Ross Systems Announces 2nd Quarter Earnings, Return to Profitability Ahead of Expectations, Reduction in Debt    ATLANTA, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Ross Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROSS), a leading provider of enterprise management software and e-business solutions for mid-market process manufacturers, today reported results for its second quarter ended December 31, 2000.  The net profit for the quarter was $0.2 million or $0.01 per share, this compares to a net loss of $1.1 million or ($0.05) per share in the same quarter of the prior year, and a loss of $4.2 million or ($0.17) per share in the previous quarter.  The company had previously announced that it expected a return to profitability in its third quarter. 
  Revenues in the quarter were $12.6 million, down 42% from $21.8 million in the same quarter of the prior year.  Revenues for the six-month period were $26.8 million, down 41% from $45.1 million in the prior year same period.  The net loss for the six-month period was $4.0 million or ($0.16) per share, compared to a net loss of $0.7 million or ($0.03) per share in the prior year same period. The loss for the current year included a charge of $0.8 million for non-recurring severance costs in the prior quarter. 
  Operating cash flow during the quarter was positive and continued to improve from the previous quarter.  Current debt, primarily the asset based line of credit, declined by $1.7 million during the quarter to $8.7 million. Long-term debt also declined by $0.7 million to $1.1 million.  Accounts receivable management continued to improve to 73 days of sales outstanding. Lower license revenues, attributable to the general slowdown in new license contracts, resulted in reduced consulting demand for new installations. Operating expenses for the quarter however continued to improve and declined by 46% from the same quarter of the prior year. 
  "The profit improvement initiatives implemented in the prior quarter are complete.  However, the full positive effects will not be realized until the 3rd quarter of the fiscal year," said Bob Webster, Ross' Executive Vice President.  "We have completed the steps required to return this business to consistent profitability at a sustainable revenue level, and increases in revenue from this level will provide strong leverage to profitability." 
  The company also continued its strategy of increasing market penetration in the process-manufacturing segment, where its product suite is highly regarded:  
  *  The customer base continued to expand their usage of products and   
  services in the quarter.  Additional contracts included AJM Packaging,   
  Bacardi, Cambrex, Cititrust Bahamas, Corning, Deluca, Hussey Copper,   
  Nelson Neutraceutical, Nucor, Oxford Frozen Foods, Tembec, Vi-Jon Labs,   
  and Wedtech among others. 
  *  The company will continue with a direct sales organization in North   
  America and Western Europe but is leveraging its indirect distribution   
  channels in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia to maximize its   
  profitability while maintaining a productive sales presence in markets   
  where a direct presence is not cost effective.  During the quarter, the   
  company signed new customer agreements in Poland, Mexico, Russia, and   
  Japan. 
  *  In the prior quarter the company announced a partnership with Integris   
  US to provide IT outsourcing and ASP software solutions called "Ross   
  eSourcing".  "We believe that Ross eSourcing which provides   
  manufacturers with compelling solutions tailored to their technology   
  needs with minimal front-end investment provides a significant growth   
  opportunity," said Rod Jones, Ross' President.  "Packaging a   
  streamlined implementation at a price that permits a matching of   
  investment with returns is the type of solution the market is   
  demanding."  This new offering will provide Ross' customers a hosted,   
  subscription-based, alternative for their enterprise software   
  solutions. 
  *  The company also continues to expand its eBusiness solutions and during   
  the quarter signed new eBusiness contracts with Gensci, Torrecid, and   
  Santa Barbara.  In Europe, the eBusiness practice had its largest   
  growth quarter to date. 
  "We are pleased that our actions of the last several quarter have resulted in a return to profitability ahead of our expectations," said Pat Tinley, Ross' CEO.  "As we predicted last quarter, the reduced operational costs combined with our improving market momentum will provide for balanced growth and more consistent profitability going forward.  The management team believes that completed expense reduction actions, combined with programs designed to achieve both technology-based and process-based productivity improvements, will permit the company to continue to accelerate its rate of profitability." 
  About Ross Systems   
  Ross Systems Inc. is a leading supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and management software and e-business solutions for process manufacturing industries including food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, paper and metals.  The Ross Systems family of solutions includes the award- winning iRenaissance, a broad range of Internet-enabled enterprise resource planning and management applications for financials, manufacturing, advanced planning, supply-chain management, maintenance management, transportation management, materials management and human resources/payroll.  Ross Systems' Resynt e-business product family includes digital marketplace applications spanning procurement, sales, Internet trading exchange connectivity, collaboration and employee productivity.  More than 3,400 companies around the world use Ross Systems solutions in open systems environments including NT and UNIX.  Ross Systems has offices around the world to serve its customers.  Ross Systems Inc., Two Concourse Parkway, Suite 800, Atlanta, Ga. 30328, 770-351-9600, 1-877-ROSS-INC rossinc.com . 
  STATEMENTS IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH EXPRESS THAT THE COMPANY "BELIEVES", "ANTICIPATES", "EXPECTS", "PLANS TO..." OR "SHOULD BEGIN TO..." AS WELL AS OTHER STATEMENTS WHICH ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACT, ARE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. ACTUAL EVENTS OR RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY AS A RESULT OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING QUARTERLY FLUCTUATION OF SOFTWARE PRODUCT LICENSE REVENUE, WEAKENING OF CUSTOMER DEMAND FOR ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS, THE COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE OF A MINIMAL BACKLOG, THE UNCERTAINTY OF DEMAND FOR NEW PRODUCT OFFERINGS AND OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DESCRIBED IN REPORTS FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FILED FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. 
  Resynt and "The business of e-Commerce" are trademarks of Ross systems, Inc. Renaissance and GEMBASE are registered trademarks of Ross Systems, Inc. Throughout this release, software and hardware products are mentioned by name. In most, if not all, cases, these product names are claimed as trademarks by the companies that manufacture the products.  It is not our intention to claim these names or trademarks as our own. 
  ROSS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES   
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS   
  (In thousands, except per share data)   
  (Unaudited)  
  Three months ended   Six months ended   
  December 31,        December 31,   
  2000      1999     2000       1999  
  Revenues:   
  Software product licenses     $1,940     $5,077   $4,356    $11,047   
  Consulting and other   
  services                      4,162      9,834    9,130     20,035   
  Maintenance                    6,496      6,931   13,264     14,023   
  Total revenues        12,598     21,842   26,750     45,105  
  Operating expenses:   
  Costs of software product   
  licenses                        325        781      809      1,933   
  Costs of consulting,   
  maintenance and other   
  services                    3,596     11,025   10,114     21,905   
  Sales and marketing            3,463      5,426    8,506     10,640   
  Product development            3,076      2,311    6,121      4,765   
  General and administrative     1,215      1,870    2,752      3,867   
  Provision for uncollectible   
  accounts                        283        835      835      1,236   
  Amortization of other assets     135        260      360        520   
  Non-recurring costs                0          0      790          0   
  Total operating   
  expenses             12,093     22,508   30,287     44,866  
  Operating earnings (loss)           505       (666)  (3,537)       239  
  Other expenses, net             (276)      (324)    (613)      (676)  
  Earnings (loss) before   
  extraordinary item                 229       (990)  (4,150)      (437)   
  Extraordinary expense, net   
  of tax effect                     0          0        0          0   
  Income tax expense                62         83     (122)       291  
  Net earnings (loss)                $167    $(1,073) $(4,028)     $(728)  
  Net earnings (loss) per share   
  Basic                          $0.01     $(0.05)  $(0.16)    $(0.03)  
  Diluted  *                     $0.01     $(0.05)  $(0.16)    $(0.03)  
  Shares used in per share   
  computation - diluted   
  Basic                         25,690     23,336   24,432     23,155  
  Diluted                       25,690     23,336   24,432     23,155  
  ROSS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS   
  (In thousands, except share related data)  
  December 31,         June 30   
  2000              2000  
  ASSETS  
  Current assets:   
  Cash and cash equivalents                   $683               $2,010   
  Accounts receivable, less   
  allowance   
  for doubtful accounts and   
  returns                              13,427               21,927   
  Prepaids and other current assets          2,354                1,501   
  Total current assets                16,464               25,438  
  Property and equipment                         2,145                3,009   
  Computer software costs                       32,139               32,637   
  Other assets                                   2,749                3,211  
  Total assets                       $53,497              $64,295  
  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  
  Current liabilities:   
  Current installments of debt              $8,653              $10,148   
  Accounts payable                           7,718                6,949   
  Accrued expenses                           4,242                5,459   
  Income taxes payable                         207                  248   
  Deferred revenues                         13,335               17,974   
  Total current liabilities           34,155               40,778  
  Long-term debt, less current   
  installments                                  1,087                2,627  
  Shareholders' equity:   
  Common stock                                  26                   24   
  Additional paid-in capital                86,918               85,780   
  Accumulated deficit                      (67,062)             (63,034)   
  Accumulated comprehensive income   
  (deficit)                                (1,627)              (1,880)   
  Total shareholders' equity          18,255               20,890  
  Total liabilities and   
  shareholders' equity              $53,497              $64,295  
  ROSS SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES   
  SELECTED UNAUDITED QUARTERLY INFORMATION   
  (In thousands, except for per share data)  
  Rolling   
  12 Month   
  Total              Quarter Ended   
  Dec. 31, Sept. 30, June 30, March 31,   
  2000     2000     2000     2000  
  Total revenues                $61,648  $12,598  $14,152  $16,421  $18,477  
  Total operating expenses       73,383   12,093   18,193   21,130   21,967  
  Operating earnings            (11,735)     505   (4,041)  (4,709)  (3,490)  
  Net earnings                 $(12,961)    $167  $(4,195) $(5,080) $(3,853)  
  Net earnings per common   
  share - diluted               $(0.54)   $0.01   $(0.17)  $(0.22)  $(0.16)  
  Common and common equivalent   
  shares used   
  in computing diluted   
  earnings per share         24,176   25,690   24,119   23,480   23,416  
  SOURCE  Ross Systems, Inc. 
  CO:  Ross Systems, Inc. 
  ST:  Georgia 
  IN:  CPR MLM 
  SU:  ERN 
  01/25/2001 17:30 EST prnewswire.com |