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Symbolic Logic, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2005 March (Form 10-Q)

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

ý

 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

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: 0-24081

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

84-1010843

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

9777 Pyramid Court, Suite 100 Englewood, Colorado

 

80112

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

(303) 802-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ý No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No ý

 

As of May 9, 2005 there were 16,024,102 shares outstanding of Registrant’s Common Stock (par value $0.001 per share).

 

 



 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

March 31, 2005

Table of Contents

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1

Financial Statements

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

 

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Item 2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Market Risk Disclosures

 

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1

Legal Proceedings

 

Item 2

Changes in Securities

 

Item 3

Defaults of Senior Securities

 

Item 4

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

Item 5

Other Information

 

Item 6

Exhibits

 

Signature

 

 

 



 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except share data)

 

 

 

March 31,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

6,479

 

$

11,386

 

Current portion of restricted cash

 

100

 

100

 

Contract receivables, net of allowance of $44 at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

 

8,529

 

11,296

 

Unbilled work-in-progress

 

967

 

1,323

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

1,896

 

1,832

 

Total current assets

 

17,971

 

25,937

 

Property and equipment, net

 

2,323

 

2,563

 

Intangible assets, net

 

18,202

 

19,993

 

Goodwill

 

36,868

 

37,698

 

Long-term restricted cash

 

300

 

300

 

Total assets

 

$

75,664

 

$

86,491

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of notes payable and long-term obligations

 

$

1,372

 

$

31

 

Short-term notes payable

 

1,995

 

4,880

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

6,872

 

8,357

 

Payable to Tertio sellers

 

 

2,664

 

Deferred foreign income taxes

 

115

 

265

 

Unearned revenue

 

12,426

 

13,083

 

Total current liabilities

 

22,780

 

29,280

 

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term obligations

 

98

 

125

 

Notes payable

 

11,063

 

11,849

 

Deferred foreign income taxes

 

4,208

 

4,642

 

Total liabilities

 

38,149

 

45,896

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series B convertible redeemable preferred stock; $.001 par value; 966,666 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

11,281

 

11,281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 16,024,102 and 15,987,217 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.

 

16

 

16

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

67,821

 

67,765

 

Other comprehensive income

 

1,006

 

1,994

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(42,609

)

(40,461

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

26,234

 

29,314

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

75,664

 

$

86,491

 

 

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

 

1



 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

REVENUE

 

 

 

 

 

License fees and services

 

$

5,081

 

$

3,219

 

Customer support

 

4,757

 

2,547

 

Total revenue

 

9,838

 

5,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTS OF REVENUE AND OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

2,976

 

1,070

 

Costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

2,031

 

1,663

 

Sales and marketing

 

2,392

 

936

 

General and administrative

 

2,501

 

935

 

Product development

 

110

 

491

 

Depreciation

 

376

 

274

 

Amortization

 

1,421

 

218

 

Restructuring and other expenses (recovery)

 

(48

)

 

Total costs of revenue and operating expenses

 

11,759

 

5,587

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

(1,921

)

179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (expense), net

 

(390

)

57

 

Other expense

 

(115

)

 

Total other income (expense), net

 

(505

)

57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

(2,426

)

236

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

278

 

8

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(2,148

)

$

244

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per common share

 

$

(0.12

)

$

0.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share

 

$

(0.12

)

$

0.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

 

18,598

 

15,837

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

 

18,598

 

17,939

 

 

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

 

2



 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(2,148

)

$

244

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

376

 

274

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

1,421

 

219

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

13

 

 

Interest expense added to debt principal

 

317

 

 

Gain on impairment and disposal of property and equipment

 

(11

)

 

Benefit from deferred foreign income taxes

 

(465

)

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Contract receivables

 

2,684

 

4,250

 

Unbilled work-in-progress

 

394

 

546

 

Prepaid and other assets

 

(86

)

(230

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(553

)

(293

)

Unearned revenue

 

(441

)

(1,395

)

Long-term obligations

 

(19

)

(10

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

1,482

 

3,605

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(158

)

(568

)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

11

 

 

Business combinations, net of cash acquired

 

(676

)

41

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(823

)

(527

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital lease payments

 

(8

)

(7

)

Principal payments on notes payable

 

(2,889

)

 

Payment of amount due to Tertio sellers

 

(2,616

)

 

Proceeds from the issuance of stock

 

56

 

210

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(5,457

)

203

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

(109

)

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(4,907

)

3,282

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

11,386

 

17,999

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

6,479

 

$

21,281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of other cash and non-cash financing transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

114

 

$

7

 

 

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

 

3



 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(1)   Basis of Presentation

 

Interim Consolidated Financial Statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Evolving Systems, Inc. (“Evolving Systems” or the “Company”) have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, management believes that the disclosures included in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this document have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements, and in management’s opinion, reflect all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation in accordance with GAAP. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that the Company will have for any subsequent quarter or full fiscal year.  These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements for the year ended December 31, 2004 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been made by management with respect to the collectibility of accounts receivable, estimates to complete long-term contracts and in establishing the estimated fair values of acquired assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Foreign Currency Translation. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries use as their functional currency the local currency of the countries in which they operate. Their assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues, expenses, and cash flows are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation gains and losses are included in comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity. Realized and unrealized transaction gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of non-functional currency financial instruments are included in the determination of net income (loss). Transaction gains for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were approximately $125,000 and $3,000, respectively.

 

Comprehensive Income. The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of its net income (loss) and foreign currency translation adjustment.  For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, total comprehensive income (loss) was ($3.1) million and $246,000, respectively.

 

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

Reclassification. As a result of the significance of the intangible assets and the related amortization expense from the acquisitions of Tertio Telecoms Limited (“Tertio”) and Telecom Software Enterprises LLC. (“TSE”), the Company is now reporting amortization expense as a separate line item on the statements of operations. In prior periods amortization of intangibles was shown within costs of license fees and services and costs of customer support. Prior period balances have been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation.

 

Revenue Recognition. The Company derives revenue from two primary sources: license fees/services and customer support.  We recognize revenue in accordance with Statements of Position (“SOP”) 97-2, “Software Revenue Recognition,” as amended and interpreted by SOP 98-9, “Modification of SOP 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, With Respect to Certain Transactions.” In addition we have adopted Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, “Revenue Recognition,” which provides further interpretive guidance for public companies on the recognition, presentation and disclosure of revenue in financial statements.

 

The majority of the Company’s license fees and services revenue is generated from fixed-price contracts which provide for both licenses to its software products and services. Revenue under these arrangements, where the services are determined to be essential to the functionality of the delivered software, is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, in accordance with SOP

 

4



 

97-2 and SOP 81-1, “Accounting for Long-Term Construction Type Contracts,” once a license agreement has been signed, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured.  The percentage of completion for each contract is estimated based on the ratio of direct labor hours incurred to total estimated direct labor hours.  The estimated percentage of completion on contracts entered into by the Company’s United Kingdom (“U.K.”) subsidiary, Tertio, are based upon the ratio of project costs incurred to total estimated project costs.  The use of project costs approximates what would have resulted had direct labor hours been used since the majority of project costs consist of direct labor.  Due to the fact that the estimated direct labor hours and project costs, and changes thereto, can have a significant impact on revenue recognition, these estimates are critical and are reviewed by management regularly. Amounts billed in advance of services being performed are recorded as unearned revenue. Unbilled work-in-progress represents revenue earned but not yet billable under the terms of the fixed-price contracts. All such amounts are expected to be billed and collected during the succeeding 12 months.

 

In arrangements where the services are not essential to the functionality of the delivered software, the Company recognizes license revenue when a license agreement has been signed, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Where applicable, fees from multiple element arrangements are unbundled and recorded as revenue as the elements are delivered to the extent that Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (“VSOE”) of the fair value of the undelivered elements exists. If VSOE for the undelivered elements does not exist, fees from such arrangements are deferred until the earlier of the date that VSOE does exist on the undelivered elements or all of the elements have been delivered.

 

Services revenue provided under fixed-price contracts is generally recognized using the proportional performance method of accounting, which is similar to the percentage of completion method described above. Revenue from professional services provided pursuant to time-and-materials based contracts and training services are recognized as the services are performed, as that is when the Company’s obligation to its customers under such arrangements is fulfilled.

 

Customer support and maintenance revenue is generally recognized ratably over the service contract period. When maintenance or training services are bundled with the original license fee arrangement, their fair value, based upon VSOE, is deferred and recognized during the periods such services are provided.

 

The Company may encounter budget and schedule overruns on fixed price contracts caused by increased labor, overhead or material costs. Adjustments to cost estimates are made in the periods in which the facts requiring such revisions become known. Estimated losses, if any, are recorded in the period in which current estimates of total contract revenue and contract costs indicate a loss.

 

(2) Business Combinations

 

Tertio

 

On November 2, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of privately-held, U.K.-based Tertio. Total consideration for Tertio’s net assets determined in accordance with GAAP approximated $40.2 million, consisting of $11.0 million in cash, approximately $15.9 million in seller-financed notes, 966,666 shares of Series B Preferred Stock with an estimated fair value of approximately $11.3 million and approximately $2.0 million in estimated transaction-related costs. Of the total purchase price, 10% was deposited in escrow with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as escrow agent to secure the sellers’ representations and warranties under the purchase agreement.  Of the funds deposited in escrow, 80% will remain in escrow until November 2, 2005 and the remaining 20% will remain in escrow until November 2, 2007, unless sooner released to the Company in payment of indemnification claims. Both Evolving Systems and Tertio operate on a calendar year. The acquisition was recorded as a purchase business combination and Tertio’s results of operations have been combined with Evolving Systems’ from the acquisition date forward.

 

Tertio’s activation and mediation solutions fit well with elements of the Company’s product portfolio, enabling it to provide activation solutions and strengthening its current network mediation and service assurance offerings.  In addition, the acquisition provides the Company with global reach and a customer base that includes many of the world’s leading communications carriers. The purchase price for Tertio included goodwill because the Company concluded that increased scale may be achieved from a financial, customer and product perspective. In addition, Tertio brought a quality, experienced work force.

 

In January 2005, Tertio changed its name to Evolving Systems Limited and is sometimes referred to in the Form 10-Q as “Evolving Systems U.K.”.

 

TSE

 

On October 15, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding ownership interests in privately-held TSE. Total GAAP consideration for TSE approximated $2.4 million, consisting of $1.5 million in cash, a note payable of $889,000 and approximately $55,000 in transaction-related costs.  The note payable was due and paid on March 31, 2005. Of the total purchase price, $250,000

 

5



 

was deposited in escrow for one year with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as escrow agent to secure the sellers’ representations and warranties under the purchase agreement.  The Company agreed to pay additional consideration of up to $3.5 million contingent upon the achievement of certain specified revenue and gross margin results. Up to $2.5 million of the contingent consideration may be payable over a 24 month period from the closing date and additional contingent consideration of up to $1.0 million may be paid through the year 2011 if certain specified sales of TSE products occur. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 141, the contingent consideration will not be recorded until the contingency is resolved and the additional consideration is distributable. The Company paid $447,000 of contingent consideration recorded at December 31, 2004 during the first quarter of 2005.  During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recorded additional contingent consideration and resulting goodwill of approximately $56,000, which will be paid in the second quarter of 2005, related to certain specified gross margin results achieved by the sale of TSE products during the period. The acquisition was treated as a purchase business combination and the results of TSE’s operations have been combined with Evolving Systems’ from the acquisition date forward. Both Evolving Systems and TSE operate on a calendar year.

 

TSE’s products are sold to U.S. wireline and wireless carriers, and provide for simulation of the nation’s centralized Number Portability Administration Center (“NPAC”) and a testing environment for critical back office systems that carriers use for enabling number portability. Other products in the TSE portfolio are used for enhanced integration between back office Operational Support Systems (“OSS”).  TSE has installed its products at many of the leading wireless and wireline carriers in North America. By acquiring TSE, the Company has expanded its customer base and extended the set of solutions it offers its Local Number Portability (“LNP”) customers. The primary reason for a valuation which gives rise to goodwill is related to the value the Company placed on the TSE’s solid reputation as a provider of LNP products, our expectation of new customers and the experienced employees acquired in the TSE acquisition.

 

Pro Forma Financial Information

 

The financial information in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations of Evolving Systems, Inc., TSE and Tertio on a pro forma basis, as though the companies had been combined as of the period presented below.  The impact of the In-Process Research and Development (“IPR&D”) charges associated with the acquisitions has been excluded.  This pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved had the acquisitions actually taken place as of the beginning of the period presented below.  The following amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts.

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2004

 

Revenues

 

$

12,291

 

Net loss

 

$

(63

)

Basic loss per share

 

$

(0.00

)

Diluted loss per share

 

$

(0.00

)

 

(3) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The Company has recorded goodwill and intangible assets from its acquisitions of CMS in 2003 and TSE and Tertio in 2004.  In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill is not amortized but is subject to an impairment test at least annually.  Goodwill is assessed on an annual basis for impairment at the reporting unit level by applying a fair-value-based test. Changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by reporting unit for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

License and
Services

 

Customer
Support

 

Total
Goodwill

 

Balance as of December 31, 2004

 

$

20,689

 

$

17,009

 

$

37,698

 

Adjustments to goodwill

 

(52

)

(67

)

(119

)

Effects of foreign currency exchange rates

 

(390

)

(321

)

(711

)

Balance as of March 31, 2005

 

$

20,247

 

$

16,621

 

$

36,868

 

 

The Company recorded goodwill adjustments during the period related to the finalization of the Tertio purchase price, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2005 and contingent consideration and resulting goodwill of approximately $56,000 related to certain specified gross margin results achieved by the sale of TSE products during the period.

 

6



 

The Company’s annual goodwill impairment test was conducted as of July 31, 2004, and it was determined that goodwill, at that time related solely to the CMS acquisition, was not impaired as of the test date. Additionally, goodwill is assessed for impairment at each reporting period end if certain events have occurred indicating that an impairment may have occurred. From July 31, 2004 through March 31, 2005, no events have occurred that management believes may have impaired goodwill.

 

Identifiable intangible balances include the cumulative effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates since the acquisition date and were as follows as of March 31, 2005 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Useful
Life

 

Identifiable intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased software

 

$

8,990

 

$

829

 

5 yrs

 

Customer contracts

 

2,151

 

940

 

1 yr

 

Purchased licenses

 

1,335

 

376

 

5 yrs

 

Trademarks and tradenames

 

1,167

 

80

 

6 yrs

 

Business partnerships

 

1,455

 

86

 

7 yrs

 

Customer relationships

 

6,308

 

893

 

2-7 yrs

 

 

 

$

21,406

 

$

3,204

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2004, identifiable intangibles were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Estimated
Useful Life

 

Identifiable intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased software

 

$

9,180

 

$

326

 

5 yrs

 

Customer contracts

 

1,859

 

305

 

1 yr

 

Purchased licenses

 

1,335

 

309

 

5 yrs

 

Trademarks and tradenames

 

1,196

 

33

 

6 yrs

 

Business partnerships

 

1,491

 

35

 

7 yrs

 

Customer relationships

 

6,740

 

800

 

2-7 yrs

 

 

 

$

21,801

 

$

1,808

 

 

 

 

Amortization expense of identifiable intangible assets was $1.4 million and $219,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

(4)  Earnings Per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income or loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, including common stock issuable under participating securities, such as the Series B Convertible, Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”). Diluted EPS is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding, including participating securities, plus all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents. Common stock equivalents consist of stock options, warrants and shares held in escrow. The following is the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations for the three months ended March 31 (in thousands except per share data):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

15,988

 

15,837

 

Participating securities

 

2,610

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

18,598

 

15,837

 

Effect of dilutive securities - options, warrants and escrow shares

 

 

2,102

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

18,598

 

17,939

 

 

7



 

Weighted average options to purchase 1.7 million and 313,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the dilutive stock calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, because their exercise prices were greater than the average fair value of the Company’s stock for the period.

 

Weighted average options to purchase 1.9 million shares of common stock were excluded from the dilutive stock calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2005, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive as a result of the net loss for the period.

 

The participating securities reflect 2.9 million shares of Series B Preferred Stock less the 290,000 shares that are held in escrow.  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128 “Earnings Per Share”, shares that are contingently issuable are not included in the computation of basic EPS until all necessary conditions have been satisfied (in essence, when issuance of the shares are no longer contingent).

 

(5) Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company applies the intrinsic-value-based method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for employee stock-based compensation arrangements. Non-employee stock compensation arrangements are accounted for under SFAS No. 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees, or in Conjunction with Selling Goods or Services.”

 

SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” established accounting and disclosure requirements using a fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation plans. As permitted by existing accounting standards, the Company has elected to continue to apply the intrinsic-value-based method of accounting described above, and has adopted only the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123, as amended. The following table illustrates the effect on net income (loss) if the fair-value-based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss), as reported

 

$

(2,148

)

$

244

 

Stock based compensation expense under the fair value method

 

(608

)

(579

)

Pro forma net loss

 

$

(2,756

)

$

(335

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per common share as reported:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.12

)

$

0.02

 

Diluted

 

$

(0.12

)

$

0.01

 

Pro forma loss per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.15

)

$

(0.02

)

Diluted

 

$

(0.15

)

$

(0.02

)

 

(6) Concentration of Credit Risk

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recognized 26% (14% and 12%) of total revenue from two significant customers (defined as contributing at least 10%), in the telecommunications industry.  For the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company recognized 76% (34%, 18%, 13% and 11%), of total revenue from four significant customers, all in the telecommunications industry.

 

As of March 31, 2005, five significant customers accounted for approximately 64% (18%, 12%, 12%, 11% and 11%) of contract receivables.  At December 31, 2004, three significant customers accounted for approximately 58% (30%, 17% and 11%) of contract receivables.

 

In the past, and currently, the Company earns a significant portion of its revenue from a small number of customers in the communications industry. This has been mitigated somewhat by the expansion of the Company’s customer base through recent acquisitions. However, the loss of any significant customer, delays in delivery or acceptance of any of our products by a customer, delays in the performance of services for a customer, or delays in collection of customer receivables could be materially harmful to the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

8



 

(7) Notes Payable

 

The Company’s notes payable consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2005

 

Long-term seller financed notes payable, interest at weighted average rate of 11.62%, due in varying quarterly principal installments beginning March 31, 2006, with final maturity on December 31, 2007

 

$

12,496

 

Short-term seller financed note payable, interest at 5.50%, due June 30, 2005

 

2,000

 

Debt issuance costs

 

(97

)

Total notes payable

 

14,399

 

Less current portion, net

 

(3,336

)

Long-term debt, excluding current installments, net

 

$

11,063

 

 

The Company entered into the long-term seller-financed notes payable (“Long-Term Notes”) on November 2, 2004, in conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio.  From the acquisition date through November 2, 2006, the Long-Term Notes bear interest at 11.0% per annum. From November 2, 2006 through the maturity date of December 31, 2007, the notes will bear interest at 14.0% per annum. For accounting purposes, interest is recognized using an effective rate of 11.62% for the term of the notes. Interest is accrued and added to the principal balance through December 31, 2005, and beginning March 31, 2006, interest is payable in cash on a quarterly basis in addition to the scheduled principal payments. Accrued interest of approximately $546,000 has been added to the principal balance of the Long-Term Notes from their inception through March 31, 2005. The Long-Term Notes payable may be prepaid at any time without penalty. Beginning in March 2005, if the Company’s quarterly cash balances exceed $7.0 million, the holder of the Long-Term Notes may require a prepayment on the note equal to the amount by which the quarterly cash balance exceeds $7.0 million. Based on its projections of cash balances, the Company believes that these additional payments will not be required through March 31, 2006. The scheduled principal payments on the Long-Term Notes are as follows (in thousands):

 

Payment date

 

Amount

 

March 31, 2006

 

$

1,340

 

June 30, 2006

 

3,110

 

December 31, 2006

 

1,430

 

March 31, 2007

 

1,870

 

June 30, 2007

 

3,110

 

December 31, 2007

 

1,636

 

 

 

$

12,496

 

 

The Long-Term Notes have an effective interest rate of approximately 11.62% and a maturity date of December 31, 2007. In the 2005 proxy, the Company is asking stockholders to approve the exchange of the long-term notes into convertible notes. The outstanding principal balance on the notes plus accrued interest through May 16, 2005 will total approximately $12.7 million, and upon stockholder approval, would be exchanged for notes that would be convertible into approximately 3.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock at $3.296 per share. The convertible notes would bear interest at the Federal Applicable Rate, which is approximately 3.5% as of May 2005. In addition, all principal and unpaid interest would be due and payable on December 31, 2007 under the convertible notes. If the Company’s quarterly cash balances exceed $7.0 million the holder of the convertible note may require a prepayment on the note equal to the amount by which the quarterly cash balance exceeds $7.0 million. The notes are secured by substantially all of the assets of Evolving Systems and a pledge, subject to certain limitations, of the shares of its subsidiaries.

 

The Long-Term Notes subject the Company to certain affirmative and negative covenants, including a financial covenant indexed to the Company’s computation of EBITDA, as defined. The Company will be required to comply with such covenants beginning June 30, 2005.

 

Evolving Systems has agreed to convene a meeting of its stockholders to seek the approval from its stockholders of the exchange of the Long-Term Notes into convertible notes. The Company’s inability to convene the Initial Shareholders’ Meeting, as

 

9



 

defined, by May 16, 2005, constitutes an event of default under this note. The Company believes it will be able to convene this meeting by the appointed time.

 

The Company also entered into the short-term seller financed note payable on November 2, 2004, in conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio.  The first installment of $2.0 million was paid on March 31, 2005. The final installment of $2.0 million is due on June 30, 2005. The short-term seller financed note bears interest at a rate per annum equal to five and one-half percent, due on each of the previously mentioned payment dates. Upon an event of default, the short-term seller financed note would bear interest at the greater of (a) eight and one-half percent or (b) the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR). The short-term seller financed note may be prepaid at any time without penalty.

 

The notes issued in connection with the Tertio acquisition prohibit the Company from declaring dividends to our common stockholders during the term of the notes.

 

The promissory note payable, which was issued in conjunction with the acquisition of TSE, was paid in full on March 31, 2005 in accordance with the acquisition agreement. Interest expense of $427,000 was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2005 related to notes payable issued in the TSE and Tertio acquisitions.

 

(8) Income Taxes

 

The Company recorded a net income tax benefit of $278,000 and $8,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The net benefit during the three months ended March 31, 2005 consists of current income tax expense of approximately $190,000 and a deferred tax benefit of $468,000 both of which are related to the Company’s UK-based operations.

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio, certain identifiable intangible assets were recorded.  Since the amortization of these identifiable intangibles is not deductible for income tax purposes, a long-term deferred tax liability of $4.6 million was established at the acquisition date for the expected difference between what would be expensed for financial reporting purposes and what would be deductible for income tax purposes. As of March 31, 2005, this deferred tax liability was $4.2 million. This deferred tax liability is carried on the books of the Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary, and has no impact on the Company’s ability to recover its U.S.-based deferred tax assets.

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio, future revenue under contracts in existence at the acquisition dates was reduced to an amount equal to the Company’s estimated costs to fulfill its obligations under the contracts plus a reasonable profit margin on the Company’s estimated fulfillment effort.  The resulting reduction of future revenue recorded for financial reporting purposes is not deductible for income tax purposes and thus, a current deferred tax liability of approximately $600,000 was established at the acquisition date. As of March 31, 2005, this deferred tax liability was $115,000.  Both of the aforementioned deferred tax liabilities will be recognized as a reduction of current income tax expense as the identifiable intangibles are amortized and the contract revenue is recognized.

 

As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company continued to maintain a full valuation allowance on the domestic net deferred tax asset due to uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to utilize its domestic deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of certain net operating loss carryforwards, before they expire.  The Company’s assessment of this valuation allowance was made using all available evidence, both positive and negative.  In particular, the Company considered both its historical results and its projections of profitability for the reasonably foreseeable future periods.  The Company’s realization of its recorded net deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income and, therefore, the Company is not reasonably assured that such benefits will be realized.  The Company is required to reassess its conclusions regarding the realization of its deferred tax assets at each financial reporting date. It is reasonably possible that future evaluation could result in a conclusion that all or a portion of the valuation allowance is no longer necessary which could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

 

(9) Restructuring and Other Expenses

 

In early 2002, management implemented a restructuring plan (the “Plan”) due to the downturn in the U.S. telecommunications industry, the Company’s sharp decline in revenue, the FCC’s delay in ruling on wireless number portability and other factors.  The Plan included workforce reductions, restructuring of the Company’s headquarters building lease, the closure of its satellite field offices and the write down of certain fixed assets, all of which were executed in 2002. At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the remaining accrual related to the closure of the satellite offices.

 

Closure of satellite offices.  The Company closed all of its satellite field offices during 2002.  Because the costs to sublease or terminate these lease commitments are based on estimates, the Company may incur additional costs related to the satellite office closures.  During the three months ended March 31, 2005 the Company recorded a recovery of $48,000 related to the closure of the satellite offices as the actual costs to close these facilities were less than its original estimate.  As of March 31, 2005 approximately $15,000 was included

 

10



 

in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and approximately $1,000 was included in long-term obligations, related to the closure of the satellite offices.

 

The following table summarizes the change in the accrual balance since December 31, 2004 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Closure of
Satellite Offices

 

Accrual balance December 31, 2004

 

$

79

 

1st quarter adjustments

 

(48

)

1st quarter cash payments, net

 

(15

)

Accrual balance March 31, 2005

 

$

16

 

 

(10) Segment Information

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” the Company defines operating segments as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available.  This information is reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, to evaluate performance and to make operating decisions. The Company has identified its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as its chief operating decision-makers. These chief operating decision makers review revenues by segment and review overall results of operations.

 

The Company currently operates its business as two operating segments based on revenue type: license fees/services revenue and customer support revenue (as shown on the consolidated statements of operations).  License fees and services revenue represents the fees received from the license of software products and those services directly related to the delivery of the licensed products as well as custom development, integration services and time and materials work.  Customer support revenue includes annual support fees, recurring maintenance fees, fees for maintenance upgrades and warranty fees.  Warranty services are typically bundled with a license sale and the related revenue, based on VSOE, is deferred and recognized ratably over the warranty period. With the acquisition of Tertio, the Company now provides products and services on a global basis. In addition, the Company has a product development facility in Bangalore, India.  Total assets by segment have not been specified because the information is not available to the chief operating decision-making group.

 

Segment information is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

License fees and services

 

$

5,081

 

$

3,219

 

Customer support

 

4,757

 

2,547

 

 

 

9,838

 

5,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment profit, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

License fees and services

 

2,105

 

2,149

 

Customer support

 

2,726

 

884

 

 

 

4,831

 

3,033

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

5,003

 

2,362

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,797

 

492

 

Restructuring and other

 

(48

)

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

(1,921

)

$

179

 

 

Geographic Regions

 

The Company uses the customer locations as the basis of attributing revenues to individual countries. Financial information relating to the Company’s operations by geographic region is as follows (in thousands):

 

11



 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

5,016

 

$

5,766

 

Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

4,822

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

9,838

 

$

5,766

 

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2005

 

As of December 31,
2004

 

Long-lived assets, net

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

14,208

 

$

14,681

 

Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia

 

43,185

 

45,573

 

Total long-lived assets

 

$

57,393

 

$

60,254

 

 

(11) Commitments and Contingencies

 

As permitted under Delaware law, the Company has agreements with its officers and directors under which it agrees to indemnify them for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was serving, at the Company’s request in this capacity. The term of the indemnification period is indefinite. There is no limit on the amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements; however, the Company maintains Director and Officer insurance policies, as well as an Employment Practices Liability Insurance Policy, that may enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of the Company’s insurance policy coverage, it believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

The Company enters into standard indemnification terms with its customers, as discussed below, in the ordinary course of business. Because the Company subcontracts some of the development of its deliverables under its customer contracts, the Company could be required to indemnify its customers for work performed by its subcontractors. Depending upon the nature of the customer indemnification, the potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements may be unlimited. The Company may be able to recover damages from a subcontractor if the indemnification to its customers results from the subcontractor’s failure to perform. To the extent the Company is unable to recover damages from its subcontractors; the Company could be required to reimburse the indemnified party for the full amount. The Company has never incurred costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims relating to indemnification arising out of its subcontractors’ failure to perform. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

The Company’s standard license agreements contain a warranty provision that the software will be free of material defects and will operate in accordance with the stated requirements.  The warranty provisions require the Company to cure any defects through any reasonable means.  To date, no claims under the warranty provisions have been brought to the Company’s attention.  The Company’s customers typically purchase annual maintenance services as well and as a matter of course, the Company provides fixes for known defects through the provision of such maintenance services.  As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of the warranty provisions in the license agreements in place with its customers is minimal.  Accordingly, the Company has not recorded liabilities for these warranty provisions as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

The Company’s software arrangements generally include a product indemnification provision that will indemnify and defend a client in actions brought against the client that claim the Company’s products infringe upon a copyright, trade secret, or valid patent. Historically, the Company has not incurred any significant costs related to product indemnification claims. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

In relation to the acquisitions of Tertio, TSE and CMS, the Company agreed to indemnify certain parties of and from any losses, actions, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) resulting from any claim raised by a third party. The Company does not believe that there will be any claims related to these indemnifications. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.

 

From time to time the Company is involved in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business operations. We are not currently involved in any such proceedings.

 

12



 

(12) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(Revised), “Share-Based Payment.” This statement replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Under the modified prospective method of adoption, SFAS No. 123(R) requires companies to apply a fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and to record compensation cost for all stock awards granted after the required effective date and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after that date. In addition, the Company is required to record compensation expense (as awards previously granted continue to vest) for the unvested portion of those awards that remain outstanding at the date of adoption. In accordance with adoption provisions released by the SEC, SFAS 123(R) will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2006. Management has not yet determined the impact that SFAS 123(R) will have on its financial position and results of operations, but expects that the stock incentive plans’ pro forma disclosure provides a reasonable measure of the expected annual impact.

 

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

OVERVIEW

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that have been made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about Evolving Systems’ industry, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by management.  Forward-looking statements include our expectations regarding product, services, and maintenance revenue, annual savings associated with the organizational changes effected in prior years, and short- and long-term cash needs.  In some cases, words such as “anticipates”, expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, variations of these words, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  The statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict; therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in any forward-looking statements.  Risks and uncertainties of our business include those set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 under “Risk Factors” on pages 9 through 22 as well as additional risks described in this Form 10-Q.  Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.  However, readers should carefully review the risk factors set forth in other reports or documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K.

 

Evolving Systems, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “us”) is a provider of mission critical software products and services to communications carriers. We maintain long-standing relationships with many of the largest wireline, wireless and cable communications carriers worldwide. Our customers rely on us to develop, deploy, enhance, maintain and integrate complex, highly reliable software solutions for a range of Operations Support Systems (“OSS”) and Network Support Systems (“NSS”). Included among our more than 50 customers are four of the largest wireline carriers in North America, one of the largest cable companies in North America and three of the world’s 10 largest wireless carriers. We offer software products and solutions in three core areas — numbering solutions that enable carriers to comply with government-mandated requirements regarding number portability and phone number conservation; a service activation solution that is used to activate complex bundles of voice, video and data services; and mediation solutions supporting data collection for both service assurance and billing applications.  Historically, our products have been used to support traditional telephony capabilities; however, today many communications carriers are using our products to support its Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) offerings.

