Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are based on management’s assumptions, expectations and projections about us, and the industry within which we operate, and that have been made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 reflecting our expectations regarding our future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “estimate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”,
“potential”, “predict”, “expect”, “should”, “will” and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may also use
different phrases. These statements regarding our expectations reflect our current beliefs and are based on information currently available to us. Accordingly, these statements by their nature are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those
listed under Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, which could cause our actual growth, results, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ from those expressed in, or implied by, these
forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could
differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Except as otherwise required by federal securities law, we are not obligated to update or revise these forward-looking statements to
reflect new events or circumstances. We caution you that a variety of factors, including but not limited to the factors described under Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, could cause our business
conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in forward-looking statements.
Other factors and assumptions not identified above were also involved in the formation of these forward-looking statements and the failure of such other assumptions to be realized, as well as other factors, may also
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond our control. You should consider the areas of risk described in Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most
recent annual report on Form 10-K in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made by us. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us
to predict which factors will arise.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures we
make in proxy statements, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Item 2. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
|
We are a leading provider of professional and technical engineering, staffing services and simulation software to clients in the power and process industries. Our primary market is the nuclear power
industry, predominantly in the United States, but also serving the global nuclear sector with projects in the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Korea, Japan and elsewhere. We provide customers with simulation, engineering technology, engineering and plant
services that help clients reduce risks associated with operating their plants, increase revenue through improved plant and employee performance, and lower costs through improved operational efficiency. In addition, we provide professional services
that help clients fill key vacancies in the organization on a short-term basis, including but not limited to, the following: procedure writing, planning and scheduling; engineering; senior reactor operator (“SRO”) training and certification;
technical support and training personnel focused on regulatory compliance and certification in the nuclear power industry.
General Business Environment
We operate through two reportable business segments: Engineering and Workforce Solutions. Each segment focuses on delivering solutions to customers within our target markets. Marketing and
communications, accounting, finance, legal, human resources, corporate development, information systems and other administrative services are organized at the corporate or parent level. Business development and sales resources are generally aligned
with each segment to support existing customer accounts and new customer development. The business units collaborate to facilitate cross-selling and the development of new solutions. The following is a description of our business segments:
Engineering (approximately 77% of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024)
Our Engineering segment primarily encompasses our power plant high-fidelity simulation solutions, technical engineering services for ASME programs, power
plant thermal performance optimization, and interactive computer-based tutorials/simulation focused on the process industry. The Engineering segment includes various simulation products, engineering consulting services, and operation training
systems delivered across the industries we serve: primarily in the nuclear, fossil fuel power generation and the process industries. Our simulation solutions include the following: (1) simulation software and services, including operator training
systems, for the nuclear power industry, (2) simulation software and services, including operator training systems, for the fossil power industry, and (3) simulation software and services for the process industries used to teach fundamental
industry processes and control systems to newly hired employees and for ongoing workforce development and training. We and our predecessors have been providing these services since 1976.
Our Engineering segment also provides the following: (1) in-service testing for engineering programs focused on ASME OM code including Appendix J, balance of plant programs, and thermal performance;
(2) in-service inspection for specialty engineering including ASME Section XI; (3) software solutions; and (4) mechanical design, civil/structural design, electrical, instrumentation and controls design, digital controls/cyber security, and fire
protection for nuclear power plant design modifications. Our subsidiaries, Programs & Performance and Design & Analysis, typically work as either the EOC or specialty EOC for our clients under master services agreements and are included in
our Engineering segment due to their service offerings. We have been providing these engineering solutions and services since 1995.
Workforce Solutions (approximately 23% of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024)
The Workforce Solutions segment supports entire project lifecycles by providing highly specialized, technical talent and specialty services throughout the
energy, engineering, and adjacent industries including construction, government, infrastructure, environmental, and manufacturing. This includes a wide range of solutions including training services, professional services, procedure writing
services, and flexible staffing and talent acquisition services through our Training Services and Technical Staffing businesses.
Working together, Workforce Solutions gives our customers increased agility by providing the ability to identify the right talent, hire quickly for short or long-term needs, and/or even take on
entire project scopes with fixed price or hourly billing options. We also partner with and support our Engineering Services division, offering our customers yet another option for outsourcing managed tasks. Additionally, by utilizing our
services, our customers gain additional benefits such as reductions in response time, overhead costs, overtime pay, risk, training, time to fill, onboarding, and more. We do these things, all while providing timely, flexible, and effective
solutions.
Financial information is provided in Note 14 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements regarding our business segments.
Business Strategy
Serve existing customers and adjacencies with compelling solutions with a focus on decarbonization:
Our objective is to create a leading business focused on decarbonizing the power industries by providing a diverse set of highly unique and essential services and technologies, primarily in the
nuclear power industry. We are now one of the few, publicly traded engineering and technology companies serving the zero-carbon energy sector of nuclear power and adjacent nuclear markets in Department of Energy, U.S. Navy and related sectors. As a
result of this effort and established leadership in key sectors, we are positioned to expand into essential clean energy opportunities that may arise such as wind, solar, hydrogen production, and others. This positioning has allowed us to grow into
adjacencies as the arise such as working on engineering projects for a uranium enrichment entity in the United States. The engineering services and technology that we provide to industry are focused on essential capabilities to help plants extend
their operating lifetimes, capture the value of the power they produce on to the grid, produce more power from existing assets, and most importantly operate safely in an optimal manner. In 2023, we were keenly focused on organic growth in the
sectors we serve by: cross selling and upselling in our existing markets as we focus on delivering significant value to our customers; creating new and compelling solutions in-house as a result of advancements in our technology offerings in
partnership with industry early adopters focused on critical business needs; developing new services through combination of our expertise; expanding into compelling adjacent markets such as clean energy as they may arise with renewed sales focus.
The focus on organic growth reflects our need to grow in a self-funded manner to achieve cash flow break even and, ultimately, recover to our pre-pandemic revenue levels. We have continued this focus in 2024.
Cross sell and upsell into existing markets:
For the past several years, we have devoted considerable time and effort to diversify both of the Company segment’s solutions capabilities for the nuclear power sector, via a rollup of essential
services providers to the industry. To ensure efficient and streamlined operations for the business, we have brought in new engineering experts who are deeply credentialed in the nuclear power industry. We have also retooled our Workforce Solutions
sales and recruiting efforts to ensure we are covering the industry broadly. The business units operate uniformly within their respective structure. This structure greatly enhances the opportunity to cross-sell our capabilities across our entire
customer base, fostering an important focus of our sales efforts. This further differentiates us as a comprehensive provider to industry versus providers of specific, niche services. Our expectation is that unified go-to-market efforts, such as
cross-selling capabilities, will lead to a greater share of available spending within the customer base, which in turn will lead to significant upselling opportunity.
Just as the broader economy was impacted by the onset of the pandemic, so too have our end markets been affected. We believe that the industries that we serve are quick to respond to a crisis and
disruption, but slow to emerge and recover to pre-crisis operations. While understandable, we believe that these characteristics are especially true for our primary market: the nuclear power industry. We have previously observed similar cycles
during prior market and industry disruptions including the 2008 global economic crisis and the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Now, more recently, we believe that the industries that we serve responded quickly to the global pandemic and resulting
economic disruption but, as with past events, our end markets are only now catching up to widespread delays in necessary engineering, design and related projects. Our Company is well positioned to take advantage of the recovery as it occurs.
As a result of a rejuvenated cross-sell and upsell effort, we are equipped to take this new approach to the market. In particular, with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and
the Inflation Reduction Act, for the first time there are specific economic incentives from the U.S. Government for nuclear power development and the production of more nuclear baseload power to the grid. We are eager for these incentives to flow
to industry spurring the capital investment required to extend the lifetime of the plants and production of more power. With economic incentives in place, the industry can now plan to make such investments. The challenge we are seeing is that the
industry is still slow to advance investments that will result in an uptick in business for companies like GSE that serve the sector. Although we believe it is only a matter of time until this rollout progresses, the current pace presents a
challenge in the interim and the Company has taken steps to align to the realities of the current state of industry spend. As a key provider of essential services to the nuclear power sector, we are poised to benefit from industry investment as it
rolls out to the vendor ecosystem. We further retooled our Workforce Solutions business in 2023 to align to the realities of industry spend and continue to bring in key engineering talent to align and grow our engineering business teams as that
business has shown nascent signs of growth. We have also spent significant effort putting in place Master Services Agreements (“MSAs”) with key utility operators. Having this commercial infrastructure in place is a significant step forward to
facilitate ease of consumption of our solutions once a decision to do so is made by clients/prospects. This effort will continue during 2024 with the added focus of converting workorders and PO’s from the MSAs we win.
Organic growth through new and compelling technology:
While managing through the pandemic, in parallel, our leadership was investigating compelling opportunities by which we could utilize our capabilities to create significant value for the industry and
advance the efforts of decarbonizing the power sector. As a result, we have identified a robust pipeline of new and compelling technology solutions to develop and take to market. Net new solutions, such as Data Validation and Reconciliation
(“DVR”), Measurement Uncertainty Recapture (“MUR”) and Thermal System Monitoring (“TSM”), have created new revenue streams with the potential of on-going licensing revenue, software maintenance and services revenue. Additional information on our
DVR, MUR and TSM developments is included below. GSE has announced a handful of new wins for these new solutions, which were created through our unique combination of our industry/engineering know-how and software development capabilities. As we
have demonstrated in the past few years, small wins over time accrue into meaningful revenue on an on-going basis. This is a key element of our organic growth thesis: focusing on creating and bringing to market compelling technology solutions.
Focus on compelling adjacencies in clean energy, defense, and national labs:
Research and development (R&D). We invest in R&D to deliver unique solutions that add
value to our end-user markets. Our software tools leverage the high-end expertise of our experienced staff in helping plants operate better and more efficiently. Our software technology together with our deep staff expertise supports multiple
industries including the nuclear industry, as a part of the larger initiative toward decarbonization. Our software technology includes decision-support tools for engineering simulation supporting design and plant commissioning, operational
performance tools, and training platforms.
We have also made recent, significant enhancements in product offerings for improving the thermal performance of power plants. We have introduced a next generation platform in TSM, providing a
technology platform to centralize and continuously monitor plant thermal performance. The solution benefits our customers by automating standardized reporting in modern dashboards available to engineers and decision makers across the fleet,
leveraging automation to facilitate troubleshooting plant performance issues, reducing time and error with direct access to source data, and applying industry guidelines for problem resolution. This platform also supports integration with DVR
(implemented by Programs & Performance) that enhances the quality of data for plant performance insights, analysis and decision making, providing a solution to better detect and identify faulty measurements/sensors and thus reduce maintenance
costs by focusing on critical components. Other recent platform improvements have included integration with Asset Management Systems (to streamline work processes and increase efficiencies) and enhancements in digitizing troubleshooting knowledge
for custom scenarios/plants.
In the area of engineering simulations, GSE Systems & Simulation group, delivers nuclear core and balance-of-plant modeling and visualization systems to the industry. To address
the nuclear industry’s need for more accurate simulation of both normal and accident scenarios, we provide our DesignEP® and RELAP5-HD® solutions. Our entire JADETM suite of simulation software, including industry leading JTOPMERET® and JElectricTM software, provides the most accurate
simulation of balance-of-plant and electrical systems available to the nuclear and fossil plant simulation market. The significant enhancements we have made to our SimExec® and OpenSimTM platforms enables customers to be
more efficient in the daily operation of their simulators. We have brought SimExec® and OpenSimTM together into a next generation unified environment that adds new capabilities as requested by clients and driven by
market need.
Additionally, enhancements to training content and delivery continue through the EnVision On-Demand platform, allowing our customers to access training content from anywhere in synchronous and
asynchronous modes, thus increasing their efficiency and reducing infrastructure costs. We intend to continue to make pragmatic and measured investments in R&D that first and foremost are driven by the market and complement our growth strategy.
Such investments in R&D may result in on-going enhancement of existing solutions as well as the creation of new solutions to serve our target markets, ensuring that we add greater value that is easier to use, at lower total cost of ownership
than any alternative available to customers. Recent enhancements to our EnVision On-Demand SaaS platform include usability improvements for administrators, instructors and trainees as well as enhanced access security for cloud learning and
simulation portal. We have pioneered a number of industry standards and intend to continue to be one of the most innovative companies in our industry. We had R&D expenditures totaling $278 thousand and $258 thousand, of which, $49 thousand and
$77 thousand were capitalized during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Strengthen and develop our talent while delivering high-quality solutions.
Over the past several years, we have assembled a unique and highly experienced group of talent through organic growth and strategic acquisition. Our engineering team is comprised of design,
simulation, regulatory compliance, and performance optimization professionals who are unique to the industry and capable of addressing the entire power generation life cycle. Our workforce solutions team includes numerous industry experts,
including hands on experience within the energy and engineering sectors. The experience and knowledge among the staff ensure understanding of customer needs and a better ability to offer the best solutions. Working together, our engineering and
workforce teams are able to offer our customers a full set of services that would otherwise require numerous companies to obtain the same capabilities.
Our experienced employees and management team are our most valuable resources. The continued integration of our team in parallel with attracting, training, and retaining top talent is critical to
our success. To achieve our goals, we intend to remain focused on providing our employees with opportunities to increase client contact within their areas of expertise and to expand and deepen our service offerings. As we refine our product and
service areas to best align with the critical areas listed above, we will also integrate and apply our composite employee talent to the fullest extent possible combining employee personal and professional growth opportunities with fulfillment of
cutting-edge industry needs. Performance-based incentives including opportunities for stock ownership, bonuses and competitive benefits as benchmarked to our industry and locations will also be utilized to ensure continuity of our approach.
The Company is not immune to the intense pressure and business risks associated with attracting and retaining talented professionals in this current environment. We have developed a strong reputation
for quality services based upon our industry-recognized depth of experience, ability to attract and retain quality professionals, and exceptional expertise across multiple service sectors. As we continue to integrate and leverage our individual
company components assembled over the past several years, our capabilities and reputation will further strengthen. Attracting and retaining excellent professionals is a key effort for the company.
Employees
As of March 31, 2024, we had approximately 257 employees, which includes approximately 197 employees in our Engineering segment and approximately 60 employees in our Workforce Solutions segment.
Backlog
As of March 31, 2024, we had approximately $37.7 million of total gross revenue backlog, which included $32.3 million of Engineering backlog and $5.4 million of Workforce Solutions backlog. As of
December 31, 2023, our backlog was $34.5 million with $29.0 million attributed to our Engineering segment and $5.5 million to Workforce Solutions. With respect to our backlog, it includes only those amounts that have been funded and authorized and
does not reflect the full amounts we may receive over the term of such contracts. Our backlog includes future expected revenue at contract rates, excluding contract renewals or extensions that are at the discretion of the client. We calculate
backlog without regard to possible project reductions or expansions or potential cancellations unless and until such changes may occur.
