GRID DYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC. - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One) 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

OR

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 001-38685 

Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

5000 Executive Parkway, Suite 520

San Ramon, CA 94583

(Address of principal executive offices)

(619) 736-6855

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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 ☒      No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒      No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

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

As of October 31, 2020, there were 50,859,760 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in, but not limited to, the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be significantly different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We discuss these risks in greater detail in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be significantly different from what we expect.

Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ significantly from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

GRID DYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GRID DYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME/(LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
(In thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GRID DYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)

Nine months ended September 30, 2020

Nine months ended September 30, 2019

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GRID DYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GRID DYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Note 1 — Background and nature of operations

Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “GDH”) provides enterprise-level digital transformation in the areas of search, analytics, and release automation to Fortune 1000 companies. The Company’s headquarters and principal place of business is in San Ramon, California.

The Company was originally incorporated in Delaware on May 21, 2018 as a special purpose acquisition company under the name ChaSerg Technology Acquisition Corp. (“ChaSerg”) for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving ChaSerg and one or more businesses. On March 5, 2020 (the “Closing”), the Company consummated its business combination with Grid Dynamics International, Inc. (“GDI”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated November 13, 2019 (the “Business Combination”). In connection with the Closing, the Company changed its name from ChaSerg Technology Acquisition Corp. to Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. The Company’s common stock is now listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “GDYN” and warrants to purchase the common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “GDYNW.”

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” refers to the combined company and its subsidiaries following the Business Combination, “ChaSerg” refers to the Company prior to the Closing, and “GDI” refers to GDI prior to the Closing. Refer to Note 3 for further discussion of the Business Combination.

Note 2 — Basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of the Company’s management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with GDI’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included in the Current Report on Form 8-K that the Company filed with the SEC on March 9, 2020.

Basis of presentation

The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Although ChaSerg was the legal acquirer, for accounting purposes, GDI was deemed to be the accounting acquirer. GDI was determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:

In conjunction with the Business Combination, outstanding shares of GDI were converted into common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, shown as a recapitalization, and the net assets of ChaSerg were acquired at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. GDI was deemed to be the predecessor of the Company, and the consolidated assets and liabilities and results of operations prior to the Closing (for the year ended December 31, 2019 and three months ended March 31, 2020 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019) are those of GDI. ChaSerg’s assets and liabilities, which include net cash from the trust of $85.1 million, and results of operations were consolidated with GDI beginning on the Closing. The shares and corresponding capital amounts and earnings per share available to common stockholders, prior to the Business Combination, have been retroactively restated as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the Merger Agreement.

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying condensed financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries that are directly or indirectly owned or controlled. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated condensed financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates and such differences could be material. Significant estimates include useful lives and recoverability of property and equipment, allowances for receivables, calculation of accrued liabilities, capitalization of internally developed software, stock-based compensation, determination of provision for income taxes and uncertain tax positions.

Certain significant risks and uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks, including but not limited to customer concentration, concentrations of credit and foreign currency risks. Refer to Note 4 below for additional information. Additionally, the Company has been impacted by the recent coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has negatively affected the U.S. and global economy, disrupted global supply chains, resulted in significant travel and transport restrictions, including mandated closures and orders to “shelter-in-place,” and created significant disruption of the financial market. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Company’s revenues and the Company’s business continues to be exposed to risks and uncertainties related to the pandemic.  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been more pronounced with the Company’s retail customers, which depend on keeping their stores open. Additionally, in situations where the Company’s customers encounter financial difficulties, there is a risk associated with the Company’s inability to collect money from customers. The Company has taken several actions to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. These include enabling its employees to work from home, company-wide salary and compensation cuts, hiring freezes, and suspending all non-essential travel. The ultimate impact and the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect the business, results of operation and financial condition is difficult to predict and depends on numerous evolving factors outside of the Company’s control including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; government, social, business and other actions that have been and will be taken in response to the pandemic; and the effect of the pandemic on short and long-term general economic conditions.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. At times, cash deposits with banks may exceed federally insured limits.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts, reflect the net realizable value of receivables and approximate fair value. The Company maintains an allowance against accounts receivable for the estimated probable losses on uncollectible accounts. The allowance is based upon historical loss experience, current economic conditions within the industries the Company serves as well as determination of the specific risk related to certain customers. Accounts receivable are charged off against the reserve when, in management’s estimation, further collection efforts would not result in a reasonable likelihood of receipt. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance increased $0.4 million as of September 30, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019. 

Revenue recognition

The Company accounts for a contract with a customer when 1) the parties to the contract have approved the contract and are committed to performing their respective obligations, 2) the contract identifies each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred, 3) the contract identifies the payment terms for the goods or services to be transferred, 4) the contract has commercial substance, and 5) collection of substantially all consideration pursuant to the contract is probable.

