=============================================================================== SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1997 OR [_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _________ TO ________ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-21287 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DELAWARE 95-3732595 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 2381 ROSECRANS AVENUE EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) (310) 536-0908 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO FILE SUCH REPORTS), AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS. YES [X] NO [_] THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1997 WAS 10,663,905. ================================================================================ 1 PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION INDEX ========================================================================================================= PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION Page No. - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -------------------- Balance Sheets October 31, 1997 and January 31, 1997............................................ 3 Statements of Operations Three Months Ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, and Nine Months Ended October 31, 1997 and 1996...................................... 4 Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended October 31, 1997 and 1996...................................... 5 Notes to Financial Statements...................................................... 6 Item 2: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND --------------------------------------------------------------- RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.............................................................. 8 --------------------- PART II - OTHER INFORMATION - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Item 1: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.................................................................. 12 ----------------- Item 2: CHANGES IN SECURITIES.............................................................. 12 --------------------- Item 3: DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.................................................... 12 ------------------------------- Item 4: SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS................................ 12 --------------------------------------------------- Item 5: OTHER INFORMATION.................................................................. 12 ----------------- Item 6: EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K................................................... 12 -------------------------------- Signatures ................................................................................... 13 2 PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -------------------- PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) ASSETS October 31, January 31, 1997 1997 ----------- ---------- (Unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,442 $ 24,162 Short term investments 15,430 2,000 Trade accounts receivable, net 4,675 3,314 Unbilled receivables 1,518 363 Deferred tax asset 1,692 1,692 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,053 253 ----------- ---------- Total current assets 29,810 31,784 Investments 7,006 - Property and equipment, net 2,030 1,665 Other assets 374 453 Deferred tax asset 1,207 1,207 ----------- ---------- Total assets $ 40,427 $ 35,109 =========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 396 $ 568 Accrued wages 680 711 Accrued compensated absences 572 345 Other current liabilities 762 337 Income taxes payable 1,483 100 Deferred rent, current portion 76 76 Deferred revenue, current portion 4,117 4,591 ----------- ---------- Total current liabilities 8,086 6,728 Deferred rent 382 217 Deferred revenue 100 100 ----------- ---------- Total liabilities 8,568 7,045 ----------- ---------- Stockholders' equity: Common stock 10 10 Additional paid-in capital 37,943 37,225 Deferred compensation (255) (346) Accumulated deficit (5,839) (8,825) ----------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity 31,859 28,064 ----------- ---------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 40,427 $ 35,109 =========== ========== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 3 PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended October 31, October 31, ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- 1997 1996 1997 1996 $ % $ % $ % $ % ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- --------- Revenues: Product licensing $ 3,713 57.8% $ 2,363 54.0% $ 10,986 62.7% $ 4,801 41.9% Engineering services and maintenance 2,710 42.2 2,014 46.0 6,524 37.3 6,664 58.1 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Total revenues 6,423 100.0 4,377 100.0 17,510 100.0 11,465 100.0 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Cost of revenues: Product licensing 35 0.5 64 1.5 105 0.6 129 1.1 Engineering services and maintenance 2,151 33.5 1,576 36.0 5,543 31.7 4,872 42.5 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Total cost of revenues 2,186 34.0 1,640 37.5 5,648 32.3 5,001 43.6 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Gross margin 4,237 66.0 2,737 62.5 11,862 67.7 6,464 56.4 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Operating expenses: Research and development 1,106 17.2 674 15.4 3,218 18.3 1,712 14.9 Sales and marketing 936 14.6 845 19.3 2,713 15.5 2,009 17.5 General and administrative 735 11.5 673 15.4 2,154 12.3 1,759 15.4 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Total operating expenses 2,777 43.3 2,192 50.1 8,085 46.1 5,480 47.8 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Income from operations 1,460 22.7 545 12.4 3,777 21.6 984 8.6 Interest (income) expense, net (387) (6.0) (42) (1.0) (1,040) (5.9) 125 1.1 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Income before income taxes 1,847 28.7 587 13.4 4,817 27.5 859 7.5 Provision for income taxes 702 10.9 156 3.6 1,831 10.4 206 1.8 ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ----------- --------- Net income $ 1,145 17.8% $ 431 9.8% $ 2,986 17.1% $ 653 5.7% ========= ======== ========= ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== Net income per share: Primary $ 0.10 $ 0.05 $ 0.26 $ 0.10 ========= ========= ========== ========== Fully diluted $ 0.10 $ 0.04 $ 0.26 $ 0.07 ========= ========= ========== ========== Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: Primary 11,707 8,044 11,704 6,832 ========= ========= ========== ========== Fully diluted 11,707 9,809 11,704 9,185 ========= ========= ========== ========== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 4 PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) Nine Months Ended October 31, 1997 1996 ------------ ------------ Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 2,986 $ 653 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 415 341 Amortization of deferred compensation 91 76 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Trade accounts receivable (1,361) (2,725) Unbilled receivables (1,155) (727) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (800) (172) Other assets (27) - Accounts payable (172) 830 Accrued wages (31) 193 Accrued compensated absences 227 (204) Other current liabilities 425 466 Income taxes payable 1,383 - Deferred rent 165 (56) Deferred revenue (474) 860 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 1,672 (465) ----------- ----------- Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (866) (1,022) Purchases of held-to-maturity securities (24,244) - Sales of held-to-maturity securities 4,000 - ----------- ----------- Net cash used for investing activities (21,110) (1,022) ----------- ----------- Cash flows from financing activities: Payments on obligations under capital leases - (655) Proceeds from exercise of common stock options 329 110 Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 389 26,357 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by financing activities 718 25,812 ----------- ----------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (18,720) 24,325 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 24,162 722 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 5,442 $ 25,047 ========== ========== Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for: Income taxes $ 151 $ 161 ========== ========== Interest $ - $ 250 ========== ========== Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities: Increase in redemption value of preferred stock $ - $ 8 ========== ========== Deferred compensation related to grant of stock options $ - $ 452 ========== ========== Software and equipment acquired under capital lease obligations $ - $ 360 ========== ========== Conversion of convertible notes to common stock $ - $ 3,070 ========== ========== Conversion of preferred stock to common stock $ - $ 5,940 ========== ========== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 5 PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (in thousands) (Unaudited) Note 1 BASIS OF PRESENTATION - - ------ The accompanying unaudited financial statements of Peerless Systems Corporation (the "Company") have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for quarterly reports on Form 10- Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. The financial statements and notes herein are unaudited, but in the opinion of management, include all the adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the years ended December 31, 1994, and 1995, and the year ended January 31, 1997, included in the Company's annual report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC on April 28, 1997. The results of operations for the interim periods shown herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future interim period or for the entire year. Note 2 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - - ------ In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"). SFAS 128 specifies the computation, presentation, and disclosure requirements for earnings per share for entities with publicly held common stock or potential common stock. SFAS 128 is effective for financial statements for both interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 1997. Earlier application is not permitted. Management has not yet assessed the impact that the adoption of SFAS 128 will have on the Company's earnings per share calculation. In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS 130"). SFAS 130 establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. An enterprise that has no items of other comprehensive income in any period presented is not required to report comprehensive income. SFAS 130 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. Management does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 130 will have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS 131"). SFAS 131 establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports issued to shareholders. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. SFAS 131 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. Management plans to adopt this accounting standard in fiscal 1999. Management has not yet assessed the impact that the adoption of SFAS 131 will have on the Company's financial statements. 6 Note 3 NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - - ------ Primary net income per share has been computed by dividing the net income applicable to common stock by the weighted average numbers of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common stock equivalents consist of stock options using the treasury stock method. Note 4 INVESTMENTS - - ------ The Company's investments at October 31, 1997 consisted of $20,436 of securities classified as held-to-maturity and $2,000 of securities classified as available-for-sale. Investments at January 31, 1997 consisted entirely of securities classified as available-for-sale. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost and consisted primarily of corporate and government debt securities with remaining contractual maturities ranging from one month to twenty-five months at October 31, 1997. Amortization of the purchase discounts and premiums is included in interest income. The fair value of the held-to-maturity securities at October 31, 1997 approximated the amortized cost. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value and consisted of debt securities with contractual maturities in excess of 10 years at both October 31, 1997 and January 31, 1997. Unrealized gains and losses, if material, are reported as a separate component of stockholders'equity. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary are included in interest income. There were no unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1996. Note 5 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - - ------ On September 30, 1996, the Company converted all of the outstanding shares of Class A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, Class B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, Convertible Notes Payable and Warrants into new shares of Common Stock simultaneously with the closing of the Company's initial public offering. 7 PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION ================================================================================ Item 2: Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and --------------------------------------------------------------- Results of Operations - - --------------------- Except for the historical information contained herein, this quarterly Report on Form10-Q may contain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results of operations may differ materially from those projected or suggested in the forward-looking statements due to certain risks and uncertainties. Information concerning certain risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's annual report filed on Form 10-K, with the SEC on April 28, 1997, in the section entitled "Risk Factors," and in "Certain Business Risks" below. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release, and the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. OVERVIEW GENERAL The Company, founded in April 1982, provides software-based ------- embedded imaging systems to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") of digital document products located primarily in the United States and Japan. The Peerless family of products and engineering services provides advanced embedded imaging technologies that enable the Company's OEM customers to develop digital printers, copiers and multifunction products ("MFPs") quickly and cost effectively. The Company's revenues are comprised of both recurring and one- time product licensing fees as well as engineering services and maintenance fees related to the Company's embedded imaging software and supporting electronics technologies. The Company changed its fiscal year-end from December 31 to January 31, commencing February 1, 1996, in order to better align the timing of the Company's financial reporting with the timing of receipt of royalty information by the Company from its OEMs. In July 1997, the Company established Peerless Systems Corporation, Ltd. in Japan in order to strengthen relationships within the Asian marketplace. CUSTOMERS The Company's customers currently include, among others, OEM --------- customers, Canon, IBM and Minolta. A significant portion of the Company's revenues in recent years has been concentrated with a limited number of OEM customers, and the Company anticipates that its revenues in the future may be similarly concentrated. PRODUCT LICENSING REVENUES The Company's product licensing revenues are -------------------------- comprised of both recurring licensing revenues and one-time licensing fees for source code. Recurring licensing revenues are derived from per unit fees paid quarterly by the Company's OEMs upon shipment or manufacture of products incorporating the Company's technology. Recurring licensing revenues are derived, to a lesser extent, from arrangements in which the Company enables its products to be used with third-party technology such as certain arrangements with Adobe. The Company's one-time licensing fees for source code are paid by OEMs for access to the Company's software, which in turn generates recurring licensing revenues if the software is incorporated into OEM products that are subsequently developed and shipped. 8 ENGINEERING SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE REVENUES The Company's engineering --------------------------------------------- services revenues are derived primarily from adapting the Company's software and supporting electronics to specific OEM requirements. The Company provides its engineering services to OEMs seeking an embedded imaging solution for their digital document products. The Company's maintenance revenues are derived from software maintenance agreements. Maintenance revenues constitute a very small portion of this revenue category. REVENUE RECOGNITION The Company recognizes its recurring product licensing ------------------- revenues on a royalty basis, generally when the Company's OEM customers ship products that incorporate the Company's technology. In certain cases, the non- refundable portion of guaranteed royalties is reported as royalty revenues upon receipt by the Company. Generally, the Company recognizes its one-time licensing revenues for software licenses upon shipment to the Company's OEMs. The Company recognizes engineering services revenues over