Backlog is expressed in terms of gross revenue and, therefore, may include significant estimated amounts of third-party or pass-through costs to subcontractors and other parties. Because backlog is
not a U.S. GAAP measurement, our computation of backlog may not necessarily be comparable to that of our industry peers.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations, expressed in thousands of dollars and as a percentage of revenue:
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2024
|
|
|
March 31, 2023
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
11,283
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
10,873
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
8,067
|
|
|
|
71.5
|
%
|
|
|
8,478
|
|
|
|
78.0
|
%
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
3,216
|
|
|
|
28.5
|
%
|
|
|
2,395
|
|
|
|
22.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
4,360
|
|
|
|
38.6
|
%
|
|
|
4,788
|
|
|
|
44.0
|
%
|
Research and development
|
|
|
229
|
|
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
|
|
181
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
%
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
%
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
0.4
|
%
|
Amortization of intangible assets
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
|
0.9
|
%
|
|
|
161
|
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
4,746
|
|
|
|
42.1
|
%
|
|
|
5,178
|
|
|
|
47.6
|
%
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(1,530
|
)
|
|
|
(13.7
|
)%
|
|
|
(2,783
|
)
|
|
|
(25.7
|
)%
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
(459
|
)
|
|
|
(4.1
|
)%
|
|
|
(286
|
)
|
|
|
(2.6
|
)%
|
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net
|
|
|
(17
|
)
|
|
|
(0.2
|
)%
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
0.6
|
%
|
Other loss, net
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
(1,952
|
)
|
|
|
(17.3
|
)%
|
|
|
(2,990
|
)
|
|
|
(27.5
|
)%
|
Expense (benefit) from income taxes
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
0.4
|
%
|
|
|
(39
|
)
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)%
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(1,992
|
)
|
|
|
(17.7
|
)%
|
|
$
|
(2,951
|
)
|
|
|
(27.1
|
)%
|
Revenue
Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 totaled $11.3 million, which was 4% increase over the $10.9 million of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2024
|
|
|
March 31, 2023
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
Engineering
|
|
$
|
8,729
|
|
|
$
|
6,942
|
|
|
|
1,787
|
|
|
|
26
|
%
|
Workforce Solutions
|
|
|
2,554
|
|
|
|
3,931
|
|
|
|
(1,377
|
)
|
|
|
(35
|
)%
|
Total revenue
|
|
$
|
11,283
|
|
|
$
|
10,873
|
|
|
|
410
|
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
Engineering revenue increased 26% from $6.9 million to $8.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to increased utilization, which
helped turn backlog into revenue at a faster rate. We recorded total Engineering orders of $12.1 million and $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Workforce Solutions revenue decreased 35% to $2.6 million compared to revenue of $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in revenue was due to
fewer contracts being serviced in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023. We recorded total new orders of $2.5 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
As of March 31, 2024, our backlog was $37.7 million, of which, $32.3 million was attributed to the Engineering segment and $5.4 million was attributed to the Workforce Solutions segment.
As of December 31, 2023, our backlog was $34.5 million with $29.0 million attributed to our Engineering segment and $5.5 million to Workforce Solutions.
Gross Profit
Gross profit was $3.2 million or 28.5% of revenue and $2.4 million or 22.0% of revenue for the three months
ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2024
|
|
|
March 31, 2023
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
Gross profit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Engineering
|
|
$
|
2,905
|
|
|
|
33.3
|
%
|
|
$
|
1,880
|
|
|
|
27.1
|
%
|
Workforce Solutions
|
|
|
311
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
%
|
|
|
515
|
|
|
|
13.1
|
%
|
Total gross profit
|
|
$
|
3,216
|
|
|
|
28.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
2,395
|
|
|
|
22.0
|
%
|
The Engineering segment’s gross profit increased by $1.0 million during three months ended March 31, 2024 over three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase is primarily related to
improved margin in our Design & Analysis business, driven by increased utilization in the Q1 2024 period compared to Q1 2023.
The Workforce Solutions segment’s gross profit decreased by $0.2 million during three months ended March 31, 2024 over three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the reduction in the demand from existing customers for additional workforce professionals.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”)
SG&A expenses totaled $4.4 million and $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Fluctuations in the components of SG&A spending were as follows.
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2024
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
March 31, 2023
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate charges
|
|
$
|
3,496
|
|
|
|
80.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
3,486
|
|
|
|
72.8
|
%
|
Business development
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
17.6
|
%
|
|
|
1,116
|
|
|
|
23.3
|
%
|
Facility operation & maintenance (O&M)
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
0.9
|
%
|
|
|
141
|
|
|
|
2.9
|
%
|
Credit loss expense (recovery)
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
1.3
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
0.7
|
%
|
Other
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
4,360
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
4,788
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Corporate charges
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, corporate charges increased by $10 thousand over the same period of the prior year. This is primarily driven by the $0.5 million increase in advisory fees, offset by a
decrease in $0.4 million indirect labor & burden costs and $0.1 million recruiting fees.