The Company derives its revenue from offering a suite of digital engineering and information technology (“IT”) consulting services, including digital transformation strategy, emerging technology, lean labs and legacy system replatforming. For most contracts, the Company uses master agreements to govern the overall relevant terms and conditions of the business arrangement between the Company and its customers. When the Company and a customer enter into a Master Services Agreement (“MSA”), purchases are generally made by the customer via a statement of work (“SOW”) which explicitly references the MSA and specifies the services to be delivered. Fees for these contracts may be in the form of time-and-materials or fixed-fee arrangements. The majority of the Company’s revenues are generated under time-and-material contracts which are billed using hourly rates to determine the amounts to be charged directly to the customer. Fees are billed and collected as stipulated in the contract, and revenue is recognized as services are performed. If there is an uncertainty about the receipt of payment for the services, revenue is recognized to the extent that a significant reversal of revenue would not be probable.

Consulting services revenue is a single performance obligation earned through a series of distinct daily services and may include services such as those described above. The Company recognizes revenue for services over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the Company performs IT consulting services. For time-and-materials contracts, the customer derives value from the Company providing daily consulting services, and the value derived corresponds to the labor hours expended. Therefore, the Company measures the progress and recognizes revenue using an effort-based input method. For fixed fee contracts, the Company recognizes revenue as the work is performed, the monthly calculation of which is based upon actual labor hours incurred and level of effort expended throughout the duration of the contract.

For time-and-material contracts, the Company applies the variable consideration allocation exception. Therefore, instead of allocating the variable consideration to the entire performance obligation, the Company determined the variable consideration should be allocated to each distinct service to which the variable consideration relates, which is providing the customer daily consulting services. The Company also offers volume discounts or early settlement discounts. Volume discounts apply once the customer reaches certain contractual spend thresholds. Early settlement discounts are issued contingent upon the timing of the payment from the customer. If the consideration promised in a contract includes a variable amount, the Company only includes estimated amounts of consideration in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. These estimates may require management to make subjective judgments and to make estimates about the effects of matters inherently uncertain. The determination of whether to constrain consideration in the transaction price are based on information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company, taking into consideration the type of customer, the type of transaction and the specific facts and circumstances of each arrangement. Although the Company believes that its approach in developing estimates and its reliance on certain judgments and underlying inputs is reasonable, actual results may differ from management’s estimates, judgments and assumptions. These estimates have historically not been material to the consolidated financial statements.

Remaining performance obligation

ASC 606 requires that the Company disclose the aggregate amount of transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied as of September 30, 2020. This disclosure is not required for:

All of the Company’s contracts met one or more of these exemptions as of September 30, 2020.

Income taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of the assets and liabilities. The determination of the provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. The provision for income taxes reflects a combination of income earned and taxed in the various U.S. federal and state, international and other jurisdictions. Jurisdictional tax law changes, increases or decreases in permanent differences between book and tax items, accruals or adjustments of accruals for tax contingencies or valuation allowances, and the change in the mix of earnings from these taxing jurisdictions all affect the overall effective tax rate.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, in determining whether a valuation allowance is required. Such evidence includes prior earnings history, the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, carryback and carryforward periods of tax attributes, and tax planning strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of realization of a deferred tax asset in making this assessment. The weight given to the positive and negative evidence is commensurate with the extent to which the evidence may be objectively verified.

The Company evaluates for uncertain tax positions at each balance sheet date. When it is more likely than not that a position will be sustained upon examination by a tax authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information, the Company measures the amount of tax benefit from the position and records the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized after settlement with a tax authority. The Company’s policy for interest and/or penalties related to underpayments of income taxes is to include interest and penalties in income tax expense.

Restructuring

The Company initiated a restructuring plan focused on optimizing utilization. For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company incurred and paid total restructuring expenses of $0.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively, which mostly included employee termination costs. This amount is included as a component of general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”), in the form of Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”), to the FASB’s ASC. The Company has elected not to opt out of the extended transition period and thus when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which amends ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying or adding certain disclosures. The accounting standard update was effective beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, with removed and modified disclosures to be adopted on a retrospective basis, and new disclosures to be adopted on a prospective basis. The Company has determined that the adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-17, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities”. The new standard changes how entities evaluate decision-making fees under the variable interest entity guidance. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings at the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company has determined that the adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

The Company considered the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to put most leases on their balance sheet while recognizing expense in a manner similar to existing accounting. ASU 2016-02 states that a lessee would recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-to-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The standard allows for two methods of adoption to recognize and measure leases: retrospectively to each prior period presented in the financial statements with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented or retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the beginning of the period in which the guidance is first applied. Both adoption methods include a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. The Company will adopt the standard retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the beginning of the period in which the guidance is first applied. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), delaying the effective implementation date for ASC 842 by one year for entities that have not yet adopted the standard. In June 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-5 delaying the transition and effective implementation date for ASC 842 by one year for entities that have not yet adopted the standard. The new accounting guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company has not yet determined the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) — Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Topic 326 was subsequently amended by ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses, ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief, and clarified the guidance with the release of ASU 2020-02 Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842). These ASUs replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. In November 2019 the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), delaying the effective implementation date for Topic 326 by one year for entities that have not yet adopted the standard. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods with fiscal years after December 15, 2022. The Company has not yet determined the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and also simplification of areas such as franchise taxes, step-up in tax basis goodwill, separate entity financial statements and interim recognition of enactment of tax laws or rate changes. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods with fiscal years after December 15, 2022 on a prospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU No. 2020-03, Codification to Financial Instruments. This ASU improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics, including the current expected credit losses standard issued in 2016. The ASU includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to U.S. GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The amendments related to Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, and Issue 5 were effective upon issuance of this update. The new guidance did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The amendments related to Issue 6 and Issue 7 are effective for the Company the earlier of January 1, 2023 or when the Company adopts ASU 2016-13, if early adopted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact these topics will have on the consolidated financial statements. 

