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 period ended: September 30, 2001 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: 0-22945 THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. --------------------------- (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) New York 13-3169913 -------- ---------- (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 200 Park Avenue South New York, New York 10003 (Address of principal executive offices) (212) 979-8228 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed 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 --- --- As of November 9, 2001, there were 7,116,871 shares of Common Stock, with $.01 par value per share, outstanding. THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. INDEX Page Number Part I. Financial Information Item 1. Financial Statements 2 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000 2 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000 3 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000 4 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis 6 of Financial Condition and Results of Operation Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk 16 Part II. Other Information Item 1. Legal Proceedings 16 Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 16 Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities 16 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 16 Item 5. Other Information 16 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 16 Signatures 18 1 Part I. Financial Information Item 1. Financial Statements THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET September 30, December 31, 2001 2000 --------------- --------------- (unaudited) Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 341,851 $ 837,946 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $723,502 at September 30, 2001 and $948,397 at December 31, 2000 7,427,862 13,596,875 Prepaid software licenses -- 2,000,000 Prepaid or refundable income taxes -- 1,575,510 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 40,657 132,423 --------------- --------------- Total current assets 7,810,370 18,142,754 Investments at cost 500,000 2,820,638 Property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization 2,148,868 5,847,092 Deposits 120,634 227,055 --------------- --------------- Total Assets $ 10,579,872 $ 27,037,539 =============== =============== Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities: Loan payable - banks $ 2,921,706 $ 2,170,000 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 3,211,063 6,098,951 Deferred revenue -- 166,015 Current portion of capital lease obligation 516,744 376,288 --------------- --------------- Total current liabilities 6,649,513 8,811,254 Capital lease obligation -- 394,379 Other long-term liabilities -- 62,139 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 7,116,871 issued and outstanding 71,169 71,169 Additional paid-in capital 33,086,689 33,086,689 Accumulated deficit (29,227,499) (15,388,091) --------------- --------------- Total shareholders' equity 3,930,359 17,769,767 --------------- --------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 10,579,872 $ 27,037,539 =============== =============== See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements 2 THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 2001 2000 2001 2000 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) Revenues $ 28,891,112 $ 40,986,250 $ 7,349,630 $ 12,808,828 Cost of revenues 22,311,380 29,210,894 4,976,914 9,937,614 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Gross profit 6,579,732 11,775,356 2,372,716 2,871,214 Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 9,773,240 20,054,554 1,852,397 7,110,714 Provision for doubtful accounts 822,507 1,093,071 150,000 1,014,915 Depreciation and amortization 928,878 1,728,813 235,861 576,077 Impairment of assets and restructuring charges 8,728,748 -- -- -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- 20,253,373 22,876,438 2,238,258 8,701,706 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Income (loss) from operations (13,673,641) (11,101,082) 134,458 (5,830,492) Interest expense, net (352,849) (100,095) (85,085) (55,417) --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Income (loss) before income taxes (14,026,490) (11,201,177) 49,373 (5,885,909) Provision (benefit) for income taxes -- (1,571,728) -- 500,000 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Income (loss) before extraordinary item (14,026,490) (9,629,449) 49,373 (6,385,909) Extraordinary item 187,082 -- 187,082 -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) $ (13,839,408) $ (9,629,449) $ 236,455 $ (6,385,909) =============== =============== =============== =============== Basic income (loss) per share: Income (loss) from operations $ (1.96) $ (1.59) $ 0.01 $ (0.95) Extraordinary item 0.02 -- 0.02 -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) $ (1.94) $ (1.59) $ 0.03 $ (0.95) =============== =============== =============== =============== Diluted income (loss) per share: Income (loss) from operations $ (1.96) $ (1.59) $ 0.01 $ (0.95) Extraordinary item 0.02 -- 0.02 -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) $ (1.94) $ (1.59) $ 0.03 $ (0.95) =============== =============== =============== =============== See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 3 THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Nine Months Ending September 31, 2001 2000 --------------- --------------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (13,839,408) $ (9,629,449) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities, net of acquired assets: Depreciation and amortization 928,878 1,728,814 Impairment of assets and restructuring charges 8,728,748 -- Provision for doubtful accounts 822,507 806,454 Extraordinary item (187,082) -- Investment received in exchange for services rendered -- (320,000) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 5,346,506 (2,698,450) Software held for resale -- (2,000,000) Unbilled receivables -- 121,545 Prepaid or refundable income taxes 1,393,238 (1,655,714) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 91,766 (106,503) Accounts payable and accrued expenses (4,221,760) 2,845,502 Deferred revenue (166,015) (97,536) Other long-term liabilities (62,139) (17,440) --------------- --------------- Net cash used in operating activities (1,164,761) (11,022,777) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property and equipment (122,620) (931,012) Investments and advances -- (2,520,638) Deposits 106,421 (5,180) --------------- --------------- Net cash used in investing activities (16,199) (3,456,830) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from sale of common stock -- 12,051,250 Short-term credit, net 751,706 -- Repayment of long-term debt -- (13,505) Repayment of capital lease obligation (66,841) (187,505) Proceeds from loan payable -- 2,000,000 Repayment of loan payable -- (78,000) --------------- --------------- Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 684,865 13,772,240 --------------- --------------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (496,095) (707,367) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 837,946 5,082,519 --------------- --------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 341,851 $ 4,375,152 =============== =============== Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for interest $ 367,080 $ 142,400 =============== =============== Cash paid during the period for income taxes $ -- $ -- =============== =============== Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity: Capital lease obligation $ -- $ 140,000 =============== =============== See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 4 THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 1) GENERAL: These financial statements should be read in conjunction with The A Consulting Team, Inc. (the "Company") Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 filed with the SEC, and the accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto. The accounting policies used in preparing these financial statements are the same as those described in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. 2) INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all the adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2001 and the consolidated results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2000 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Form 10-K filed by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2000. The consolidated results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2001 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. 3) NET LOSS PER SHARE: The following table set forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000. Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 2001 2000 2001 2000 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Numerator for basic and diluted: Income (loss) before extraordinary item $ (14,026,490) $ (9,629,449) $ 49,373 $ (6,385,909) Extraordinary item 187,082 -- 187,082 -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) $ (13,839,408) $ (9,629,449) $ 236,455 $ (6,385,909) =============== =============== =============== =============== Denominator: Denominator for basic income (loss) before extraordinary item and net income (loss) per share - weighted-average shares 7,116,871 6,067,612 7,116,871 6,696,768 =============== =============== =============== =============== Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share - adjusted weighted-average shares 7,116,871 6,067,612 7,144,823 6,696,768 =============== =============== =============== =============== Basic earnings income (loss) per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary item $ (1.96) $ (1.59) $ 0.01 $ (0.95) Extraordinary item 0.02 -- 0.02 -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) $ (1.94) $ (1.59) $ 0.03 $ (0.95) =============== =============== =============== =============== Diluted earnings income (loss) per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary item $ (1.96) $ (1.59) $ 0.01 $ (0.95) Extraordinary item 0.02 -- 0.02 -- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) $ (1.94) $ (1.59) $ 0.03 $ (0.95) =============== =============== =============== =============== 5 All options and warrants outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000 were not included in the computation of net loss per share because the effect would be antidilutive. 4) INCOME TAXES: The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS 109"). Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities for financial purposes and the amount used for income tax purposes. 5) CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK: Revenues to three customers represented approximately 22%, 17% and 12% of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. Revenues to one customer represented 16% of revenues for the same period in 2000. 6) IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS AND RESTRUCTURING CHARGES: The Company began to restructure its operations in 2000 and has continued to restructure its operations in 2001 and has taken a charge of approximately $8,729,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001, consisting of $2,321,000 for the write off of the Company's investment in Always-On Software, Inc., $2,000,000 for the write off of prepaid software licenses, $1,617,000 for the write off of leaseholds and other fixed assets due to the closing of the operations and liquidation of T3 Media, Inc., $979,000 for the closing of four of its Solution Branches, $834,000 for the write off of leaseholds and other fixed assets related to the reduction of office space in its New York headquarters, $616,000 for severance costs and $362,000 for other associated costs. The Company had restructuring charge liabilities of approximately $540,000 and $240,000 at September 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2001, the Company recorded additions to its restructuring liability of approximately $1,153,000 and payments of approximately $852,000. 7) CREDIT FACILITY In June 2001, the Company entered into a new revolving credit facility with Keltic Financial Partners, LP for a line of credit up to $4 million based on the Company's accounts receivable balances. Loans under the credit line bear interest at a rate of prime plus 2%, which rate was 8.5% at September 30, 2001. The credit line has certain financial covenants, which the Company must meet on a quarterly basis. The Company's Chief Executive Officer has guaranteed $1 million of the line of credit. Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations The following discussion and analysis of significant factors affecting the Company's operating results and liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements and related notes. Overview Since 1983, TACT has provided Information Technology services and solutions to Fortune 1000 companies and other large organizations. In 1997, TACT became a public company (Nasdaq: TACX), headquartered in New York, NY with an office in Clark, NJ. During the nine months ended September 30, 2001, the Company closed its Stamford, CT, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, and Chicago, IL offices. The Company is also continuing to review its operations in an effort to effectuate the most cost efficient and effective operating structure for the Company and its clients. TACT is an end-to-end e-Services provider. The Company delivers e-Services solutions from web strategy and design through web development and integration, to web application hosting. Its clients predominantly include a broad range of Fortune 1000 companies and other large organizations. TACT also provides the same markets with enterprise-wide Information Technology consulting, software and training services and solutions. Approximately 90% of the Company's consulting services revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2001 were generated from the hourly billing of its consultants' services to its clients under time and materials engagements, with the remainder generated under fixed-price engagements. 