 

The core Evolving Systems portfolio that included ordering and provisioning solutions for Local Number Portability (“LNP”), as well as a number inventory and assignment platform, has recently been expanded, as a result of three acquisitions we made over a period of 12 months from November of 2003 to November of 2004. Through the acquisition of CMS Communications, Inc. (“CMS”) in November 2003 we acquired a network mediation and service assurance solution to add to our product portfolio. Additionally, with the acquisition of Telecom Software Enterprises, LLC (“TSE”) on October 15, 2004 we added LNP and Wireless Number Portability (“WNP”) number ordering and provisioning testing products which provide new OSS system integration capabilities.  Most recently, on November 2, 2004, we acquired Tertio Telecoms Ltd. (“Tertio”), a privately held supplier of OSS software solutions to communication carriers throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, expanding our markets beyond North America.  Tertio’s activation solution, Provident™, and mediation solution Evident™, strengthen our overall product portfolio. Our significantly expanded product and service capabilities now enable us to address a larger portion of our customer’s application needs. As a result, we have become a company with global reach and a customer base that includes many of the world’s leading communications carriers.  We are positioned as a provider of OSS, NSS and comprehensive systems integration capabilities. These complementary competencies enable us to address and implement solutions across much of a customer’s back office.

 

13



 

Company Background

 

Founded in 1985, we initially focused on providing custom software development and professional services to a limited number of telecommunications companies in the United States. In 1996, concurrent with the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“the Telecom Act”), we made a strategic decision to add software products to our established professional services offerings. Since that time we have built a strong product portfolio, of which we are best known for our LNP and service activation solutions.

 

Historically, we have helped our customers integrate our products into their existing business process and OSS environments. In 2002, we initiated a restructuring plan, which, in addition to significant operational cost reductions and greater leverage of offshore development, included the reengineering of our business model to a solutions strategy.  The solutions business model reflects a more balanced mix of services and products, as well as integration and product enhancements for our customers’ back office to meet the specific requirements of each customer. This customer specific effort is complementary to product development investments driven by more traditional marketing efforts. Solutions which include our products, as well as product extensions and integration, are typically licensed to our customers and supported by us. In 2004, our sales reach was expanded to include both direct and indirect sales.  New partnerships with network equipment providers and system integrators to extend our reach to new geographical regions as well as helping us further penetrate our existing territories were achieved during the year.  We have also created packaged products with our channel partners, where we provide the underlying product and our partner provides some or most of the integration services.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. We review the accounting policies we use in reporting our financial results on a regular basis. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP and does not require our judgment in its application.  Our senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures with our Audit Committee.  We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations.

 

                  Revenue recognition

 

                  Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

                  Income taxes

 

                  Intangible assets

 

                  Business combinations

 

                  Capitalization of internal software development costs

 

For a detailed discussion on the application of these accounting policies, see “Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Recent Developments

 

Acquisition of TSE

 

In October 2004, we acquired TSE.  TSE’s VeriPort™ and Verify™ products are sold to United States of America (“U.S.”) wireline and wireless carriers, and provide for simulation of the nation’s centralized Number Portability Administration Center (“NPAC”) and a testing environment for critical back office systems that carriers use for enabling number portability. Other products in the TSE portfolio are used for enhanced integration between back office OSS systems.  TSE has installed its products at several of the leading wireless and wireline carriers in North America. By acquiring TSE, we have expanded our customer base and extended the set of solutions we offer our numbering solutions customers.

 

Acquisition of Tertio

 

In November 2004, we acquired Tertio, our third acquisition in a twelve month period. By acquiring Tertio we became a global company with a customer base that includes many of the world’s largest communication carriers. Tertio’s activation and mediation

 

14



 

solutions, Provident and Evident, fit well with elements of our product portfolio, enabling us to provide activation solutions and strengthening our current mediation and service assurance offerings.

 

In January 2005, we changed Tertio’s name to Evolving Systems Limited (“Evolving Systems U.K.”). We also renamed the Provident activation product “Tertio”, to build on the strong recognition of the Tertio brand in the service activation market. The name changes are reflected in this filing where appropriate.

 

Expansion of Offshore Development Subsidiary

 

In February 2004, we formed Evolving Systems Networks India Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evolving Systems (“Evolving Systems India”).  For several years, offshore development, through a subcontractor, had been a key aspect of our low-cost, accelerated-deployment strategy. With the formation of Evolving Systems India we now have more control and flexibility and lower costs than with our previous outsourced development, which used an offshore third party contractor. As of March 31, 2005, we had approximately 65 employees in our Indian office with plans for further expansion as demand dictates.

 

Customer Support Revenue Deferral

 

During the first quarter of 2004, we deferred the recognition of customer support revenue for one of our largest customers. Under this maintenance arrangement, the customer purchased professional services, specified licensed software upgrades and support services.  Since fair value of the undelivered specified licensed software upgrades did not exist, all of the revenue related to this contract was deferred until the specified licensed software upgrades were delivered and accepted by the customer.  During the third quarter of 2004, we delivered and obtained acceptance of the specified licensed software upgrades. Since vendor specific objective evidence of fair value existed for all of the remaining undelivered elements in the arrangement, we recognized the residual amount of revenue for all delivered elements at that time.  Our 2005 customer support contract with the same customer did not contain these additional accounting elements, and was not deferred. Accordingly, we recognized approximately $1.0 million of customer support revenue related to this contract in the first quarter of 2005.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table presents the Company’s consolidated statements of operations reflected as a percentage of total revenue.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

REVENUE

 

 

 

 

 

License fees and services

 

52

%

56

%

Customer support

 

48

%

44

%

Total revenue

 

100

%

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTS OF REVENUE AND OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

30

%

18

%

Costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

21

%

29

%

Sales and marketing

 

24

%

16

%

General and administrative

 

25

%

16

%

Product development

 

1

%

9

%

Depreciation

 

4

%

5

%

Amortization

 

15

%

4

%

Restructuring and other expenses

 

 

 

Total costs of revenue and operating expenses

 

120

%

97

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

(20

)%

3

%

Other (expense) income, net

 

(5

)%

1

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

(25

)%

4

%

Benefit from income taxes

 

3

%

 

Net income (loss)

 

(22

)%

4

%

 

15



 

The three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004

 

Revenue

 

Revenue is comprised of license fees/services and customer support.  License fees and services revenue represent the fees we receive from the licensing of our software products and those services directly related to the delivery of the licensed product as well as integration services and time and materials work.  Customer support revenue includes annual support fees, recurring maintenance fees, maintenance upgrades and warranty fees.  Warranty services are typically bundled with a license sale and the related revenue, based on VSOE, is deferred and recognized ratably over the warranty period.  Total revenue was $9.8 million and $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The following table presents the Company’s revenue by product group (in thousands).

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Numbering solutions

 

$

3,790

 

$

5,101

 

Mediation

 

1,855

 

665

 

Activation

 

4,193

 

 

 

 

$

9,838

 

$

5,766

 

 

License Fees and Services

 

License fees and services revenue increased 58% to $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, from $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The increase in license fees and services revenue is due to activation sales related to products acquired in the Tertio acquisition and increased mediation revenue, offset by lower revenue from our number portability and inventory products.  The decline in number portability and inventory products is due to industry consolidation and smaller overall license sales which is reflective of the maturity of the narrowband numbering solutions market in the U.S.

 

Customer Support

 

Customer support revenue increased 87% to $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, from $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The increase in customer support revenue during the first quarter of 2005 is due to increased revenue related to the support of activation products acquired in the Tertio acquisition as well as increased customer support revenue related to numbering solutions products, partially offset by price reductions in certain customer support contracts. Numbering solutions customer support revenue was lower in the first quarter of 2004 due to a large customer support contract that was deferred until the acceptance of specified upgrades, which occurred during the third quarter of 2004.

 

Costs of Revenue, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

 

Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, consist primarily of personnel costs, facilities costs, the costs of third-party software and all other direct costs associated with these personnel. Total costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $5.0 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Costs of License Fees and Services, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

 

Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $3.0 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The increase of $1.9 million, or 178%, is due to more projects in delivery as a result of the Tertio acquisition, as well as additional costs related to the U.K. development transition to our off-shore development model which utilizes Evolving Systems India. As a percentage of license fees and services revenue, costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased to 59% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 33% for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The increase as a percentage of license fees and services revenues was due to the aforementioned increased costs related to the U.K. development transition to our off-shore development model and the increased costs from Evolving Systems U.K. and TSE which exceeded the increase in revenue during the period.

 

Costs of Customer Support, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

 

Costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $2.0 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The increase of $368,000, or 22%, is due to increased hours worked on customer support projects to support products acquired in the Tertio and TSE acquisitions.  As a percentage of customer support revenue, costs of customer support, excluding depreciation, decreased to 43% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 65% for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The decrease as a percentage of customer support revenue is due to increased revenue in the first quarter of 2005 related to the aforementioned large support contract that was deferred during the first quarter of 2004, but the related costs were expensed during the period and increased revenue from Evolving Systems U.K. and TSE customer support contracts.

 

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Sales and Marketing

 

Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of compensation costs, including bonuses and commissions, travel expenses, advertising and occupancy expenses.  Sales and marketing expenses were $2.4 million and $936,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase of $1.5 million, or 156%, is due to additional costs from Evolving Systems U.K. and TSE as well as increased expenses in the U.S. related to increased headcount for sales initiatives designed to penetrate new markets.  As a percentage of total revenue, sales and marketing expenses increased to 24% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The increase as a percentage of revenue is due to the combination of increased expenses from Evolving Systems U.K. and the increased expenses in the U.S., which exceeded the increase in revenue during the period.

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses consist principally of employee related costs and professional fees for the following departments; facilities, finance, legal, human resources, and executive management.  General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million and $935,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The increase of $1.6 million or 167%, is primarily due to costs from Evolving Systems U.K. as well as increased expenses in the U.S. related to significantly higher levels of professional fees.  As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expenses increased to 25% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The increase as a percentage of revenue is due to the combination of increased  expenses from Evolving Systems U.K. and increased professional fees in the U.S., which was greater than the increase in revenue during the period.

 

Product Development

 

Product development expenses consist primarily of employee related costs, offshore development subcontractor expenses and costs to start up our offshore Indian facility.  Product development expenses were $110,000 and $491,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease of $381,000, or 78%, is due to decreased hours spent on development of our ServiceXpress™ toolkit, which ended in 2004. In addition, development in 2005 was principally focused on customer specific projects rather than general research and development efforts. Costs for customer-specific projects are reflected as costs of the related revenue.  As a percentage of revenue, product development expenses decreased to 1% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 9% for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to the decreased hours worked on product development versus customer specific projects and the increased revenue in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 2004.

 

Amortization

 

Amortization expense consists of amortization of identifiable intangibles from our acquisitions of CMS, TSE and Tertio. Amortization expense was $1.4 million and $218,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The increase in amortization expense of $1.2 million or 552% is due to amortization related to identifiable intangibles from the acquisitions of Tertio and TSE.  As a percentage of revenue amortization expense increased to 15% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 4% for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase as a percentage of revenue is due to the aforementioned increase in expenses which was greater than the increase in revenue during the period.

 

Restructuring and Other Expense

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we recorded a restructuring recovery of $48,000 in accordance with the Company’s restructuring plan, as follows:

 

                  Closure of satellite offices.  We closed all of our satellite field offices during 2002.  Because the costs to sublease or terminate these lease commitments are based on estimates, we may incur additional costs related to the satellite office closures.  During the three months ended March 31, 2005 we recorded a recovery of $48,000 related to the closure of the satellite offices as the actual costs to close this facilities were less than our original estimate. As of March 31, 2005 approximately $15,000 was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and approximately $1,000 was included in long-term obligations, related to the closure of the satellite offices.

 

Other Income (Expense), Net

 

Other income (expense), net, was ($505,000) and $57,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The expense during 2005 is primarily due to interest expense from the notes payable issued in the acquisitions of TSE and Tertio.

 

Income Taxes

 

We recorded net income tax benefits of $278,000 and $8,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The net benefit during the three months ended March 31, 2005 consists of current income tax expense of approximately $190,000 and a deferred tax benefit of $468,000 both of which are related to the Company’s UK-based operations. This represents an

 

17



 

11% effective tax rate, reflecting the blend of the estimated effective tax rate of our domestic pretax income of approximately 2% and the estimated effective tax rate related to our U.K. pretax income of approximately 30%.

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio, certain identifiable intangible assets were recorded.  Since the amortization of these identifiable intangibles is not deductible for income tax purposes, a long-term deferred tax liability of $4.6 million was established at the acquisition date for the expected difference between what would be expensed for financial reporting purposes and what would be deductible for income tax purposes. As of March 31, 2005, this deferred tax liability was $4.2 million. This deferred tax liability is carried on the books of the Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary, and has no impact on the Company’s ability to recover its U.S.-based deferred tax assets.

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio, future revenue under contracts in existence at the acquisition dates was reduced to an amount equal to the Company’s estimated costs to fulfill its obligations under the contracts plus a reasonable profit margin on the Company’s estimated fulfillment effort.  The resulting reduction of future revenue recorded for financial reporting purposes is not deductible for income tax purposes and thus, a current deferred tax liability of approximately $600,000 was established at the acquisition date. As of March 31, 2005, this deferred tax liability was $115,000.  Both of the aforementioned deferred tax liabilities will be recognized as a reduction of current income tax expense as the identifiable intangibles are amortized and the contract revenue is recognized.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We have historically financed operations through cash flows from operations and equity transactions.  At March 31, 2005, our principal source of liquidity was $6.5 million in cash and cash equivalents.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005. The main factors in the cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were decreases in accounts receivables of $2.7 million and unbilled work-in-progress of $394,000, interest expense added to debt principal of $317,000 and depreciation and amortization of $1.8 million. Offsetting increases to cash flows from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was the net loss of $2.1 million, the deferred foreign income tax benefit of $465,000 and the decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $553,000 and unearned income of $441,000.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The cash generated from operating activities is mainly due to collections of our contract receivables.  The cash flow generated from the collection of contract receivables was partially offset by a decrease in our unearned revenue balance due to recognition of revenue on our annual customer support agreements and delivery of licensed software and services.

 

Net cash used by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $823,000. Cash used by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 consisted of additional consideration paid to the sellers of TSE and Tertio of $676,000 and capital expenditures primarily related to the Tertio integration of $158,000.

 

Net cash used by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $527,000 was primarily due to capital expenditures for internal hardware that improved performance and reliability of our product development environment.

 

Financing activities used $5.5 million in cash for the three months ended March 31, 2005. During the first quarter of 2005, we made payments of $5.5 million on notes payable and an acquired dividend payable assumed in the Tertio acquisition. We received proceeds of $56,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2005, from the issuance of stock related to our stock option and employee stock purchase plans.

 

Financing activities provided $203,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, related to the exercise of approximately 100,000 stock options.

 

Working capital (deficit) at March 31, 2005 was ($4.8) million compared to ($3.3) million at December 31, 2004. As previously mentioned, we acquired two companies, TSE and Tertio, during the fourth quarter of 2004. We made payments of approximately $6.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2005 related to notes payable, an acquired dividend obligation assumed and contingent consideration related to the TSE and Tertio acquisitions. The acquisition of Tertio also includes the issuance of long-term seller-financed notes (“Long-Term Notes”) of approximately $11.9 million of which $1.3 million is due within the next twelve months.

 

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We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, together with anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. In making this assessment we considered the following:

 

                  Our cash and cash equivalents balance at March 31, 2005 of $6.5 million.

 

                  Our ability to generate positive cash flows from operations. During 2003, 2004 and the three months ended March 31, 2005 we generated cash flows from operations of $6.9 million, $4.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

 

                  Our backlog of approximately $16.9 million, including $4.7 million in license fees and services and $12.2 million in customer support at March 31, 2005.

 

                  Our cash forecast indicates that we will have sufficient liquidity to cover anticipated operating costs as well as debt service payments.

 

To the extent we are unable to invoice and collect in a timely manner under our customer revenue arrangements, it could have an adverse impact on our ability to meet our intended business objectives. Management believes that we have the ability to further reduce operating expenses, if necessary, such that current working capital (exclusive of deferred revenue) and cash flows from operations will be adequate to meet our cash needs through the next twelve months.

 

Notwithstanding these assessments, if the timing of cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, or an unexpected adverse event, or combination of events, occurs that is beyond management's control, we may require access to additional funds to support our business objectives through a credit facility or possibly the issuance of additional equity. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available at all or that if available, such financing will be obtainable on terms favorable to us and would not be dilutive.

 

We issued the Long-Term Notes payable on November 2, 2004, in conjunction with the acquisition of Tertio.  From the acquisition date through November 2, 2006, the Long-Term Notes bear interest at 11.0% per annum. From November 2, 2006 through the maturity date of December 31, 2007, the notes will bear interest at 14.0% per annum. Interest is accrued to the principal balance through December 31, 2005, and beginning March 31, 2006, interest is payable on a quarterly basis in addition to the scheduled principal payments. The Long-Term Notes may be prepaid at any time without penalty. Beginning on March 31, 2005, if our quarterly cash balances exceed $7.0 million the holder of the Long-Term Notes may require a prepayment on the note equal to the amount by which the quarterly cash balance exceeds $7.0 million. Based on our current cash projections, no such additional payments will be required during the twelve months ended March 31, 2006. The scheduled principal payments on the long-term seller financed notes are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Payment date

 

Amount

 

March 31, 2006

 

$

1,340

 

June 30, 2006

 

3,110

 

December 31, 2006

 

1,430

 

March 31, 2007

 

1,870

 

June 30, 2007

 

3,110

 

December 31, 2007

 

1,636

 

 

 

$

12,496

 

 

In the upcoming annual stockholders’ meeting we are asking stockholders to approve the exchange of the Long-Term Notes into convertible notes (“Convertible Notes”). The currently outstanding notes plus accrued interest through May 16, 2005 totaling approximately $12.7 million, upon stockholder approval, would be exchanged for notes that could be convertible into approximately 3.8 million shares of our common stock at $3.296 per share. The Convertible Notes would bear interest at the Federal Applicable Rate, which is currently approximately 3.5%. In addition, all principal and unpaid interest would be due and payable on December 31, 2007 under such Convertible Notes. If we do not obtain stockholder approval to permit holders to exchange some or all of the Long-Term Notes into Convertible Notes, and such notes are not converted, we will be required to service the full amount of the Long-Term Notes and related interest payments. Our inability to convene the Initial Shareholders’ Meeting, as defined, by May 16, 2005, constitutes an event of default under this note. We believe we will be able to convene this meeting by the appointed time.

 

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The Long-Term Notes subject us to certain affirmative and negative covenants, including a financial covenant indexed to our computation of EBITDA, as defined.  We will be required to comply with such covenants beginning June 30, 2005.

 

Factors That Might Affect Operating Results

 

These results should be read in conjunction with the risk factors defined in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Statements contained in this Quarterly Report with respect to future revenue and expenses are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results may differ. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are those described below and in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Risks related to Tertio Acquisition

 

We are subject to financial and operating risks associated with international sales and services.

 

Historically sales of our products have been limited to customers in the United States. Our only international operational experience has been with our Indian offshore development subsidiary. The acquisition of Tertio resulted in the addition of significant sales and operations outside the United States, including Europe, Asia and Africa. If we are unable to manage our sales and operations on a global basis, our financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.  Our international business is subject to the financial and operating risks including:

 

 

unexpected changes in, or impositions of, legislative or regulatory requirements;

 

 

 

 

difficulties in maintaining effective controls over financial reporting across geographically dispersed entities, including those related to different business practices in foreign countries;

 

 

 

 

internal control related risks of operating a foreign subsidiary;

 

 

 

 

changes in demand of our products and services due to the perception that we are an “American” company in countries where the United States’ foreign policy is not viewed favorably;

 

fluctuating exchange rates, tariffs, currency repatriation restrictions and other barriers;

 

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign subsidiary operations;

 

import or export restrictions;

 

greater difficulties in accounts receivable collection and longer payment cycles;

 

potentially adverse tax consequences and additional tax considerations such as foreign withholding taxes and payment of value added tax (“VAT”);

 

potential hostilities and changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;

 

changes in a country’s economic or political conditions; and

 

differing customer and/or technology standards requirements.

 

Our stockholders will be diluted by the conversion of outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and, if approved by our stockholders, the exchange of the long-term notes into convertible notes.

 

In consideration for our acquisition of Tertio, we made a cash payment of $11.0 million, issued 966,666 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), issued a short-term secured note with a principal amount of $4.0 million bearing interest at 5.5% per annum and issued Long-term Notes with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $11.9 million bearing interest initially at 11% per annum (increasing to 14% on the second anniversary).  Subject to stockholder approval, the holders of the Long-Term Notes have elected to exchange these notes for convertible notes, convertible into shares of our common stock, and bearing interest at the applicable federal rate at the time the Convertible Notes are issued, currently about 3.5%.

 

Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into three shares of our common stock which could result in the issuance of up to 2,899,998 shares of our common stock.  In the event that the Series B Preferred Stock and/or the Convertible Notes are converted into shares of common stock, there will be a significant dilutive effect on the ownership interests and voting rights of our existing stockholders.

 

20



 

Prior to our acquisition of Tertio, only one of our stockholders beneficially owned in excess of five percent of our common stock.  If the Series B Preferred Stock and the Convertible Notes are exchanged for shares of our common stock, the holders and their affiliates would hold in excess of twenty percent (but no more than thirty-three percent) of the outstanding shares of our common stock.  The sale by such holders of one or more large blocks of our common stock could have a negative impact on the market price of our common stock.  Additionally, such ownership interests could effectively deter a third party from making an offer to buy us, which might involve a premium over our current stock price or other benefits for our stockholders, or otherwise prevent changes in the control or management of Evolving Systems.  In addition, there are no restrictions, in the form of a standstill agreement or otherwise, on the ability of such stockholders or their affiliates to purchase additional shares of our common stock and thereby further increase their ownership interests.

 

The holders of our Series B Preferred Stock have preferential rights that may be adverse to holders of our common stock.

 

The holders of the Series B Preferred Stock have preferential rights with respect to distributions upon a liquidation of Evolving Systems, including certain business combinations deemed to be a liquidation.  Accordingly, no distributions upon liquidation may be made to the holders of common stock until the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock have been paid their liquidation preference.  As a result, it is possible that, on liquidation, all amounts available for the holders of equity of Evolving Systems would be paid to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, and that the holders of common stock would not receive any payment.  Additionally, in connection with the Tertio acquisition we are obligated to file and keep effective a registration statement providing for the resale of the shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Convertible Notes.  If the Securities and Exchange Commission refuses to declare the registration statement effective or we fail to keep the registration statement effective, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will have the right to cause us to repurchase for cash the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock for $3.89 per share (on an as converted basis), or approximately $11.3 million. If we are required to make this payment, it would have a significant adverse impact on our liquidity and could cause us to incur additional indebtedness.

 

Additionally, the Series B Preferred Stock, as well as the Convertible Notes (if approved), contain certain weighted average price based anti-dilution protections that, as long as those securities remain outstanding,  would be triggered if we issued shares of our common stock (subject to certain adjustments and standard exclusions relating to Company options) below $3.89 per share.  In the event that we issued shares below this threshold, the holders of our common stock would be diluted to an unknown degree.  Furthermore, the mere existence of such anti-dilution protections could make it difficult for us to issue any common stock below $3.89 per share, if at all.  In the event the anti-dilution adjustments of the Series B Preferred Stock are triggered, such adjustments would result in a deemed dividend to the Series B Preferred Stock holders that would reduce income available to common stockholders.  The charge would be equal to the number of additional shares issuable as a result of the anti-dilution calculation, multiplied by the fair value of the common stock on the date of the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock, or $4.64.  The deemed dividend charge could negatively affect the price of our common stock.

 

The indebtedness incurred in connection with the Tertio acquisition may limit our ability to grow and could adversely affect our financial condition.

 

The indebtedness incurred with respect to the short- and long-term secured notes and, possibly, the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock, is material in relation to our current level of indebtedness, our ability to service the debt from our operating cash flow and our ability to repay the debt in full at maturity.  If we do not obtain stockholder approval to permit holders to exchange the Long-Term Notes into Convertible Notes, and such notes are not converted into common stock, we will be required to service the full amount of the long-term debt and related interest payments.  Additionally, if we do not receive such stockholder approval, the Series B Preferred Stock will not automatically be converted into common stock and will remain outstanding in accordance with its terms.  No assurance can be given that sufficient funds will be available to meet our operating needs, to pay the interest due on the short and the long-term secured notes or, if required, to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock.  The notes are secured by a general lien on all of our assets.  If we are unable to pay the notes as they become due, the holders of the notes could foreclose on all of our assets. The increased level of our indebtedness, among other things, could:

 

                  make it difficult for us to obtain any necessary future financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes;

 

                  limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to changes in, our business; and

 

                  make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business.

 

If we incur new indebtedness in the future, the related risks that we now face could intensify. Whether we are able to make required payments on our outstanding indebtedness and to satisfy any other future debt obligations will depend on our future operating performance and our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing.

 

Nasdaq Rule 4350(i)(1)(C) requires that a company whose stock is traded on Nasdaq obtain stockholder approval in connection with the acquisition of another company involving the issuance or potential issuance of common stock equal to twenty percent or more of its common stock.  The issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock alone, does not exceed this twenty percent

 

21



 

threshold.  However, because the issuance of the shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Convertible Notes would, collectively, result in us issuing in excess of twenty percent of our outstanding shares of common stock, we are required under the Nasdaq rules to seek stockholder approval for the exchange of the Long-Term Notes into Convertible Notes.  No assurances can be given that our stockholders will approve the matters required for such conversion or that we will be able to obtain a sufficient quorum to vote on all such matters.  If our stockholders do not approve such exchange or do not approve the amendment of our Articles of Incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock, needed to provide shares into which the Convertible Notes may be converted, the Long-Term Notes will remain outstanding until December 31, 2007 (unless earlier repaid), will require debt repayments during 2006 and 2007, and our ability to continue to service such debt could adversely affect our financial condition.

 

The terms and conditions of the Series B Preferred Stock and the indebtedness incurred in connection with the Tertio acquisition may have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial performance.

 

There is a potential that the Company will incur additional charges in the future related to various provisions of the financial instruments issued in connection with the acquisition of Tertio.  Subject to stockholder approval and election by the note holders, the Long-Term Notes initially bearing interest at 11% per annum could be exchanged for a combination (based on the allocation election of the note holders) of convertible notes bearing interest at the applicable federal rate at the time the convertible notes are issued (currently about 3.5%), and fixed rate, non-convertible notes bearing interest initially at 9% per annum. The holders of the Long-Term Notes have elected to exchange the full principal of those notes, and accrued interest, for Convertible Notes. Such exchange is dependent upon the approval by the Company’s stockholders to increase the number of authorized shares and to approve such exchange.  When and if such exchange occurs, the extinguishment of the Long-Term Notes and the issuance of the Convertible Notes will be recorded at their fair value, which could result in a charge reducing our income which in turn could negatively affect our stock price.  Fair value assessments are dependent upon market factors in existence at the time of measurement.

 

In addition to the aforementioned charges related to remeasuring the Long-Term Notes exchange at fair value, if the conversion rate on the Convertible Notes is less than the fair value of the stock into which the notes are convertible, on the date of issuance, the Company will be required to record as additional interest expense a beneficial conversion feature that will negatively affect interest expense in the period in which the Convertible Notes are issued.

 

The inability to register shares of our common stock underlying the Series B Preferred Stock and/or an inability to keep such registration effective, as described above, could result in the Series B Preferred Stock becoming mandatorily redeemable.  Currently, the Series B Preferred Stock is classified as non-permanent equity since the events that would require its redemption have not occurred.  If we are unable to obtain and/or maintain the effectiveness of the related registration statement, the Series B Preferred Stock will become mandatorily redeemable at the option of the holders and the instrument will be reclassified as a liability.  Upon reclassification, the Series B Preferred Stock will be remeasured at its then current fair value and the difference between its fair value and redemption price will be charged to additional paid-in capital.  Such charge to equity may negatively impact the price of our common stock.  Subsequent changes to the fair value of this instrument would be recognized in earnings, as a charge or income, and such amounts could be significant and unpredictable.

 

Certain provisions of the notes payable issued in conjunction with the Tertio acquisition call for the acceleration of payments if certain covenants are breached or cash flow thresholds are achieved.

 

The notes issued in conjunction with the Tertio acquisition contain certain affirmative and negative covenants that, if breached, could result in the acceleration of such notes becoming immediately due and payable.  The covenants include the Company’s agreement to do the following:

 

                  Convene a stockholders’ meeting on or before May 16, 2005 to request approval of (a) the exchange of the Long-Term Notes for Convertible Notes and (b) an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation increasing the authorized common stock;

 

                  comply with applicable laws and licensing requirements;

 

                  file and pay all applicable taxes as they become due; and

 

                  operate in the ordinary course of business.

 

The covenants also include the Company’s agreement not to do any of the following (except as specifically authorized in such notes):

 

                  liquidate, dissolve or wind-up operations;

 

                  pay any dividends or make prepayments on any indebtedness;

 

                  acquire any other businesses or entities or make investments in third parties;

 

22



 

                  sell or transfer a substantial portion of the Company’s assets;

 

                  incur additional indebtedness or permit any liens on the Company’s assets;

 

                  make capital expenditures beyond established thresholds; or

 

                  take certain other operational actions.

 

The covenants may limit the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to changes in, its business.  Failure to comply with such covenants, if not waived, could result in the acceleration of the notes. If the Company is required to pay the notes on an accelerated basis, it would have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s liquidity and financial condition and could cause us to incur additional indebtedness.

 

Additionally, the notes issued in conjunction with the Tertio acquisition require us to offer the note holders a prepayment on such notes in the amount that our closing cash balance exceeds $7.0 million at the end of any fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2005.  Such a requirement will restrict our liquidity and cash management flexibility.  Until the notes are repaid, our ability to engage in transactions or to enter into agreements requiring significant cash investments may be adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

Fluctuations in Quarterly Results of Operations

 

Our operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and may continue to fluctuate significantly in the future. Fluctuations in operating results may result in volatility of the price of our common stock. These quarterly and annual fluctuations may result from a number of factors, including:

 

                  the size of new contracts and when the related revenue is recognized;

 

                  our rate of progress under our contracts;

 

                  acquisition and integration costs;

 

                  the timing of customer and market acceptance of our products and service offerings;

 

                  our ability to effectively manage offshore software development in India;

 

                  actual or anticipated changes in government laws and regulations related to the telecommunications market;

 

                  judicial or administrative actions about these laws or regulations;

 

                  the nature and pace of enforcement of the Telecom Act as well as other similar foreign statutes, regulations and acts;

 

                  product lifecycles;

 

                  the mix of products and services sold;

 

                  changes in demand for our products and services;

 

                  the timing of third-party contractors’ delivery of software and hardware;

 

                  budgeting cycles of our customers;

 

                  changes in the terms and rates related to the renewal of support agreements;

 

                  level and timing of expenses for product development and sales, general and administrative expenses;

 

                  competition by existing and emerging competitors in the communications software markets;

 

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                  our success in developing and selling new products, controlling cost, attracting and retaining qualified personnel and expanding our sales and customer focused programs;

 

                  software defects and other product quality problems;

 

                  changes in our strategy;

 

                  the extent of industry consolidation;

 

                  foreign exchange fluctuations; and

 

                  general economic conditions.