Note 3 – Business combination

On March 5, 2020, ChaSerg consummated its business combination with GDI pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Fees and expenses paid in connection with the Business Combination were settled using funds from the trust account. Immediately following the Business Combination, there were 50,833,619 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001, and 11,346,500 warrants outstanding.

GDI began operations in September 2006 to provide next-generation ecommerce platform solutions in the areas of search, analytics, and release automation to Fortune 1000 companies. Under ASC 805, Business Combinations, GDI was deemed the accounting acquirer, and the Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP. ChaSerg was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of GDI issuing stock for the net assets of ChaSerg, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of ChaSerg were stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Reported shares and earnings per share available to holders of the Company’s common stock, prior to the Business Combination, have been retroactively restated as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the Business Combination (approximately 1.685 GDH shares to 1.0 GDI share). 

The aggregate consideration for the Business Combination was $396.5 million, consisting of $130.0 million in cash and 27,006,251 shares of ChaSerg’s common stock valued at $10.19 per share, less a post-Closing share adjustment amount of 857,143 shares which were placed in escrow post-Closing. The shares transferred at Closing included 4,313,917 options to purchase the Company’s shares that were vested, outstanding and unexercised, which were determined using 1,739,932 vested options at Closing converted at an exchange ratio of approximately 2.48. Additionally, 364,094 options to purchase the Company’s common stock that were unvested, outstanding and unexercised were assumed by the Company, which were determined using 146,865 unvested options at Closing converted at an exchange ratio of approximately 2.48. The following represents the aggregate consideration for the Business Combination:

In connection with the Closing, 51,715 shares of common stock were redeemed at a price per share of approximately $10.21. See Note 8 for details of the Company’s common stock prior to and subsequent to the Business Combination.

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company incurred direct and incremental costs of approximately $4.7 million, consisting of legal and professional fees, of which $4.1 million were related to equity issuance costs and recorded to additional paid-in capital as a reduction of proceeds and $0.6 million were recorded to general and administrative expenses.

In connection with the Business Combination, all outstanding retention bonus obligations from a 2017 acquisition totaling $3,363,000 were accelerated and paid in full to Grid Dynamics’ personnel immediately prior to the Closing and were recorded in the cost of revenue and operating expenses in the condensed consolidated financial statements. 

Note 4 — Concentrations of credit risk

The Company records its accounts receivable and unbilled receivables at their face amounts less allowances. Accounts receivable and unbilled receivables are generally dispersed across the Company’s customers in proportion to their revenue. Two customers individually exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance at September 30, 2020. Three customers individually exceeded 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2019. Four customers individually exceeded 10% of the unbilled receivables at September 30, 2020 and two customers individually exceeded the unbilled receivables balance at December 31, 2019.

Two and three customers accounted for greater than 10% of the sales for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Two and three customers accounted for greater than 10% of the sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Note 5 — Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):

Note 6 — Accrued liabilities

The components of accrued liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

Note 7 — Income taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense/(benefit) of $(0.1) million and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $(3.6) million and $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate was 8.1% and 19.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 31.3% and 23.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase/decrease in effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same periods in 2019 was primarily due to excess tax benefits of stock-based compensation. The tax benefit recognized in the current nine months is primarily due to net operating losses generated by stock compensation deductions as a result of the Business Combination and year-to-date book losses. For the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, the Company used a discrete  effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes. The Company determined that small changes in estimated “ordinary” income would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate due to uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated annual effective tax rate method would not provide a reliable estimate and therefore has not been used for the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020.

On March 27, 2020, the U.S. President signed into law the CARES Act, an economic stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The CARES Act contains several corporate income tax provisions, including making remaining alternative minimum tax credits immediately refundable; providing a 5-year carryback of net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) generated in tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020, and removing the 80% taxable income limitation on utilization of those NOLs if carried back to prior tax years or utilized in tax years beginning before 2021; and temporarily liberalizing the interest deductibility rules under Section 163(j) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, by raising the adjusted taxable income limitation from 30% to 50% for tax years 2019 and 2020 and giving taxpayers the election of using 2019 adjusted taxable income for purposes of computing 2020 interest deductibility. The Company anticipates being in a loss position at year end and will be able to take advantage of the NOL carryback provision. The Company is still evaluating the impact but does not currently expect the provisions of the CARES Act to have a material effect on the realizability of deferred income tax assets or tax expense. There is no material impact for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. As additional guidance is released, the Company will evaluate whether there would need to be a change in the period when such guidance is issued. 

