For the year-to-date period, net income was $8.6 million, or $0.74 earnings per diluted share, in 2021 compared to net income of $3.0 million, or $0.27 earnings per diluted share, in 2020, an increase of 185% year-over-year. Year-to-date net income and diluted earnings per share were adversely impacted by $5.0 million of debt extinguishment costs and $2.6 million of make-whole interest expense incurred during the first quarter of 2021 when the Company refinanced its debt.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 84% year-over-year to $41.4 million in the first half of 2021.
Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Cash Flow
As of June 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents was $30.7 million. Cash provided by operating activities in the first half of 2021 was $22.7 million, which is net of $15.6 million in inventory investments to support the business and includes $6.0 million in cash tax refunds primarily from CARES Act filings. Capital expenditures were $3.7 million in the first half of 2021, yielding Free Cash Flow of $19.0 million, an $8.6 million increase compared to the first half of 2020.
During the second quarter of 2021, the Company used $15 million of cash on hand to pay down the ABL Revolver to zero and had no borrowings outstanding thereunder as of June 30, 2021, consistent with the Company’s capital structure strategy to maintain ample liquidity, invest in the business and de-leverage the balance sheet. At quarter end, $50 million was available for borrowing under the ABL Revolver. Total long-term debt principal outstanding as of June 30, 2021 was comprised of the Company’s $310 million Senior Notes.
“Our excellent financial performance in the first half drove strong free cash flow, allowing us to reduce debt while continuing to make investments in the business,” said John Lowe, Chief Financial Officer. “We are proud of our first half growth and our recent listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and will continue to pursue our strategic initiatives and execute our business plan.”
Conference Call and Webcast
CPI Card Group Inc. will hold a conference call on August 12, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to review its second quarter and first half of 2021 results. To participate in the Company's conference call via telephone or online:
Toll-Free Dial-In Number, U.S. Participants: (844) 200-6205
United States (Local): (646) 904 5544
All Other Locations: + 44 208 0682 558
Conference ID: 716604
Webcast Link: 2Q21 Earnings Webcast
Participants are advised to login for the webcast 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
A replay of the conference call and webcast will be available until August 26, 2021 at:
Toll-Free Dial-In Number, U.S. Participants: (844) 200-6205
International Dial-In Number: (646) 904-5544
Conference ID: 941788
Webcast replay: 2Q21 Earnings Webcast Replay
A webcast replay and transcript of the conference call will be available on CPI Card Group Inc.’s Investor Relations web site: https://investor.cpicardgroup.com/