 

Our expense levels are based in significant part on our expectations regarding future revenue. Our revenue is difficult to forecast as the market for our products and services is rapidly changing, and our sales cycle and the size and timing of significant contracts vary substantially among customers. Accordingly, we may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected shortfall in revenue. Any significant shortfall from anticipated levels of demand for our products and services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Based on these factors, we believe our future quarterly and annual operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year. As a result, quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year comparisons of operating results are not necessarily meaningful nor do they indicate what our future performance will be. Furthermore, we believe that in future reporting periods if our operating results fall below the expectations of public market analysts or investors, it is possible that the market price of our common stock could go down.

 

Liquidity

 

Our cash forecast indicates that we will have sufficient liquidity to cover anticipated operating costs as well as debt service payments, but to the extent we are unable to invoice and collect in a timely manner under our customer revenue arrangements, or an unexpected adverse event, or combination of events, occurs that is beyond management's control, it could have an adverse impact on our ability to meet our intended business objectives. Therefore, if the timing of cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may require access to additional funds to support our business objectives through a credit facility or possibly the issuance of additional equity. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available at all or that if available, such financing will be obtainable on terms favorable to us and would not be dilutive.

 

Regulatory Uncertainties

 

The market for our traditional North American OSS products was created and has primarily been driven by the adoption of regulations under the Telecom Act requiring Regional Bell Operating Companies (“RBOCs”) to implement LNP as a condition to being permitted to provide long distance services. Therefore, any changes to these regulations, or the adoption of new regulations by federal or state regulatory authorities under the Telecom Act, or any legal challenges to the Telecom Act, could hurt the market for our products and services. For example, when the FCC delayed implementation of the Telecom Act with respect to wireless carriers until November 2003, these delays had an impact on our revenue from our WNP products and services. Likewise, in mid-2001 when Verizon Wireless petitioned the FCC requesting forbearance from this requirement, we saw our wireless customers delay making decisions to purchase WNP products. WNP went into effect in November 2003. However, any invalidation, repeal or modification in the requirements imposed by the Telecom Act or the FCC, could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, customers may require, or we may find it necessary or advisable, to modify our products or services to address actual or anticipated changes in regulations affecting our customers. This could also materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.  Additionally, with our acquisition of Tertio, we are now subject to numerous regulatory requirements of foreign jurisdictions.  Any compliance failures or changes in such regulations could also materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Reliance on Significant Customers

 

In the past, and currently, we earn a significant portion of our revenue from a small number of customers in the communications industry. This has been mitigated somewhat by the expansion of our customer base through our recent acquisitions. However, the loss of any significant customer, delays in delivery or acceptance of any of our products by a customer, delays in the performance of services for a customer, or delays in collection of customer receivables could be materially harmful to our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Integration of Tertio, TSE or Future Acquisitions

 

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The integration of Tertio and TSE or future acquisitions may present risks and we may be unable to achieve the product, financial or strategic goals intended at the time of any acquisition. The risks we may encounter in such transactions include:

 

 

we may have difficulty assimilating the operations and personnel of the acquired company;

 

 

 

 

we may have difficulty effectively integrating the acquired technologies or products with our current products and technologies;

 

 

 

 

we may incur unanticipated liabilities that are not covered by our indemnification rights under the applicable acquisition agreements;

 

 

 

 

we may have difficulty in maintaining controls, procedures and policies during the transition and integration, as well as successfully completing in 2005 management’s assessment of its internal controls over financial reporting as required by Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and our independent registered public accounting firm’s examination thereon as required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

 

 

 

customers of the acquired company may decide not to renew their contracts with the combined entity and other ongoing business may be disrupted by transition and integration issues;

 

 

 

 

we may not be successful in cross-selling products between Evolving Systems’ and the acquired companies’ customer bases;

 

 

 

 

the financial and strategic goals for the acquired and combined businesses may not be achieved;

 

 

 

 

due diligence processes may have failed to identify significant issues with product quality, intellectual property ownership, product architecture, legal and financial contingencies, and product development;

 

 

 

 

significant impairment charges may be recorded if intangible assets, including goodwill, acquired in business combinations are determined to be unrecoverable or impaired;

 

 

 

 

acquisitions and their subsequent integration require considerable time and commitment of management, which can distract management from day-to-day operations and result in additional costs which reduce profits;

 

 

 

 

we do not know if we have or will be able to identify and purchase assets and/or companies that will complement our business;

 

 

 

 

our stockholders may experience additional dilution of their interests in Evolving Systems as a result of the issuance of convertible preferred stock, other convertible instruments and/or common stock in connection with our acquisitions;

 

 

 

 

certain management and other employees of Tertio and TSE, or future acquisitions, may be critical to the success of the acquired company, and we do not know if we will be successful in retaining these individuals in the combined companies; and

 

 

 

 

the price of our stock may go down as stockholders who received stock in the CMS transaction, and those receiving stock in connection with the Tertio transaction, or any future transaction, elect to sell their shares, or the marketplace does not favorably view the transaction.

 

Based on all of the foregoing, we believe it is possible for future revenue, expenses and operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year. As a result, quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year comparisons of operating results are not necessarily meaningful or indicative of future performance.

 

Lengthy Implementation Process; Customer Acceptance of Our Solutions, Risk of Software Defects

 

Implementing our solutions can be a relatively complex and lengthy process since we typically customize these solutions for each customer’s unique environment. Often our customers may also require rapid deployment of our software solutions, resulting in pressure on us to meet demanding delivery and implementation schedules. Delays in implementation may result in customer dissatisfaction and/or damage our reputation. This could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

The majority of our existing contracts provide for acceptance testing by the customer, which can be a lengthy process. Unanticipated difficulties or delays in the customer acceptance process could result in higher costs, delayed payments, and deferral of

 

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revenue recognition. In addition, if our software contains defects or we otherwise fail to satisfy acceptance criteria within prescribed times, the customer may be entitled to cancel its contract and receive a refund of all or a portion of amounts paid or other amounts as damages, which could exceed related contract revenue and which could result in a future charge to earnings. Any failure or delay in achieving final acceptance of our software and services could have a material harmful effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Lengthy Sales Cycle

 

Large communications solutions used for enterprise-wide, mission-critical purposes, involve significant capital expenditures and lengthy implementation plans. Prospective customers typically commit significant resources to the technical evaluation of our products and services and require us to spend substantial time, effort and money providing education regarding our solutions. This evaluation process often results in an extensive and lengthy sales cycle, typically ranging between three and twelve months, making it difficult for us to forecast the timing and magnitude of sales contracts. For example, customers’ budgetary constraints and internal acceptance reviews may cause potential customers to delay or forego a purchase. The delay or failure to complete one or more large contracts could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and cause our operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year.

 

Consolidations and Budget Cutbacks in the Industry

 

The U.S. communications industry has recently experienced significant reorganization and consolidation. This may continue.  Mergers and acquisitions of large communications companies, as well as the formation of new alliances, have resulted in a constantly changing marketplace for our products and services. Delays associated with these changes are common. These consolidations have caused us to lose customers and it is possible that we could lose additional customers as a result of more consolidations. In addition, due to a major downturn in the U.S. communications industry which began in the second half of 2000 (and continues to the present), many of the companies in the communications industry reduced their capital expenditures in response to changes in the communications marketplace; some companies have declared bankruptcy, cancelled contracts, delayed payments to their suppliers or delayed additional purchases.  The delay or failure to complete one or more large contracts, or the loss of a significant customer, could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows, and cause our operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year.

 

Fixed-Price Contracts

 

Currently, a large portion of our revenue is from contracts that are on a fixed-price basis. We anticipate that customers will continue to request we provide software and integration services as a total solution on a fixed-price basis. These contracts specify certain obligations and deliverables we must meet regardless of the actual costs we incur. Projects done on a fixed-price basis are subject to budget overruns. On occasion, we have experienced budget overruns, resulting in lower than anticipated margins. We can give no assurance we will not incur similar budget overruns in the future, including overruns that result in losses on these contracts. If we incur budget overruns, our margins and results of operations may be materially harmed.

 

Rapid Technological Change; Risks Associated with New Versions and New Products

 

The market for our products and services is subject to rapid technological changes, evolving industry standards, changes in carrier requirements and preferences and frequent new product introductions and enhancements. The introduction of products that incorporate new technologies and the emergence of new industry standards can make existing products obsolete and unmarketable. To compete successfully, we must continue to design, develop and sell enhancements to existing products and new products that provide higher levels of performance and reliability in a timely manner, take advantage of technological advancements and changes in industry standards and respond to new customer requirements. As a result of the complexities inherent in software development, major new product enhancements and new products can require long development and testing periods before they are commercially released and delays in planned delivery dates may occur. There can be no assurance we will successfully identify new product opportunities or will achieve market acceptance of new products brought to market. In addition, products developed by others may cause our products to become obsolete or noncompetitive. If we fail to anticipate or respond adequately to changes in technology and customer preferences, or if our products do not perform satisfactorily, or if we have delays in product development, our business, financial condition, results of operations may be materially harmed.

 

Mature Market for Number Portability Products

 

The market for our number portability products is mature in the U.S and we may not be able to successfully identify new product opportunities in the U.S. or abroad or achieve market acceptance of new products brought to the market.  Although wireless number portability was only recently mandated in the U.S., many of the wireless carriers selected solutions from our competitors and it is unclear how many new opportunities there will be with these carriers.  If we are unable to identify new product opportunities in the U.S. or abroad, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially harmed.

 

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Risks Associated with Managing Expense

 

We have taken steps to reduce our expenses, such as reductions in staff, closing of our satellite facilities, reductions in employee benefits and general cost control measures. If, as a result of such cost reductions, we have not adequately responded to balance expenses against revenue, or if our fixed costs cannot be reduced enough, our financial condition could be materially harmed. Likewise, cutbacks in staff may have an impact on our ability to generate future revenue.

 

Risks Associated with Offshore Development

 

In February 2004, we formed Evolving Systems India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evolving Systems, to transfer the services provided by our Indian subcontractor, Infosys, to Evolving Systems India.  If Evolving Systems India fails to provide quality software in a timely fashion, this could negatively affect our ability to satisfy our customer contracts.  Furthermore, political changes and uncertainties in India could negatively impact the business climate there.  As a result, we may be unable to satisfactorily perform our customer contracts and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed.

