-based compensation expense are updated periodi callyp eriodically and reflect conditions that existed at the time of each new issuance of equity-based compensation. We base estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. For all of these estimates, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and therefore, these estimates may require adjustment.

We consider the following accounting policies important in understanding the potential impact of our judgments and estimates on our operating results and financial condition. For additional accounting policies, see Note 1, “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”Policies” to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

REVENUE RECOGNITION.  The majority of our revenues are derived from three sources: sales of products and services, lease revenues and sales of our software. Our revenue recognition policies vary based upon these revenue sources. Generally, sales are recognized when the title and risk of loss are passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement for sale, delivery has occurred and/or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Using these tests, the vast majority of our product sales are recognized upon delivery due to our sales terms with our customers and with our vendors. For proper cutoff, we estimate the product delivered to our customers at the end of each quarter based upon historical delivery dates.

We also sell services that are performed in conjunction with product sales, and recognize revenue only when the delivered item(s) has value to the customer on a stand-alone basis, there is objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered item(s), and delivery of the undelivered item(s) is probable and substantially under our control. For most of the arrangements with multiple deliverables (hardware and services), we generally cannot establish reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered items.  Therefore, the majority of revenue from these services and hardware sold in conjunction with the services is recognized when the service is complete and we have received an acceptance certificate. However, in some cases, we do not receive an acceptance certificate and we estimate the completion date based upo n our records.

RESIDUAL VALUES.  Residual values represent our estimated value of the equipment at the end of the initial lease term. The residual values for direct financing and sales-type leases are included as part of the investment in direct financing and sales-type leases. The residual values for operating leases are included in the leased equipment’s net book value and are reported in the investment in leases and leased equipment—net. Our estimated residual values will vary, both in amount and as a percentage of the original equipment cost, and depend upon several factors, including the equipment type, manufacturer’smanufacturer’s discount, market conditions and the term of the lease. In some cases, we obtain third party appraisals of the residual values.

We evaluate residual values on a quarterly basis and record any required impairments of residual value, in the period in which the impairment is determined. Residual values may be affected by equipment supply and demand and by new product announcements by manufacturers.

We seek to realize the estimated residual value at lease termination mainly through renewal or extension of the original lease, or the sale of the equipment either to the lessee or on the secondary market. The difference between the proceeds of a sale and the remaining estimated residual value is recorded as a gain or loss in lease revenues when title is transferred to the lessee, or, if the equipment is sold on the secondary market, in sales of product and services and cost of sales, product and services when title is transferred to the buyer.

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ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO GOODWILL.GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS.  We have accounted for our acquisitionsbusiness combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. This method requires estimates to determine the fair values of assets and liabilities acquired including judgments to determine any acquired intangible assets such as customer-related intangibles, as well as assessments of the fair value of existing assets such as property and equipment. Liabilities acquired can include balances for litigation and other contingency reserves established prior to or at the time of acquisition, and require judgment in ascertaining a reasonable value. Third-party valuation firms may be used to assist in the appraisal of certain assets and liabilities, but even those determinations are based on significant estimates provided by us, such as forecasted revenues or profits on contract-rel atedcont ract-related intangibles. Numerous factors are typically considered in the purchase accounting assessments. Changes in assumptions and estimates of the acquired assets and liabilities would result in changes to the fair values, resulting in an offsetting change to the goodwill balance associated with the business acquired.


We review our goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently, if events occur or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. We have reportable segments based on the product and services offered – financing business segment and technology sales business segment. Below our reportable segments are reporting units. For the purpose of testing for impairment, we have four distinct reporting units: Leasing, Technology, Software procurement and Software document management.  In determining reporting units, we consider factors such as nature of products, nature of production, type of customer, management and the availability of separate and distinct financial statements for each entity.unit. We do not have any goodwill remaining in our Software procurement an dprocuremen t and Leasing reporting units.

A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in our expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in our stock price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; the testing for recoverability of a significant asset group within a reporting unit; and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

VENDOR CONSIDERATION.  We receive payments and credits from vendors, including consideration pursuant to volume sales incentive programs, volume purchase incentive programs and shared marketing expense programs. Many of these programs extend over one or more quarters’quarters’ sales activities and are primarily formula-based.  Different programs have different vendor/program specific goals to achieve. These programs can be very complex to calculate and sometimes involves estimates. Based on historical financial data for the different programs, we may estimate that we will obtain these goals.

Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume sales incentive programs is recognized as a reduction to cost of sales, product and services on the accompanyingour unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume purchase incentive programs is allocated to inventories based on the applicable incentives from each vendor and is recorded in cost of sales, product and services, as the inventory is sold. Vendor consideration received pursuant to shared marketing expense programs is recorded as a reduction of the related selling and administrative expenses in the period the program takes place only if the consideration represents a reimbursement of specific, incremental, identifiable costs. Consideration that exceeds the specific, incremental, identifiable costs is classified as a reducti onreduction of cost of sales, product and services on the accompanyingour unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

We accrue vendor consideration in accordance with the terms of the related program whichprogram. Such accruals may includebe based on a certain amount of sales of qualifying products, or as targets are met, or as the amounts are estimable and probable, or as services are provided. Actual vendor consideration amounts may vary based on volume or other sales achievement levels, which could result in an increase or reduction in the estimated amounts previously accrued, and can, at times, result in significant earnings fluctuations on a quarterly basis.

RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES. TheOur receivables consist of accounts and notes receivable, and minimum lease payments associated with our investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. We maintain our reserves for credit losses are maintained at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential losses inherent in our leasethe respective balances. The reserve for credit losses is increased by provisions for potential credit losses, which increases expenses, and accountsby subsequent recoveries. The reserve for credit losses is decreased by write-offs and reductions to the provision for potential credit losses. Accounts are either written off or written down when the loss is both probable and determinable.

Accounts and notes receivable portfolio.consist of amounts billed and currently due from customers, amounts earned but unbilled, vendor rebates, and other receivables. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses is based on the age of the accounts receivable balance, an evaluation of historical credit losses, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. Management regularly reviews the notes receivable portfolio to assess whether any balances should be impaired or placed on nonaccrual status.

Investments in direct financing and sales-type leases consist of minimum lease payments, estimated unguaranteed residual values, initial direct costs and unearned lease income. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve for credit losses is based on an evaluation ofinternally assigned credit quality rating, historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, volume, growth, the composition of the lease portfolio, and other relevant factors. These determinations require considerable judgment in assessing the ultimate potential for collection of these receivables and include giving consideration to the customer’s financial condition and thefair value of the underlying collateral, and the funding status (i.e. not funded, funded on a recourse or partial recourse basis, or funded on non-recourse basis). We assign an internal credit quality rating to each customer at the inception of the lease based on the customer’s financial status, rating agency reports and other financial information. We update the internal credit quality rating annual ly or recourse basis).when an indicator of a change in credit quality arises, such as a delinquency or bankruptcy.

SALES RETURNS ALLOWANCE. The allowance for sales returns is maintained at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential sales returns from product and services.  Management’s determination of the adequacy of the reserve is based on an evaluation of historical sales returns and other relevant factors. These determinations require considerable judgment in assessing the ultimate potential for sales returns and include consideration of the type and volume of product sold.


INCOME TAX. We make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement reporting purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which principally arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement reporting purposes. We also must analyze income tax reserves, as well as determine the likelihood of recoverability of deferred tax assets, and adjust any valuation allowances accordingly. Considerations with respect to the recoverability of deferred tax assets include the period of expiration of the tax asset, planned use of the tax asset, and historical and projected taxable income as well as tax liabilities for the tax jurisdiction to which the tax asset relates. Valuation allowances are evalu ated periodically and will be subject to change in each future reporting period as a result of changes in one or more of these factors. The calculation of our tax liabilities also involves considering uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be required.

SHARE-BASED PAYMENT. We currently have two equity incentive plans which provide us with the opportunity to compensate directors with restricted stock and selected employees with stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. A stock option entitles the recipient to purchase shares of common stock from us at the specified exercise price. Restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) entitle the recipient to obtain stock or stock units, which vest over a set period of time. RSUs are granted at no cost to the employee and employees do not need to pay an exercise price to obtain the underlying common stock. All grants or awards made under the plans are governed by written agreements between us and the participants. We also have options outstanding under three previous incentive plans, under which we no longer i ssue equity awards.

Under the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation, we measure stock option expense at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model and amortize the compensation expense using the straight-line method over the requisite service period. This model estimates the fair value of the options based on a number of assumptions, such as interest rates, employee exercises, the current price and expected volatility of our common stock and expected dividends, if any. The expected life is a significant assumption as it determines the period for which the risk-free interest rate, volatility and dividend yield must be applied. The expected life is the average length of time in which we expect our employees to exercise their options. The risk-free interest rate is the five-year nominal constant maturity Treasury rate on th e date of the award. Expected stock volatility reflects movements in our stock price over a historical period that matches the expected life of the options. The dividend yield assumption is zero since we have historically not paid any dividends and do not anticipate paying any dividends in the near future.

The fair value of restricted stock is measured by multiplying the number of shares granted with the closing price of the stock on the grant date. We assumed the forfeiture rate to be zero. The compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, which is often the vesting period.

Results of Operations — Three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 compared to three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009

REVENUES

Total Revenuesrevenues. Total revenues during the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 was $234.5$230.5 million compared to total revenues of $172.7$178.7 million during the three months September 30,December 31, 2009, an increase of 35.8%29.0%. Total revenues increased 30.2%29.8% to $423.5$654.0 million during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 as compared to the same period last year. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by strong sales in the technology business segment. The economyeconomy appears to be stabilizing andas we have had sequential revenue growth over the pastprevious six quarters.quarters prior to this quarter and this quarter, while not in excess of, was comparable to the last quarter in terms of total revenue.

Sales of product and services.  Sales of product and services increased 41.1%34.3% to $221.9$219.2 million and 33.6%33.9% to $397.8$617.0 million during the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, respectively, compared to the same periods last year. year, which is due to increased spending by our customers.

We believerely on our customers’ spending hasvendors to fulfill shipments to our customers, which have been increasing,occurring on a regular basis. Our average open orders for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 were $48.4 million, which contributedincreased since September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010 due to the increase in salesvolumes.  Our average open orders for the past six sequential quarters.
Attwelve months ended September 30, 2010 our open orders from customers was $32.3and March 31, 2010 were $46.3 million compared to $62.0and $37.4 million, at June 30, 2010, and $46.2 million at September 30, 2009, as previously constrained products were shipped from our vendors. respectively.

In addition, we had deferred revenue of $32.8$29.7 million at September 30,December 31, 2010, compared to $14.8$23.3 million at September 30,December 31, 2009, which related to bundled hardware and service arrangements that were not completed by the end of the quarter. We will recognize revenue on multiple deliverable revenue arrangements when the services are completed.


