Each of these factors could materially impact our international operations and adversely affect our business as a whole.
In the past we have made acquisitions of products and businesses and in fiscal 2003 we acquired privately held Adaytum, Inc. In the future, we may engage in additional acquisitions of other products or businesses that we believe are complementary to ours. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify additional suitable acquisition candidates available for sale at reasonable prices, consummate any acquisition, or successfully integrate any acquired product or business into our operations. Further, acquisitions may involve a number of other risks, including:
If we do not successfully address these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with an acquisition, the acquisition could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Problems with an acquired business could have a material adverse effect on our performance or our business as a whole. In addition, if we proceed with an acquisition, our available cash may be used to complete the transaction, diminishing our liquidity and capital resources, or shares may be issued which could cause a dilution to existing shareholders.
The expansion of our business and customer base has placed, and will continue to place, increased demands on our management, operating systems, internal controls, and financial resources. If not managed effectively, these increased demands may adversely affect the products and services we provide to our existing clients. In addition, our personnel, systems, procedures, and controls may be inadequate to support our future operations. Consequently, in order to manage our growth effectively, we may be required to increase expenditures to expand,
train, and manage our employee base, improve our management, financial and information systems, and controls, or make other capital expenditures. Our results of operations and financial condition could be harmed if we encounter difficulties in effectively managing our growth.
Our executive management and other key personnel are essential to our business, and if we are not able to recruit and retain
qualified personnel, our ability to develop, market, and support our products and services could be harmed.
We depend on the services of our key technical and management personnel. The loss of the services of any of these persons could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Our success is highly dependent on our continuing ability to identify, hire, train, motivate, and retain highly qualified management, technical, sales, and marketing personnel. Competition for such personnel can be intense, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to attract, assimilate, or retain highly qualified technical and managerial personnel in the future. Our inability to attract and retain the necessary management, technical, sales, and marketing personnel may adversely affect our future growth and profitability.
Risks Related to Our Industry
Economic uncertainty and downturns in the software market may lead to decreases in our revenues and margins.
The market for our products depends on economic conditions affecting the broader software market. Downturns in the economy may cause businesses and governments to delay or cancel software projects, reduce their overall information technology budgets, or reduce or cancel orders for our products. In this environment, customers may experience financial difficulty, fail to purchase or defer the budget for the purchase of our products, or cease operations. This, in turn, may lead to longer sales cycles, delays, or failures in payment and collection, and price pressures, causing us to realize lower revenues and margins. In particular, acts of terrorism, military action, or war have created an uncertain economic environment and we cannot predict the impact of such events on our customers or business. We believe that, in light of such events, some businesses and governments may delay, curtail, or eliminate capital spending on information technology generally, or in certain sectors of information technology in particular. If capital spending in our markets declines, it may be necessary for us to gain significant market share from our competitors in order to achieve our financial goals and maintain profitability, and there is no assurance we would be able to do so.
If our products contain material defects, our ability to attract and retain customers may be harmed.
Software products are complex and may contain errors or defects, particularly when first introduced, when new versions or enhancements are released, or when configured to individual customer computing systems. We currently have known errors and defects in our products. Despite testing conducted by us, additional defects and errors found in current versions, new versions, or enhancements of our products after commencement of commercial shipment could result in the loss of revenues or a delay in market acceptance. If, as a result of such a defect or error, our products cannot be effectively integrated with other hardware, software and database and networking systems, our ability to attract and retain customers could suffer. The occurrence
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of any of these events could cause us to lose customers or require us to pay damages to existing customers and, therefore, could seriously harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.
We face intense competition, and if we fail to compete successfully, our business could be seriously harmed and our revenues could grow more slowly than expected, stop growing, or decline.
We face substantial competition throughout the world, primarily from software companies located in the United States, Europe, and Canada. Some of our competitors have been in the software business longer than we have and have substantially greater financial and other resources with which to pursue research and development, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of their products. We expect our existing competitors and future competitors to continue to improve the performance of their current products and to introduce new products or new technologies. In addition, some of our larger existing competitors may in the future devote more resources to the business intelligence market. New product introductions by our competitors could cause a decline in sales, a reduction in the sales price, or a loss of market acceptance of our existing products. To the extent that we are unable to effectively compete against our current and future competitors, our ability to sell products could be harmed and our market share reduced. Any erosion of our competitive position could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
If we do not respond effectively and on a timely basis to rapid technological change, our products and services may become obsolete and we could lose customers.
The markets for our products are characterized by:
o | | rapid and significant technological change; |
o | | frequent new product introductions and enhancements; |
o | | changing customer demands; and |
o | | evolving industry standards. |
We cannot assure you that our products and services will remain competitive in light of future technological change or respond to market demands and developments or new industry standards. If we are unable to identify a shift in market demand or industry standards quickly enough, we may not be able to develop products to meet those new demands or standards, or bring them to market in a timely way. In addition, failure to respond successfully to technological change may render our products and services obsolete and thus harm our ability to attract and retain customers.
Risks Related to External Conditions
Our share price will fluctuate.
The market price of our common shares may be volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations due to a number of factors, including:
o | | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations; |
o | | changes in estimates of our future results of operations by us or securities analysts; |
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o | | announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors; |
o | | general industry changes in the business intelligence tools or related markets; or |
o | | other events or factors. |
In addition, the financial markets have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of many technology companies and that sometimes have been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market fluctuations, as well as economic conditions generally and in the software industry specifically, may adversely affect the market price of our common shares. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Similar litigation may occur in the future with respect to us, which could result in substantial costs, divert management’s attention and other company resources, and have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
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Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our market risk exposure is primarily a result of fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We do not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio. The investment of cash is regulated by our investment policy of which the primary objective is security of principal. Among other selection criteria, the investment policy states that the term to maturity of investments cannot exceed two years in length. We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio.
Interest income on our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments is subject to interest rate fluctuations, but we believe that the impact of these fluctuations does not have a material effect on our financial position due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. We have no long-term debt. Our interest income and interest expense are most sensitive to the general level of interest rates in Canada and the United States. Sensitivity analysis is used to measure our interest rate risk. For the quarter ending May 31, 2003, a 100 basis-point adverse change in interest rates would not have had a material effect on our consolidated financial position, earnings, or cash flows.
Foreign Currency Risk
We operate internationally; accordingly, a substantial portion of our financial instruments are held in currencies other than the United States dollar. Our policy with respect to foreign currency exposure is to manage financial exposure to certain foreign exchange fluctuations with the objective of neutralizing some of the impact of foreign currency exchange movements. To achieve this objective, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge portions of the net investment in various subsidiaries. The forward contracts are typically between the United States dollar and the British pound, the euro, and the Australian dollar. Sensitivity analysis is used to measure our foreign currency exchange rate risk. As of May 31, 2003, a 10% adverse change in foreign exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar would not have had a material effect on our reported cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.
As we operate internationally, a substantial portion of our business is also conducted in foreign currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, our results are affected, and may be affected in the future, by exchange rate fluctuations of the United States dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, to various European currencies, and, to a lesser extent, other foreign currencies. Revenues and expenses generated in foreign currencies are translated at exchange rates during the month in which the transaction occurs. The resulting gains and losses from this translation are included in net income. We cannot predict the effect of foreign exchange losses in the future; however, if significant foreign exchange losses are experienced, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
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a) | | Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. |
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days before the filing date of this quarterly report. Based on this evaluation the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer conclude that the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) effectively ensure that information required to be disclosed in our filings and submissions under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
b) | | Changes in internal controls |
There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the evaluation of the internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
The Corporation is not a party to any litigation that, in the opinion of management, could reasonably be expected to have material adverse impact on the Corporation’s financial position.
