Evolving Systems Reports First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

ENGLEWOOD, CO--(Marketwired - May 3, 2016) - Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL)

• Four new customer wins in Q1: Two Dynamic SIM Allocation™ (DSA), one Total Number Management™ (TNM) and one Real-time Lifecycle Marketing™ (RLM)
  
  
• License and services bookings up 11% year over year to $4.7 million from $4.3 million
  
  
• License and service backlog up 27% year over year to $7.0 million from $5.5 million
  
  
• 32^nd consecutive profitable quarter; solid profit metrics with 78% gross margins, 28% adjusted-EBITDA margins
  
  
• Second quarter dividend of $0.11 per share, payable July 1, 2016, to stockholders of record on June 3, 2016
  
  

Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL), a leader in real-time activation, analytics and marketing for connected mobile devices worldwide, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

"We are pleased with the pace of our integration of Sixth Sense Media (SSM) and excited about prospects for growth and enhanced profitability following our transition into the mobile marketing space," said Thomas Thekkethala, president and CEO. "We are setting the standard to enable wireless carriers to monetize their networks and customer data through next generation services ranging from mobile banking and retail to mobile gaming, entertainment and advertising. We are pleased to report two recent RLM wins with carriers in India and Africa, a positive sign that our mobile marketing solutions are effective and producing results for our customers. We are further encouraged by double-digit, year over year increases in first quarter license and services bookings and backlog. We expect 2016 to be a transition year as we complete the integration of SSM's solutions, technical staff and sales organization, and we are optimistic about prospects for long-term profitable growth. 

"We continued to deliver solid profitability in the first quarter, with EPS of $0.04, net of a restructuring charge, and adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 million, up 10% year over year. It was our 32^nd consecutive profitable quarter. Following the SSM transaction, we reduced our annualized operating expenses and at the same time streamlined and strengthened our overall organization, which we believe is highly scalable and capable of generating significant revenue growth and profitability over the long term. In the meantime, we continue to transition from a one-time software license fee model to a recurring revenue model based on managed services, which generates lower revenue in the first year of a relationship but greater revenue and profitability from each customer over the long term." 

Financial Results Recap 

The Company reported net income of $427,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, on revenue of $6.5 million in the first quarter versus net income of $860,000, or $0.07 per diluted share, on revenue of $6.7 million in the same quarter last year. The Company reported adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 million, up 10% over $1.6 million a year ago. 

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2016, were $3.7 million versus $8.4 million at 2015 year-end.  During the first quarter Evolving Systems paid down $4.0 million of its $10.0 million revolving line of credit and converted the remaining $6.0 million into a term loan, which is scheduled to be fully repaid by the end of 2019.

The Company declared a second quarter dividend of $0.11 per share, payable on July 1, 2016, to stockholders of record on June 3, 2016.

Bookings and Backlog Highlights

Total bookings increased 7% year over year to $6.9 million in the first quarter from $6.5 million in the same quarter last year. License and services bookings in the first quarter increased 11% year over year to $4.7 million from $4.3 million. Mobile Marketing Solutions (MMS) license and services bookings increased 70% to $2.9 million from $1.7 million. Customer support bookings in the first quarter were essentially flat at $2.2 million. Bookings are defined as sales orders expected to be recognized as revenue during the following 12 months.

Total backlog at the end of the first quarter increased 21% year over year to $12.6 million from $10.4 million. License and services backlog increased 27% year over year to $7.0 million from $5.5 million and also increased by 15% sequentially from $6.1 million the fourth quarter of 2015. License and services backlog included $5.3 million in MMS, up 48% year over year, and $1.7 million in Tertio® Service Activation (TSA).

Conference Call
The Company will conduct a conference call and webcast today at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The call-in numbers for the conference call are 1-877-303-6316 for domestic toll free and 650-521-5176 for international callers. The conference ID is 91776896. A telephone replay will be available through May 17, 2016, and can be accessed by calling 1-855-859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406. Conference ID 91776896. To access a live webcast of the call, please visit Evolving Systems' website at www.evolving.com, click the 'Investors' tab and then click the 'Q1 earnings call' icon at left. A replay of the Webcast will be accessible at that website through May 17, 2016. The webcast is also available by clicking the following link: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/dmzp3utb

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Evolving Systems reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP). In addition, the Company is providing in this news release non-GAAP financial information in the form of net income, diluted net income per share and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment, stock compensation and gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions). Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors and lenders in evaluating the overall financial health of the Company in that they allow for greater transparency of additional financial data routinely used by management to evaluate performance. Investors and financial analysts who follow the Company use non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted income per share to compare the Company against other companies. Adjusted EBITDA can be useful for lenders as an indicator of earnings available to service debt. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from or as an alternative to the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

About Evolving Systems®
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL) is a provider of software and services to 75 network operators in over 50 countries worldwide. The Company's portfolio includes market-leading subscriber service, SIM card and mobile broadband activation of connected devices and real-time analytics and marketing solutions to monetize mobile network services and consumer behavior. Founded in 1985, the Company has headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Malaysia and Romania. For more information please visit www.evolving.com or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/EvolvingSystems