Note 8 — Stockholders’ equity

The following description summarizes the material terms and provisions of the securities that the Company has authorized.

Common stock

The Company is authorized to issue 110,000,000 of common stock. At Closing, the Company had issued 50,833,619 shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 50,859,760 shares of common stock that were outstanding, of which: a) 26,888,285 shares were issued to the stockholders of ChaSerg who did not redeem their shares, b) 1,200,000 shares legally issued and outstanding to the ChaSerg Founders and underwriter subject to earnout provisions as discussed further below, c) 53,000 shares issued to the Sponsor of ChaSerg (the “Sponsor”) at $10.00 per share as the result of a promissory note of $0.5 million converted to the Company’s common stock, d) 19,490,295 shares issued to GDD International Holding Company, e) 2,094,850 shares issued to BGV Opportunity Fund, L.P., and f) 1,133,330 shares issued to former shareholders of GDI. Additionally at Closing, there were 4,313,917 outstanding vested options to purchase the Company’s common stock.

Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2019 GDI had 1,047,942 shares of no par value shares of preferred stock outstanding convertible on a 1:1 basis with GDI’s common stock. At the Closing, the preferred stock outstanding was converted into common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share. Therefore, as of September 30, 2020 there was no preferred stock outstanding.

Founders and underwriter shares subject to earnout provisions

At the Closing, the Company had 1,200,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding subject to earnout provisions (the “Earnout Shares”). The Earnout Shares are subject to transfer restrictions and the owners of the Earnout Shares cannot sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of their respective shares until the respective earnout provisions have been achieved as described further below. The Earnout Shares have full ownership rights including the right to vote and receive dividends and other distributions thereon. Dividends and other distributions are not subject to forfeiture in accordance with the Amended and Restated Sponsor Share Letter filed with the SEC on January 26, 2020. The Earnout Shares vest and are no longer subject to the transfer restrictions as follows:

The Earnout Shares automatically vest upon and immediately prior to any of the following events:

The Earnout Shares released for any event as noted above shall be subject to an equitable adjustment for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions affecting the common stock after the Closing. Additionally, each such price threshold shall be reduced by the amount of the aggregate cash or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid or payable by the Company to the holders of common stock, on a per share basis, as an extraordinary dividend or distribution following the Closing; provided that the declaration and payment of any such extraordinary dividend or distribution shall be subject to all applicable laws. An “extraordinary dividend or distribution” means any dividend or distribution other than a regularly-scheduled dividend or distribution.

As of September 30, 2020, none of the Earnout Shares have vested.

Warrants

As of September 30, 2020, there were a total of 11,346,500 warrants outstanding. As part of its initial public offering (“IPO”), ChaSerg issued 22,000,000 units including one share of common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Simultaneously with its IPO, ChaSerg issued 640,000 private placement units to its sponsor underwriter, each consisting of one common share and one-half of one redeemable warrant. ChaSerg issued 53,000 units as a result of the conversion of a working capital sponsor loan consisting of one common share and one-half of one redeemable warrant.

Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50. Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares for common stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. Each warrant is currently exercisable and will expire March 5, 2025 (five years after the completion of the Business Combination), or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company may call the warrants for redemption at a price of $0.01 per warrant upon a minimum 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, if and only if, the reported last sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and if and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such warrants.  

Note 9 — Stock-based compensation

2018 Stock Plan

The Company had previously adopted a stock plan in 2018 (the “2018 Stock Plan”). Under the terms of the 2018 Stock Plan, certain option grants were accelerated in full or by an additional 12 months as a result of the Business Combination. Therefore, on the date of Closing, the acceleration of vesting for 2,568,523 stock options resulted in a stock compensation charge and corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital of $2.5 million. Additionally, at Closing, a percentage of outstanding vested GDI stock options were settled in exchange for cash consideration, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

The remaining portion of outstanding vested options totaling 1,739,932 and all unvested options totaling 146,865 were automatically assumed and converted into options to purchase the Company’s common stock as of the Closing. The number of each participant’s assumed options and the exercise price were adjusted as provided in the Merger Agreement. There was no incremental compensation cost attributable to the incremental fair value of the modified options compared to the original options on the modification date. The assumed stock options will continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions, including vesting schedule terms, in accordance with the 2018 Stock Plan. Exercise prices for 2018 Stock Plan options range between $3.51 and $3.54 per share.

The following table sets forth the activity, including the conversion of the vested and unvested options, for the three months ended March 31, 2020:

As of September 30, 2020 28,641 shares were forfeited and 22,217 shares were exercised for the total proceeds of $0.1 million. The number of shares exercisable as of September 30, 2020 was 4,357,125 with the average exercise price $3.54 per share.

2020 Equity Incentive Plan

Effective March 5, 2020, our board of directors approved an equity incentive plan (the “2020 Plan”). The 2020 Plan permits the Company to grant a maximum aggregate amount of 16,300,000 Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options (“NSOs”), Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units (“PSUs”), and Performance Shares (“PSAs”) (collectively, the “Awards”) to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. Our board of directors or any committee appointed by the board has the authority to grant Awards. As of September 30, 2020, our board of directors granted 1,897,000 NSOs, 2,993,455 RSUs, and 574,188 target PSU at a maximum payout at 300%.