In addition, we and our subsidiaries may, from time to time be involved in other legal proceedings, claims, and litigation that arise in the ordinary course of business.
a) | | The Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 19, 2003. |
b) | | At the meeting, it was resolved that those persons nominated as indicated below be elected as directors of the Corporation and that Ernst & Young LLP be reappointed as the Corporation’s Auditors for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2004. Shareholders also approved the adoption of the Cognos Incorporated, 2003-2008 Stock Option Plan and shareholders voted in favor of a proposal requesting our Board of Directors establish a policy to expense in our annual income statement the costs of all future stock options issued to our senior executives. The voting results of the meeting are presented in the following table: |
Voting Results
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
June 19, 2003
|
| | FOR | | WITHHELD | | AGAINST | |
|
Election of Directors | | | | | | | |
|
John E. Caldwell | | 58,040,062 | | 4,795,043 | | 0 | |
|
Paul D. Damp | | 58,041,487 | | 4,793,618 | | 0 | |
|
Pierre Y. Ducros | | 58,040,673 | | 4,794,432 | | 0 | |
|
Robert W. Korthals | | 58,038,812 | | 4,796,110 | | 0 | |
|
John Rando | | 58,009,176 | | 4,825,929 | | 0 | |
|
William Russell | | 58,013,096 | | 4,822,009 | | 0 | |
|
James M. Tory | | 56,255,815 | | 6,579,290 | | 0 | |
|
Renato Zambonini | | 58,013,093 | | 4,822,012 | | 0 | |
|
Reappointment of Auditors | | 62,416,638 | | 287,069 | | 0 | |
|
Adoption of Stock Option Plan | | 34,662,449 | | 0 | | 28,444,492 | |
|
Shareholder Proposal Expensing of Options | | 31,895,060 | | 0 | | 27,689,005 | |
|
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a) | | Exhibits |
| | 10.23 | | 2003 - 2008 Stock Option Plan (Incentive and Non-Qualified) | |
| | 99 | | Selected Consolidated Financial Statements in U.S. Dollars and in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | |
| | 99.1 | | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Canadian Supplement | |
| | 99.2 | | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| | 99.3 | | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
The Corporation filed a Form 8-K/A, on March 12, 2003 pursuant to Items 2 and 7,Acquisition or Disposition of Assets, and Financial Statements andPro Forma Financial Information, and Exhibits,respectively. This Form 8-K/A related to the Corporation’s Acquisition of Adaytum, Inc. during fiscal 2003. The Corporation filed a Form 8-K on April 2, 2003 pursuant to Items 7 and 12,Financial Statements and Exhibits andDisclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition,respectively.This Form 8-K related to the release of the Corporation’s results for the quarter and fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.
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SIGNATURE
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.
COGNOS INCORPORATED |
(Registrant) |
| | |
| | |
July 11, 2003 | | /s/ Tom Manley |
| |
|
Date | | Tom Manley |
| | Senior Vice President, Finance & |
| | Administration and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting |
| | Officer) |
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CERTIFICATIONS
I, Renato Zambonini, Chief Executive Officer, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cognos Incorporated; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report; |
4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have: |
| a) | | designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; |
| b) | | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and |
| c) | | presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date; |
5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): |
| a) | | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and |
| b) | | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and |
6. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. |
| | |
| | |
July 11, 2003 | | /s/ Renato Zambonini |
| |
|
Date | | Renato Zambonini, |
| | Chief Executive Officer |
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I, Tom Manley, Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer), certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cognos Incorporated; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report; |
4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have: |
| a) | | designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; |
| b) | | evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and |
| c) | | presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date; |
5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): |
| a) | | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and |
| b) | | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and |
6. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. |
| | |
| | |
July 11, 2003 | | /s/ Tom Manley |
| |
|
Date | | Tom Manley |
| | Senior Vice President, Finance & |
| | Administration and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting |
| | Officer) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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