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on current expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk. Specifically, statements about the impact of the SSM acquisition, the Company's ability to create and sustain a scalable business model, the market for the Company's products, prospects for new customer wins, the Company's ability to deliver and help customers accelerate monetization of new services, and the Company's continued ability to pay dividends, build shareholder value, achieve profitable growth, post quarterly results that are similar to those described in this press release, and generate more revenue per customer are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our expectations and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the Company may not undertake to update these statements. Actual results could vary materially from these expectations. For a more extensive discussion of Evolving Systems' business, and important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2016; Forms 10-Q, 10-Q/A, 8-K and 8-K/A; press releases and the Company's website.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)			Three months ended
			March 31,
			2016				2015
Revenue:
	License fees and services		$	3,850			$	4,339
	Customer support			2,630				2,321
Total revenue				6,480				6,660
Costs of revenue and operating expenses:
	Costs of license fees and services, excluding depreciation and amortization			1,112				1,225
	Costs of customer support excluding depreciation and amortization			337				388
	Sales and marketing			1,380				1,584
	General and administrative			968				907
	Product development			955				1,014
	Depreciation			77				96
	Amortization			196				24
	Restructuring			941				-
Total costs of revenue and operating expenses				5,966				5,238
	Income from operations			514				1,422
Other income (expense):
	Interest income			2				5
	Interest expense			(118	)			(3	)
	Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)			199				(125	)
Other income (expense), net				83				(123	)
Income from operations before income taxes				597				1,299
	Income tax expense			170				439
Net income			$	427			$	860
Basic income per common share			$	0.04			$	0.07
Diluted income per common share			$	0.04			$	0.07
Weighted average basic shares outstanding				11,795				11,668
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding				11,957				11,938

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
					March 31,				December 31,
ASSETS					2016				2015
Current Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents				$	3,664			$	8,400
	Contract receivables, net					8,678				7,727
	Unbilled work-in-progress, net					5,038				4,158
	Prepaid and other current assets					1,470				1,459
		Total current assets				18,850				21,744
Property and equipment, net						476				560
Amortizable intangible assets, net						4,787				4,983
Goodwill						22,690				23,142
		Total assets			$	46,803			$	50,429
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Current portion of capital lease obligations				$	5			$	5
	Revolving line of credit					-				10,000
	Term loan - current					482				-
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities					4,426				4,429
	Income taxes payable					268				324
	Dividends payable					1,298				-
	Contingent earn-out obligation					178				178
Unearned revenue						3,849				3,330
		Total current liabilities				10,506				18,266
Long-term liabilities:
	Capital lease obligations, net					-				1
	Term loan, net					5,500				-
			Total liabilities			16,006				18,267
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock					12				12
	Additional paid-in capital					97,517				97,418
	Treasury stock					(1,253	)			(1,253	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss					(6,592	)			(5,999	)
	Accumulated deficit					(58,887	)			(58,016	)
		Total stockholders' equity				30,797				32,162
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity				$	46,803			$	50,429

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
			Three months ended
			March 31,
			2016				2015
Non-GAAP net income and income per share:
GAAP net income			$	427			$	860
Amortization of intangible assets				196				24
Stock-based compensation expense				76				89
Restructuring				941				-
Income tax adjustment for non-GAAP*				(388	)			(39	)
Non-GAAP net income			$	1,252			$	934
Diluted net income per share
	GAAP		$	0.04			$	0.07
	Non-GAAP		$	0.10			$	0.08
	Shares used to compute diluted EPS			11,957				11,938
			Three months ended
			March 31,
			2016				2015
Adjusted EBITDA:
Net income			$	427			$	860
	Depreciation			77				96
	Amortization of intangible assets			196				24
	Stock-based compensation expense			76				89
	Restructuring			941				-
	Interest expense and other (benefit), net			(83	)			123
	Income tax expense			170				439
Adjusted EBITDA			$	1,804			$	1,631

*The estimated income tax for non-GAAP net income is adjusted by the amount of additional expense that the Company would accrue if it used non-GAAP results instead of GAAP results in the calculation of its tax liability, taking into account in which tax jurisdiction each of the above adjustments would be made and the tax rate in that jurisdiction.

Supplementary Data
(In thousands) (Unaudited)
				Three months ended
				March 31,
Revenue				2016			2015
License fees and services
	MMS*			$	2,715		$	2,367
	TSA				1,135			1,972
		Total license fees and services			3,850			4,339
Customer support
	MMS				1,100			778
	TSA				1,530			1,543
		Total customer support			2,630			2,321
Total revenue				$	6,480		$	6,660
				Three months ended
				March 31,
Bookings				2016			2015
License fees and services
	MMS			$	2,913		$	1,717
	TSA				1,818			2,540
		Total license fees and services			4,731			4,257
Customer support
	MMS				643			555
	TSA				1,538			1,661
		Total customer support			2,181			2,216
Total bookings				$	6,912		$	6,473
				Three months ended
				March 31,
Backlog**				2016			2015
License fees and services
	MMS			$	5,264		$	3,564
	TSA				1,742			1,931
		Total license fees and services			7,006			5,496
Customer support
	MMS				2,176			1,480
	TSA				3,372			3,378
		Total customer support			5,548			4,858
Total backlog				$	12,554		$	10,354

*MMS (Mobile Marketing Services) is comprised of software products Real-time Lifecycle Management™ (RLM), Dynamic SIM Allocation™ (DSA), Mobile Data Enablement™ (MDE) and Total Number Management™ (TNM).
**The change in backlog during the periods presented may not equal the difference between revenue recognized and bookings due to changes in foreign exchange rates.