Stock Options

The 1,552,100 NSOs granted on March 13, 2020, 239,400 NSOs granted on May 4, 2020 and 105,500 NSOs granted on August 3, 2020 are subject to the following time-based vesting conditions: one-fourth of the NSOs will vest on one year after the grant date; and thereafter one-sixteenth of the NSOs will vest each subsequent three-month anniversary. The NSOs have approximately a ten-year exercise term, and once the NSOs are vested, the recipients have the right to purchase the Company’s stock at a fixed and specified exercise price.

The grant date fair value of each NSO was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as determined by our board of directors. The key assumptions for 2020 grants are provided in the following table.

The Company used a zero percent dividend yield assumption for all Black-Scholes stock option-pricing calculations. Since the Company’s shares were not publicly traded prior to the Closing and its shares were rarely traded privately, expected volatility is estimated based on the average historical volatility of similar entities with publicly traded shares. The risk-free rate for the expected term of the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve at the date of grant. Expected term is estimated using the simplified method, which takes into account vesting and contractual term. The simplified method is being used to calculate expected term instead of historical experience due to a lack of relevant historical data resulting from changes in option vesting schedules and changes in the pool of employees receiving option grants.

None of the 2020 NSO grants are vested as of September 30, 2020. The aggregated fair value of 1,897,000 NSOs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $6.1 million. The total unrecognized compensation expenses related to 2020 Stock Plan options as of September 30, 2020 was $4.9 million to be expensed on a straight-line basis over 3.49 years.

Restricted Stock Units

A total of 2,993,455 RSUs granted as of September 30, 2020 were granted at the average fair market value of the Company’s stock of $8.17. The RSUs granted to employees generally are subject to the following time-based vesting conditions: one-fourth vest on the first anniversary of the grant; and thereafter one-sixteenth of the RSUs will vest each subsequent three-month anniversary.   RSUs granted do not participate in earnings, dividends, and do not have voting rights until vested.

15,120 RSUs granted to the Board were released as of September 30, 2020. The aggregated fair value of RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $24.5 million. The total unrecognized compensation expenses related to 2020 Stock Plan RSUs as of September 30, 2020 was $21.0 million to be expensed on a straight-line basis over 3.43 years. 

Performance Stock Units

On May 4, 2020, the Company granted 574,188 Performance Stock target shares under the 2020 Stock Plan with the maximum payout capped at 300%. The performance goals for these grants consist of:

1) Year-over-year growth in non-retail revenue for the Performance Period, which is Fiscal Year 2020, expressed as a percentage increase over the Fiscal Year 2019 non-retail revenue (“Revenue Growth”), and

2) Contribution Margin for the Performance Period as a percentage of non-retail revenue for the Performance Period.

Fifty percent (50%) of the target number of performance shares granted will vest (if at all) based on the extent of achievement of Revenue Growth for the Performance Period and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the target number of performance shares granted will vest (if at all) based on the extent of achievement of the Contribution Margin.

Performance shares will be certified and vested no later than March 1, 2021 with the payout shortly after. As of September 30, 2020, the Company assessed the vesting of the Performance Share Units as probable. Stock-based compensation expense related to Performance Stock  Units was $3.1 million and $5.1 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The Company classifies awards issued under the stock-based compensation plans as equity. Total compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $5.1 million, which included $0.02 million of compensation expense related to the 2018 Stock Plan and the rest of compensation expense related to the 2020 Plan. Total compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $0.1 million. Total compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $13.6 million, which included $2.0 million of compensation expense related to the 2018 Stock Plan, $2.5 million of compensation expense related to the acceleration of vesting of awards under the 2018 Stock Plan, and the rest of compensation expense related to the 2020 Plan. Total compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $2.0 million. Employee stock-based compensation recognized was as follows (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, there was approximately $31.4 million and $4.5 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, respectively.

Note 10 — Earnings per share

The Company computed earnings per share (“EPS”) in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities are subtracted from net income in determining net income attributable to common stockholders. The Company allocated income between its common and preferred shareholders only for the periods the preferred stock was outstanding, which was January 1, 2020 to March 4, 2020 and May 6, 2019 to September 30, 2019. There was no preferred stock outstanding March 5, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and January 1, 2019 to May 6, 2019. As the Company was in a net loss position for the periods between January 1, 2020 to March 4, 2020 and March 5, 2020 to September 30, 2020, the net loss was allocated entirely to common shareholders.