 

Competition

 

Our primary markets are intensely competitive and are subject to rapid technological changes, evolving industry standards and regulatory developments. We face continuous demand for improved product performance, new product features and reduced prices, as well as intense pressure to accelerate the release of new products and product enhancements. Our existing and potential competitors include many large domestic and international companies, including some competitors that have substantially greater financial, manufacturing, technological, marketing, distribution and other resources, larger installed customer bases and longer-standing relationships with customers than we do. Our principal competitors in the LNP and WNP market include Telcordia Technologies, Inc., Syniverse Technologies and Tekelec. Our principal competitors in activation are Metasolv and Comptel. In mediation, we compete with many different companies with no single dominant competitor. There also can be no assurance that customers will not offer competitive products or services in the future since customers who have purchased solutions from us are not precluded from competing with us. Many telecommunications companies have large internal development organizations, which develop software solutions and provide services similar to the products and services we provide. We also expect competition may increase in the future from Application Service Providers, existing competitors and from other companies that may enter our existing or future markets with solutions which may be less costly, provide higher performance or additional features or be introduced earlier than our solutions.

 

We believe that our ability to compete successfully depends on numerous factors. For example, the following factors affect our ability to compete successfully:

 

                  how well we respond to our customers’ needs;

 

                  the quality and reliability of our products and services and our competitors’ products and services;

 

                  the price for our products and services, as well as the price for our competitors’ products and services;

 

                  how well we manage our projects;

 

                  our technical subject matter expertise;

 

                  the quality of our customer service and support;

 

                  the emergence of new industry standards;

 

                  the development of technical innovations;

 

                  our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

 

                  regulatory changes; and

 

                  general market and economic conditions.

 

Some of these factors are within our control, and others are not. A variety of potential actions by our competitors, including a reduction of product prices or increased promotion, announcement or accelerated introduction of new or enhanced products, or cooperative relationships among competitors and their strategic partners, could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully with existing or new competitors or that we will properly identify and address the demands of new markets. This is particularly true in new markets where standards are not yet established. Our failure to adapt to emerging market demands, respond to regulatory and technological changes or compete

 

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successfully with existing and new competitors would materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Risks Associated with Recruiting and Retaining Personnel

 

Our ability to manage future expansion, if any, effectively will require us to attract, train, motivate and manage new employees successfully, to integrate new management and employees into our overall operations and to continue to improve our operations, financial and management systems. There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain personnel or to hire additional personnel on a timely basis, if at all. Because of the complexity of our software solutions, a significant time lag exists between the hiring date of technical and sales personnel and the time when they become fully productive. We have at times experienced difficulty in recruiting and retaining such personnel. In addition, our stock option plan terminates on January 19, 2006 and under Nasdaq rules we will be required to obtain stockholder approval to establish a new equity compensation plan. If we are unsuccessful in obtaining this approval, our ability to attract or retain employee may be harmed. Our failure to retain personnel or to hire qualified personnel on a timely basis could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Product Liability

 

Our agreements with our customers typically contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to potential liability for damages arising out of the use of or defects in our products. These limitations, however, tend to vary from customer to customer and it is possible that these limitations of liability provisions may not be effective. We currently have errors and omissions insurance, which, subject to customary exclusions, covers claims resulting from failure of our software products or services to perform the function or to serve the purpose intended. To the extent that any successful product liability claim is not covered by this insurance, we may be required to pay for a claim. This could be expensive, particularly since our software products may be used in critical business applications. Defending such a suit, regardless of its merits, could be expensive and require the time and attention of key management personnel, either of which could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our business reputation could be harmed by product liability claims, regardless of their merit or the eventual outcome of these claims.

 

Protection of Intellectual Property

 

Our success and ability to compete are dependent to a significant degree on our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements and licensing arrangements, to establish and protect our proprietary rights. We have U.S. patents on elements of our LNP products, NumberManager® and OrderPath®, and elements of our OmniPresenceServer application and have applied for patent protection on various other elements of our OmniPresenceServer™ application and our ServiceXpress Test Harness application. In addition, we have registered or filed for registration of certain of our trademarks. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology without authorization or to develop similar technology independently through reverse engineering or other means. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not adequately protect our proprietary rights. There can be no assurance that our means of protecting our proprietary rights in the U.S. or abroad will be adequate or that others will not independently develop technologies that are similar or superior to our technology, duplicate our technology or design around any of our patents.

 

Risks of Infringement

 

It is also possible that our business activities may infringe upon the proprietary rights of others, or that other parties may assert infringement claims against us. If we become liable to any third party for infringing its intellectual property rights, we could be required to pay substantial damage awards and to develop non-infringing technology, obtain licenses, or to cease selling the applications that contain the infringing intellectual property. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and any outcome unfavorable to us could materially harm our business. Furthermore, we could incur substantial costs in defending against any intellectual property litigation, and these costs could increase significantly if any dispute were to go to trial. Our defense of any litigation, regardless of the merits of the complaint, likely would be time-consuming, costly, and a distraction to our management personnel. Adverse publicity related to any intellectual property litigation also could harm the sale of our products and damage our competitive position.

 

Certain software developed or used by Evolving Systems, as well as certain software acquired in our acquisitions of TSE or Tertio, may include or be derived from software that is made available under an open source software license.

 

                  Such open source software may be made available under a license such as the GNU General Public License (“GPL”) or GNU Lesser General Public License (“LGPL”) which imposes certain obligations on us in the event we were to distribute derivative works based on the open source software.  These obligations may require us to make source code for these derivative works available to the public or license the derivative works under a particular type of open source software license, rather than the license terms we customarily use to protect our software.

 

                  There is little or no legal precedent for interpreting the terms of certain of these open source licenses, including the terms addressing the extent to which a derivative work based on open source software may be subject to these licenses.  We

 

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believe we have complied with our obligations under the various applicable open source licenses.  However, if the owner of any open source software were to successfully establish that we had not complied with the terms of an open source license for a particular derivative work based on that open source software, we may be forced to release the source code for that derivative work to the public or cease distribution of that work.

 

                  We generally prohibit the combination of our proprietary software with open source software.  Despite these restrictions, parties may combine our proprietary software with open source software without our authorization, in which case such parties could be forced to release to the public the source code of our proprietary software.

 

International Terrorism

 

The continued threat of terrorism within the U.S. and throughout the world and acts of war may cause significant disruption to commerce throughout the world. Our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected to the extent that such disruptions result in delays or cancellations of customer orders, delays in collecting cash, a general decrease in corporate spending on information technology, or our inability to effectively market, manufacture or ship our products. We are unable to predict whether war and the threat of terrorism or the responses thereto will result in any long-term commercial disruptions or if such activities or responses will have any long-term material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

Possible Volatility of Stock Price

 

The trading price of our common stock has been subject to wide fluctuations in response to quarterly variations in operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors, merger and acquisition activity, changes in financial estimates by securities analysts, the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us, general stock market and economic considerations and other events or factors. This may continue in the future.

 

In addition, the stock market has experienced volatility that has particularly affected the market prices of stock of many technology companies and often has been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market fluctuations may negatively impact the trading price of our common stock. As a result of the foregoing factors, we cannot assure our investors that our common stock will trade at or higher than its current price.

 

Effects of Future Sales of Our Common Stock in the Public Market

 

If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the market price of our common stock could fall. The perception among investors that such sales will occur could also produce this effect. These factors also could make it more difficult to raise funds through future offerings of common stock.

 

Reporting Requirements

 

Because our common stock is publicly traded, we are subject to certain rules and regulations of federal, state and financial market exchange entities charged with the protection of investors and the oversight companies whose securities are publicly traded.  These entities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the SEC and the Nasdaq, have recently issued new requirements and regulations and are currently developing additional regulations and requirements in response to recent laws enacted by Congress, most notably the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Our compliance with certain of these rules, such as Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, is likely to require the commitment of significant and managerial resources. We are currently reviewing our material internal control systems, processes and procedures in compliance with the requirements of Section 404.  There can be no assurance that such a review will not result in the identification of significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal controls.

 

We Have Never Paid Cash Dividends

 

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all future earnings, if any, for use in the operation of our business. In addition, the notes issued in connection with the Tertio acquisition prohibit us from declaring dividends to our common stockholders during the term of the notes. Accordingly, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

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Our restated certificate of incorporation allows our board of directors to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences and privileges of those shares without any further vote or action by our stockholders. The rights of the holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Issuance of preferred stock, while providing desired flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock. In 1999, our Board of directors designated 250,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock that contain “poison pill” provisions. In connection with the Tertio acquisition, we issued 966,666 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. We have no current plans to issue additional shares of preferred stock.

 

In addition, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibit us from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in the prescribed manner. The application of Section 203 and certain provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation, including a classified board of directors, may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control of our management, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock by discouraging or preventing takeover attempts that might result in the payment of a premium price to our stockholders.

 

Based on all of the foregoing, we believe it is possible for future revenue, expenses and operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter. As a result, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of operating results are not necessarily meaningful or indicative of future performance. Furthermore, we believe that it is possible that in any given quarter, including the current quarter, our operating results could differ from the expectations of public market analysts or investors. In such event, or in the event that adverse conditions prevail, or are perceived to prevail, with respect to our business or generally, the market price of our common stock would likely go down.

 

ITEM  3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE MARKET RISK DISCLOSURES

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to certain market risks, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Uncertainties that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable such as political, economic, tax, other regulatory, or credit risks are not included in the following assessment of market risks.

 

We transact business in various foreign currencies. As we continue to expand our international business, we are subject to increasing exposure from adverse movements in foreign exchange rates. At the present time, we do not hedge our foreign currency exposure, nor do we use derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

In the ordinary course of business we are exposed to the risk of changes in interest rates.  Our cash balances are subject to interest rate fluctuations and as such, interest income amounts may fluctuate from current levels.

 

For additional information about Evolving Systems’ risk factors see Evolving Systems’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. As of March 31, 2005, the end of the period covered by this report, we evaluated, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

 

(b) Changes in internal controls. During the period covered by this report, there were no significant changes in our internal

controls or in other factors that could significantly affect our internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

From time to time we are involved in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business operations.               We are currently not aware of any legal proceedings that would have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES

 

None

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS ON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

As we reported on our Form 8-K filed on May 3, 2005, Evolving Systems Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Evolving Systems Holdings Limited, which is our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a lease agreement (the “Lease”) with Balfour Beatty PLC on March 30, 2005 for office space in London, England.  A copy of the Lease is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

(a)          Exhibits

 

Exhibit 10.1 – Lease agreement dated as of March 30, 2005, by and between Evolving Systems Limited and Balfour Beatty PLC

Exhibit 31.1 - Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 31.2 - Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 32.1 - Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 32.2 - Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

Date: May 16, 2005

/s/ BRIAN R. ERVINE

 

 

Brian R. Ervine

 

Executive Vice President, Chief

 

Financial and Administrative Officer,

 

Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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