Comverse Announces Fiscal 2014 Third Quarter Results; Conference Call to be Held Today at 8:00 AM


WAKEFIELD, Mass., Dec. 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comverse, Inc. ("Comverse") (Nasdaq:CNSI) today announced its results for the third fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2014.

Consolidated Highlights: Below is selected consolidated financial information for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2014 and 2013, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), except as noted.

     
Comverse, Inc.: Three Months Ended
October 31,
Nine Months Ended
October 31,
(In thousands) 2014 2013 2014 2013
Total revenue $ 123,119 $ 160,416 $ 357,571 $ 485,987
Costs and expenses        
Cost of revenue 76,624 95,888 232,948 290,336
Research and development, net 15,007 17,536 45,285 50,476
Selling, general and administrative 25,534 31,283 89,228 103,342
Other operating expenses 8,046 1,005 12,701 7,859
Total costs and expenses 125,211 145,712 380,162 452,013
(Loss) income from operations (2,092) 14,704 (22,591) 33,974
Expense adjustments 12,114 5,634 27,877 10,220
Comverse performance (1) 10,022 20,338 5,286 44,194
         
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit 5,138 11,816 (16,895) 26,361
Income tax (expense) benefit (4,188) 11,320 (15,152) (23,452)
Net income (loss) 950 23,136 (32,047) 2,909
Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.04 $ 1.04 $ (1.44) $ 0.13
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.04 $ 1.03 $ (1.44) $ 0.13
         
Interest expense (122) (211) (476) (565)
Depreciation and amortization $ (5,329) $ (4,753) $ (14,890) $ (14,070)
         
Operating margin (1.7)% 9.2% (6.3)% 7.0%
Comverse performance margin 8.1% 12.7% 1.5% 9.1%
         
Net cash used in operating activities (2) $ (16,050) $ (15,028) $ (65,434) $ (5,387)
         
(1) "Comverse performance" has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. See "Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
(2) Includes approximately $10.9 million of cash proceeds related to an Italian VAT refund received during the nine months ended October 31, 2013.

"I am pleased to report that in the quarter just completed, we made good progress, both in the marketplace, within the communication service provider and enterprise markets, as well as operationally, in implementing our recent company realignment. I believe our revised strategy is having an impact and out third quarter results reflects that improvement, compared to the previous quarter," said Philippe Tartavull, President and CEO of Comverse, Inc.

 
Business Segment Highlights:
         
         
  Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
  (Dollars in thousands)
SEGMENT RESULTS        
BSS        
Segment revenue  $ 68,235  $ 70,892  $ 185,262  $ 221,314
Gross margin 45.1% 40.3% 43.0% 38.6%
Income from operations 17,925 12,513 39,280 35,301
Operating margin 26.3% 17.7% 21.2% 16.0%
Segment performance 18,625 13,204 41,377 37,522
Segment performance margin 27.3% 18.6% 22.3% 17.0%
Digital Services        
 Segment revenue  $ 54,884  $ 89,524  $ 172,309  $ 264,673
Gross margin 38.9% 48.0% 37.6% 46.4%
Income from operations 12,786 35,102 42,285 98,914
Operating margin 23.3% 39.2% 24.5% 37.4%
Segment performance 12,885 35,063 42,388 99,093
Segment performance margin 23.5% 39.2% 24.6% 37.4%
All Other        
Loss from operations $ (32,803) $ (32,911) $ (104,156) $ (100,241)
Segment performance (21,488) (27,929) (78,479) (92,421)
 
 
Selected Balance Sheet Highlights: Below is selected balance sheet data:
     
  As of
 (In millions) October 31, 2014 July 31, 2014
     
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 175.5  $ 181.6
Restricted cash (including long-term restricted cash) and bank time deposits 44.0 72.7
Total  $ 219.5  $ 254.3

On August 6, 2014, the escrow under the merger of Verint Systems Inc. and Comverse Technology, Inc. was released and the company received the escrow amount of approximately $25.0 million.

Conference Call Details

Comverse will be conducting a conference call today, December 10, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. ET. To listen to the conference call live, please dial (678) 825-8369. Please dial-in at least ten minutes before the scheduled start time. A live webcast can be accessed at www.comverse.com by following links to the events and presentations page under the Investors section. Following the call, a replay of the webcast will be archived in the same location.

Segment Performance

We evaluate our business by assessing the performance of each of our operating segments. Our Chief Executive Officer is our chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The CODM uses segment performance, as defined below, as the primary basis for assessing the financial results of the operating segments and for the allocation of resources. Segment performance, as we define it in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's guidance relating to segment reporting, is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies.

Segment performance is computed by management as (loss) income from operations adjusted for the following: (i) stock-based compensation expense; (ii) amortization of intangible assets; (iii) compliance-related professional fees; (iv) compliance-related compensation and other expenses; (v) strategic-related costs (vi) write-off of property and equipment; (vii) certain litigation settlements and related costs; (viii) Italian VAT recovery recorded within operating expense; (ix) restructuring expenses; and (x) certain other gains and expenses. Compliance-related professional fees relate to fees and expenses recorded in connection with our efforts to remediate material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We provide Comverse performance, a non-GAAP financial measure, as additional information for our operating results. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP financial measures and may be different from, or not comparable to similarly titled or other non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. We believe that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends relating to our results of operations as viewed by management in monitoring our businesses, reviewing financial results and for planning purposes. See "Consolidated Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

About Comverse, Inc.

At the core of the evolution of how we communicate, exchange information and monetize the digital world, Comverse enables the creation and monetization of innovative digital services for telecom and enterprise service providers through its proven and innovative product portfolio that includes managed BSS and Policy (PCRF), Enterprise Billing and Digital Services - all backed by Managed and Professional Services. Comverse's extensive customer base spans more than 125 countries with solutions successfully delivered to over 450 communication service providers serving more than two billion subscribers. Comverse's solutions are available in a variety of delivery models, including on-site, cloud, hosted/SaaS and managed services. For more information, visit www.comverse.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include financial projections, statements of plans and objectives for future operations, statements of future economic performance, and statements of assumptions relating thereto. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "may," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "potential," "projects," "forecasts," "intends," or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results, performance and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. Such risks or uncertainties may give rise to future claims and increase exposure to contingent liabilities. These risks and uncertainties relate to (among other factors) the market price of our stock, operating expenses and cash flows, variability of our tax provision, and the additional risks described in the sections entitled "Forward-Looking Statements" and Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 16, 2014, or in subsequently filed periodic, current or other reports. We undertake no commitment to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

These risks and uncertainties discussed above, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in our filings with the SEC. The documents and reports we file with the SEC are available through us, or our website, www.comverse.com, or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.

 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
         
  Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
Revenue:        
Product revenue  $ 25,482  $ 49,413  $ 73,768  $ 158,808
Service revenue 97,637 111,003 283,803 327,179
Total revenue 123,119 160,416 357,571 485,987
Costs and expenses:        
Product costs 13,729 23,551 39,537 79,936
Service costs 62,895 72,337 193,411 210,400
Research and development, net 15,007 17,536 45,285 50,476
Selling, general and administrative 25,534 31,283 89,228 103,342
Other operating expenses:        
Restructuring expenses and write-off of property and equipment 8,046 1,005 12,701 7,859
Total other operating expenses 8,046 1,005 12,701 7,859
Total costs and expenses 125,211 145,712 380,162 452,013
 (Loss) income from operations (2,092) 14,704 (22,591) 33,974
Interest income 126 121 341 436
Interest expense (122) (211) (476) (565)
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss), net 7,257 (2,733) 6,327 (7,761)
Other (expense) income, net (31) (65) (496) 277
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit 5,138 11,816 (16,895) 26,361
Income tax (expense) benefit (4,188) 11,320 (15,152) (23,452)
Net income (loss)  $ 950  $ 23,136  $ (32,047)   $ 2,909
Weighted average common shares outstanding:        
Basic 22,216,878 22,218,600 22,304,366 22,138,389
Diluted 22,294,590 22,412,267 22,304,366 22,312,009
Earnings (loss) per share:        
Basic earnings (loss) per share  $ 0.04  $ 1.04 $ (1.44)  $ 0.13
Diluted earnings (loss) per share  $ 0.04  $ 1.03 $ (1.44)  $ 0.13
 
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
     
  October 31, January 31,
  2014 2014
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 175,462  $ 254,580
Restricted cash and bank deposits 35,546 34,343
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $4,585 and $6,945, respectively 101,207 89,361
Inventories 14,379 16,166
Deferred cost of revenue 9,367 14,500
Deferred income taxes 2,080 2,329
Prepaid expenses 19,723 17,000
Other current assets 12,378 1,680
Total current assets 370,142 429,959
Property and equipment, net 45,998 41,541
Goodwill 151,846 150,346
Intangible assets, net 5,035 5,153
Deferred cost of revenue 33,805 45,717
Deferred income taxes 1,119 1,720
Long-term restricted cash 8,493 33,815
Other assets 33,176 40,586
Total assets  $ 649,614  $ 748,837
LIABILITIES AND (DEFICIT) EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $ 143,938  $ 168,406
Deferred revenue 220,887 239,902
Deferred income taxes 845 514
Income taxes payable 158 2,102
Total current liabilities 365,828 410,924
Deferred revenue 94,197 113,426
Deferred income taxes 46,487 43,735
Other long-term liabilities 145,930 147,942
Total liabilities 652,442 716,027
Commitments and contingencies    
Deficit (equity):    
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized, 100,000,000 shares; issued 22,575,789 and 22,286,123 shares, respectively; outstanding, 21,910,740 and 22,251,226 shares, respectively 226 223
Treasury stock, at cost, 665,049 and 34,897 shares, respectively (15,291) (1,024)
Accumulated deficit (56,298) (24,251)
Additional paid in capital 43,173 34,530
Accumulated other comprehensive income 25,362 23,332
Total (deficit) equity (2,828) 32,810
Total liabilities and (deficit) equity  $ 649,614  $ 748,837
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
     
  Nine Months Ended October 31,
  2014 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net (loss) income $ (32,047)  $ 2,909
Non-cash operating items:    
Depreciation and amortization 14,890 14,070
Provision for doubtful accounts 740 824
Stock-based compensation expense 8,606 8,011
Deferred income taxes 3,933 15,050
Inventory write-downs 2,174 3,916
Other non-cash items, net 1,622 (1,355)
Changes in assets and liabilities:    
Accounts receivable (14,353) 37,156
Inventories (2,484) (19)
Deferred cost of revenue 17,055 30,322
Prepaid expense and other current assets (10,179) (433)
Accounts payable and accrued expense (22,447) (16,870)
Income taxes (2,367) (1,379)
Deferred revenue (33,835) (89,955)
Tax contingencies 4,290 (4,624)
Other assets and liabilities (1,032) (3,010)
Net cash used in operating activities (65,434) (5,387)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments 100
Purchases of property and equipment (17,698) (9,832)
Acquisition of Solaiemes, net of cash acquired (2,673)
Net change in restricted cash and bank deposits 24,063 (27,324)
Proceeds from asset sales 86 78
Other, net 743
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 3,778 (36,235)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
CTI capital contribution 25,000
Payment for repurchase of common stock in connection with tax liabilities upon settlement of stock awards (984) (820)
Payment for repurchase of common stock under repurchase program (13,126)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options 40 846
Proceeds from loan 87
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (13,983) 25,026
Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents (3,479) (2,139)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (79,118) (18,735)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 254,580 262,921
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $ 175,462  $ 244,186
Non-cash investing transactions:    
Accrued but unpaid purchases of property and equipment  $ 3,348  $ 1,278
Inventory transfers to property and equipment  $ 2,082  $ 3,201
 
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)
         
Table of Reconciliation from GAAP Income (loss) from operations to Non GAAP Comverse Performance Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
  (Dollars in thousands)
(Loss) income from operations $ (2,092)  $ 14,704 $ (22,591)  $ 33,974
Expense Adjustments:        
Stock-based compensation expense 2,683 2,668 8,606 8,011
Amortization of intangible assets 796 692 2,191 2,070
Compliance-related professional fees 55 744 759 1,550
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses (44) (70) 163
Strategic related costs 186 2,576
Write-off of property and equipment 1,470 208 1,648 251
Certain litigation settlements and related costs 41 8 46 (15)
Italian VAT refund recovery recorded within operating expenses (10,861)
Restructuring expenses 6,582 1,005 11,237 7,859
Gain on sale of fixed assets (4) (14) (21) (32)
Other 305 367 905 1,224
Total expense adjustments 12,114 5,634 27,877 10,220
Comverse performance  $ 10,022  $ 20,338  $ 5,286  $ 44,194
 
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)
         
         
 
BSS
Digital
Services

All Other

Consolidated
  (In thousands)
Three Months Ended October 31, 2014        
Total revenue  $ 68,235  $ 54,884 $ —  $ 123,119
Total costs and expenses  $ 50,310  $ 42,098  $ 32,803  $ 125,211
Income (loss) from operations  $ 17,925  $ 12,786 $ (32,803) $ (2,092)
Computation of segment performance:        
Segment revenue  $ 68,235  $ 54,884 $ —  
Total costs and expenses  $ 50,310  $ 42,098  $ 32,803  
Segment expense adjustments:        
Stock-based compensation expense 2,683  
Amortization of intangibles assets 698 98  
Compliance-related professional fees 55  
Strategic-related costs 186  
Write-off of property and equipment 2 1 1,467  
Certain litigation settlements and related cost 41  
Restructuring expenses 6,582  
Gain on sale of fixed assets (4)  
Other 305  
Segment expense adjustments 700 99 11,315  
Segment expenses 49,610 41,999 21,488  
Segment performance  $ 18,625.00  $ 12,885.00 $ (21,488)  
Interest expense $ — $ — $ (122)  $ (122)
Depreciation $ (887 $ (1,304) $ (2,342)  $ (4,533)
 
