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8-K - SSI INVESTMENTS II LTD - SSI Investments II Ltdform8-k.htm


 
   FOR:           SSI INVESTMENTS II LIMITED
     
     COMPANY CONTACT:
     Tom McDonald
     Chief Financial Officer
     (603) 324-3000, x4232
 

SSI INVESTMENTS II LIMITED REPORTS THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2011 RESULTS

NASHUA, NH–December 10, 2010—SSI Investments II Limited (“SSI II”), a parent company of SkillSoft Limited (formerly SkillSoft PLC), a leading SaaS provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small- to medium-sized businesses, today announced financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2011.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION
On May 26, 2010, SSI Investments III Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SSII, completed its acquisition of SkillSoft PLC (the “Acquisition”), which was subsequently re-registered as a private limited company and whose corporate name changed from SkillSoft PLC to SkillSoft Limited (“SkillSoft”).  Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the terms the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our” and other similar terms mean (a) prior to the Acquisition of SkillSoft, SkillSoft and its subsidiaries (the “Predecessor”), and (b) from and after the Acquisition of SkillSoft, SSI II and its subsidiaries including SkillSoft (the “Successor”).

Certain information furnished in this press release and the accompanying financial information, is presented for the combined Predecessor and Successor periods.  The information presented includes the results of operations for the period from February 1 to May 25, 2010 of the Predecessor and the results of operations for the period from May 26 to October 31, 2010 of the Successor.  The accompanying financial information refers to the three months ended July 31, 2010 and the nine months ended October 31, 2010 as the combined fiscal 2011 second quarter and the combined nine months ended October 31, 2010, respectively.  Although the presentation of these fiscal periods on an arithmetically combined-basis does not comply with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (referred to hereafter as “non-GAAP”), the Company’s management believes it provides a meaningful method of comparing the current period to the prior period results.

The Company's management has also furnished in this press release and the accompanying financial information non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and days sales outstanding (DSOs) from non-GAAP revenue, which are financial measurements that do not comply with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding to EBITDA certain items of expense and deducting from EBITDA certain items of income that the Company's management believes are not indicative of the Company's future operating performance including, among other things, merger and integration related expenses, stock-based compensation, amortization and business realignment strategy charges.  DSOs from non-GAAP revenue excludes fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenue in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition.  These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.  These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company’s management uses these measurements because they are required to be reported to certain of the Company’s investors, lenders and financial institutions regarding its operations, cash flows and ability to meet its future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements.

 
 

 

 
FISCAL 2011 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

The Company reported total revenue of $52.5 million for its third quarter ended October 31, 2010 of its fiscal year ending January 31, 2011 (fiscal 2011), which represented a $27.9 million decrease from the $80.4 million reported in its third quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010 (fiscal 2010).  Approximately $26.9 million of this decrease related to the fair value adjustments to deferred revenue in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition.  The Company’s deferred revenue balance at October 31, 2010 was approximately $109.6 million as compared to approximately $140.4 million at October 31, 2009.  Approximately $28.3 million of this decrease related to the unamortized fair value adjustments on deferred revenues in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition.

The Company’s net loss was $35.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 as compared to net income of $19.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.  The significant components of the Acquisition and Acquisition related activities include the following for the third quarter ended October 31, 2010 (amounts in millions):
 
 
 Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue in purchase accounting   $ 26.9  
 Amortization of intangible assets related to content and technology        16.0  
 Fair value adjustments to prepaid commissions in purchase accounting     (3.4 )
 Acquisition related expenses     1.0  
 Amortization of intangible assets     10.7  
 Interest expense from new borrowings      15.1   
    $ 66.3   
 
Gross margin was 56% for the Company’s fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to 91% for the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  The decrease in gross margin for the fiscal 2011 third quarter is primarily due to a decrease in revenues from the fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenues in purchase accounting of $26.9 million and the amortization of intangible assets related to content and technology from purchase accounting of $16.0 million.

Research and development expenses decreased to $10.3 million in the fiscal 2011 third quarter from $12.5 million in the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  This decrease was primarily related to incremental localized content development expenses incurred in the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  Research and development expenses were 20% of revenue for the fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to 16% for the fiscal 2010 third quarter, primarily due to a decrease in revenues from the fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenues in purchase accounting of $26.9 million.

Sales and marketing expenses decreased to $22.3 million in the fiscal 2011 third quarter from $23.3 million in the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  Sales and marketing expenses in the current period decreased approximately $3.4 million as a result of the fair value adjustments to prepaid commissions in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition and approximately $0.5 million due to the absence of stock-based compensation expense related to the Predecessor company.  These amounts were partially offset by incremental consulting expenses of approximately $1.5 million and incremental headcount related expenses of $1.2 million, both of which were incurred in the fiscal 2011 third quarter.  Sales and marketing expenses were 42% of revenue for the fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to 29% for the fiscal 2010 third quarter, primarily due to a decrease in revenues from the fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenues in purchase accounting of $26.9 million.
 
 

 
 

 


General and administrative expenses decreased to $7.6 million for the fiscal 2011 third quarter from $7.9 million in the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  This decrease was primarily due to stock-based compensation expense related to the Predecessor company.  General and administrative expenses were 14% of revenue for the fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to 10% for the fiscal 2010 third quarter, primarily due to a decrease in revenues from the fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenues in purchase accounting of $26.9 million.

Interest expense increased to $15.1 million for the fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to $1.6 million for the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  This increase in interest expense is primarily due to the borrowings under the senior credit facilities and senior notes entered into in connection with the Acquisition.

For the combined nine months ended October 31, 2010, the Company’s tax benefit from continuing operations was $10.0 million and consisted of a cash tax provision of $2.4 million and a non-cash tax benefit of $12.4 million.  This compares to a $17.8 million tax provision reported by the Predecessor for the nine months ended October 31, 2009, which consisted of a cash tax provision of approximately $5.9 million and a non-cash tax provision of approximately $11.9 million.  The decrease in the current year tax expense was primarily due to the tax benefit recorded on our loss from operations and the change in the geographic distribution of worldwide earnings resulting, in part, from the effects of purchase accounting related to the Acquisition.  

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2011 third quarter was $31.4 million as compared to $32.1 million for the fiscal 2010 third quarter.  The components of Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA are calculated as follows (amounts in millions):
 
   
Third Quarter
Fiscal 2011
   
Third Quarter
Fiscal 2010
 
 Net (loss) income, as reported   $ (35.3   $ 19.6  
     Interest expense, net      15.1       1.6  
     Depreciation and amortization     0.8       0.8  
     Amortization of intangible assets     26.7       2.2  
     (Benefit) Provision for income taxes      (2.6 )     6.3  
 EBITDA      4.7       30.5  
                 
     Stock-based compensation expense     -       1.4  
     Other (income) expense      0.5       0.2  
     Sponsor fees      0.4       -  
     Consulting and advisory fees     1.3       -  
     Acquisition related expenses     1.0       -  
    Fair value adjustments to prepaid commissions in purchase accounting      (3.4 )     -  
    Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue in purchase accounting      26.9       -  
 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA    $ 31.4     $ 32.1  
 

The Company’s new senior credit facilities require the Company to comply on a quarterly basis with a single financial covenant for the benefit of the revolving credit facility only.  The financial covenant requires the Company to maintain a maximum secured leverage ratio tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter (but failure to maintain the required ratio would not result in a default under the revolving credit facility so long as the revolving credit facility is undrawn at such time). The maximum secured leverage ratio will reduce over time, subject to increase in connection with certain material acquisitions.  The Company’s new senior credit facilities and senior notes also include various nonfinancial covenants.  As of October 31, 2010, the Company is in compliance with this financial covenant and all nonfinancial covenants. 

 
 

 


The Company had approximately $38.0 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash as of October 31, 2010 as compared to $83.0 million as of January 31, 2010.  This decrease is primarily due to use of the Company’s cash in the Acquisition, including $52.7 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of the Predecessor and $2.3 million paid for the settlement of stock options that was netted against the $1,129.2 million purchase price, the repayment of the Predecessor’s senior credit facility with Credit Suisse and certain lenders for $84.4 million, investment purchases of $2.6 million and capital expenditures of $2.1 million.  These decreases were offset by proceeds received from the borrowings under both the new senior credit facilities and the senior notes due 2018, net of debt acquisition fees for $602.8 million and the issuance of ordinary shares for $534.5 million related to the Acquisition.  Additionally, cash was also provided by operations of $26.8 million, from maturities of investments of $6.1 million and from the exercise of stock options under the Company’s various stock option programs and stock purchases made under the Company’s 2004 employee stock purchase plan of $4.7 million.

In order to adequately assess the Company’s collection efforts, taking into account the seasonality of the Company’s business, the Company believes that it is most useful to compare current period days sales outstanding (DSOs) to the prior year period.  Given the quarterly seasonality of bookings, the deferral from revenue of subscription billings may increase or decrease the DSOs on sequential quarterly comparisons.

The Company’s DSOs from non-GAAP revenues were in the targeted range for the fiscal 2011 third quarter. On a net basis, which considers only receivable balances for which revenue has been recorded; DSOs from non-GAAP revenues were 4 days in the fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to 6 days in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and 3 days in the combined second quarter of fiscal 2011.  On a gross basis, which considers all items billed as receivables, DSOs from non-GAAP revenues were 71 days in the fiscal 2011 third quarter as compared to 78 days in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and 69 days in the combined second quarter of fiscal 2011.  The increase in gross and net basis DSOs from non-GAAP revenues from the combined second quarter of fiscal 2011 is primarily attributed to the mix of billing arrangements with extended payment terms.

Supplemental financial information will be available on SkillSoft’s web site www.skillsoft.com at the time of the earnings call.

Conference Call

In conjunction with this release, management will conduct a conference call on Friday, December 10, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. EST to discuss the Company’s third quarter ended October 31, 2010 financial and operating results.  Chuck Moran, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tom McDonald, Chief Financial Officer, will host the call.

To participate in the conference call, dial (800) 322-9079 or (973) 582-2717 for international callers and use the following passcode: 29998980.  The live conference call will be available via the Internet by accessing the SkillSoft Web site at www.skillsoft.com.  Please go to the Web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

A replay will be available from 12:01 p.m. EST on December 11, 2010 until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 18, 2010.  The replay number is (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 for international callers,  passcode: 29998980.  A webcast replay will also be available on SkillSoft’s Web site at www.skillsoft.com.

 
 

 

 
About SSI II
 
On May 26, 2010, SSI Investments III Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SSII, completed its acquisition of SkillSoft PLC, which was subsequently re-registered as a private limited company and its corporate name changed from SkillSoft PLC to SkillSoft Limited.  SkillSoft is a leading SaaS provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses. SkillSoft enables business organizations to maximize business performance through a combination of comprehensive e-learning content, online information resources, flexible learning technologies and support services.

 
Content offerings include business, IT, desktop, compliance and consumer/SMB courseware collections, as well as complementary content assets such as Leadership Development Channel video products, KnowledgeCenter(TM) portals, virtual instructor-led training services and online mentoring services. SkillSoft's Books24x7(R) product offering includes access to more than 25,000 digitized IT and business books, as well as book summaries and executive reports. Technology offerings include the SkillPort(R) learning management system, Search-and-Learn(R), SkillSoft(R) Dialogue(TM), inGenius™ and virtual classroom.
 
 
SkillSoft courseware content described herein is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. SkillSoft has no obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release, upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.
 
 
SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, SkillPort, Search-and-Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, GovEssentials, EngineeringPro, FinancePro, AnalystPerspectives, ExecSummaries, ExecBlueprints, Express Guide, Dialogue and inGenius are trademarks or registered trademarks of SkillSoft Limited in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners, countries.
 

From time to time, including in this press release, we may make forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategy, plans, regulatory, market and industry trends, liquidity and similar matters. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” “target” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. We note that a variety of factors, including known and unknown risks and uncertainties as well as incorrect assumptions, could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, that we are highly leveraged; that our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business; that our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly; that increased competition may result in decreased demand for our products and services; our ability to meet the needs of a rapidly changing, developing market; that our business is subject to currency fluctuations that could adversely affect our operating results; and that we may be unable to protect our proprietary rights.  You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.  Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on those statements.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

###
 
 

 

SSI Investments II and Subsidiaries
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
 
(Unaudited, In thousands)
 
 
                               
                                 
     
Successor
   
Predecessor
   
Successor
   
Predecessor
 
     
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
May 26, (inception) to October 31,
   
For the Periods
February 1, to May 25,
   
Nine Months Ended
 
     
October 31, 2010
   
October 31, 2009
 
2010
   
2010
   
October 31, 2009
 
                                 
Revenues
  $ 52,544     $ 80,402     $ 86,600     $ 97,538     $ 235,767  
Cost of revenues (1)
    7,036       6,845       12,247       9,226       21,842  
Cost of revenues - amortization of intangible assets
    15,986       32       27,692       40       96  
                                           
 
Gross profit
    29,522       73,525       46,661       88,272       213,829  
                                           
Operating expenses:
                                       
 
Research and development (1)
    10,275       12,508       17,653       17,131       31,212  
 
Selling and marketing (1)
    22,254       23,336       36,775       40,378       70,134  
 
General and administrative (1)
    7,569       7,857       13,244       21,828       25,070  
 
Amortization of intangible assets
    10,752       2,118       18,541       1,137       6,690  
 
Acquisition related expenses
    998       -       21,596       15,063       -  
                                           
Total operating expenses
    51,848       45,819       107,809       95,537       133,106  
                                           
                                           
Other (expense) income, net
    (487 )     (220 )     (1,522 )     385       (1,443 )
Interest income
    36       66       52       95       204  
Interest expense
    (15,131 )     (1,633 )     (33,711 )     (3,723 )     (6,110 )
                                           
Income before provision for income taxes
    (37,908 )     25,919       (96,329 )     (10,508 )     73,374  
                                           
(Benefit) provision for income taxes - cash
    1,593       1,011       1,542       906       5,870  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes - non-cash
    (4,213 )     5,278       (9,613 )     (2,800 )     11,924  
                                           
Net (loss) income
  $ (35,288 )   $ 19,630     $ (88,258 )   $ (8,614 )   $ 55,580  
                                           
                                           
(1)
The following summarizes the departmental allocation of the stock-based compensation
                 
                                           
 
Cost of revenues
  $ -     $ 17     $ -     $ 201     $ 66  
 
Research and development
    -       226       -       4,861       742  
 
Selling and marketing
    -       486       -       8,260       1,725  
 
General and administrative
    -       701       -       11,837       2,108  
      $ -     $ 1,430     $ -     $ 25,159     $ 4,641  


 
 

 

SSI Investments II
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(Unaudited, In thousands)
 
   
Successor
   
Predecessor
 
   
October 31, 2010
   
January 31, 2010
 
             
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
  $ 37,106     $ 80,241  
Restricted cash
    922       2,786  
Accounts receivable, net
    64,933       141,828  
Deferred tax assets
    1,360       28,902  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    19,018       23,447  
                 
Total current assets
    123,339       277,204  
                 
Property and equipment, net
    5,415       6,288  
Goodwill
    554,682       238,550  
Intangible assets, net
    617,176       5,227  
Deferred tax assets
    318       49,127  
Other assets
    24,829       9,835  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,325,759     $ 586,231  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
                 
Current maturities of long term debt
  $ 5,344     $ 865  
Accounts payable
    3,399       4,519  
Accrued expenses
    43,039       41,386  
Deferred tax liabilites
    308       -  
Deferred revenue
    109,597       200,369  
                 
Total current liabilities
    161,687       247,139  
                 
Long term debt
    626,887       83,500  
Deferred tax liabilites
    74,181       -  
Other long term liabilities
    4,056       4,432  
Total long-term liabilities
    705,124       87,932  
                 
Total stockholders' equity
    458,948       251,160  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,325,759     $ 586,231  

 
 

 

SSI Investments II
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
(Unaudited, In thousands)
 
                   
   
Successor
   
Predecessor
   
Predecessor
 
         
For the Periods
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
May 26, (inception) to October 31, 2010
   
February 1, to May 25, 2010
   
October 31, 2009
 
                   
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
                   
Net (loss) income
  $ (88,258 )   $ (8,614 )   $ 55,580  
        Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                 
     Share-based compensation
    -       25,159       4,641  
     Depreciation and amortization
    1,661       1,374       3,419  
     Amortization of intangible assets
    46,233       1,177       6,786  
     Provision for (recovery) of bad debts
    (90 )     (52 )     (130 )
     (Benefit) provision for income taxes - non-cash
    (9,613 )     (2,800 )     11,924  
     Non-cash interest expense
    1,903       3,219       854  
     Tax effect related to exercise of non-qualified stock options
    -       282       169  
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
                       
     Accounts receivable
    (9,105 )     86,230       80,962  
     Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets
    (1,752 )     (2,218 )     3,951  
     Accounts payable
    424       (1,559 )     (1,502 )
     Accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities
    3,204       (6,296 )     (10,809 )
     Deferred revenue
    28,140       (41,817 )     (68,029 )
                         
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities
    (27,253 )     54,085       87,816  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
                         
Purchases of property and equipment
    (1,709 )     (438 )     (1,703 )
Acquisition of SkillSoft, net of cash received
    (1,074,181 )     -       -  
Purchases of investments
    -       (2,562 )     (7,762 )
Maturity of investments
    -       6,122       5,212  
Decrease in restricted cash
    1,837       27       998  
                         
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (1,074,053 )     3,149       (3,255 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
                         
Exercise of stock options
    -       3,065       1,343  
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan
    -       1,666       2,192  
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    534,513       -       -  
Proceeds from issuance of U.S. term loan
    306,398       -       -  
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes
    296,448       -       -  
Principal payments on long term debt
    (813 )     (84,365 )     (38,802 )
Acquisition of treasury stock
    -       -       (29,817 )
Tax effect related to exercise of non-qualified stock options
    -       (282 )     (169 )
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    1,136,546       (79,916 )     (65,253 )
                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    1,866       (1,315 )     2,641  
                         
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    37,106       (23,997 )     21,949  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    -       76,682       37,853  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 37,106     $ 52,685     $ 59,802