Descartes Reports Fiscal 2016 First Quarter Financial Results

Continued Strong Operating Performance

WATERLOO, Ontario, May 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) announced its financial results for its fiscal 2016 first quarter (Q1FY16) ended April 30, 2015. All financial results referenced are in United States (US) currency and, unless otherwise indicated, are determined in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

"We continue to grow our business in the face of strong foreign exchange head winds, and we're proud to present another set of outstanding financial results," said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes' CEO. "We believe these consistent, predictable financial results are made possible by focusing first on delivering customer results. Last week I had a chance to meet many of our customers at our Global User and Partner Conference, and after listening to our customers I feel stronger than ever that we remain well positioned to continue to grow the largest collaborative logistics community in the world, the Global Logistics Network."

Q1FY16 Financial Results

As described in more detail below, key financial highlights for Descartes in Q1FY16 included:

• Revenues of $44.4 million, up 9% from $40.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 (Q1FY15) and up from $44.3 million in the previous quarter (Q4FY15). The approximate impact of changes in foreign exchange rates on revenues was negative $3.8 million (from Q1FY15 to Q1FY16) and negative $1.2 million (from Q4FY15 to Q1FY16);
• Services revenues of $41.7 million, up 10% from $38.0 million in Q1FY15 and up from $41.5 million in Q4FY15. Services revenues comprised 94% of total revenues for the quarter;
• Cash provided by operating activities of $11.9 million, up 42% from $8.4 million in Q1FY15 down from $13.1 million in Q4FY15;
• Net income of $4.9 million, up 32% from $3.7 million in Q1FY15 and up 36% from $3.6 million in Q4FY15;
• Earnings per share on a diluted basis of $0.06, consistent with Q1FY15 and up 20% from $0.05 in Q4FY15;
• Adjusted EBITDA of $14.2 million, up 17% from $12.1 million in Q1FY15 and up 2% from $13.9 million in Q4FY15. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues was 32%, up from 30% in Q1FY15 and up from 31% in Q4FY15; and
• Adjusted EBITDA per share on a diluted basis of $0.19, consistent with Q1FY15 and up 6% from $0.18 in Q4FY15.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include executive departure charges, restructuring charges and acquisition-related expenses). These items are considered by management to be outside Descartes' ongoing operational results. We define Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share as Adjusted EBITDA divided by the number of diluted shares used to calculate the GAAP measure of earnings per share. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share to net income and earnings per share determined in accordance with GAAP, respectively, is provided later in this release.

The following table summarizes Descartes' results in the categories specified below over the past 5 fiscal quarters (unaudited; dollar amounts, other than per share amounts, in millions):

Cash Position

At April 30, 2015, Descartes had $128.5 million in cash. Cash has increased $10.4 million in Q1FY16 primarily due to strong cash flow from operations. 

The table set forth below provides a summary of cash flows for Q1FY16 in millions of dollars:

Conference Call

Members of Descartes' executive management team will host a conference call to discuss the company's financial results at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 28. Designated numbers are +1 866 229-4144 for North America and +1 416 216-4169 for international, using Passcode 8010580#.

The company will simultaneously conduct an audio webcast on the Descartes Web site at www.descartes.com/descartes/investor-relations. Phone conference dial-in or webcast log-in is required approximately 10 minutes beforehand.

Replays of the conference call will be available following the call from 11:00 a.m. ET, and until June 4, 2015, by dialing +1 888 843-7419 or +1 630 652-3042 followed by Passcode 8010580#. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at www.descartes.com/descartes/investor-relations.

About Descartes

Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive businesses. Descartes has over 220,000 connected parties using its cloud-based services. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, schedule, track and measure delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world's largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") that relates to Descartes' future, opportunities and business; demand for Descartes' solutions; growth of Descartes' Global Logistics Network; and other matters. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions including the following: global shipment volumes continuing to increase at levels consistent with the average growth rates of the global economy; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional customs and security regulations relating to the provision of electronic information for imports and exports; Descartes' continued operation of a secure and reliable business network; the stability of general economic and market conditions, currency exchange rates, and interest rates; equity and debt markets continuing to provide Descartes with access to capital; Descartes' continued ability to identify and source attractive and executable business combination opportunities; Descartes' ability to develop solutions that keep pace with the continuing changes in technology, and our continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights. These assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Descartes, or developments in Descartes' business or industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, but are not limited to, Descartes' ability to successfully execute on acquisitions and to integrate acquired businesses and assets, and to predict expenses associated with and revenues from acquisitions; the ability to attract and retain key personnel and the ability to manage the departure of key personnel and the transition of our executive management team; changes in trade or transportation regulations that currently require customers to use services such as those offered by Descartes; the impact on Descartes' business of the global economic downturn; departures of key customers; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates; Descartes' ability to retain or obtain sufficient capital in addition to its debt facility to execute on its business strategy, including its acquisition strategy; disruptions in the movement of freight; the potential for future goodwill or intangible asset impairment as a result of other-than-temporary decreases in Descartes' market capitalization; and other factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada, including Descartes' most recently filed Management's Discussion and Analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per Diluted Share

We prepare and release quarterly unaudited and annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial information, used to evaluate our performance, in this and other earnings releases and investor conference calls as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP. We believe that current shareholders and potential investors in our company use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share, in making investment decisions about our company and measuring our operational results.

The term "Adjusted EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include executive departure charges, restructuring charges and acquisition-related expenses). Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share divides Adjusted EBITDA by the number of diluted shares used in calculating the GAAP diluted earnings per share, or diluted EPS, measure.

Management considers acquisition-related and restructuring activities to be outside the scope of Descartes' ongoing operations and the related expenses are not used by management to measure operations. Accordingly, these expenses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, which we reference to both measure our operations and as a basis of comparison of our operations from period-to-period. Management believes that investors and financial analysts measure our business on the same basis, and we are providing the Adjusted EBITDA financial metric to assist in this evaluation and to provide a higher level of transparency into how we measure our own business. However, Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP or other non-GAAP measures that may be used by other companies, such as EBITDA. The use of Adjusted EBITDA does have limitations. In particular, we have completed eight acquisitions since the beginning of fiscal 2014, and may complete additional acquisitions in the future that will result in acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges. As these acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges may continue as we pursue our consolidation strategy, some investors may consider these charges and expenses as a recurring and necessary part of operations.

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share to net income and diluted earnings per share, respectively, reported in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for Q1FY16, Q4FY15, Q3FY15, Q2FY15 and Q1FY15, which we believe are the most directly comparable GAAP measures.