Gross Profit
.
During the three-month period ended September 30,
2018, total gross profit decreased $(123) thousand, or (1.2)%, to $10.2 million compared to gross profit of $10.3 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2017. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018,
total gross profit decreased $(3.6) million, or (11.5)%, to $28.2 million compared to total gross profit of $31.8 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017. For purposes of further analysis, we refer to gross profit as
a percentage of revenue generally as gross margin.
Total gross margin, as a percentage of total revenue, increased to 40.3% in the third
quarter of 2018, compared to 37.7% in the third quarter of 2017. Total gross margin remained consistent at 36.7% in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, compared to 36.7% in the comparative 2017
year-to-date
period. The year-over-year quarterly increase in total gross margin percentage was primarily the result of increased billable consultant utilization (partially offset by the decrease in billable
headcount).
Service revenue gross margins were 39.8% in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 39.8% in the third quarter of 2017.
Service revenue gross margins were 34.9% in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, compared to 37.7% in the comparative 2017
year-to-date
period. The
decrease in service gross margin for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 are directly related to the decreases in billable consultant utilization and billable headcount.
We anticipate that software revenue will continue to be a meaningful part of our revenue in future periods. Additionally, our future gross
margins may continue to be influenced by the timing of the recognition of our software revenue.
Selling, General and Administrative
(SG&A) Expenses
.
As a percentage of total revenue, SG&A expenses were 31.8% and 35.3% during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 37.6% and 33.7% in the three-
and nine-month periods of 2017, respectively. On an absolute dollar-basis, SG&A expenses decreased by $(2.3) million, or (22.0)%, and decreased by $(2.0) million, or (7.0)%, to $8.1 million and $27.3 million in the three- and
nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to SG&A expenses of $10.3 million and $29.2 million in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased, during the three-month period ended September 30, 2018 as a result of overhead
related expenses (primarily in the form of marketing and selling expense). Selling, general and administrative expenses remained essentially flat during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 as the overhead related decreases were
offset by increases related to salary and salary-related expenses.
Merger related transaction costs.
The Company incurred
$2.7 million and $4.3 million of merger related acquisition costs related to the Alithya merger transaction in the three- and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Incurred expenses included investment banking
fees, legal fees, accounting and other professional fees directly associated with completion of the merger. No such expenses were incurred in the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017.
Executive Officer Severance.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, the Company terminated the employment of
the former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer and the former Chief Strategy and Technology Officer. In connection with these terminations, the Company incurred $3.4 million of severance related expenses. These expenses were
associated with contractually agreed upon salary, bonus and acceleration of vesting of stock-based compensation awards. Also, during the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company terminated the employment of the former President
of
Edgewater-Ranzal.
In connection with this termination, the Company incurred $816 thousand of severance related expenses. These expenses were associated with contractually agreed upon salary, bonus and
acceleration of vesting of stock-based compensation awards. No such expenses were incurred in the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018.
Contract Termination Expense.
In the second quarter of 2017 the Company paid $1.1 million in connection with the
termination of a professional services agreement for advisory services initially entered into during our publicly announced strategic alternative process. No further expense will be incurred in connection with this agreement.
Consent Solicitation Expense.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, we incurred $666 thousand of legal
and advisory expenses in connection with defense against a consent solicitation. No such expenses were incurred in the three-month period ended September 30, 2017 or the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Earnout Consideration
.
The Company continually examines actual results in
comparison to financial metrics utilized in each of our earnout calculations and assesses the carrying value of the contingent earnout consideration. During the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded changes in fair
value of the estimated earnout consideration to be achieved (as a result of the finalization of the Branchbird earnout) which resulted in the reversal of $(856) thousand of expense. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, the
Company recorded changes in fair value of the estimated earnout consideration to be achieved (as a result of higher achievement of financial targets than initially forecasted) which resulted in $604 thousand of expense. The Company had no
active contingent earnout arrangements during 2018 and therefore there were no expenses for the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018.
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