Business development expenses
Business development expense decreased $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 over the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease was primarily driven by decreased headcount
on our Workforce Solutions business unit.
Facility operation & maintenance (“O&M”)
Facility O&M expenses decreased $102 thousand for three months ended March 31, 2024, respectively, compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease in facility O&M during fiscal 2024 was mainly due to the
reduction of office space leased in our Ft. Worth, Texas, location.
Credit loss expense
We recorded $56 thousand and $32 thousand credit loss expense during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Research and development
Research and development costs consist primarily of software engineering personnel and other related costs. Research and development costs, net of capitalized software, totaled $229 thousand and $181 thousand for the
three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Depreciation
We recorded depreciation expense of $58 thousand and $48 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $10 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2024 over the same
period in 2023 was due primarily to additional leasehold improvement assets related to the new Ft. Worth office lease entered into Q2 2023.
Amortization of intangible assets
Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets totaled $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Interest expense, net
Interest expense totaled $459 thousand and $286 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase was mainly due to an increase in total
indebtedness compared to Q1 2023.
Other income, net
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized other income, net of $54 thousand and $10 thousand, respectively.
Income taxes (benefit) expense
Income tax (benefit) expense for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in that quarter. Total income tax expense of $40 thousand for the
three months ended March 31, 2024 was comprised mainly of current state and foreign tax expense and deferred state tax benefit related to the portion of goodwill which cannot be offset by deferred tax assets. Total income tax benefit of $(39)
thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was comprised mainly of current foreign tax benefit, current state tax expense, and deferred state tax expense related to the portion of goodwill which cannot be offset by deferred tax assets.
Our income tax effective rate was (2.0)% and 1.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The difference between our income tax expense at an effective tax rate of (2.0)% and a benefit at
the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate of 21% was primarily due to accruals related to uncertain tax positions for certain foreign tax contingencies, a change in valuation allowance in our U.S. entity, the permanent disallowance of interest
expense related to disqualified debt, and discrete item adjustments for U.S. taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the difference between the income tax benefit at an effective tax rate of 1.3% and a benefit at the U.S. statutory
federal income tax rate of 21% was primarily due to accruals related to uncertain tax positions for certain foreign tax contingencies, a change in valuation allowance in our U.S. entity, the permanent disallowance of interest expense related to
disqualified debt, and discrete item adjustments for U.S. taxes.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
In preparing our consolidated financial statements, Management makes several estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Our most
significant estimates relate to revenue recognition on contracts with customers, product warranties, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets acquired including the determination of fair value in impairment tests, valuation of long-lived assets,
valuation of stock-based compensation awards and the recoverability of deferred tax assets. These critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024. In addition, in the quarter ended March 31, 2023, we established mark-to-market liabilities related to certain common stock purchase warrants and certain
embedded features included in our convertible debt. The fair values of these are estimated upon issuance and at each reporting period thereafter. For all accounting policies described in this document, management cautions that future events rarely
develop exactly as forecasted and even our best estimates may require adjustment as facts and circumstances change.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2024, our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $2.8 million, compared to $3.7 million as of December 31, 2023.
As of March 31, 2024, we have current restricted cash and long-term restricted cash of $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively. We have restricted cash of $1.1 million to secure four
letters of credit with various customers and $0.4 million to secure our corporate credit card program.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, net cash used in operating activities were $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The increase in cash flows used in operating activities was primarily driven
by increased collections in the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Net cash used in investing activities totaled $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, net cash used in financing activities was $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The decrease in cash used in financing activities of $0.2
million was primarily driven by decrease in principle repayments of our convertible notes. This decrease is due to reduction in the monthly principal payments effected by the June 2023 amendment to the 2022 Convertible Note (see Note 9).
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA
References to “EBITDA” mean net loss, before taking into account interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. References to Adjusted EBITDA exclude the stock-based compensation expense, advisory fees and change in fair value of derivative instruments. EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). Management believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, in addition to operating profit, net income and other GAAP measures, are
useful to investors to evaluate our results because it excludes certain items that are not directly related to our core operating performance that may, or could, have a disproportionate positive or negative impact on our results for any particular
period. Investors should recognize that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. This measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of
performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of non-U.S. GAAP EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure in accordance with SEC Regulation G follows:
(in thousands)
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2024
|
|
|
March 31, 2023
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(1,992
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,951
|
)
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
459
|
|
|
|
286
|
|
Expense (benefit) from income taxes
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
(39
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
259
|
|
|
|
294
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
|
(1,234
|
)
|
|
|
(2,410
|
)
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
294
|
|
|
|
285
|
|
Advisory fees
|
|
|
476
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
(69
|
)
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
$
|
(447
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,194
|
)
|
Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Loss per Share Reconciliation
References to Adjusted net Loss excludes certain items that are not directly related to the Company’s core operating performance and non-cash items that may, or could, have a disproportionate positive
or negative impact on our results for any particular period. Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Loss per Share (adjusted EPS) are not measures of financial performance under U.S. GAAP. Management believes Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Loss per Share,
in addition to other U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to evaluate the Company’s results because the excluded items may, or could, have a disproportionate positive or negative impact on our results for any particular period. These
measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of non-U.S. GAAP Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Loss per common Share to
U.S. GAAP net loss, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is as follows:
(in thousands)
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2024
|
|
|
March 31, 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(1,992
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,951
|
)
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
294
|
|
|
|
285
|
|
Advisory fees
|
|
|
476
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
(69
|
)
|
Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
|
161
|
|
Adjusted net loss
|
|
$
|
(1,106
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,574
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per share - diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.63
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.29
|
)
|
Add back: Effect of stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
0.09
|
|
|
|
0.13
|
|
Add back: Effect of advisory fees
|
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Add back: Effect of change in fair value of derivative instruments, net
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
Add back: Effect of amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
0.07
|
|
Adjusted loss per common share – Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.35
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.12
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding used to compute adjusted net loss per share - basic and diluted(1)
|
|
|
3,148,806
|
|
|
|
2,293,389
|
|
(1) During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we reported a GAAP net loss and an adjusted net loss.
Accordingly, there were no dilutive shares from RSUs included in the adjusted earnings per share calculation that were considered anti-dilutive when calculating the net loss per share.
Item 3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
|
Not required of a smaller reporting company.
Item 4. |
Controls and Procedures
|
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving
their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their
control objectives. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report and our annual report, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of
such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal
control over financial reporting.
Limitation of Effectiveness of Controls
Internal control over financial reporting has inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and
breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements will not be
prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to
reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. |
Legal Proceedings
|
We are, from time to time, involved in ordinary routine litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are a party to, nor is any of our
property the subject of, any material pending legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
None.
Item 2. |
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
(a) None.
(b) None.
(c) None.
Item 3. |
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
|
(a) None.
(b) None.
Item 4. |
Mine Safety Disclosures
|
Not applicable.
Item 5. |
Other Information
|
(a) None.
(b) None.
(c) None.
|
10.1
|
Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2019, by and between GSE Systems, Inc. and Ravi Khanna.
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated November 24, 2020, by and between GSE Systems, Inc. and Ravi
Khanna. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 30, 2024, by and between GSE Systems, Inc. and Ravi Khanna. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
10.4
|
Separation Agreement, dated April 30, 2024, including Amendment to Restricted Share Unit Agreements (attached as Exhibit A), by and between GSE
Systems, Inc. and Kyle J. Loudermilk. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on April 30, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
|
101.INS*
|
XBRL Instance Document
|
|
|
|
|
101.SCH*
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
|
|
|
|
|
101.CAL*
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
101.DEF*
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
101.LAB*
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
101.PRE*
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 15, 2024
|
|
|
GSE SYSTEMS, INC.
|
|
|
|
/S/ RAVI KHANNA
|
|
Ravi Khanna
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
/S/ EMMETT A. PEPE
|
|
Emmett A. Pepe
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|