Gross margin.  We realized a gross margin on sales of product and services of 14.5%15.4% and 14.6%13.4% during the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 14.3%14.7% and 14.4%14.0% during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  OurThe increase in our gross margin on sales of product and services was affected byprimarily due to a change in the customer product mix as well as additional incentives provided to us by our vendors. In addition, our gross margin was also affected by the mix and volume of product and services sold. There are ongoing changes to the incentives programs offered to us by our vendors, which may be affected by the current economic conditions and thus,conditions. Accordingly, we may not be able to maintain the level of manufacturer incentives we a reare currently receiving, which may cause gross margins to change.

Lease revenues.  Lease revenues can be broadly categorized into two types: 1) income generated from the lease portfolio, including income from direct-financing leases and rent from operating leases, and 2) other lease-related income, including profit from transfer of financial assets, sales of leased assets to lessees and end of lease term income. Lease revenues decreased $325 thousand,$4.3 million, or 3.7%33.2%, to $8.6$8.7 million for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, compared to $8.9$13.0 million during the same period in the prior year. The decrease is primarily driven by lowerdue to a decrease in the gain on sales of leased assets to lessees by $2.9 million and transferdecrease in revenue from operating leases of financial assets, partially offset by increases in earni ngs from direct financing leases.$1.1 million. Lease revenues increased $1.7decreased $2.6 million, or 10.2%8.6%, to $18.7$27.3 million for the six monthsnine mont hs ended September 30,December 31, 2010, compared to the same period last year. The increaseThis was primarily due to an increasea decrease of $750 thousand in profit from the transfer of financial assets, which satisfied the conditions for sale accounting in accordance with Transfers and Servicing$3.8 million in the Codification, andgain on sales of leased assets to lessees, partially offset by increase in earnings from direct financing leases of about $1.0$1.4 million.

At September 30,December 31, 2010, we had $124.7$123.1 million of investment in leases on our balance sheet compared to $153.6 million at March 31, 2010, a decrease of $28.8$30.5 million or 18.8%19.8%. The decrease in lease portfolio was primarily due to the transfercash collections and transfers of two leases, of approximately $32.0 million, which qualified as a sale in accordance with Transfers and Servicing, partially offset by the addition of new leases. The profitgain from the transfer of these financial assets is reported as a component of our lease revenues, while the carrying value of these leases is reduced from our lease portfolio. We retain the residual value of the equipment duringwith these types of sales.

Sales of leased equipment. We also recognize revenue from the sale of leased equipment to non-lessee third parties. Sales of leased equipment are proceeds from the sales of leased assets and underlying leases to non-lessee third parties and we retain no residual value of the equipment. Sales of leased equipment fluctuate from quarter to quarter because management determines the timing of such sales as a component of our risk-mitigation process, which we conduct periodically to diversify our portfolio by customer, equipment type, and residual value investments. SalesThere were no sales of leased equipment during the three months ended December 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009. During the nine months ended December 31, 2010, sales of leased equipment was $1.1 million duringcompared to $2.3 million in the three and sixsame period last year. During the nine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, and $800 thousand and $2.3 million during the same periods last year. Gross marginsgross margin recognized on the salessale of leased equipment were 0.5% for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010, and 1.1% andwas 0.5 % compared to 3.8% for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.same period last year. The revenue and gross margin recognized on sales of leased equipment can vary significantly depending on the nature and timing of the sale.

Fee and other income. During the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, fee and other income increased 17.3%0.9% to $2.8$2.6 million and 20.5%13.6% to $5.8$8.4 million, respectively, compared to $2.4$2.6 million and $4.8$7.4 million during the same periods last year. These increases were primarily driven by an increase in remarketing income in our financing business segment, partially offset by lower agent fees from manufacturers and other income. Fee and other income may also include revenues from adjunct services and fees, including broker and agent fees, support fees, warranty reimbursements, monetary settlements arising from disputes and litigation and interest income. Our fee and other inc omeincome contain earnings from certain transactions that are infrequent, and there is no guarantee that future transactionstr ansactions of the same nature, size or profitability will occur. Our ability to consummate such transactions, and the timing thereof, may depend largely upon factors outside the direct control of management. The earnings from these types of transactions in a particular period may not be indicative of the earnings that can be expected in future periods.

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Patent license and settlement income. As previously disclosed, duringDuring the year ended March 31, 2010, we entered into settlement and license agreements with three defendants wherein the complaint was dismissed with prejudice and each defendant was granted a license in specified ePlus patents, which resulted in total payments of $3.65 million. These settlement agreements were the result of a lawsuit filed against four defendants alleging that they used or sold products, methods, processes, services and/or systems that infringe on certain of our patents. As of September 30, 2010 , we received payment of the full amount of $3.65 million. During the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 and 2009, we received $125 thousand and $3.4 million, respectively, of settlement agreement payments. We received payment of $125 thousand in February 2010 and the remaining payment of $125 thousand in September 2010. All payments have been recorded as Patent Settlement Income in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. For additional information, see Note 15, “Legal Settlement” and “Legal Proceedings” included elsewhere in this report.

COSTS AND EXPENSES

Cost of sales, product and services. During the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, cost of sales, product and services increased 41.3%31.4% to $189.8$185.5 million, compared to $134.4$141.2 million during the same period last year. During the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, cost of sales, product and services increased 33.7%32.8% to $340.8$526.3 million compared to $254.9$396.2 million during the same period last year. These increases corresponded to the increase in sales of product and services in our technology sales business segment. Cost of sales, product and services is also affected by incentives from vendors, product mix and volume. Cost of sales, leased equipment was $1.1 million during the thr ee and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, compared to $800 thousand and $2.2 million during the same periodsperiod last year.