the course of the development work on a percentage-of-completion basis. Maintenance revenues are recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance contract, which generally is twelve months. Licensing revenues are recognized in accordance with Statement of Position 91-1 "Software Revenue Recognition." RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Three and Nine Months Ended October 31, 1997 and 1996 REVENUES Revenues for the quarter ended October 31, 1997 increased 47% to -------- $6.4 million from the $4.4 million reported for the quarter ended October 31, 1996. Revenues for the nine month period ended October 31, 1997 increased 53% to $17.5 million from the $11.5 million reported for the same period last year. The increase in revenues for both the three and nine month periods was driven by an increase in product licensing revenues of 57% and 129%, respectively. These increases were generated by an increase in the shipments and number of products incorporating Peerless imaging technology, as well as high, one-time licensing fees for source code. Most of the growth in the current fiscal year can be attributed to new color laser printers introduced by the Company's OEMs in early fiscal 1998 and an increase in the market penetration of existing products. A growth in engineering services and maintenance revenues also contributed to the increase in total revenues during the current quarter with an increase of 35% to $2.7 million from the $2.0 million reported for the quarter ended October 31, 1996. The growth was generated by increased outsourcing of digital document products by OEMs during the current period. GROSS MARGIN The Company's gross margin as a percentage of total revenues ------------ increased to 66% for the quarter ended October 31, 1997 from 63% for the quarter ended October 31, 1996. Gross margin as a percentage of total revenues for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1996 was 68% and 56%, respectively. The improvements in gross margin noted in the current year are primarily attributable to a shift in the revenue mix toward product licensing revenues, which have relatively low costs associated with the revenues being recognized. This shift toward product licensing revenue was more pronounced in the current nine month period when product licensing as a percentage of total revenues increased from 42% for the nine months ended October 31, 1996 to 63% for the nine months ended October 31, 1997. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES Peerless continues to invest heavily in --------------------------------- the future by funding the research and development of new technology solutions. Research and development expenses increased 64% between the quarters ended October 31, 1997 and 1996 and 88% between the nine month periods ended October 31, 1997 and 1996. The expense increases resulted primarily from a growth in the development staff headcount. The increased funding was used to, among other things, 9 continue the development programs associated with the Company's color technology, multi-function technology and application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") designs. SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES Sales and marketing expenses increased 11% ---------------------------- between the quarters ended October 31, 1997 and 1996 and 35% between the nine month periods ended October 31, 1997 and 1996. These increases reflected a growth in the sales and marketing headcount and an expanded emphasis on industry trade shows and other opportunities to promote the Company's embedded imaging solution. The establishment of a subsidiary in Japan during fiscal 1998 also contributed to the expense growth. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES General and administrative expenses ----------------------------------- for the three month and nine month periods ended October 31, 1997 increased 9% and 23%, respectively, from the comparable periods last year. The expense growth related primarily to an increase in personnel and expenses necessary to support the growth in the Company's operations. General and administrative expenses were 11% and 12% of total revenues for the three and nine month periods ended October 31, 1997, respectively, as compared to 15% for both the three and nine month periods ended October 31, 1996. INTEREST INCOME The Company earned interest income of $387,000 in the --------------- third quarter of fiscal 1998 and $1.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 1998. Interest income was related to interest and investment income earned on cash equivalents and investments. Interest charges of $925,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 1996 were the result of interest payable on borrowings under the Company's line of credit and the convertible notes payable, which converted to shares of common stock in September 1996 upon the closing of the Company's initial public offering. INCOME TAX PROVISIONS The provisions for income taxes for all periods --------------------- presented are based on the estimated annual effective tax rate and include current federal, state and foreign income taxes. The effective tax rates for the periods differ from the federal statutory rate, primarily as a result of the utilization of net operating loss carry forwards, offset by certain foreign taxes. The higher tax rate in fiscal 1998 is primarily attributable to alternative minimum tax. The Company currently has a $2.4 million valuation allowance against the existing deferred tax assets, substantially all of which is expected to be reversed in the fourth quarter for fiscal 1998, assuming continued profitability. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Compared to January 31, 1997, total assets grew 15% to $40.4 million and stockholders' equity grew 14% to $31.9 million. The Company's cash and short- term investment portfolio totaled $20.9 million at October 31, 1997 and the current ratio was 3.7. Cash generated by operations during the nine months ended October 31, 1997 was $1.7 million compared to the $465,000 used by operations in the comparable period last year. Net cash used for investing activities during the nine months ended October 31, 1997 was $21.1 million and was comprised primarily of purchases and sales of short-term and long-term held-to-maturity securities. Additions to property and equipment during the nine months ended October 31, 1997 totaled $866,000 and related primarily to fixed asset purchases associated with a growth in headcount. The additions also included $150,000 in leasehold improvements made to the Company's existing operating facilities. The Company expects to incur an additional $900,000, associated with further improvements to the facilites, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998. 10 Net cash provided by financing activities in the nine months ended October 31, 1997 was $718,000. This cash resulted from the issuance of shares of common stock under the Company's employee stock purchase plan and the exercise of common stock options. Cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended October 31, 1996 was $25.8 million which related primarily to net proceeds from the Company's initial public offering in September 1996. At present, the Company has available a $2.0 million revolving line of credit with a bank, which is collateralized by substantially all assets of the Company. The line of credit, which terminates in May 1998, unless extended, requires the Company to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants. CERTAIN BUSINESS RISKS In the past, the Company has reported net losses and has only recently reported net income. The Company has accumulated aggregate net losses from inception through October 31, 1997, of approximately $5.8 million. Although the Company has reported net income for the past eight quarters ended October 31, 1997, there can be no assurance that the Company will maintain profitability on a quarterly basis or achieve profitability on an annual basis in the future. The success of the Company and its business strategy is dependent upon, among other things, the ability and willingness of the Company's OEM customers to timely develop and promote digital document products that incorporate the Company's technology. The Company believes that future revenues may be similarly concentrated with a limited number of OEM customers. Consequently, any significant decrease in product sales or reduction in licensing or engineering services with a large OEM customer would have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results. The market for the Company's products is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and needs, frequent new product introductions and diminishing time frames within which to develop new products. The failure of the Company and its OEM customers to meet these needs on a timely basis or to anticipate or respond to rapidly changing technology could result in a loss of competitiveness or revenues, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results. The recurring product licensing revenues reported by the Company are dependent on the timing and accuracy of product sales reports received from the Company's OEM customers. These reports are provided only on a calendar quarter basis and, in any event, are subject to delay and potential revision by the OEM. Therefore, the Company is required to estimate all of its quarterly revenues from an OEM when the report from such OEM is not received in a timely manner. As a result, the Company may be unable to estimate such revenue accurately prior to public announcement of the Company's quarterly results. In such event, the Company subsequently may be required to restate its recognized revenues or adjust revenues for subsequent periods, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results. Also inherent in the Company's business are additional risks, which include: competition in the market of embedded imaging systems for digital document products, including internal development by OEMs; the risk of delays in the development of products, whether such delays are within the control of the Company or not; risks associated in developing products for new and rapidly developing markets, in which the Company has directed a substantial portion of its recent development efforts; dependence on sole source providers; uncertainties regarding protection of intellectual property rights, including the potential for trademark and patent infringement litigation; dependence on key personnel; 11 and risks associated with the Company's international business activities, which account for a substantial portion of its revenues. PART II - OTHER INFORMATION - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ----------------- None Item 2: CHANGES IN SECURITIES --------------------- None Item 3: DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES ------------------------------- None Item 4: SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS --------------------------------------------------- None Item 5: OTHER INFORMATION ----------------- None Item 6: EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K -------------------------------- (a) Exhibits 27 - Financial Data Schedule (b) Reports on Form 8-K None 12 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized: PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION By: /s/ Edward Gavaldon Date: December 8, 1997 ------------------------- Edward Gavaldon Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer By: /s/ Hoshi Printer Date: December 8, 1997 ------------------------- Hoshi Printer Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance and Administration (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)