6 TACT's primary focus is helping clients support their business objectives by assisting them in the transition of their information technologies from traditional mainframe and client/server environments to the Internet and the Web. TACT offers its clients the full scope of the web-enabling process. TACT provides solutions ranging from strategy and design to development, through conversions and integration. TACT expertise leverages clients' existing systems and data stores to significant business advantage. When TACT is engaged by its clients to implement e-commerce or web-based initiatives, TACT uses a comprehensive methodology to analyze the client's current IT assets. The analysis reveals how much of the IT asset portfolio is ready for the Web, and what is required to web-enable selected portfolio elements. With this information, TACT devises and executes a customized web solution strategy that will ultimately enable the client to reach their business objectives of reduced costs, increased sales and profits, and improved customer services. TACT also provides clients with enterprise-wide information technology consulting, training services and software products. TACT solutions cover the entire spectrum of IT needs, including applications, data, and infrastructure. TACT provides complete project life-cycle services--from application and system design, through development and implementation, to documentation and training. Strategic alliances with leading software vendors ensure that TACT solutions are dependable and within the mainstream of industry trends. These alliances allow TACT to provide a wide variety of business technology solutions such as enterprise reporting solutions, data warehousing, systems strategies, application and database conversions, and application development services. The Company establishes standard-billing guidelines for consulting services based on the type of service offered. Actual billing rates are established on a project-by-project basis and may vary from the standard guidelines. The Company typically bills its clients for time and materials services on a semi-monthly basis. Arrangements for fixed-price engagements are made on a case-by-case basis. Consulting services revenues generated under time and materials engagements are recognized as those services are provided, whereas consulting services revenues generated under fixed-price engagements are recognized according to the percentage of completion method. The Company's most significant operating cost is its personnel cost, which is included in cost of revenues. As a result, the Company's operating performance is primarily based upon billing margin (billable hourly rate less the consultant's hourly cost) and consultant utilization rates (number of days worked by a consultant during a semi-monthly billing cycle divided by the number of billing days in that cycle). During 2000 and the first half of 2001, the Company's margins were adversely affected by a decrease in billing rates, an increase in consultant wages and a reduction in consultant utilization rate; however, this trend began to reverse in the third quarter of 2001. Large portions of the Company's engagements are on a time and materials basis. The Company historically had been able to pass on to its clients most of the increases in cost of services; however, the Company was not able to do so in 2000 and the first half of 2001. Accordingly, such increases have had a significant impact on the Company's financial results. While most of the Company's engagements allow periodic price adjustments to address, among other things, increases in consultant costs, there can be no guarantee that clients will continue to accept cost increases. TACT also actively manages its personnel utilization rates by constantly monitoring project requirements and timetables. Utilization rates in the first half of 2001 were lower than in 2000 due to a trend in the Company's markets to delay IT projects and slowing of growth rate in demand in e-commerce and web-based initiatives. Through the Company's cost containment and work force rationalization efforts TACT's utilization rates have increased during the third quarter. Historically, the Company has also generated revenues by selling software licenses and providing training services. In addition to initial software license fees, the Company also derives revenues from the annual renewal of software licenses. Revenues from the sale of software licenses are recognized upon delivery of the software to a customer, because future obligations associated with such revenue are insignificant. Training service revenues are recognized as the services are provided. Beginning in 1999 and extending through September 30, 2001, the Company has limited its emphasis on software sales. This has resulted in a significant reduction in software sales in the second half of 1999 through September 30, 2001. This trend is expected to continue for the remainder of 2001 with software sales only being ancillary to providing IT and e-Services solutions to customers. In the second quarter, the Company wrote off prepaid software licenses of $2.0 million due the economic downturn particularly in the area of software resales. 7 On October 2, 1998, the Company made an investment in a Web integrator, T3 Media, of $3 million for non-voting convertible preferred stock. On June 23, 1999, the Company converted its preferred stock into a 30% common stock ownership interest and increased its ownership interest in T3 Media to approximately 51% by an additional investment in T3 Media's common stock of $370,000. The acquisition of T3 Media was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the results of operations of T3 Media are included in the Company's consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired totaled $4.0 million and was recorded as goodwill and was being amortized using the straight-line method over 7 years. After extensive review of changing market conditions, it was determined that the carrying value of the intangibles and certain other fixed assets was not recoverable, resulting in a write-off of $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2000 and $371,000 in the first quarter of 2001. Due to the continued deterioration in revenues and market conditions for T3 Media's services, the operations of T3 Media were terminated in the second quarter 2001 and T3 Media is in process of being liquidated. Accordingly, the Company recorded additional charges of $1.2 million related to the termination of operations and liquidation, in the second quarter of 2001. In 1999, the Company made a minority investment in LightPC.com (renamed Always-On Software, Inc.). In 2000, the Company invested an additional $2.0 million in Always-On. At September 30, 2001, the Company owns approximately 10% of Always-On Software, Inc. Always-On Software, Inc. is a global provider of software application services ("ASP") based in New York's Silicon Alley. Due to the deteriorating conditions of the ASP market and deteriorating cash reserves, Always-On Software ceased operations in July 2001 and is in the process of determining future plans. As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $2.3 million to reflect the impairment in value of its investment in the second quarter of 2001. Results of Operations The following tables set forth the percentage of revenues of certain items included in the Company's Statements of Operations: Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 2001 2000 2001 2000 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Revenues 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Cost of revenues 77.2% 71.3% 67.7% 77.6% --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Gross profit 22.8% 28.7% 32.3% 22.4% Operating expenses 70.1% 55.8% 30.5% 67.9% --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Income (loss) from operations (47.3)% (27.1)% 1.8% (45.5)% --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Income (loss) before extraordinary item (48.5)% (23.5)% 0.7% (49.9)% --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Extraordinary item 0.6% 0.0% 2.5% 0.0% --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Net income (loss) (47.9)% (23.5)% 3.2% (49.9)% =============== =============== =============== =============== Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001 to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2000 Revenues. Revenues for the Company decreased by $12.1 million from $41.