Direct lease costs. During the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, direct lease costs decreased 40.9%16.6% and 20.5%19.2% to $1.9$2.2 million and $4.5$6.7 million, respectively, compared to the same periods last year. These decreases were due to a decrease in reserves for credit lossesand a decrease in depreciation expense for operating lease equipment. Our investment in operating leases increased 25.4%13.8% to $20.9$24.2 million at September 30,December 31, 2010 compared to $16.6$21.2 million at September 30,December 31, 2009, primarily due to the net addition of new leases. A significant amount of the operating leases were added towards the end of the period, and hence, did not result in a significant amount of depreciation expense during the sixnine months ended September 30,Decemb er 31, 2010.


Professional and other fees.  During three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, professional and other fees totaled $3.7 million and $7.2$10.9 million, respectively, an increase of 39.3%12.0% and 61.6%40.5% from $2.7$3.3 million and $4.5$7.8 million during the same periods last year. This increase was primarily due to increased legal expenses related to the patent infringement litigation. These types of patent infringement cases are complex in nature, are likely to have significant expenses associated with them, and we cannot predict whether we will be successful in our claims for damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed the costs incurred to pursue these matters, or how long it will take to bring these matters to resolution.resolution

Salaries and benefits. During the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, salaries and benefits expense increased 12.8%14.2% to $20.6$21.5 million and 12.3%13% to $40.6$62.2 million, respectively. The increase in salaries and benefits expense corresponded to increases in bonus and commission expenses driven by an increase in revenue, and an increase in salary expense. We employed 660691 people at September 30,December 31, 2010, compared to 657653 people at September 30,December 31, 2009.

We also provide our employees with a contributory 401(k) profit sharing plan. Employer contribution percentages are determined by us and are discretionary each year. The employer contributions vest over a four-year period beginning on the date of hire. For the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, our expenses for the plan were approximately $92$114 thousand and $203$317 thousand, respectively, compared to $92$88 thousand and $193$281 thousand for the same periods ended in September 30,December 31, 2009.

General and administrative expenses. During the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, general and administrative expenses waswere $3.7 million, about the same as compared to $3.8 million in the same period ended in September 30,December 31, 2009. During the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, general and administrative expenses decreased about 4.7%3.9% or $332$425 thousand to $6.8$10.5 million compared to the same period ended in September 30,December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of decreases in depreciation and communication expenses.

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Interest and financing costs. During the three and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, interest and financing costs decreased 36.6%34.7% to $700$585 thousand, and 38.337.3 % to $1.5$2.1 million, respectively, compared to the same periods last year. These decreases were primarily the result of lower non-recourse note balances. Non-recourse notes payable decreased 36.0%35.1% to $41.3$34.8 million at September 30,December 31, 2010 as compared to $64.6$58.5 million at September 30,December 31, 2009.

Income taxes. Our provision for income tax expense increased $1.4$4.1 million to $5.2$5.8 million for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, and $3.1$7.1 million to $8.3$14.1 million for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010. Our effective income tax rates for the three months and sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 were 39.6%43.3% and 39.7%41.1%, respectively, as compared to 43.2%42.4% and 43.0% for the three and sixnine months ended September 30, 2009.December 31, 2009, respectively. The decreaseschange in our effective income tax rates wererate was due to the absence of non-deductible compensation expense of $800 thousand related to the exercise of 175,000 shares during the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2009.an increase in our state income tax rate. .

Net Earningsearnings. The foregoing resulted in net earnings of $7.9$7.5 million for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, an increase of 58.3%225.9%, as compared to $5.0$2.3 million during the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2009.  Net earnings was $12.6were $20.2 million for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, an increase of 83.0%118.9%, as compared to $6.9$9.2 million during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009.

Basic and diluted earnings per common share were $0.97was $0.91 and $0.94$0.89 for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, respectively, as compared to $0.61$0.27 for both basic and $ 0.58, fordiluted earnings per common share during the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2009. Basic and diluted earnings per common share were $1.55was $2.47 and $1.51$2.41 for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, respectively, as compared to $0.84$1.11 and $0.81,$1.08, for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009.

Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 were 8,131,0888,251,715 and 8,384,154,8,451,130, respectively. Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30,December 31, 2009 were 8,331,3028,388,795 and 8,547,616,8,554,247, respectively.

Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 were 8,127,2288,170,866 and 8,348,346,8,383,415, respectively. Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009 were 8,239,9958,289,776 and 8,480,516,8,504,966, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity Overview

Our primary sources of liquidity have historically been cash and cash equivalents, internally generated funds from operations, and borrowings, both non-recourse and recourse. We have used those funds to meet our capital requirements, which have historically consisted primarily of working capital for operational needs, capital expenditures, purchases of operating lease equipment, payments of principal and interest on indebtedness outstanding, acquisitions and the repurchase of shares of our common stock.


Our subsidiary ePlus Technology, inc., part of our technology sales business segment, finances its operations with funds generated from operations, and with a credit facility with GECDF, which is described in more detail below. There are two components of this facility: (1) a floor plan component; and (2) an accounts receivable component. After a customer places a purchase order with us and we have completed our credit check, we place an order for the equipment with one of our vendors. Generally, most purchase orders from us to our vendors are first financed under the floor plan component and reflected in “accounts payable—floor plan” on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Payments on the floor plan co mponentcomponent are due on three specified dates each month,m onth, generally 40-4530-45 days from the invoice date. At each due date, the payment is made by the accounts receivable component of our facility and reflected as “recourse notes payable” on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The borrowings and repayments under the floor plan component are reflected as “net borrowings (repayments) on floor plan facility” in the cash flows from financing activities section of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Most customer payments in our technology sales business segment are remitted to our lockboxes. Once payments are cleared, the monies in the lockbox accounts are automatically transferred to our operating account on a daily basis. On the due dates of the floor plan component, we make cash payments to GECDF. These payments from the accounts receivable component to the floor plan component and repayments from our cash are reflected as “net (borrowings) repayments on recourse lines of credit” in the cash flows from the financing activities section of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. We engage in this payment structure in order to minimize our interest expense and bank fees in connection with financing the operations of our technology sales business segment.