All participating securities are excluded from basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and convertible preferred securities. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted EPS in order of dilution and by application of the treasury stock method and the if-converted method for stock-based compensation and convertible preferred securities, respectively.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS of common stock as follows (in thousands except per share data):

The denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS has been retrospectively adjusted for the recapitalization of the Company’s shares as a result of the Business Combination as further described in Note 3. The following potential common shares, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end and adjusted for the stock split as a result of the transaction, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

Note 11 — Commitments and contingencies

Legal Matters

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Management evaluates each claim and provides for potential loss when the claim is probable to be paid and reasonably estimable. While adverse decisions in certain of these litigation matters, claims and administrative proceedings could have a material effect on a particular period’s results of operations, subject to the uncertainties inherent in estimating future costs for contingent liabilities, management believes that any future accruals with respect to these currently known contingencies would not have a material effect on the financial condition, liquidity or cash flows of the Company. There were no amounts required to be reflected in these consolidated financial statements related to contingencies.

Note 12 — Subsequent events

The Company performed its subsequent event procedures through November 5, 2020, the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, included in the Current Report on Form 8-K which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 9, 2020.

The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act) that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause future results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements,” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (“Grid Dynamics,” “GDH,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is an emerging leader in enterprise-level digital transformations in Fortune 1000 companies. For enterprises that create innovative digital products and experiences, Grid Dynamics offers close collaboration from digital consulting to early prototypes to enterprise-scale delivery of new digital platforms. Since its inception in 2006 in Menlo Park, California, as a grid and cloud consultancy firm, Grid Dynamics has been on the forefront of digital transformation, working on big ideas like cloud computing, NOSQL, DevOps, microservices, big data and artificial intelligence (“AI”), and quickly established itself as a provider of choice for technology and digital enterprise companies.

As a leading global digital engineering and information technology (“IT”) services provider with its headquarters in Silicon Valley and engineering centers in the United States and multiple Central and Eastern European countries, Grid Dynamics’ core business is to deliver focused and complex technical consulting, software design, development, testing and internet service operations. Grid Dynamics works in close collaboration with its clients to provide digital transformation initiatives that span strategy consulting, development of early prototypes and enterprise-scale delivery of new digital platforms. Grid Dynamics also helps organizations become more agile and create innovative digital products and experiences through its deep expertise in emerging technology, such as AI, data science, cloud computing, big data and DevOps, lean software development practices and a high-performance product culture. Grid Dynamics believes that the key to its success is a business culture that puts products over projects, client success over contract terms and real business results over pure technical innovation. By leveraging Grid Dynamics’ proprietary processes optimized for innovation, emphasis on talent development and technical expertise, Grid Dynamics has been able to achieve significant growth.

We are a former blank check company that completed our initial public offering on May 21, 2018. In March 2020, Grid Dynamics, formerly known as ChaSerg Technology Acquisition Corp (“ChaSerg”), completed its acquisition of Grid Dynamics International, Inc. (“GDI”) pursuant to the business combination agreement dated November 13, 2019 (“Business Combination”). In conjunction with the completion of the Business Combination, ChaSerg was renamed as Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc.

The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization for which GDI was determined to be the accounting acquirer. Outstanding shares of GDI were converted into our common shares, presented as a recapitalization, and the net assets of ChaSerg were acquired at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. The following table sets forth a summary of Grid Dynamics’ financial results for the periods indicated:

Recent Developments

Overall, in the three months ended September 30, 2020, we witnessed improving business trends in comparison to the three months ended June 30, 2020 as our customers steadily worked towards returning to normal levels of operations. This is largely reflected in the 18% sequential revenue growth in the three months ended September 30, 2020. That said, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our business as we are yet to return to pre-COVID levels (revenue & profitability). In the three months ended September 30, 2020, our revenues of $26.3 million were down 16% in comparison to the three months ended September 30, 2019, and down 19% from the three months ended March 31, 2020.

In the three months ended September 30, 2020, our non-retail segments combined contributed 77% of our revenue and in the aggregate, grew 10% on a sequential basis and 47% on a year-over-year basis. The growth has been driven by a combination of factors including our technical expertise, our success in engaging with new customers, and existing customers seeking to accelerate their engagements as digital transformation increasingly becomes important.

In the three months ended September 30, 2020, our retail business was 23% of our revenue and grew 53% on a sequential basis and declined by 65% on a year-over-year basis. During the quarter, we witnessed a sequential pickup in demand across most of our retail customers with a subset of the customers contributing to majority of the growth in the three months ended September 30, 2020. As we highlighted last quarter, the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic were more pronounced on our retail customers as the pandemic resulted in business disruption that included closure of stores resulting in sales being severely impacted. Although we witnessed a sequential growth in this segment in the three months ended September 30, 2020, revenues from most of our retail customers have not come back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

We continue to focus on revenue diversification by increasing our customer base with new logos. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, we finished the quarter with 42 paying customers, up from 37 paying customers in the three months ended June 30, 2020, and 35 paying customers in the three months ended September 30, 2019. Furthermore, in the three months ended September 30, 2020, we added five new logos across industry verticals that included Technology, Financials, and Medical Devices.

We exited the three months ended September 30, 2020 with $4.2 million, or 16% of our revenue in Adjusted EBITDA, down from $7.0 million, or 22% of our revenue from the three months ended September 30, 2019. The year-over-year decline in the three months ended September 30, 2020 over the three months ended September 30, 2019 was largely driven by lower revenue and higher stock-based compensation expenses.

