UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(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 November 10, 2003 there were 15,221,857 shares outstanding of Registrant’s Common Stock (par value $0.001 per share)

 

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

September 30, 2003

Table of Contents

 

PART I		FINANCIAL INFORMATION	1
Item 1.	Financial Statements		1
	Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2003 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2002		1
	Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002		2
	Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002		3
	Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements		4
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		10
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Market Risk Disclosures		18
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		18
PART II		OTHER INFORMATION	18
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		18
Item 2.	Changes in Securities		18
Item 3.	Defaults on Senior Securities		18
Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		18
Item 5.	Other Information		19
Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K		19
Signatures			20

 

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except share data)

 

		September 30, 2003			December 31, 2002
		(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	17,345		$	8,601
Contract receivables, net of allowance of $229 and $290 at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively		2,574			12,727
Unbilled work-in-progress		420			129
Prepaid and other current assets		901			804
Total current assets		21,240			22,261
Property and equipment, net		1,385			2,004
Restricted cash		500			500
Total assets		$	23,125		$	24,765
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations		$	37		$	34
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		3,166			4,176
Unearned revenue		6,331			14,523
Total current liabilities		9,534			18,733
Long-term obligations		155			141
Total liabilities		9,689			18,874
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)		—			—
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 14,412,280 and 13,305,052 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.		14			13
Additional paid-in capital		54,742			53,634
Accumulated deficit		(41,320		)	(47,756		)
Total stockholders’ equity		13,436			5,891
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	23,125		$	24,765

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

1

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
REVENUE
License fees and services (Note 1)		$	3,948		$	3,953		$	12,133		$	7,838
Customer support (Note 1)		3,200			2,687			10,045			7,807
Total revenue		7,148			6,640			22,178			15,645
COSTS OF REVENUE AND OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization (Note 1)		1,140			1,061			4,321			4,366
Cost of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization (Note 1)		1,427			2,442			4,401			9,306
Sales and marketing		684			766			2,109			4,049
General and administrative		891			1,112			2,742			4,559
Product development		568			333			1,224			1,078
Depreciation and amortization		269			396			918			1,404
Restructuring and other expenses		—			310			38			4,991
Total costs of revenue and operating expenses		4,979			6,420			15,753			29,753
Income (loss) from operations		2,169			220			6,425			(14,108		)
Other income, net		41			19			137			70
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	2,210		$	239		$	6,562		$	(14,038	)
Provision for income taxes		126			—			126			—
Net income (loss)		$	2,084		$	239		$	6,436		$	(14,038	)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share		$	0.15		$	0.02		$	0.46		$	(1.06	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share		$	0.12		$	0.02		$	0.41		$	(1.06	)
Weighted average basic shares outstanding		14,318			13,297			13,880			13,294
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		16,893			13,297			15,556			13,294

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

2

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)		$	6,436		$	(14,038	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		918			1,404
(Gain) loss on impairment and disposal of property and equipment		(5		)	1,105
Bad debt expense		(61		)	92
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Contract receivables		10,214			4,200
Unbilled work-in-progress		(291		)	4,332
Prepaid and other assets		(97		)	195
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(1,010		)	803
Unearned revenue		(8,192		)	(1,046		)
Long-term obligations		42			—
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		7,954			(2,953		)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property and equipment		(301		)	(101		)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		7			—
Net cash used in investing activities		(294		)	(101		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Capital lease payments		(25		)	(21		)
Proceeds from the issuance of stock		1,109			1
Restricted cash		—			(500		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		1,084			(520		)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		8,744			(3,574		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		8,601			11,796
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	17,345		$	8,222
Supplemental disclosure of other cash and non-cash financing transactions:
Interest paid		$	14		$	20

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

3

 

EVOLVING SYSTEMS, INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(1)  Basis of Presentation

 

Interim Financial Statements. The accompanying financial statements of Evolving Systems, Inc. (“Evolving Systems”, 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 are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The unaudited financial statements included in this document have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements, and in management’s opinion, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation in accordance with GAAP. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that the Company will have for any subsequent quarter or full fiscal year.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes to those statements for the year ended December 31, 2002 including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Business Combination. On November 3, 2003, the Company acquired CMS Communications, Inc. (Note 11).

 

Reclassifications. Certain prior periods’ balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

 

Prior period revenue and costs of revenue balances, excluding depreciation and amortization have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.  The Company evaluates its business on a project basis, separately managing its delivery of new projects from recurring customer support projects.  Delivery projects include software licenses fees, custom development, integration and time and materials work.  Support projects include recurring maintenance fees, annual support fees and warranty maintenance.  Warranty maintenance revenues are withheld from the percent complete calculation on a project and are recognized ratably over the warranty period.  Prior to 2003, the Company classified license fees and those services directly related to the delivery of the licensed product, along with warranty maintenance, as license fees and related services.  Customer support and other services included the remaining revenue types.  Beginning in 2003, all delivery projects are classified as license fees and services and all support projects are classified as customer support.  This reclassification has not impacted the Company’s revenue recognition policy.  There was no effect on total revenue or net income (loss) for any of the periods presented.  The table below summarizes (in thousands) the effect of the reclassifications on the reported revenue and costs of revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002.

 

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2002			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
Revenue
License fees and related services (as previously reported)		$	3,547		$	6,877
Warranty maintenance		(340		)	(1,155		)
Services		746			2,116
License fees and services (reclassified)		3,953			7,838
Customer support other services (as previously reported)		3,093			8,768
Warranty maintenance		340			1,155
Services		(746		)	(2,116		)
Customer support (reclassified)		2,687			7,807
Total revenue (as previously reported and reclassified)		$	6,640		$	15,645
Costs of revenue
Costs of license fees and related services, excluding depreciation and amortization (as previously reported)		$	692		$	3,195
Warranty maintenance		(309		)	(1,393		)
Services		678			2,564
Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization (reclassified)		1,061			4,366
Costs of customer support and other services, excluding depreciation and amortization (as previously reported)		2,811			10,477
Warranty maintenance		309			1,393
Services		(678		)	(2,564		)
Costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization (reclassified)		2,442			9,306
Total costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization (as previously reported and reclassified)		$	3,503		$	13,672

 

4

 

(2)  Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”) was computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS was computed using the weighted average number of common shares plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period unless the effect of the potential common shares was anti-dilutive.

 

No reconciliation of the EPS numerators was necessary for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, as net income (loss) was used as the numerator for each period.  The reconciliation of the EPS denominator is as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003		2002		2003		2002
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic		14,318		13,297		13,880		13,294
Dilutive effect of common stock options and warrants		2,575		—		1,676		—
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted		16,893		13,297		15,556		13,294

 

Options to purchase 3,900 and 166,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the dilutive common stock calculation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively because their exercise prices were greater than the average fair market value of the Company’s stock for the period.  Options and warrants to purchase 5,100,000 and 4,700,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the dilutive stock option calculation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, respectively because their exercise prices were greater than the average fair market value of the Company’s stock for the period.  Options and warrants to purchase an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock whose exercise prices were below the average fair market value of the Company’s stock were excluded from the dilutive stock option calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 because, due to the net loss for the period, they would be anti-dilutive.

 

(3)  Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” or APB No. 25, and related interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options.  Under APB No. 25, because the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options is generally equal to the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant, no compensation expense is recognized.  Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Disclosure of Stock-Based Compensation” or SFAS No. 123, establishes an alternative method of expense recognition for stock-based compensation awards to employees based on estimated fair values.  The Company elected not to adopt SFAS No. 123 for expense recognition purposes.

 

5

 

In accordance with the interim disclosure provisions of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure-an Amendment of SFAS No. 123” the pro forma effect on the Company’s net income or loss had compensation expense been recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, as determined under the fair value method, as prescribed in SFAS No. 123, is shown below (in thousands, except per share data).

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Net income (loss):
As reported		$	2,084		$	239		$	6,436		$	(14,038	)
Stock based compensation expense under the fair value method		1,169			379			2,345			1,362
Pro forma net income (loss)		$	915		$	(140	)	$	4,091		$	(15,400	)
Net income (loss) per common share:
As reported
Basic		$	0.15		$	0.02		$	0.46		$	(1.06	)
Diluted		$	0.12		$	0.02		$	0.41		$	(1.06	)
Pro forma
Basic		$	0.06		$	(0.01	)	$	0.29		$	(1.16	)
Diluted		$	0.05		$	(0.01	)	$	0.26		$	(1.16	)

 

(4)  Concentration of Credit Risk

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2003, the Company recognized 75% (25%, 20%, 19% and 11%) of total revenue from four significant customers (greater than 10%), all in the telecommunications industry.  For the three months ended September 30, 2002, the Company recognized 60% (30%, 21% and 9%) of total revenue from three significant customers (greater than 10%), all in the telecommunications industry.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company recognized 64% (24%, 23% and 17%) of total revenue from four significant customers (greater than 10%), all in the telecommunications industry.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2002, the Company recognized 62% (28%, 24% and 10%) of total revenue from three significant customers (greater than 10%), all in the telecommunications industry.

 

As of September 30, 2003, three significant customers (greater than 10%) accounted for approximately 66% (38%, 17% and 11%) of contract receivables.  At December 31, 2002, two significant customers (greater than 10%) accounted for approximately 85% (43% and 42%) of contract receivables.

 

(5)  Income Taxes

 

As of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the Company continued to maintain a full valuation allowance due to the uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to utilize its deferred tax asset.  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 only 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 assured that such benefits will be realized.

 

At September 30, 2003, the Company determined that a provision for income taxes of $126,000 was necessary related to estimated year to date taxes owed for alternative minimum tax and state income taxes.

 

(6)  Stock Option Exchange Program

 

On September 4, 2002, the Company announced a voluntary stock option exchange program for its employees.  Under the program, employees were given the opportunity to elect to cancel outstanding stock options held by them in exchange for an equal number of replacement options to be granted at a future date.  The elections to cancel options were effective on October 2, 2002.  The exchange resulted in voluntary cancellation of 1,586,254 employee stock options with exercise prices ranging from $2.19 to $9.57, in exchange for the same number of replacement options.  Replacement options of 1,400,832 were issued on April 4, 2003, as a result of the stock option exchange program.  The replacement options have the same terms and conditions as each optionee’s cancelled options, including expiration date for the cancelled options, except that: (1) all replacement options have an exercise price of $2.85, which is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on April 4, 2003 and (2) six months was added to the vesting

 

6

 

schedule of the replacement options granted.  Based on the authoritative guidance in place at the time the program was executed, the Company did not incur any compensation charges in connection with the program.

 

(7)  Restructuring and Other Expenses

 

In early 2002, management implemented a restructuring plan (the “Plan”) due to the continued downturn in the 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. The remaining accrual as of September 30, 2003 is approximately $240,000.

 

Work force reductions.  The Company paid severance, benefits and other related services to employees that were terminated during 2002.  All terminations were completed as of December 31, 2002.  The Company recorded an adjustment to the work force reductions accrual related to a settlement of severance benefits, resulting in a benefit of $93,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.  As of September 30, 2003, there are no liabilities remaining related to these work force reductions.

 

The following table summarizes the number of employee positions eliminated through December 31, 2002 in accordance with the Plan:

 

Product delivery, support and development		131
Sales and marketing		18
General and administrative		16
Total		165

 

Restructure of headquarters lease.  In 2002, the Company restructured and amended its lease agreement on its Englewood, Colorado headquarters lease and recorded a lease cancellation charge and related liability.  The amended lease decreased the overall leased square footage and decreased the lease term from February 2016 to May 2007.  In addition, as security for the amended lease obligation, the Company restricted $500,000 of its cash through the issuance of a letter of credit to its landlord in the third quarter of 2002. The restricted cash requirement will expire by $100,000 in December 2004, $100,000 in December 2005 and the remainder in May 2007 provided the Company has complied with the lease terms.  As all payments were made as of September 30, 2003, there is no liability related to the restructuring of the headquarters lease.

 

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.  As of September 30, 2003 approximately $139,000 was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and approximately $101,000 was included in long-term obligations, related to the closure of the satellite offices.

 

Impairment of assets.  The Company recorded a non-cash expense for the impairment of assets during 2002. The majority of this charge resulted from the abandonment of leasehold improvements relating to the restructuring of its headquarters lease and the remainder was due to the abandonment of furniture and equipment related to the Company’s employee reductions. These assets were taken out of service and disposed of in the second quarter of 2002.

 

Other Costs.  The Company recorded an expense related to other assets that would no longer be utilized by the Company as a result of the restructuring.  All related assets were taken out of service in the second quarter of 2002.

 

7

 

The following table summarizes the components of the restructuring and other expenses, the payments made during the period presented and the remaining accrual as of September 30, 2003 (in thousands):

 

		Work Force Reductions			Restructure of Headquarters Lease			Closure of Satellite Offices			Restructuring Costs Subtotal			Impairment of Assets			Other Costs			Total Restructuring and Other Charges
1st quarter expense		$	301		$	—		$	340		$	641		$	—		$	—		$	641
1st quarter cash payments		(301		)	—			—			(301		)	—			—			(301		)
Accrual balance March 31, 2002		—			—			340			340			—			—			340
2nd quarter expense		900			1,803			127			2,830			1,094			116			4,040
2nd quarter disposal of assets		—			347			—			347			—			(116		)	231
2nd quarter cash payments, net		(610		)	—			(138		)	(748		)	—			—			(748		)
Accrual balance June 30, 2002		290			2,150			329			2,769			1,094			—			3,863
3rd quarter expense		310			—			—			310			—			—			310
3rd quarter assets retired		—			—			—			—			(1,094		)	—			(1,094		)
3rd quarter cash payments, net		(190		)	(800		)	(139		)	(1,129		)	—			—			(1,129		)
Accrual balance September 30, 2002		410			1,350			190			1,950			—			—			1,950
4th quarter expense		29			26			17			72			26			(10		)	88
4th quarter cash payments, net		(289		)	(300		)	(50		)	(639		)	—			—			(639		)
4th quarter adjustments		—			—			—			—			(26		)	10			(16		)
Accrual balance December 31, 2002		150			1,076			157			1,383			—			—			1,383
1st quarter expense and adjustments		(13		)	—			131			118			—			—			118
1st quarter cash payments, net		(57		)	(476		)	(27		)	(560		)	—			—			(560		)
Accrual balance March 31, 2003		80			600			261			941			—			—			941
2nd quarter expense and adjustments		(80		)	—			—			(80		)	—			—			(80		)
2nd quarter cash payments, net		—			(600		)	(1		)	(601		)	—			—			(601		)
Accrual balance June 30, 2003		—			—			260			260			—			—			260
3rd quarter cash payments, net		—			—			(20		)	(20		)	—			—			(20		)
Accrual balance September 30, 2003		$	—		$	—		$	240		$	240		$	—		$	—		$	240

 

(8)  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, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations as its chief operating decision makers. These chief operating decision makers review the 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 and services revenue and customer support revenue (as shown on the Statements of Operations).  The Company provides products and services solely within the United States geographic area.  Total assets have not been specified because the information is not available to the chief operating decision-making group.  As mentioned in Note 1, in the first quarter of 2003 the Company reviewed how it evaluates its business.  The Company evaluates its business on a project basis, separately managing its delivery of new projects from recurring support projects.  Delivery projects include software licenses fees, custom development, integration and time and materials work.  Support projects include recurring maintenance fees, annual support fees and warranty maintenance.  Warranty maintenance revenues are withheld from the percent complete calculation on a project and are recognized ratably over the warranty period. Prior to 2003, the Company classified license fees and those services directly related to the delivery of the licensed product, along with warranty maintenance, as license fees and related services.  Customer support and other services included the remaining revenue types.  Beginning in 2003, all delivery projects are classified as license fees and services and all support projects are classified as customer support.  The segments currently being reported were not in use for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 but those balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.  There was no effect on total revenue or net income (loss) as a result of the reclassification for any of the periods presented.

 

8

 

Revenue and costs of revenue information by segments are as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Revenue
License fees and services (Note 1)		$	3,948		$	3,953		$	12,133		$	7,838
Customer support (Note 1)		3,200			2,687			10,045			7,807
		7,148			6,640			22,178			15,645
Segment profit (loss), excluding depreciation and amortization
License fees and services (Note 1)		2,808			2,892			7,812			3,472
Customer support (Note 1)		1,773			245			5,644			(1,499		)
		4,581			3,137			13,456			1,973
Other operating expenses		2,143			2,211			6,075			9,686
Depreciation and amortization		269			396			918			1,404
Restructuring and other		—			310			38			4,991
Income (loss) from operations		$	2,169		$	220		$	6,425		$	(14,108	)

 

(9)  Commitments and contingencies

 

In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB issued FASB Interpretation, or FIN, No. 45 “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57, and 107 and rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34,” or FIN No. 45. FIN No. 45 requires that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of certain guarantees, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken by issuing the guarantee. The accounting requirements for the initial recognition of guarantees are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The Interpretation also requires disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain other guarantees it has issued, even where those guarantees do not fall within the scope of liability provisions of FIN No. 45. The following is a summary of  the Company’s agreements that management has determined are within the liability provisions and the disclosure provisions of FIN No. 45.

 

As permitted under Delaware law, we have agreements with our officers and directors under which we agree to indemnify them for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at our request in this capacity.  The term of the indemnification period is indefinite.  There is no limit on the amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements; however, we maintain Directors and Officers insurance policies, as well as an Employment Practices Liability Insurance Policy, that may enable us to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of our insurance policy coverage, we believe the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal.  Accordingly, we have no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of September 30, 2003.

 

We enter into standard indemnification terms with our customers, as discussed below, in our ordinary course of business. Because we subcontract some of the development of our deliverables under our customer contracts, we could be required to indemnify our customers for work performed by our subcontractors. Depending upon the nature of the customer indemnification, the potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements may be unlimited. We may be able to recover damages from a subcontractor if the indemnification to our customers results from the subcontractor’s failure to perform. To the extent we are unable to recover damages from our subcontractors, the Company could be required to reimburse the indemnified party for the full amount. We have never incurred costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims relating to indemnification arising out of our subcontractors’ failure to perform.

 

We enter into standard indemnification terms with our customers in the ordinary course of business under which we agree to indemnify our customers for certain claims arising out of our performance under our contracts.  As these represent guarantees of our own performance, no liability has been recognized under FIN 45.

 

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(10) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus on Issue No. 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“EITF No. 00-21”). This issue addresses how revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated to the identified separate accounting units. EITF No. 00-21 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003. Where multiple elements exist in an arrangement, the arrangement fee is allocated to the different elements based upon verifiable objective evidence of the fair value of the elements. The adoption of EITF No. 00-21 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  SFAS 149 provides for certain changes in the accounting treatment of derivative contracts.  SFAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, except for certain provisions that relate to SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issues that have been effective for fiscal quarters that began prior to June 15, 2003, which should continue to be applied in accordance with their respective effective dates.  The guidance should be applied prospectively.  The adoption of SFAS 149 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

Also in May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.”  This new statement changes the accounting for certain financial instruments that, under previous guidance, issuers could account for as equity.  It requires that those instruments be classified as liabilities in the balance sheets.  Most of the guidance in SFAS 150 is effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the Company’s first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The adoption of SFAS 150 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

(11)  Subsequent events

 

On November 3, 2003, the Company acquired privately-held CMS Communications, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio for 732,773 shares of Evolving Systems common stock, of which 10% will be held in escrow for up to one year.  The acquisition will be treated as a business combination and the results of operations will be combined from the purchase date forward.  The purchase price of approximately $10.7 million is based on the market price of the Company’s common stock for a reasonable period before and after the date of the acquisition, in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.”  The Company believes that CMS’s network management products will fit its solutions business model and provide additional opportunities with its tier one customers.

 

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.  Risk 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, 2002 under “Risk Factors” on pages 8 through 13 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 innovative and cost-effective software solutions to tier one telecommunications companies. We maintain long-standing relationships with many of the largest wireline and wireless telecommunications providers in North America. Our customers rely on us to develop, deploy, enhance and maintain complex, highly reliable software solutions for a range of Operations Support Systems (OSS) as well as integration services around these systems. Our customers include five of the largest wireline carriers in North America, representing approximately 90 percent of U.S. access lines, and four major wireless carriers, representing greater than 20 percent of U.S. wireless subscribers. We offer software solutions that enable our customers to comply with government-mandated requirements regarding local number portability (LNP) for wireline, and wireless

 

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number portability (WNP). We also offer our phone number inventory assignment and reporting software, NumeriTrack®, which allows the wireline and wireless carriers to comply with the government phone number conservation mandates. We are uniquely positioned as a provider of OSS, network solutions and comprehensive systems integration capabilities because these complementary competencies enable us to more completely implement solutions across a customer’s infrastructure.

 

Founded in 1985, we initially focused on providing custom software development and professional services to a limited number of telecommunications companies. In 1996, concurrent with passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, we made a strategic decision to add licensed software products to our established professional services offerings. Since that time we have built a strong product portfolio that includes, but is not limited to, number portability software that enables carriers to meet Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements that consumers be permitted to retain their phone numbers when changing service providers; and number conservation software that addresses FCC mandates to extend the life of the North American Numbering Plan. Number conservation or number pooling is mandated for all U.S. carriers and is in various stages of implementation for both U.S. wireline and wireless carriers today.

 

Number Portability is mandated and implemented for U.S. wireline carriers today and is scheduled to be implemented by all U.S. wireless carriers by November 24, 2003. At a summary level, the level of impact of wireless number portability, or WNP, on Evolving Systems depends upon at least three variables that are out of our control:

 

•  Whether or not wireless number portability starts as planned on November 24^th,

•  How much additional porting volume occurs and how soon, and

•  How well prepared the carriers are when the volume increases

 

We foresee potential revenue resulting from WNP. For example, although we don’t license our products on a per-port basis, increased porting volume could cause our customers to require additional hardware platforms and/or processing capacity, which may result in additional license fees under our licensing model.  In addition, modifications or enhancements, as well as additional testing and integration services, may be required by our customers to handle the WNP volumes. It is difficult to quantify the revenue potential at this time.

 

Historically, we have helped our customers integrate our products into their existing OSS environments. In 2002, we initiated a restructuring plan which, in addition to significant operational cost reductions, included the reengineering of our solutions strategy to reflect a more balanced mix of services and products. We branded our new business strategy ServiceXpress™.

 

ServiceXpress Strategy

 

Our ServiceXpress strategy is a solutions model that focuses on providing our customers with high quality solutions that meet their specific needs, as quickly as feasible, at the lowest possible price. We work with our customers using our deep domain knowledge to identify precisely what they want. We minimize the cost and maximize the speed of delivery by using low-cost offshore development, incorporating our products and ServiceXpress tools into the solution, as well as third party products and tools. We also provide efficient lifecycle support. We achieve high quality by following our ServiceXpress methodology that defines a repeatable process for developing, delivering and supporting high quality solutions. Most of our solutions are provided for a fixed price which allows our customers to benefit from the savings we achieve while providing us with what we think is a fair margin. We strive to be a premier low-cost provider of high-quality, mission-critical software solutions for wireline and wireless telecommunications carriers.

 

After we deliver a solution to one of our customers, we pursue follow-on business that includes software development services, software enhancements to our products and related integration, as well as customer support and maintenance services. Because the solutions we provide usually perform functions that are required for the operation of our customer’s business, we expect follow-on revenue to occur for several years after an initial sale.

 

While providing support and maintenance services, we become aware of new opportunities with our customers. This also allows us to expand our product portfolio and ServiceXpress tools to solve our customers’ needs, generally in their back office systems environment.  Our ServiceXpress strategy is currently used in support of most of our customer engagements.

 

Acquisition Strategy

 

On November 3, 2003, we acquired CMS Communications, Inc. (“CMS”), a privately held company located in Columbus, Ohio.  CMS provides network management operations support software for major U.S. telecommunications carriers helping them maximize their network’s performance by automating key network management functions and providing convenient access to vital network operations data.  We believe CMS’s network management products will fit our solutions business model and provide us with additional opportunities to provide our tier one customers with solutions that meet their needs at the lowest possible price.  In the

 

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future, we may acquire additional assets or businesses, that we believe fit our solutions business model and serve as the foundation for further growth.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based on our 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 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

 

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, 2002.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table presents the Company’s Statements of Operations reflected as a percentage of total revenue.

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003		2002		2003		2002
REVENUE
License fees and services (Note 1)		55	%	60	%	55	%	50	%
Customer support (Note 1)		45	%	40	%	45	%	50	%
Total revenue		100	%	100	%	100	%	100	%
COSTS OF REVENUE AND OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization (Note 1)		16	%	15	%	20	%	28	%
Cost of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization (Note 1)		20	%	37	%	20	%	59	%
Sales and marketing		10	%	11	%	10	%	26	%
General and administrative		12	%	17	%	12	%	29	%
Product development		8	%	5	%	5	%	7	%
Depreciation and amortization		4	%	6	%	4	%	9	%
Restructuring and other expenses		0	%	5	%	0	%	32	%
Total costs of revenue and operating expenses		70	%	96	%	71	%	190	%
Income (loss) from operations		30	%	4	%	29	%	(90	)%
Other income, net		1	%	0	%	1	%	0	%
Income (loss) before income taxes		31	%	4	%	30	%	(90	)%
Provision for income taxes		2	%	0	%	1	%	0	%
Net income (loss)		29	%	4	%	29	%	(90	)%

 

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The three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002

 

Revenue

 

Revenue is comprised of license fees and services and customer support.  License fees and services represent the fees we receive from the license of our software products and those services directly related to the delivery of the licensed product as well as custom development, integration services and time and materials work.  Support projects include recurring maintenance fees, annual support fees and warranty maintenance.  Warranty maintenance revenues are withheld from the percent complete calculation on a project and are recognized ratably over the warranty period.  Prior to 2003, we classified license fees and those services directly related to the delivery of the licensed product, along with warranty maintenance, as license fees and related services (Note 1).  Customer support and other services included the remaining revenue types.  Beginning in 2003, all delivery projects will be classified as license fees and services and all support projects will be classified as customer support.  This change has not impacted our revenue recognition policy.  There was no effect on total revenue or net income (loss) for any of the periods presented.  Total revenues were $7.1 million and $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and $22.2 million and $15.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

License Fees and Services

 

License fees and services revenues decreased less than 1% to $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, from $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  License fees and services revenues decreased, despite an increase in the number of projects being worked in the three months ended September 30, 2003 versus 2002.  The increase in projects worked is due to the transition to a solutions business model, internal stabilization following the restructuring that took place in early 2002 and improved customer confidence related to the our improving financial condition.  The increase in revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2002, is due to a significant project, which we decreased total estimated hours to complete on, which resulted in an increase in revenue.

 

License fees and services revenues increased 55% to $12.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, from $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The increase in license fees and services revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 is due the transition to a solutions business model, internal stabilization following the 2002 restructuring and improved customer confidence related to the our improving financial condition, as well as $1.6 million of license revenue from a large LNP project that was completed in the first quarter of 2003.

 

Customer Support

 

Customer support revenues increased 19% to $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, from $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The increase in customer support for the three months ended September 30, 2003 is due to an increase in our installed licensed software base upon which support fees are charged.

 

Customer support revenues increased 29% to $10.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, from $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The increase in customer support for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 is due to an increase in our installed licensed software base upon which support fees are charged.

 

Costs of Revenue, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

 

Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, consist primarily of personnel costs, offshore development subcontractor costs, facilities costs, the costs of third-party software and all other direct costs associated with this personnel. Total costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $2.6 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and $8.7 million and $13.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Costs of License Fees and Services, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

 

Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $1.1 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The costs stayed relatively consistent during the period due to the stabilization of the workforce and approximately the same amount of revenues during the periods.  As a percentage of license fees and services revenue, costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased to 29% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 27% for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The increase as a percentage of license fees and services revenue is due to the decrease in total hours on a significant project during the three months ended September 30, 2002, that increased revenue and resulted in high margins on the project.

 

Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $4.3 million and $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease of $45,000, or 1% is due to decreased employee related expenses

 

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resulting from staff reductions in 2002 and reduced facilities costs related to the Company’s restructuring plan.  As a percentage of license fees and services revenue, costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization decreased to 36% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 56% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of license fees and services revenue is due to increased revenues in the nine months ended 2003 compared to 2002 and a decrease in costs resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan.

 

Costs of Customer Support, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization

 

Costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $1.4 million and $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease of $1.0 million, or 42%, is due to decreased employee-related expenses resulting from staff reductions in 2002, reduced facilities costs related to the Company’s restructuring plan and increased hours worked in product development.  As a percentage of customer support revenue, costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased to 45% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 91% for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues in the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002 and decreased costs resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan.

 

Costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $4.4 million and $9.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease of $4.9 million, or 53%, is due to decreased employee related expenses resulting from staff reductions in 2002 and reduced facilities costs related to the Company’s restructuring plan.  As a percentage of customer support revenue, costs of customer support, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased to 44% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 119% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues in the first three quarters of 2003 compared to 2002 and decreased costs resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan.

 

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 $684,000 and $766,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease of $82,000, or 11%, is due to decreased advertising costs.  As a percentage of total revenue, sales and marketing expenses decreased to 10% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 11% for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues in the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002 and decreased advertising expenses.

 

Sales and marketing expenses were $2.1 million and $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease of $1.9 million, or 48%, is due to decreased employee related expenses resulting from a reduction in our sales and marketing staff, related to the Company’s restructuring plan, as well as decreases in travel and entertainment, trade shows and advertising costs.  As a percentage of total revenue, sales and marketing expenses decreased to 10% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 26% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues in the first three quarters of 2003 compared to 2002, decreased costs resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan and decreased advertising expenses.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses consist principally of compensation costs, including bonuses, for facilities, finance, legal, human resources and general management personnel.  General and administrative expenses were $891,000 and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The decrease of $221,000, or 20%, is due to decreased salary expenses resulting from staff reductions in 2002, partially offset by increased bonus expense, and reduced facilities costs related to the Company’s restructuring plan.  As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expenses decreased to 12% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 17% for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues in the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002 and decreased costs resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan.

 

General and administrative expenses were $2.7 million and $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The decrease of $1.9 million, or 40%, is due to decreased salary expenses resulting from staff reductions in 2002, partially offset by increased bonus expense, and reduced facilities costs related to the Company’s restructuring plan.  As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expenses decreased to 12% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 29% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues in the first three quarters of 2003 compared to 2002 and decreased costs resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan.

 

Product Development

 

Product development expenses consist primarily of personnel, occupancy, and offshore development subcontractor expenses.  Product development expenses were $568,000 and $333,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase of $235,000, or 71%, is due to our work on development of our ServiceXpress toolkit and our WNP readiness program.  As a

 

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percentage of revenue, product development expenses increased to 8% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 5% for the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The increase as a percentage of revenue is due to the increased hours worked in the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002.

 

Product development expenses were $1.2 million and $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase of $146,000, or 14%, is due to our work on development of our ServiceXpress toolkit.  As a percentage of revenue, product development expenses decreased to 5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease as a percentage of revenue is due to increased revenues for the period.

 

Restructuring and Other Expense

 

Restructuring and other expenses of $0 and $310,000 were recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and $38,000 and $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, in accordance with the Company’s restructuring plan, as follows:

 

•                  Work force reductions.  We reduced our staff by 41, 78 and 29 people in the first, second and third quarters of 2002, respectively.  All departments within the Company were impacted by the reductions.  As a result, we recorded restructuring and other expenses associated with these reductions in staff of approximately $0 and $310,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  We recorded expenses (benefits) of ($93,000) and $1.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, related to the work force reductions.  The Company recorded an adjustment to the work force reductions accrual related to a settlement of severance benefits, resulting in a benefit of $80,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.  All payments for these employees were contractually defined, fixed, and communicated during the applicable quarter.  At September 30, 2003 there was no remaining liability related to these workforce reductions.

 

•                  Closure of satellite offices.  We closed all of our satellite field offices during the six months ended June 30, 2002.  No costs to sublease or terminate the lease commitments were recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  Estimated costs to sublease or terminate the lease commitments of $131,000 and $467,000 were recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively; the 2003 expense is related to an adjustment of our estimate of our office closure liability due to lower than expected sublease income.  At September 30, 2003, approximately $139,000 was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and approximately $101,000 was included in long-term obligations related to these office closures, which will be paid over the remaining lease terms, ranging from 13 months to 31 months.

 

Other Income, Net

 

Other income, net, was $41,000 and $19,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The increase is due to higher interest income as a result of increased cash balances for the three months ended September 30, 2003.

 

Other income, net, was $137,000 and $70,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The increase is due to higher interest income as a result of increased cash balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and a loss on disposal of assets in 2002.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We have historically financed operations through cash flows from operations and equity transactions.  At September 30, 2003, our principal source of liquidity was $17.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, representing 75% of total assets.  Working capital at September 30, 2003 was $11.7 million compared to $3.5 million at December 31, 2002.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2003 our cash and cash equivalents increased to $17.3 million from $8.6 million at December 31, 2002.  This increase is primarily a result of approximately $8.0 million in cash provided by operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.  The cash generated from operating activities is due to improved operating results and collections of our contract receivables.  This increase in operating cash flow 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 as well as a decrease to accounts payable and accrued liabilities due to payments made against our restructuring liability.  Cash provided by financing activities of $1.1 million included proceeds related to the exercise of approximately 640,000 stock options.

 

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, together with anticipated cash flows 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:

 

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•                  Our cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2003 of $17.3 million.

•                  Our profitability in the last five quarters and anticipated profitability during the remainder of 2003.

•                  Our current expense run rate.

•                  Our backlog of approximately $6.9 million, including $3.7 million in license fees and services and $3.2 million in customer support at September 30, 2003.  Customer support backlog typically declines in the first three quarters and increases in the fourth quarter as customers renew their annual maintenance.

 

Notwithstanding these assessments, we may require additional funds to support our business objectives through equity or debt financing. Specifically, additional funds may be needed to support our growth through merger and acquisition. 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.

 

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, 2002. 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.

 

Our operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and are likely to continue to fluctuate significantly in the future. Fluctuations in operating results may cause volatility in the price of our common stock. These quarterly fluctuations may result from a number of factors, including the size of new contracts and when they are signed; our rate of progress under our contracts; the timing of customer and market acceptance of our products and service offerings; management of delivery and quality of software provided by our offshore subcontractors; 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 Telecommunications Act of 1996; 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 renewal rate 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 telecommunications software markets; 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 and general economic conditions. In the past, we earned a significant portion of our revenue from a small number of customers. We expect this will continue. As a result, 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.

 

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 evolving, 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 and results of operations.

 

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, in the past, 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. If we incur budget overruns, our margins and results of operations may be materially harmed.

 

Other factors that might affect operating results:

 

•                  Reliance on few customers.  A significant portion of our revenue and contracts receivable has been and is expected to continue to be derived from a small number of customers. Accordingly, the loss of any significant customer, delays in collections, delivery or acceptance of any of our products or delays in the performance of services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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•                  Adverse trends in the telecommunications industry.  Due to a major downturn in the telecommunications industry which began in the second half of 2000 (and continues to the present), many of the companies in the telecommunications industry have declared bankruptcy, delayed payments to their suppliers or delayed additional purchases.

 

•                  Regulatory issues. We cannot be certain of the nature and pace of enforcement of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  For example, in 2001 Verizon Wireless filed a petition for forbearance from the FCC’s previous mandate to implement wireless number portability (“WNP”).  In July of 2002, the FCC denied that petition, and wireless carriers are now required to implement WNP by November 24, 2003.  There can be no assurance that the FCC will not delay WNP again.

 

•                  Mature market for number portability products.  The market for our number portability products is mature and there can be no assurances that we will successfully identify new product opportunities or will achieve market acceptance of new products brought to the market.  If our products do not perform satisfactorily, or if we have delays in product development, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed.

 

•                  Integration of CMS Communications, Inc. or future acquisitions. The integration of CMS Communications, Inc. 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:

 

• difficulty assimilating the operations and personnel of the acquired company;

 

• difficulty effectively integrating the acquired technologies or products with our current products and technologies;

 

• difficulty in maintaining controls, procedures and policies during the transition and integration;

 

• ongoing business may be disrupted by transition and integration issues;

 

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

 

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

 

• significant exit charges may be sustained if products acquired in business combinations are unsuccessful;

 

• acquisitions 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 will be able to identify and purchase assets and/or companies that will complement our business;

 

• the price of our stock may go down as shareholders receiving stock in connection with the CMS transaction, or any future transaction, elect to sell their shares.

 

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.

 

For a more complete discussion of risk factors that might affect our business, see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus on Issue No. 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“EITF No. 00-21”). This issue addresses how revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated to the identified separate accounting units. EITF No. 00-21 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003. Where multiple elements exist in an arrangement, the arrangement fee is allocated to the different elements based upon verifiable objective evidence of the fair value of the elements. The adoption of EITF No. 00-21 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

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In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  SFAS 149 provides for certain changes in the accounting treatment of derivative contracts.  SFAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, except for certain provisions that relate to SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issues that have been effective for fiscal quarters that began prior to June 15, 2003, which should continue to be applied in accordance with their respective effective dates.  The guidance should be applied prospectively.  The adoption of SFAS 149 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

Also in May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.  This new statement changes the accounting for certain financial instruments that, under previous guidance, issuers could account for as equity.  It requires that those instruments be classified as liabilities in the balance sheets.  Most of the guidance in SFAS 150 is effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the Company’s first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 150 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

ITEM  3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE MARKET RISK DISCLOSURES

 

In the ordinary course of business we are exposed to certain market risks, primarily 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, 2002.

 

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. As of September 30, 2003, 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 is 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.

 

During the first quarter of 2003 we implemented new accounting software. The implementation has increased our access to detailed project information.

 

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.

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES

 

None

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS ON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None

 

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

 

On April 4, 2003, the Company solicited the written consent of its security holders with respect to (a) Election of Directors; and (b) Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditors of the Company. These matters were approved during our Annual Shareholder Meeting held on May 15, 2003.

 

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ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a)                                  Exhibits

 

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

 

(b)                                 Reports on Form 8-K

 

On July 10, 2003, we filed a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting our second quarter 2003 sales bookings.

 

On July 31, 2003, we furnished a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting our 2003 second quarter results.

 

On August 21, 2003 we filed a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting that pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, George A. Hallenbeck, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Evolving Systems. Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an agreement to sell up to 353,500 common shares of the Company owned by Mr. Hallenbeck (the “Plan”).  Under the Plan, Mr. Hallenbeck will sell up to 7,000 shares per week over a period commencing September 8, 2003 and ending September 7, 2004.  It is anticipated that some of the shares to be sold will result from Mr. Hallenbeck’s exercise and sale of certain stock options which are scheduled to expire during the term of the Plan.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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: November 12, 2003	/s/ Brian R. Ervine
	Brian R. Ervine
	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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