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 to $28.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The decrease was primarily attributable to a slowdown in the e-commerce industry, which resulted in the closing of T3 Media ($6.1 million), bringing the Company back to its core IT Services and e-Services businesses ($5.6 million) and a reduction of software revenues ($392,000). Revenues from software licensing and training represent less than 5% of total revenues and are expected to remain at this level for the remainder of this year. Gross Profit. Gross profit for the first nine months decreased 44.1% from $11.8 million in 2000 to $6.6 million in 2001. As a percentage of total revenues, gross profit for the first nine months decreased from 28.7% in 2000 to 22.8% in 2001. Gross margin was adversely affected primarily by the closing of T3 Media, a different mix of consulting projects, a decrease in software revenues and lower consultant utilization. 8 Operating Expenses. Operating expenses are comprised of selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, and impairment of assets and restructuring charges. Operating expenses decreased by $2.6 million or 11.4% from $22.9 million in 2000 to $20.3 million in 2001. SG&A expenses decreased by $10.3 million from $20.1 million in 2000 to $9.8 million in 2001. The decrease is primarily attributable to the closing of T3 Media ($4.0 million) and a decrease in the Company's payroll costs ($3.0 million). Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by $800,000 from $1.7 million in 2000 to $929,000 in 2001 as a result of the closing of T3 Media, the closing of several of the Company's solution branches and the reduction in office space in its New York headquarters. For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, the Company recorded impairment of assets and restructuring charges of approximately $8.7 million. Theses charges related to the following; the Company closing four of its Solution Branches ($1.0 million), reducing its office space in its New York headquarters by approximately 50% ($834,000), closing T3 Media ($1.6 million), the write down of its investment in Always-On Software, Inc. due to the termination of Always-On's operations ($2.3 million), the write off of prepaid software licenses resulting from lack of sales due to the economic down turn ($2.0 million), severance costs due to staff reductions ($616,000) and other associated costs ($362,000). Operating Income (Loss). The Company had a loss from operations of $13.7 million in 2001 compared to a loss from operations of $11.1 million in 2000. Income Taxes. The Company has a net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2001, therefore, it did not record a provision for income taxes. For the comparable period in 2000, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $500,000. Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Item. The Company had a loss before extraordinary item of $14.0 million in 2001 compared to a loss of $9.6 million for 2000. Extraordinary Item. The Company recorded income of $187,000 during the third quarter as a result of the early extinguishments of long-term debt associated with the settlement of T3 Media's capital leases. Net Income (Loss). As a result of the above, the Company had a net loss of $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2000 net loss of $9.6 million. Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2001 to Three Months Ended September 30, 2000 Revenues. Revenues of the Company decreased by $5.5 million, or 42.6% from $12.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2000 to $7.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001. The decrease is primarily attributable to a slowdown in the e-commerce industry, which resulted in the closing of T3 Media ($1.2 million) and bringing the Company back to its core IT Services and e-Services businesses ($4.2 million) and a increase in software revenues ($241,000). Revenues from software licensing is less than 5% of the Company's total revenues in 2001 and are expected to remain at this level in the future. Gross Profit. Gross profit for the third quarter ended September 30, 2001 decreased by approximately $498,000 from $2.9 million in 2000 to $2.4 million in 2001. As a percentage of revenues, gross profit increased for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 from 22.4% in 2000 to 32.3% in 2001. Gross margin improvement was primarily due to the closing of T3 Media, Inc., a final billing of a T3 Media project, a different mix of consulting projects and a higher consultant utilization rate. Operating Expenses. Operating expenses are comprised of selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization and impairment of assets and restructuring charges. Operating expenses decreased by $6.5 million or 74.3% from $8.7 million in 2000 to $2.2 million in 2001. SG&A expenses decreased by $5.3 million or 73.9% from $7.1 million in 2000 to $1.9 million in 2001. The decrease is primarily attributable to the closing of T3 Media and the reversal of certain accruals and a decrease in the Company's payroll related costs exclusive of T3 Media ($1.6 million). The provision for doubtful accounts decreased by approximately $865,000 from $1.0 million in 2000 to $150,000 in 2001. The decrease was primarily attributable to the closing of T3 Media. Depreciation and amortization expenses exclusive of T3 Media ($147,000) for the quarter decreased by approximately $193,000 as a result of the reduction in office space in the Company's New York headquarters by approximately 50% and the closing of four of the Company's Solution Branches. 9 Income Taxes. The Company did not record a provision for income taxes due to its year to date operating losses. Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Item. The Company had income before extraordinary item of approximately $49,000 in 2001 compared to a loss of $6.4 million in 2000. Extraordinary Item. The Company recorded income of $187,000 during the third quarter as a result of the early extinguishments of long-term debt associated with the settlement of capital leases. Net Income (Loss). The Company had net income of approximately $236,000 in 2001 compared to a net loss of ($6.4) million in 2000. Liquidity and Capital Resources The Company has a line of credit of $4.0 million, with $2.9 million outstanding at September 30, 2001. The Company's Chief Executive Officer has guaranteed $1 million of the line of credit. The line of credit bears interest at a variable rate based on prime plus 2% and the rate was 8.5% at September 30, 2001. In addition, the Company's closed subsidiary, T3 Media has a demand loan with a bank, which the Company has guaranteed. The amounts outstanding on the T3 Media demand loan are $16,000 and $170,000 at September 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000, respectively. This loan bears interest at the bank's prime rate plus 3%. The interest rate was 9.5% at September 30, 2001. T3 Media had entered into a series of capital lease obligations to finance its expansion plans, covering leasehold improvements, furniture and computer-related equipment. The amount outstanding under such leases was approximately $517,000 at September 30, 2001. The Company is in the process of negotiating buy-outs on all of these leases. The Company's cash balances were approximately $342,000 at September 30, 2001 and $838,000 at December 31, 2000. Net cash used by operating activities in 2001 was approximately $1.2 million and $11.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Company's accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts, at September 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000 were $7.4 million and $13.6 million, respectively, representing 92 and 89 days of sales outstanding, respectively. The Company has provided an allowance for doubtful accounts at the end of each of the periods presented. After giving effect to this allowance, the Company does not anticipate any difficulty in collecting amounts due. The increase in days of sales outstanding was due to a significant amount of cash being received during the first two days of October and if this had been received in September days of sales outstanding would had been 83. For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, the Company had revenues from three customers, which represented 22%, 17% and 12% of revenues. For the same period in 2000, the Company had revenues from one customer, which represented 16% of revenues. No other customer represented greater than 10% of the Company's revenues. Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $16,000 and $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The net cash used in investing activities for the first nine months of 2000 was primarily attributable to additions to property and equipment and a minority investment in Methoda Computers Ltd and Always-On, Inc. Net cash provided by financing activities was $685,000 and $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and 2000 respectively. The cash provided by financing activities during 2000 was primarily attributable to the purchase of an aggregate of 1,624,997 shares of common stock by several groups of investors totaling for $12.0 million (see below for a more detailed description of the investment transactions). The purchasers also received a two-year options to purchase up to an aggregate 2,089,284 shares at $13.00 per share. 10 On March 19, 2000, Yosi Vardi, Rita Folger, DS Polaris Group, SFK Group and Arison Investments Ltd. invested an aggregate of approximately $2.75 million by purchasing an aggregate of 392,855 shares of common stock at $7.00 per share with 60 day warrants (subsequently extended by an additional 14 days) to purchase an aggregate of 607,142 additional shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.00 per share (one of which warrants was exercised in part by Arison Investments on June 5, 2000 to purchase 142,857 shares of common stock for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $1.0 million) and two-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 additional shares of common stock at an exercise price of $13.00 per share. On June 5, 2000, Koonras Technologies, Eurocom Communications and Poalim Capital Markets Technologies invested an aggregate of approximately $3.25 million by purchasing an aggregate of 464,284 shares of common stock at $7.00 per share with two-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 464,284 additional shares of common stock at an exercise price of $13.00 per share. On June 14, 2000, two investment trusts controlled by Michael G. Jesselson invested $1 million by purchasing an aggregate of 125,000 shares of common stock at $8.00 per share with two-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 125,000 additional shares of common stock at an exercise price of $13.00 per share. On September 29, 2000, Level 8 Systems, Inc. invested $4 million by purchasing 500,000 shares of common stock at $8.00 per share with two-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 additional shares of common stock at an exercise price of $13.00 per share. In management's opinion, cash flows from operations and borrowing capacity combined with cash on hand will provide adequate flexibility for funding the Company's working capital obligations for the next twelve months. There may be circumstances that would accelerate its use of liquidity sources, including, but not limited to, its ability to implement a profitable business model, which may include further restructuring charges. If this occurs, the Company may, from time to time, incur additional indebtedness or issue, in public or private transactions, equity or debt securities. However, there can be no assurance that suitable debt or equity financing will be available to us. Inflation The Company has not suffered material adverse affects from inflation in the past. However, a substantial increase in the inflation rate in the future may adversely affect customers' purchasing decisions, may increase the costs of borrowing, or may have an adverse impact on the Company's margins and overall cost structure. Factors that Could Affect Operating Results Statements included in this Management's Discussion and Analysis and elsewhere in this document that do not relate to present or historical conditions are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Additional oral or written forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time, and such statements may be included in documents that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that could cause results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believes," "forecasts," "intends," "possible," "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," or "plans" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions readers that results predicted by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to the Company's future business prospects, revenues, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, interest costs, and income are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, due to the following factors, among other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. Among the important factors on which such statements are based are assumptions concerning the anticipated growth of the information technology industry, the continued needs of current and prospective customers for the Company's services, the availability of qualified professional staff, and price and wage inflation. 11 Operating Losses The Company has incurred operating losses for the last two years, continued to incur losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and may continue to incur net losses and negative cash flow for the remainder of 2001. The Company has a net loss of $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. Approximately $2.7 million of this loss was attributable to T3 Media (including certain expenses associated with the close down of T3 Media's operations ($1.6 million)). The remaining net loss for the nine months is attributable to the Company and includes certain one time charges of $7.1 million associated with the impairment of assets and restructuring charges. In 2000, the Company had a net loss of $16.8 million of which $5.5 million was attributable to T3 Media (including certain one-time charges ($3.9 million). The remaining loss of $11.3 million was attributable to the Company's continuing investment in its end-to-end e-Services business and higher expenses associated with its Solution Branches and the expenses of closing certain operations and streamlining others. The Company may incur further operating losses and continue to make capital expenditures and, as a result, may need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability. The Company cannot guarantee that the Company will achieve sufficient cost reductions or revenues to achieve profitability. Even if it does achieve profitability, there is no guarantee that the Company can sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. If revenues grow slower than anticipated, or if operating expenses exceed expectations or cannot be adjusted accordingly the Company will continue to experience losses and the results of operations and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected. Capital Requirements The Company may be unable to meet its future capital requirements. The Company may require additional financing in the future in order to continue to implement its product and services development, marketing and other corporate programs. The Company may not be able to obtain such financing or obtain it on acceptable terms. Without additional financing, the Company may be forced to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its product and services development, marketing and other corporate programs. If the Company is able to obtain such financing, the terms may contain restrictive covenants that might negatively affect its shares of common stock, such as limitations on payments of dividends or, in the case of a debt financing, reduced earnings due to interest expenses. Any further issuance of equity securities would have a dilutive effect on the holders of its shares of common stock. Its business, operating results and financial condition may be materially harmed if revenues do not develop or grow slower than the Company anticipates, if operating expenses exceed its expectations or cannot be reduced accordingly, or if the Company cannot obtain additional financing. Dependence on Limited Number of Clients The Company derives a significant portion of its revenues from a relatively limited number of clients primarily located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area of the United States. Adverse economic conditions affecting this region could have an adverse effect on the financial condition of its clients located there, which in turn could adversely impact its business and future growth. Revenues from its ten most significant clients accounted for a majority of its revenues for each of the three years ended December 31, 2000 and the nine months ended September 30, 2001. In each of these periods, the Company has had at least one customer with revenues exceeding 10% of the Company's revenues. For the period ended September 30, 2001, the Company had revenues from three customers which represented 22%, 17% and 12% of revenues. For the nine months ended September 30, 2000, the Company had revenues from one customer which represented 16% of revenues. No other customer represented greater than 10% of the Company's revenues. In any given year, the Company's ten most significant customers may vary based upon specific projects for those clients during that year. There can be no assurance that its significant clients will continue to engage us for additional projects or do so at the same revenue levels. Clients engage the Company on an assignment-by-assignment basis, and a client can generally terminate an assignment at any time without penalties. The loss of any significant customer could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations and financial condition. A failure of the Company to develop relationships with new customers could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations and financial condition. Project Risk The Company's projects entail significant risks. Many of its engagements involve projects that are critical to the operations of its clients' businesses and provide benefits that may be difficult to quantify. The Company's failure or inability to meet a client's expectations in the performance of the Company's services could result in a material adverse change to the client's operations and therefore could give rise to claims against the Company or damage its reputation, adversely affecting its business, results of operations and financial condition. 12 Rapid Technological Change The Company's business is subject to rapid technological change and is dependent on new solutions. Its success will depend in part on its ability to develop information technology solutions to meet client expectations, including e-commerce solutions, and offer software solutions that keep pace with continuing changes in information technology, evolving industry standards, changing client preferences and a continuing shift to outsourced solutions by clients. The Company cannot assure you that it will be successful in adequately addressing the outsourcing market or other information technology developments on a timely basis or that, if addressed, the Company will be successful in the marketplace. The Company also cannot assure you that products or technologies developed by others will not render its services uncompetitive or obsolete. The Company's failure to address these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. e-Business Initiatives The Company faces difficulties typically encountered by development state companies in rapidly evolving markets because of its e-commerce initiative. The Company provides e-commerce Web design and Web business planning, strategic planning and marketing strategy-consulting services and other related e-business services. Revenues from its e-commerce services constituted 52% of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2001, 51% of its revenues for the year ended December 31, 2000 and 21% for the year ended December 31, 1999. The Company cannot assure you that any products or services developed by it, or its strategic partners will achieve market acceptance. The risks involved in these service offerings include the Company's and its strategic partners' abilities to: o create a customer base; o respond to changes in a rapidly evolving and unpredictable