COVID-19 Related Updates

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus COVID-19 was reported in China, and in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. This contagious disease pandemic has continued to spread across the globe, including extensively within the U.S., and is impacting worldwide economic activity and financial markets, significantly increasing economic volatility and uncertainty. In response to this global pandemic, several local, state, and federal governments have been prompted to take unprecedented steps that include, but not limited to, travel restrictions, closure of businesses, social distancing, and quarantines.

We continue to take precautionary measures intended to minimize the risk of the virus to our employees, our customers, and the communities in which we operate that include suspension of all non-essential travel. Although a significant proportion of our employees continue to work remotely, all of our facilities in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region have been opened for employees to work following local government guidelines. We continue to deliver services to our clients in this fashion and this has resulted in minimal disruption in our operational and delivery capabilities.

In the three months ended June 30, 2020, we took an allowance of $0.8 million for doubtful accounts due to risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers’ ability to make payments. We continue to be engaged with all of our customers regarding their ability to fulfill their payment obligations. In the course of the three months ended September 30, 2020, we received payments from multiple customers, including some of the higher risk retail customers. After reassessing our risk profile with customers’ ability to fulfill their payment obligations, we have lowered our allowance of doubtful accounts from $0.8 million at June 30, 2020 to $0.4 million at September 30, 2020. We continue to review our accounts receivable on a regular basis and have put in place processes to ensure payments from our customers.

Business Combination

On March 5, 2020, a wholly-owned subsidiary (“Merger Sub 1”) of ChaSerg merged with and into GDI, with GDI surviving the merger (the “Initial Merger”). Immediately following the Initial Merger, GDI merged with and into another wholly-owned subsidiary of ChaSerg (“Merger Sub 2”) with Merger Sub 2 surviving; Merger Sub 2 was then renamed “Grid Dynamics International, LLC,” and ChaSerg was then renamed “Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc.” (the “Business Combination”). As of the open of trading on March 6, 2020, the common stock and warrants of Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (“Grid Dynamics”), formerly those of ChaSerg, began trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC as “GDYN” and “GDYNW,” respectively.

Comparability of Financial Information

Grid Dynamics’ results of operations and statements of assets and liabilities may not be comparable between periods as a result of the Business Combination on March 5, 2020 and the other events and transactions discussed below.  

Key Performance Indicators and Other Factors Affecting Performance

Grid Dynamics uses the following key performance indicators and assesses the following other factors to analyze its business performance, to make budgets and financial forecasts and to develop strategic plans:

Employees by Region

Attracting and retaining the right employees is critical to the success of Grid Dynamics’ business and is a key factor in Grid Dynamics’ ability to meet client needs and grow its revenue base. Grid Dynamics’ revenue prospects and long-term success depend significantly on its ability to recruit and retain qualified IT professionals. A substantial majority of Grid Dynamics’ personnel is comprised of such IT professionals.

The following table shows the number of Grid Dynamics personnel (including full-time employees and contractors serving in similar capacities) by region, as of the dates indicated:

Attrition

There is competition for IT professionals in the regions in which Grid Dynamics operates, and any increase in such competition may adversely impact Grid Dynamics’ business and gross profit margins. Employee retention is one of Grid Dynamics’ main priorities and is a key driver of operational efficiency. Grid Dynamics seeks to retain top talent by providing the opportunity to work on exciting, cutting-edge projects for high profile clients, a flexible work environment and training and development programs. Grid Dynamics’ management targets a voluntary attrition rate no higher than the mid-teen percentages, in line with the industry.

Hours and Utilization

As most of Grid Dynamics’ customer projects are performed and invoiced on a time and materials basis, Grid Dynamics’ management tracks and projects billable hours as an indicator of business volume and corresponding resource needs for IT professionals. To maintain its gross profit margins, Grid Dynamics must effectively utilize its IT professionals, which depends on its ability to integrate and train new personnel, to efficiently transition personnel from completed projects to new assignments, to forecast customer demand for services and to deploy personnel with appropriate skills and seniority to projects. Grid Dynamics’ management generally tracks utilization with respect to subsets of employees, by location or by project, and calculates the utilization rate for each subset by dividing (x) the aggregate number of billable hours for a period by (y) the aggregate number of total available hours for the same period. Grid Dynamics’ management analyzes and projects utilization to measure the efficiency of its workforce and to inform management’s budget and personnel recruiting decisions.