We believe that cash on hand, and funds generated from operations, together with available credit under our credit facility, will be sufficient to finance our working capital, capital expenditures and other requirements for at least the next twelve calendar months.

Our ability to continue to fund our planned growth, both internally and externally, is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to obtain additional funds through equity or debt financing, or from other sources of financing, as may be required. While at this time we do not anticipate requiring any additional sources of financing to fund operations, if demand for IT products declines, our cash flows from operations may be substantially affected. Given the current economic environment, management has maintained higher cash reserves to ensure adequate cash is available to fund our working capital requirements should the availability in the debt and equity markets be limited.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash over the periods indicated (in thousands):

 Six Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended December 31, 
 2010  2009  2010  2009 
            
Net cash used in operating activities $(21,824) $(24,429) $(32,633) $(45,294)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (4,610)  869 
Net cash used in investing activities  (10,866)  (3,968)
Net cash provided by financing activities  9,653   4,277   17,428   23,578 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  (9)  (162)  (5)  (23)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents $(16,790) $(19,445) $(26,076) $(25,707)

Cash Flows from Operating Activities.  Cash used in operating activities totaled $21.8$32.6 million during sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, compared to cash used in operations of $24.4$45.3 million during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2009. Cash flows used in operations for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010 resulted primarily from a decrease of $29.2$34.0 million in accounts payable – equipment for the payment of equipment on lease by our customers, and an increase in accounts receivable – net of $15.6$29.7 million. In addition, the schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities contained repayments of $15.2 million in principal payments by our lessees directly to our lenders for certain leases secured by non-recourse debt. This repayment from our lessees directly to our lenders is not reflected in our cash used in operating activities and hence, had the effect of increasing our cash used in operating activities. These increases in cash used in operating activities were partially offset by a decreasenet earnings, as well as the change in cash used inthe investment in direct financing and sales type leases-net by $15.8 million. The change in investment in direct financing and sales-typ e leases – net, whichwas due to cash collections and transfer of leases during the period, partially offset by addition of new leases. During the nine months ended December 31, 2010, our lessees made payments directly to lenders of $22.3 million, consisting of $4.0 million for non recourse notes payable associated with investments in operating leases and $18.2 million for non recourse notes payable associated with investments in direct financing and sales-type leases. Payments from lessees directly to lenders represent principal payments for certain leases secured by non-recourse notes payable and reduce our cash flows from operating activities. Had we collected these payments from the lessees and paid the non-recourse notes payable, our cash used in operating activities would have decreased $29.8 million on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets (see Note 2, “Investment in Leases and Leased Equipment—net,”) to $105.4 million at September 30, 2010, compared to $135.2 million at March 31, 2010.by $22.3 million.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities was $4.6$10.9 million for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, primarily driven by an increase in cash used in purchases of operating lease equipment of $12.1 million, partially offset by proceeds from the sale or disposal of property, equipment and operating lease equipment of $1.9$3.7 million. Investment in operating lease equipment – net increased $ 600 thousand on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets (see Note 2, “Investment in Leases and Leased Equipment—net,) to $20.9 million at September 30, 2010, compared to $20.3 million at March 31, 2010.

 
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities was $9.6$17.4 million for the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010, mostly driven by borrowings of non-recourse notes payable for our financing business segment of $6.7$8.6 million and net borrowings from our floor plan facility of $6.0$13.5 million. The schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities contained repayments of $15.2 million in principal payments by our lessees directly to our lenders for certain leases secured by non-recourse debt. This repayment from our lessees directly to our lenders is not reflected in our cash provided by financing activities and hence had the effect of decreasing our cash us ed in repayment of non-recourse debt. In addition, we generated $2.9$3.0 million from proceeds from the issuance of capital stock as a result of stock option exercises. These changes are partially offset by our repayments of non-recourse debtand recourse notes payable of $3.8$5.2 million and repurchases of common stock of $2.2$2.5 million. The schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities contained repayments of $22.3 million in principal payments by our lessees directly to our lenders for certain leases secured by non-recourse notes payable. Had we co llected these payments from the lessees and paid the non-recourse notes payable, our cash provided by financing activities would have decreased by $22.3 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Non-recourse debtnotes payable financing activities may provide approximately 80% to 100% of the purchase price of the equipment we purchase for leases to our customers.  Any balance of the purchase price remaining after non-recourse funding and any upfront payments received from the lessee (our equity investment in the equipment) must generally be financed by cash flows from our operations, the sale of the equipment leased to third parties, or other internal means. Although we expect that the credit quality of our leases and our residual return history will continue to allow us to obtain such financing, such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

The financing necessary to support our leasing activities has principally been provided by non-recourse borrowings and our cash. Given the current market, we have been monitoring our exposure closely and conserving our capital. Historically, we have obtained recourse and non-recourse borrowings from banks and finance companies. We continue to be able to obtain financing through our traditional lending sources,sources; however, pricing and availability is dependent upon the lessee’s credit rating. Lesser credits are more difficult to finance in this economic climate. Non-recourse financings are loans whose repayment is the responsibility of a specific customer, although we may make representations and warranties to the lender regarding the specific contract or have ongoing loan servicing obligations. Under a non-recourse loan, we borrow f romfrom a lender an amount based on the present value of the contractually committed lease payments under the lease at a fixed rate of interest, and the lender secures a lien on the financed assets. When the lender is fully repaid from the lease payment, the lien is released and all further rental or sale proceeds are ours. We are not liable for the repayment of non-recourse loans unless we breach our representations and warranties in the loan agreements. The lender assumes the credit risk of each lease, and the lender’s only recourse, upon default by the lessee, is against the lessee and the specific equipment under lease. At September 30,December 31, 2010, our lease-related non-recourse debtnotes payable portfolio decreased 22.9%35.1% to $41.3$34.8 million, as compared to $53.6 million at March 31, 2010.

Whenever possible and desirable, we arrange for equity investment financing, which includes selling assets, including the residual portions, to third parties and financing the equity investment on a non-recourse basis. We generally retain customer control and operational services, and have minimal residual risk. We usually reserve the right to share in remarketing proceeds of the equipment on a subordinated basis after the investor has received an agreed-to return on its investment.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities includes deferred expenses, deferred revenue and amounts collected and payable, such as sales taxes and lease rental payments due to third parties. We had $47.8$47.4 million and $40.5 million of accrued expenses and other liabilities as of September 30,December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010, respectively, an increase of 18.0%17.1%. The increase is primarily driven by an increase in deferred revenue related to bundled hardware and service arrangements that were not completed by the end of the quarter.
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Credit Facility — Technology Business

Our subsidiary, ePlus Technology, inc., has a financing facility from GECDF to finance its working capital requirements for inventories and accounts receivable. There are two components of this facility: (1) a floor plan component; and (2) an accounts receivable component.  This facility has full recourse to ePlus Technology, inc. and is secured by a blanket lien against all its assets, such as chattel paper, receivables and inventory.  As of September 30,December 31, 2010, the facility had an aggregate limit of the two components of $125 million with an accounts receivable sub-limit of $30 million. Availability under the G ECDFGECDF facility may be limited by the asset value of equipment we purchase and the aging of our accountsacco unts receivable and may be further limited by certain covenants and terms and conditions of the facility. These covenants include but are not limited to a minimum total tangible net worth and subordinated debt of ePlus Technology, inc., and maximum debt to tangible net worth ratio of ePlus Technology, inc. We were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30,December 31, 2010. In addition, the facility restricts the ability of ePlus Technology, inc. to transfer funds to its affiliates in the form of dividends, loans or advances; however, we do not expect these restrictions to have an impact on the ability of ePlus inc. to meet its cash obligations or materially restrict its ability to undertake additional debt or equity financing. The GECDF credit facility does not have a fixed maturity date,d ate, but either party may terminate with 90 days’ advance notice. We are not, and do not believe that we are reasonably likely to be, in breach of the GECDF credit facility. In addition, we do not believe that the covenants of the GECDF credit facility materially limit our ability to undertake financing.  In this regard, the covenants apply only to our subsidiary, ePlus Technology, inc. This credit facility is secured by the assets of only ePlus Technology, inc. and the guaranty as described below.

 
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The facility provided by GECDF requires a guaranty of up to $10.5 million by ePlus inc. The guaranty requires ePlus inc. to deliver its audited financial statements by certain dates.  We have delivered the annual audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2010 as required. The loss of the GECDF credit facility could have a material adverse effect on our future results as we currently rely on this facility and its components for daily working capital and liquidity for our technology sales business and as an operational function of our accounts payable process. In light of the credit market conditions, we cont inueWe continue to have discussions with GECDF to inquire about the strategic focus of their distribution finance unit. Pursuant to these discussions , we believe that we can continue to rely on the availability of this credit facility. Should the GECDF credit facility no longer be available, we believe we can increase our lines of credit with our vendors and utilize our cash for working capital.

Floor Plan Component

The traditional business of ePlus Technology, inc. as a seller of computer technology, related peripherals and software products is in part financed through a floor plan component in which interest expense for the first fortythirty to forty-five days, in general, is not charged. The floor plan liabilities are recorded as accounts payable—floor plan on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, as they are normally repaid within the forty-to forty-five-daythirty to forty-five day time frame and represent an assigned accounts payable originally generated with the manufacturer/distributor. If the forty-thirty to forty-five-dayforty-five day obligation is not paid timely, interest is then assessed at stated contractual rates.

The respective floor plan component credit limits and actual outstanding balances for the dates indicated were as follows (in thousands):
          
Maximum Credit Limit at September 30, 2010
 
Balance as of September 30, 2010
  
Maximum Credit Limit at March 31, 2010
  
Balance as of March 31, 2010
 
Maximum Credit Limit at December 31, 2010Maximum Credit Limit at December 31, 2010  Balance as of December 31, 2010  Maximum Credit Limit at March 31, 2010  Balance as of March 31, 2010 
$125,000  $63,617  $125,000  $57,613 125,000  $71,068  $125,000  $57,613 

Accounts Receivable Component

Included within the credit facility, ePlus Technology, inc. has an accounts receivable component from GECDF, which has a revolving line of credit. On the due date of the invoices financed by the floor plan component, the invoices are paid by the accounts receivable component of the credit facility. The balance of the accounts receivable component is then reduced by payments from our available cash. The outstanding balance under the accounts receivable component is recorded as recourse notes payable on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. There was no outstanding balance at September 30,December 31, 2010 or March 31, 2010, while the maximum credit limit was $30.0 million for both periods.

Credit Facility — General

1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia provides us with a $500 thousand credit facility, which matured on October 26, 2010. This credit facility2010 and was renewed for two years effective October 27, 2010. This credit facility is available for use by us and our affiliates and is full recourse to us. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at the Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime rate plus 1%. The primary purpose of the facility is to provide letters of credit for landlords, taxing authorities and bids.  As of September 30,December 31, 2010, we had no outstanding balance on this credit facility.

Performance Guarantees

In the normal course of business, we may provide certain customers with performance guarantees, which are generally backed by surety bonds. In general, we would only be liable for the amount of these guarantees in the event of default in the performance of our obligations. We are in compliance with the performance obligations under all service contracts for which there is a performance guarantee, and we believe that any liability incurred in connection with these guarantees would not have a material adverse effect on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As part of our ongoing business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of September 30,December 31, 2010, we were not involved in any unconsolidated special purpose entity transactions.


Adequacy of Capital Resources and Inflation

The continued implementation of our business strategy will require a significant investment in both resources and managerial focus. In addition, we may selectively acquire other companies that have attractive customer relationships and skilled sales forces. We may also acquire technology companies to expand and enhance the platform of bundled solutions to provide additional functionality and value-added services. As a result, we may require additional financing to fund our strategy, implementation and potential future acquisitions, which may include additional debt and equity financing.

For the periods presented herein, inflation has been relatively low and we believe that inflation has not had a material effect on our results of operations.

Potential Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

Our future quarterly operating results and the market price of our common stock may fluctuate.  In the event our revenues or earnings for any quarter are less than the level expected by securities analysts or the market in general, such shortfall could have an immediate and significant adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. Any such adverse impact could be greater if any such shortfall occurs near the time of any material decrease in any widely followed stock index or in the market price of the stock of one or more public equipment leasing and financing companies, IT resellers, software competitors, major customers or vendors of ours.

Our quarterly results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, reduction in IT spending, our entry into the e-commerce market, any reduction of expected residual values related to the equipment under our leases, the timing and mix of specific transactions, the reduction of manufacturer incentive programs, and other factors. Quarterly operating results could also fluctuate as a result of our sale of equipment in our lease portfolio, at the expiration of a lease term or prior to such expiration, to a lessee or to a third party.  Such sales of equipment may have the effect of increasing revenues and net income during the quarter in which the sale occurs, and reducing revenues and net income otherwise expected in subsequent quarters.  See Part I, Item 1A, ̶ 0;“ Risk Factors,” in our 2010 Annual Report.

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We believe that comparisons of quarterly results of our operations are not necessarily meaningful and that results for one quarter should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.

ItemItem 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Although a substantial portion of our liabilities are non-recourse, fixed-interest-rate instruments, we utilize our lines of credit and other financing facilities which are subject to fluctuations in short-term interest rates. These instruments, which are denominated in U.S. dollars, were entered into for other than trading purposes and, with the exception of amounts drawn under the GECDF facility, bear interest at a fixed rate. Because the interest rate on these instruments is fixed, changes in interest rates will not directly impact our cash flows. Borrowings under the GECDF facility bear interest at a market-based variable rate. As of September 30, 2010, the aggregate fair value of our recourse borrowings approximated their carrying value.

During the year ended March 31, 2003, we began transacting businessWe have operations in Canada.Canada and Iceland. As such, we have entered into lease contracts and non-recourse, fixed-interest-rate financing denominated in Canadian dollars.dollars and Icelandic krona. To date, our Canadian and Icelandic operations have been insignificant and we believe that potential fluctuations in currency exchange rates will not have a material effect on our financial position.
We also have leasing transactions in Iceland.  To date, Icelandic operations have been insignificant and we believe that potential fluctuations in Icelandic krona currency exchange rates will not have a material effect on our financial position.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”(“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”(“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, or “disclosure controls,” as defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(e). Disclosure controls are controls and procedures designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this quarterly report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controlscontrol s include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls include some, but not all, components of our internal control over financial reporting. Based upon that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30,December 31, 2010.


Changes in Internal Controls

Internal controls over financial reporting continue to be updated as necessary to accommodate modifications to our business processes and accounting procedures. There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30,December 31, 2010, which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system cannot provide absolute assurance due to its inherent limitations; it is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. A control system also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of such limitations, disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting cannot prevent or detect all misstatements, whether unintentional errors or fr aud.fraud . However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process; therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ItemItem 1. Legal Proceedings

Cyberco Related Matters

We have been involved in several matters relating to a customer named Cyberco Holdings, Inc. (“Cyberco”(“Cyberco”). The Cyberco principals were perpetrating a scam, and at least five principals have pled guilty to criminal conspiracy and/or related charges, including bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. We have previously disclosed our losses relating to Cyberco, and are pursuing avenues to recover those losses.

We filedThe only remaining Cyberco related suit against one of our lenders, Banc of America Leasing and Capital, LLC (“BoA”), in the Superior Court in the State of California, County of San Diego (“Superior Court”) seeking to recover losses relating to the Cyberco transaction.  We were also the defendant in one Cyberco-related case, in which BoAwe are a party is a suit ePlus Group filed a lawsuit against ePlus in the Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Virginia, on November 3, 2006, seeking to enforce a guaranty in which ePlus inc. guaranteed ePlus Group’s obligations to BoA relating to the Cyberco matter. Effective September 7, 2010, we settled both suits with BoA, in exchange for BoA’s assignin g to ePlus its interest in certain matters relating to Cyberco, including BoA’s interest in the lease schedule, certain proofs of claim filed by BoA in Cyberco-related bankruptcy cases, two judgments BoA obtained against Cyberco principals, and certain claims against the United States government resulting from its seizure of Cyberco-related assets.

In June 2007ePlus Group, inc. and two other Cyberco victims filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (the “District Court”) against The Huntington National Bank (“Huntington”). The complaint alleges counts of aiding and abetting fraud, aiding and abetting conversion, and statutory conversion. On or about July 1, 2010, the District Court entered summary judgment in favor of Huntington with regard to our claims in the suit. At this time, a final judgment has not been entered, and we are considering whether to pursue appellate relief. While we believe that we have a basis for these claims to recover certain of our losses related to the Cyberco matter, we cannot predict whether we will be successful in our claims for damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed the costs incurred to pursue these matters, or how long it will take to bring these matters to resolution.

Other Matters

We are currently engaged in a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in which we allege that the defendant, Lawson Software, Inc. (“Lawson”) used or sold products, methods, processes, services and/or systems that infringe on certain of our patents. On January 27, 2011, a jury unanimously found that Lawson infringed certain ePlus patents, and that all ePlus patent claims tried in court were valid. The trialfederal court previously granted an evidentiary motion precluding us from seeking damages at trial.  If wedamages. We are successful in proving liability, we will seekseeking an injunction, and we may appeal the court’s ruling on damages.a prior order that precluded us from seeking damages at trial.

We may become party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business including preference payment claims asserted in customer bankruptcy proceedings, claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. Although we do not expect that the outcome in any of these matters, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations, litigation is inherently unpredictable. Therefore, judgments could be rendered or settlements entered that could adversely affect our results of operations or cash flows in a particular period. We provide for costs related to contingencies when a loss is probableproba ble and the amount is reasonably determinable.

ItemItem 1A. Risk Factors

There have not been any material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.


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

The following table provides information regarding our purchases of ePlus inc. common stock during the sixnine months ended September 30,December 31, 2010.

            
Period 
Total number
of shares
purchased (1)
  Average price paid per share  Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs  Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs  Total number of shares purchased(1)  Average price paid per share  Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs  Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs 
                        
April 1, 2010 through April 30, 2010  5,163  $17.24   66,022   433,978(2)   5,163  $17.24   5,163   433,978(2)
May 1, 2010 through May 31, 2010  6,095  $17.05   72,177   427,883(3)   6,095  $17.05   6,095   427,883(3)
June 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010  12,461  $17.19   84,578   415,422(4)  12,461  $17.19   12,461   415,422(4)
July 1, 2010 through July 31, 2010  60,935  $17.04   145,513   354,487(5)  60,935  $17.04   60,935   354,487(5)
August 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010  29,685  $18.28   175,198   324,802(6)  29,685  $18.28   29,685   324,802(6)
September 1, 2010 through September 15, 2010  9,189  $18.27   184,387   315,613(7)  9,189  $18.27   9,189   315,613(7)
September 16, 2010 through September 30, 2010  –   –   –   500,000(8)  -   -   -   500,000(8)
October 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010  -   -   -   500,000(9)
November 1, 2010 through November 30, 2010  9,121  $24.90   -   500,000(10)
December 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010  6,725  $23.58   6,725   493,275(11)

(1)All shares acquired were in open-market purchases.purchases, except for 9,121 shares, which were repurchased to satisfy tax withholding obligations that arose on the vesting of shares of restricted stock.
(2)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended April 30, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of April 30, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 433,978.
(3)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended May 31, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of May 31, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 427,883.
(4)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended June 30 30, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of June 30, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 415,422.
(5)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended July 31, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of July 31, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 354,487.
(6)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended August 31, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of August 31, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 324,802.
(7)The share purchase authorization in place from September 1 to September 15, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of September 15, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 315,613.
(8)The share purchase authorization in place from September 16 to September 30, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of September 30, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 500,000.
(9)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended October 31, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of October 31, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 500,000.
(10)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended November 30, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of November 30, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 500,000.
(11)The share purchase authorization in place for the month ended December 31, 2010 had purchase limitations on the number of shares of up to 500,000 shares.  As of December 31, 2010, the remaining authorized shares to be purchased were 493,275.

The timing and expiration date of the stock repurchase authorizations as well as an amendment to our current repurchase plan are included in Note 10, “Share Repurchase” to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

ItemItem 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not Applicable.


Item 4.  (Removed and Reserved)

Item 5. Other Information

None.

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Item 6. Exhibits

10.1
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated September 14, 2010, between ePlus inc. and Philip G. Norton (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2010).

10.2
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated September 16, 2010, between ePlus inc. and Bruce M. Bowen (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2010).

10.3
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated September 16, 2010, between ePlus inc. and Elaine D. Marion (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2010).

10.4
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated September 16, 2010, between ePlus inc. and Mark P. Marron (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2010).

10.5
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated September 16, 2010, between ePlus inc. and Steven J. Mencarini (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2010).
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of ePlus inc. pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a).

31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of ePlus inc. pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a).

32.0
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of ePlus inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.


SIGNATURESSIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
ePlus inc.
  
Date: November 5, 2010
February 4, 2011
/s/ PHILLIP G. NORTON
 By: Phillip G. Norton, Chairman of the Board,
 President and Chief Executive Officer
 (Principal Executive Officer)
  
Date: November 5, 2010February 4, 2011
/s/ ELAINE D. MARION
 By: Elaine D. Marion
 Chief Financial Officer
 (Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
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