business environment; o maintain current and develop new strategic relationships; o manage growth; o continue to develop and upgrade technology; and o attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. Possibility That Customers May Not Do Business With The Company The Company's existing customers may decide not to continue to do business with the Company, and potential customers may decide not to engage the Company, or may conduct business with the Company on terms that are less favorable than those currently extended, due to the Company's operating losses in the past two years. In those events, the Company's net revenues would decrease, and the Company's business would be adversely affected. Billing Margins The Company's ability to maintain billing margins is uncertain. It derives revenues primarily from the hourly billing of its consultants' services and, to a lesser extent, from fixed-price projects. The Company's most significant cost is project personnel cost, which consists of consultant salaries and benefits. Thus, its financial performance is primarily based upon billing margin (billable hourly rate less the consultant's hourly cost) and personnel utilization rates (number of days worked by a consultant during a two-week billing cycle divided by the number of billing days in that cycle). The billing margin decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and for the year ended December 31, 2000 due principally to lower billing rates and lower utilization rates and higher consultants wages. There can be no assurance, however, that its revenues will continue to be billed primarily on a time and materials basis or that the Company will be able to pass along future increases in its cost of services to its clients. Managing Growth The Company may have difficulty managing its growth. Its expansion is dependent upon, among other things, 13 o its ability to hire and retain consultants as employees or independent consultants, o its ability to identify suitable new geographic markets with sufficient demand for our services, hire and retain skilled management, marketing, customer service and other personnel, and successfully manage growth, including monitoring operations, controlling costs and maintaining effective quality and service controls, and o if the Company consummates additional acquisitions, its ability to successfully and profitably integrate any acquired businesses into its operations. If the Company's management is unable to manage growth or new employees or consultants are unable to achieve anticipated performance levels, its business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Dependence on Chief Executive Officer The Company's success is highly dependent upon the efforts and abilities of Shmuel BenTov, its Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. BenTov has entered into an employment agreement with the Company, which terminates on December 31, 2001. Although his employment agreement contains non-competition, nondisclosure and non-solicitation covenants, this contract does not guarantee that Mr. BenTov will continue his employment with Company. The loss of services of Mr. BenTov for any reason could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results The Company's quarterly results of operations are variable. Variations in its revenues and results of operations occur from time to time as a result of a number of factors, such as the timing of closing of Solution Branch offices, the size and significance of client engagements commenced and completed during a quarter, the number of business days in a quarter, consultant hiring and utilization rates and the timing of corporate expenditures. The timing of revenues is difficult to forecast because its sales cycle can be relatively long and may depend on such factors as the size and scope of assignments and general economic conditions. A variation in the number of client assignments or the timing of the initiation or the completion of client assignments, particularly at or near the end of any quarter, can cause significant variations in results of operations from quarter to quarter and can result in losses. In addition, its engagements generally are terminable by the client at any time without penalties. Although the number of consultants can be adjusted to correspond to the number of active projects, the Company must maintain a sufficient number of senior consultants to oversee existing client projects and to assist with its sales force in securing new client assignments. An unexpected reduction in the number of assignments could result in excess capacity of consultants and increased selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues. The Company has also experienced, and may in the future experience, significant fluctuations in the quarterly results of its software sales as a result of the variable size and timing of individual license transactions, competitive conditions in the industry, changes in customer budgets, and the timing of the introduction of new products or product enhancements. In the event that its results of operations for any period are below the expectation of market analysts and investors, the market price of its shares of common stock could be adversely affected. Volatility of Stock Price The Common Stock may be subject to wide fluctuations in price in response to variations in quarterly results of operations and other factors, including acquisitions, technological innovations and general economic or market conditions. In addition, stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume trading volatility in recent years. This volatility has had a substantial effect on the market price of many technology companies and has often been unrelated to the operating performance of those companies. This volatility may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Additionally, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Common Stock will be sustained. 14 Possible Removal From Quotation Of Common Stock On NASDAQ And Resulting Market Illiquidity On August 15, 2001, the Company received a NASDAQ Staff Determination indicating that the Company failed to comply with the Minimum Bid Price and Market Value of Public Float requirements for continued listing of its securities and, therefore, is subject to delisting from the NASDAQ National Market. On August 23, 2001, the Company received an additional notice from NASDAQ indicating that the Company also failed to comply with the Net Tangible Assets or Shareholders' Equity requirements. In October 2001 the NASDAQ stated that the minimum stock price of $1.00 and the market value of public float of at least $5,000,000 criteria for continued listing would be suspended until January 2002. On October 18, 2001, the Company had a NASDAQ Qualifications Hearing regarding the Company's failure to comply with the minimum net tangible asset requirement (marketplace rule 4450(a)(3). The Company presented several alternatives to correct this deficiency and the NASDAQ Qualification committee is considering the Company's alternatives. If the Company's common stock is removed from quotation on the NASDAQ National Market or the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market, the liquidity of the Company's common stock could be reduced and the coverage of the Company by security analysts and media could be reduced, which could result in lower prices for the Company's common stock than might otherwise prevail and could also result in larger spreads between the bid and asked prices for the Company's common stock. Additionally, certain investors will not purchase securities that are not quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, which could materially impair the Company's ability to raise funds through the issuance of its common stock or other securities convertible into its common stock. In addition, if the Company's common stock is removed from quotation on NASDAQ and the trading price of its common stock is less than $5.00 per share, trading in its common stock would also be subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under that Rule, broker and dealers who recommend such low-priced securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors must satisfy special sales practice requirements, including a requirement that they make an individualized written suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser's written consent prior to the transaction. The Securities Enforcement Remedies and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990 also requires additional disclosure in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (generally, according to recent regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, any equity security not traded on an exchange or quoted on NASDAQ or the OTC Bulletin Board that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions), including the delivery, prior to any penny stock transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated therewith. Such requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of the Company's common stock. There can be no assurance that the Company's common stock will not be removed from quotation on NASDAQ or treated as penny stock. Competition The market for information technology services includes a large number of competitors, is subject to rapid change and is highly competitive. Its primary competitors include participants from a variety of market segments, including the current and former consulting divisions of the "Big Five" accounting firms, interactive advertising agencies, web development companies, systems consulting and implementation firms, application software firms and management consulting firms. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources and greater name recognition than the Company. In addition, the Company competes with its clients' internal resources, particularly when these resources represent a fixed cost to the client. In the future, such competition may impose additional pricing pressures on us. The Company cannot assure you that it will compete successfully with its existing competitors or with any new competitors. Intellectual Property Rights The Company's business includes the development of custom software applications in connection with specific client engagements. Ownership of such software is generally assigned to the client. The Company relies upon a combination of nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements and trade secret, copyright and trademark laws to protect its proprietary rights and the proprietary rights of third parties from whom the Company licenses intellectual property. The Company enters into confidentiality agreements with its employees and limits distribution of proprietary information. However, the Company cannot assure you that the steps taken by it in this regard will be adequate to deter misappropriation of proprietary information or that the Company will be able to detect unauthorized use and take appropriate steps to enforce its intellectual property rights. The Company is subject to the risk of litigation alleging infringement of third-party intellectual property rights. Any such claims could require us to spend significant sums in litigation, pay damages, develop non-infringing intellectual property or acquire licenses to the intellectual property, which is the subject of the asserted infringement. In addition, the Company is aware of other users of the term "TACT" and combinations including "A Consulting," which users may be able to restrict our ability to establish or protect our right to use these terms. The Company has in the past been contacted by other users of the term "TACT" alleging rights to the term. The Company has completed filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in order to protect certain marks, including "TACT" and "The A Consulting Team." Our inability or failure to establish rights to these terms or protect its rights may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. 15 Going Concern The Company's financial statements have been presented on the basis that it is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. For the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, the Company reported net losses of $13.8 million, $16.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively. Additionally, the Company has an accumulated deficit of $29.2 million as of September 30, 2001. The Company believes that its continuing focus on cost reductions, together with a number of other operational changes, including the closing of certain branch offices and the closing and liquidation of T3 Media has resulted in the attainment of profitable operations during the third quarter of 2001. There can be no assurance that the Company will remain profitable in future quarters. Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk The Company has not entered into market risk sensitive transactions required to be disclosed under this item. Part II. Other Information Item 1. Legal proceedings None material. Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 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 3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (1). 3.2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as previously filed with the Commission on August 6, 1997. 4 Specimen Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as previously filed with the Commission on July 23, 1997. 16 (b) Reports on Form 8-K The Company filed the following Current Reports on Form 8-K during the three-month period ended September 30, 2001. (i) The Registrant filed a Form 8-K on August 23, 2001 regarding the Company's press release on August 15, 2001 announcing that a NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel Hearing had been requested. (ii) The Registrant filed a Form 8-K on September 4, 2001 regarding the Company's press release on August 28, 2001 announcing that a hearing before the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel has been granted. - --- (1) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2001. 17 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. THE A CONSULTING TEAM, INC. By: /s/ Shmuel BenTov ---------------------------------------- Date November 13, 2001 Shmuel BenTov, President and Chief Executive Officer By: /s/ Richard D. Falcone ---------------------------------------- Date November 13, 2001 Richard D. Falcone, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 18