Customer Concentration

Grid Dynamics’ ability to retain and expand its relationships with existing clients and add new clients are key indicators of its revenue potential. Grid Dynamics grew its customer base from 35 customers as of September 30, 2019 to 42 customers as of September 30, 2020. Grid Dynamics’ procurement of new customers has a direct impact on its ability to diversify its sources of revenue and replace customers that may no longer require its services. Grid Dynamics has a relatively high level of revenue concentration with certain customers. Of Grid Dynamics’ customers, two customers each accounted for 10% or more of Grid Dynamics’ revenue in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and three customers each accounted for 10% or more of Grid Dynamics’ revenue in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

The following table shows the evolution of Grid Dynamics’ customer base and revenue concentration, as of the dates and for the periods indicated

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Exposure

Grid Dynamics is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk and its profit margins are subject to volatility between periods due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. Grid Dynamics’ functional currency, as well as the functional currency of all of its subsidiaries, is the U.S. dollar. Grid Dynamics contracts with customers for payment in and generates substantially all of its revenue in U.S. dollars. Its non-U.S. subsidiaries’ operations relate substantially to performing services under those contracts. Several of Grid Dynamics’ subsidiaries conduct operations and employ or contract personnel in Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Serbia, but keep their books and records in U.S. dollars. Grid Dynamics’ foreign currency transaction exposure is a result of having to convert U.S. dollars into the local currencies of the countries in which it must pay expenses, typically by transferring funds to its non-U.S. subsidiaries. These expenses are primarily comprised of compensation and benefits and other operating costs, such as rent. Subsidiary transactions executed in local currencies are converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the date of the transaction, in the case of asset and liability transactions, or at the average monthly exchange rate, in the case of income and expense transactions. Certain balances in local currencies, particularly cash and financial instruments, are adjusted at each balance sheet date to reflect the then-current exchange rate, which is the rate at which the related receivable or payable could be settled at that date. As a result, Grid Dynamics’ assets, liabilities, profit margins and other measures of profitability may be subject to volatility due to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the currencies in which Grid Dynamics’ subsidiaries incur operating expenses, and may not be comparable between periods.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, approximately 12%, 11% and 10% of Grid Dynamics’ $28.0 million and approximately 14%, 11% and 10% of Grid Dynamics’ $93.0 million, respectively, of combined cost of revenue and total operating expenses were denominated in the Russian rouble, Ukrainian hryvnia and Polish zloty, respectively. Comparatively, the same foreign currencies accounted for approximately 22%, 13%, and 11% of Grid Dynamics’ $25.8 million and 21%, 12%, and 11% of Grid Dynamics’ $74.8 million of combined cost of revenue and total operating expenses in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Grid Dynamics does not currently hedge its foreign currency exposure, although it seeks to minimize such exposure by limiting cash transfers to amounts necessary to fund subsidiary operating expenses for a short period, typically one to two weeks. When and where possible, Grid Dynamics seeks to match expenses to the U.S. dollar. For example, in Ukraine, Grid Dynamics generally pays salaries in the current hryvnia equivalent of an agreed U.S. dollar amount, consistent with local requirements. As a result, a significant portion of Grid Dynamics’ exposure to fluctuations in the value of the Ukrainian hryvnia against the U.S. dollar is naturally hedged. Management carefully evaluates its exposure to foreign currency risk and, though Grid Dynamics does not currently hedge this exposure through the use of financial instruments, it may do so in the future. See Part I, Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk” below for more information about Grid Dynamics’ exposure to foreign currency exchange rates.

Seasonality

Grid Dynamics’ business is subject to seasonal trends that impact its revenues and profitability between quarters. Some of the factors that influence the seasonal trends include the timing of holidays in the countries in which Grid Dynamics operates and the U.S. retail cycle, which drives the behavior of Grid Dynamics’ retail customers. Excluding the impact of growth in its book of business, Grid Dynamics has historically recorded higher revenue and gross profit in the second and third quarters of each year compared to the first and fourth quarters of each year. The Christmas holiday season in Russia and Ukraine, for example, falls in the first quarter of the calendar year, resulting in reduced activity and billable hours. In addition, many of Grid Dynamics’ retail sector customers tend to slow their discretionary spending during the holiday sale season, which typically lasts from late November (before Thanksgiving) through late December (after Christmas).

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement Grid Dynamics’ consolidated financial data presented on a basis consistent with U.S. GAAP, this report contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, or EPS. Grid Dynamics has included these non-GAAP financial measures because they are financial measures used by Grid Dynamics’ management to evaluate Grid Dynamics’ core operating performance and trends, to make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital and new investments and are among the factors analyzed in making performance-based compensation decisions for key personnel. These measures exclude certain expenses that are required under U.S. GAAP. Grid Dynamics excludes these items because they are not part of core operations or, in the case of stock-based compensation, non-cash expenses that are determined based in part on Grid Dynamics’ underlying performance.

Grid Dynamics believes these supplemental performance measurements are useful in evaluating operating performance, as they are similar to measures reported by its public industry peers and those regularly used by security analysts, investors and other interested parties in analyzing operating performance and prospects. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be a substitute for any GAAP financial measures and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance of other companies in other industries or within the same industry.

There are significant limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures. Further, these measures may differ from the non-GAAP information, even where similarly titled, used by other companies and therefore should not be used to compare our performance to that of other companies. Grid Dynamics compensates for these limitations by providing investors and other users of its financial information a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the related GAAP financial measures. Grid Dynamics encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure and to view its non-GAAP measures in conjunction with GAAP financial measures.

Grid Dynamics defines and calculates its non-GAAP financial measures as follows:

The following table presents the reconciliation of Grid Dynamics’ Adjusted EBITDA to its consolidated net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the periods indicated: