STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peerless Systems Corporation (Nasdaq:PRLS) today reported financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2012.

Third Quarter Results

Revenues were $482,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2012, compared to $789,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2011, representing a 38.9% decrease. Revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2012 were negatively impacted by lower licensing revenue resulting from a decrease in the number of units containing our technology shipped by our customers.

Revenues were $1,547,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2012, compared to $2,906,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011, representing a 46.8% decline. Revenues for the nine months ended October 31, 2012 decreased due to an $800,000 block license that was sold during the nine months ended October 31, 2011, with no such license sold during the nine months ended October 31, 2012 and an overall decrease of licensing revenue as certain OEM devices reached the end of their commercial lives.

Total cost of revenues was $32,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2012, compared to $41,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2011, representing a 21.9% year-over-year decline primarily attributed to the continued reduction in units containing our technology shipped by our customers, offset by fluctuations in product mix.  Total cost of revenues were $77,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2012, compared to $619,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011, reflecting a decline in license revenues, a positive adjustment of $26,000 related to adjustments to estimates of prior period costs, and third party license fees associated with the $800,000 block license sold during the nine months ended October 31, 2011.

Total operating expenses decreased 39.1% to $316,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2012, from $519,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2011.  Sales and marketing costs remained essentially flat in both periods.  Total operating expenses declined 31.0% to $1,244,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2012, from $1,803,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011.  The decrease in operating expenses, in both periods, was due to lower stock-based compensation costs, lower spending on professional services and the Company's continued reduction of costs in general.

Other income, net decreased to a loss of $9,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2012, from income of $1,095,000 for the three months ended October 31, 2011, due to losses realized on sales of marketable securities in the current period offset by the accrued interest reversal of $127,000 related to a reversal of tax liabilities in connection to certain tax position taken for the Company's tax returns filed in prior year period.  Other income, net decreased by 86.1% to $168,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2012 from $1,211,000 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011.  This decrease was attributed to having limited realized gains on sales of marketable securities during the 2012 time period as opposed to significant realized gains on sales of marketable securities during 2011 partially offset by the benefit of the accrued interest reversal.

During the three months ended October 31, 2012, the Company recorded a non-cash tax benefit of approximately $1,265,000 resulting from the reversal of tax liabilities related to an unrecognized tax benefit pertaining to certain tax positions taken for the Company's tax returns for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009.

Net income for the three months ended October 31, 2012 was $1,397,000 or $0.45 per basic share and $0.43 per diluted share, compared to net income of $857,000, or $0.26 per basic share and $0.25 per diluted share, for the three months ended October 31, 2011.  Net income for the nine months ended October 31, 2012 was approximately $1,540,000, or $0.48 per basic share and $0.45 per diluted share, compared to net income of approximately $1,069,000, or $0.34 per basic share and $0.32 per diluted share, for the nine months ended October 31, 2011.  Excluding the effect of the reversal of the tax liability net income was $148,000 and $5,000 for the nine months and three months ended October 31, 2012, respectively.

During the three month period ended October 31, 2012 the Company repurchased 271,814 shares of its common stock at an average price of $3.90 per share.  Since such period through December 11, 2012, the Company repurchased an additional 5,047 shares of its common stock.

About Peerless Systems Corporation

Founded in 1982, Peerless historically licensed imaging and networking technologies to the digital document markets.  Effective July 31, 2008, Peerless sold its imaging and networking technologies and certain other assets to Kyocera-Mita Corporation.  Peerless retains certain rights to continue licensing these technologies to customers in the digital document markets.  Peerless is seeking to maximize the value of its licensing business and is exploring various alternatives to enhance stockholder value, potentially through establishing a new venture or acquiring an existing business, as well as through other investment opportunities.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Of 1995

Some statements included in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, therefore, involve uncertainties or risks that could cause actual results to differ materially there from.  These statements may contain words such as "desires," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates" or similar expressions.  These statements are not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  Such statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to maximize the value of its licensing business or to enhance stockholder value, potentially through establishing a new venture or acquiring an existing business, or through other investment opportunities.  Additional information regarding factors that could cause results to differ materially from management's expectations is found in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.  The Company intends that the forward-looking statements included herein be subject to the above-mentioned statutory safe harbors. Investors are cautioned not to rely on forward-looking statements.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements.