11 November 2008 - Evolving Systems Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results
- Year over year net income increases
- 4% to $593,000 in third quarter
- 258% to $1.1 million year-to-date
- Adjusted EBITDA of $1.6 million in third quarter, $4.5 million year-to-date
- Four new carrier customers signed in Q3
- License and services orders up 12% in Q3 and 14% year-to-date
- $3.6 million in operating cash flow year-to-date
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado - Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ-EVOL), a leading provider of software solutions and services to the wireless, wireline and IP carrier markets, today reported increased year-over-year net income and new orders for both its third quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008.
"With order growth of 12% in the third quarter and 14% year-to-date, we continue to experience strong demand for our solutions despite a challenging economic environment," said Thad Dupper, president and CEO. "In the third quarter alone we added four new carrier customers in emerging markets, including three in Africa and one in Croatia, and our sales funnel in traditional markets also remains solid. Although third quarter revenue declined by 3% year-over-year due to delayed implementation of certain customer projects and foreign exchange losses, our year-to-date revenue was up 3% and our year-to-date license and services backlog increased by 36%, positioning us for a solid finish to the year.
"Our strong profitability and cash flow, combined with an aggressive debt-reduction program throughout 2008, have put us in a good position to meet our debt obligations, weather the economic downturn and continue to make R&D investments in growth initiatives such as our high margin Dynamic SIM Allocation™ (DSA) solution," Dupper added. "DSA is a cutting edge solution that offers carriers a new way to activate phones that avoids the cost and inefficiency of pre-provisioning while providing a better user experience. We expect DSA to be a growing contributor to revenue and profitability."
Third Quarter Results
Third quarter net income increased to $593,000, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, from $569,000, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, in the third quarter last year. The increase reflected a stable expense base as well as lower interest expense due to debt reduction efforts. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment, stock compensation and gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions ("Adjusted EBITDA") for the third quarter were $1.6 million versus $1.8 million in the same quarter last year.
The Company reported $9.0 million in revenue in the third quarter, a 3% reduction from revenue of $9.3 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease reflected customer delays in rollout of several projects combined with the effects of foreign exchange transactions. License fees and services revenue in the third quarter was $4.5 million versus $4.7 million a year ago while customer support revenue was $4.5 million as compared with $4.6 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue mix in the third quarter included $5.5 million in Service Activation, $2.8 million in Numbering Solutions and $0.7 million in Mediation.
Total costs of revenue and operating expenses for the comparative third quarters remained flat at $8.2 million, reflecting management's consistent focus on maintaining a lean operation. Product development expense increased 19% to $0.8 million from $0.7 million in the third quarter as the Company continued to invest in product enhancements. That increase was partially offset by a 5% decline in general and administrative expense - to $1.3 million from $1.4 million - due primarily to lower professional fees. Sales and marketing expense remained flat year over year.
Income from operations in the third quarter was $0.8 million versus $1.1 million in the same quarter last year. It was the Company's ninth consecutive quarter of positive operating income.
Nine-Month Results
The Company reported net income of $1.1 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted
share, through the first nine months of 2008, which represented a 258% increase
over net income of $314,000, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, in the same
period last year. Year-to-date net income is nearly double that achieved for
all of 2007. Adjusted EBITDA through nine months increased 3% to $4.5 million
from $4.4 million in the same period last year.
Revenue through the first nine months of 2008 grew 3% to $27.8 million from $26.9 million a year ago. License fees and services revenue increased 10% to $14.7 million from $13.4 million, more than offsetting a 3% decline in customer support revenue - to $13.1 million from $13.5 million a year ago. Revenue mix included $15.5 million in Activation, $9.2 million in Numbering Solutions and $3.1 million in Mediation.
Total costs of revenue and operating expenses through nine months increased 3% to $25.7 million in 2008 from $25.0 million in the same period last year, a reflection of selective investments in growth initiatives partially offset by lower general and administrative costs. Specifically, year-to-date product development costs increased 79% to $2.8 million from $1.6 million as the Company invested in various product enhancements, most prominently its DSA solution. Sales and marketing costs increased 3% to $6.4 million from $6.2 million, reflecting continued investments in opening new geographic markets. General and administrative expense declined by 13% to $3.9 million from $4.5 million based on lower professional fees, personnel and facility costs.
Operating income through the first nine months of 2008 was $2.1 million compared with $1.9 million in the same period a year ago.
Bookings and Backlog Highlights
The Company booked $5.8 million in new orders in the third quarter, including
$4.3 million in license fees and services, up 12% from $3.8 million in the
third quarter last year. Customer support orders totaled $1.5 million in the
third quarter. Bookings by product category in the third quarter included $4.5
million in Activation, $0.9 million in Numbering Solutions, and $0.4 million
in Mediation.
New orders totaled $22.4 million through nine months, down from $25.4 million in the same period last year. The lower 2008 order number was the result of an industry consolidation event that caused a large carrier customer to accelerate its annual support order into the fourth quarter of 2007. Bookings of new license and service orders increased 14% to $15.1 million through nine months from $13.2 million in the same period a year ago, representing the strongest nine-month booking period in three years. Customer support bookings through nine months totaled $7.4 million in 2008. The Company defines bookings as new, non-cancelable orders expected to be recognized as revenue during the following 12 months.
Backlog at September 30, 2008, was $13.7 million, up 9% from $12.5 million at the same time a year ago. The license and services backlog grew 36% over the same period, to $6.4 million from $4.7 million.
Balance Sheet Highlights
The Company has strengthened its balance sheet considerably in the first nine
months of 2008, reducing its long-term debt obligations and preferred stock
balance by a total of $9.7 million. The year-to-date improvements include a
$4.1 million reduction in senior, subordinated and capital lease debt obligations
and the conversion of the remaining $5.6 million preferred stock balance to
common stock. In addition, during the first quarter of 2008 the Company closed
a $10.0 million debt refinancing that lowered the average cash interest rate
and improved financial flexibility with more favorable covenants. Year-over-year
interest expense savings in the third quarter and nine-month period of 2008
totaled 34% and 33%, respectively. The Company generated $3.6 million in cash
from operations in the first nine months of 2008, down from $4.4 million a
year ago primarily as the result of the early-accrued interest payment on subordinated
debt during the first quarter of $0.8 million. The cash and cash equivalents
balance at September 30, 2008, was $5.6 million.
Conference Call
The Company will conduct a conference call and Web cast today at 2:45 p.m. Mountain
Time. The call-in numbers for the conference call are 1-877-419-6590 for domestic
toll free and 719-325-4902 for international callers. The conference ID is
4788905. A telephone replay will be available through November 18, 2008, and
can be accessed by calling 1-888-203-1112 or 1-719-457-0820, passcode 4788905.
To access a live Webcast of the call, please visit Evolving Systems' website
at www.evolving.com. A replay of the Webcast will be accessible at that website
through November 18, 2008.
About Evolving Systems®
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ-EVOL) is a provider of software and services to
more than 70 network operators in over 40 countries worldwide. Its portfolio
includes market-leading products for Service Activation, Service Verification,
Process Management, Dynamic SIM Allocation, Number Portability, Number Inventory
and Mediation solutions. Founded in 1985, the Company has headquarters in
Englewood, Colorado, with offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, India and
Malaysia. Further information is available on the web at www.evolving.com
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on current
expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk. Specifically,
statements about the Company's growth and future profitability, future business,
revenue and expense projections, the Company's continued ability to post quarterly
results that are similar to those described in this press release and the impact
of new products and accounts on the Company's business are forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on our expectations and are naturally subject to uncertainty
and changes in circumstances. Readers should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, and the Company may not undertake to update these
statements. Actual results could vary materially from these expectations. For
a more extensive discussion of Evolving Systems' business, and important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's Form 10-K filed
with the SEC on March 13, 2008, as well as subsequently filed Forms 10-Q, 8-K
and press releases.
CONTACTS:
Investor Relations
Jay Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc.
303.393.7044
jay@pfeifferhigh.com
Press Relations
Sarah Hurp
Marketing Communications Manager
Evolving Systems
+44 1225 478060
sarah.hurp@evolving.com