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)
         
 
BSS
Digital
Services
 
All Other

Consolidated
  (In thousands)
Three Months Ended October 31, 2013        
Total revenue  $ 70,892  $ 89,524 $ —  $ 160,416
Total costs and expenses  $ 58,379  $ 54,422  $ 32,911  $ 145,712
Income (loss) from operations  $ 12,513  $ 35,102 $ (32,911)  $ 14,704
Computation of segment performance:        
Segment revenue  $ 70,892  $ 89,524 $ —  
Total costs and expenses  $ 58,379  $ 54,422  $ 32,911  
Segment expense adjustments:        
Stock-based compensation expense 2,668  
Amortization of intangibles assets 692  
Compliance-related professional fees 744  
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses (39) (5)  
Write-off of property and equipment 208  
Certain litigation settlements and related cost 8  
Restructuring expenses 1,005  
Gain on sale of fixed assets (1) (13)  
Other 367  
Segment expense adjustments 691 (39) 4,982  
Segment expenses 57,688 54,461 27,929  
Segment performance  $ 13,204  $ 35,063 $ (27,929)  
Interest expense $ — $ — $ (211) $ (211)
Depreciation $ (936) $ (1,268) $ (1,857) $ (4,061)
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)
         
         
 
BSS
Digital
Services

All Other

Consolidated
  (In thousands)
Nine Months Ended October 31, 2014        
Total revenue  $ 185,262  $ 172,309 $ —  $ 357,571
Total costs and expenses  $ 145,982  $ 130,024  $ 104,156  $ 380,162
Income (loss) from operations  $ 39,280  $ 42,285 $ (104,156) $ (22,591)
Computation of segment performance:        
Segment revenue  $ 185,262  $ 172,309 $ —  
Total costs and expenses  $ 145,982  $ 130,024  $ 104,156  
Segment expense adjustments:        
Stock-based compensation expense 8,606  
Amortization of intangibles assets 2,093 98  
Compliance-related professional fees 759  
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses 1 (71)  
Strategic-related costs 2,576  
Write-off of property and equipment 2 3 1,643  
Certain litigation settlements and related cost 46  
Restructuring expenses 11,237  
Gain on sale of fixed assets 2 1 (24)  
Other 905  
Segment expense adjustments 2,097 103 25,677  
Segment expenses 143,885 129,921 78,479  
Segment performance  $ 41,377  $ 42,388 $ (78,479)  
Interest expense $ — $ — $ (476) $ (476)
Depreciation $ (2,632) $ (3,828) $ (6,239) $ (12,699)
 
 
COMVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)
         
 
BSS
Digital
Services
 
All Other

Consolidated
  (In thousands)
Nine Months Ended October 31, 2013        
Total revenue  $ 221,314  $ 264,673 $ —  $ 485,987
Total costs and expenses  $ 186,013  $ 165,759  $ 100,241  $ 452,013
Income (loss) from operations  $ 35,301  $ 98,914  $ (100,241)   $ 33,974
Computation of segment performance:        
Segment revenue  $ 221,314  $ 264,673 $ —  
Total costs and expenses  $ 186,013  $ 165,759  $ 100,241  
Segment expense adjustments:        
Stock-based compensation expense 8,011  
Amortization of intangibles assets 2,070  
Compliance-related professional fees 1,550  
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses 122 179 (138)  
Write-off of property and equipment 29 1 221  
Certain litigation settlements and related cost (15)  
Italian VAT refund recovery recorded within operating expense (10,861)  
Restructuring expenses 7,859  
Gain on sale of fixed assets (1) (31)  
Other 1,224  
Segment expense adjustments 2,221 179 7,820  
Segment expenses 183,792 165,580 92,421  
Segment performance  $ 37,522  $ 99,093 $ (92,421)  
Interest expense $ — $ — $ (565) $ (565)
Depreciation $ (2,822) $ (3,777) $ (5,401) $ (12,000)


            

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