Quarterlytics / Technology / Software - Application / Descartes Systems Group Inc.

Descartes Systems Group Inc.

dsgx · NASDAQ Technology
Claim this profile
Ticker dsgx
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Technology
Industry Software - Application
Employees 501-1000
← All annual reports
FY2012 Annual Report · Descartes Systems Group Inc.
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
THE DESCARTES SYSTEMS GROUP INC. 
                        2012 ANNUAL REPORT 

US GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 2012 FISCAL YEAR 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Letter from the CEO...........................................................................................................................3 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ............................4 

Overview .......................................................................................................................................3 

Consolidated Operations ..................................................................................................................6 

Quarterly Operating Results ........................................................................................................... 13 

Liquidity and Capital Resources ...................................................................................................... 14 

Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees .................................................................................. 17 

Outstanding Share Data ................................................................................................................ 18 

Application of Critical Accounting Policies ......................................................................................... 19 

Change In / Initial Adoption of Accounting Policies ............................................................................ 21 

Controls and Procedures ................................................................................................................ 22 

Trends / Business Outlook ............................................................................................................. 23 

Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results ................................................................................. 26 

Management’s Report on Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting ................... 36 

Report of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants .................................................................... 38 

Consolidated Financial Statements 

Consolidated Balance Sheets .......................................................................................................... 40 

Consolidated Statements of Operations ........................................................................................... 41 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity.............................................................................. 42 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ........................................................................................... 43 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ..................................................................................... 44 

Corporate Information ..................................................................................................................... 74 

2 

 
 
 
 
LETTER FROM THE CEO 

Dear Shareholders, 

Descartes’  focus  on  delivering  superior  results  for  our  customers  fuelled  our  own  solid  financial 
performance in fiscal 2012, despite a challenging economic environment in Europe.   

Logistics  is  the  backbone  of  commerce.  Descartes’  focus  is  helping  logistics-intensive  businesses  work 
with  each  other.  Uniting  business  in  commerce  has  never  been  more  important  for  improving  the 
productivity,  performance  and  security  of  logistics  operations.  In  difficult  economic  times  where 
shipment  volumes  fluctuate  and  costs  increase,  logistics-intensive  companies  need  to  become  even 
more efficient to survive. It’s in these types of challenging times that customers can count on Descartes. 
Our solutions thrive on driving efficiencies.  For customers, our solutions don’t cost, they pay. 

Our business continued to grow profitably in fiscal 2012 thanks to our customers. Customers continue to 
place their trust in our dedicated and experienced team members to guide them with efficient, profitable 
and compliant solutions that help them ship goods and deliver service.  

By  working  as  one  learning  team  with  our  customers,  in  fiscal  2012,  we  also  enhanced  our  Logistics 
Technology Platform and grew our logistics cloud through acquisitions. In June 2011, we added Telargo’s 
telematics  solutions  to  our  platform  to  deliver  on  our  customers’  request  to  have  routing,  mobile,  and 
telematics  solutions  available  as  one  integrated  suite.  In  November  2011,  we  combined  with 
InterCommIT to enhance our ability to collect logistics data earlier in the “Purchase Order to Dock-Door 
Process”  and  enlarge  our  logistics-focused  community  in  Europe.  Finally,  in  January  2012,  we  joined 
forces  with  GeoMicro  to  enhance  our  domain  expertise  in  geographic  information  systems  and 
commercial  turn-by-turn navigation. Together, these  businesses  put us  in an even stronger  position  to 
drive additional value for customers. 

In fiscal 2012, our team members had a FOCUS on expanding our network by Federating Our Customers 
by Uniting Systems. In fiscal 2013, our plan is to Invest to be the Best.  Our plan includes investments 
in our solutions, our operations, our partner relationships and our people – all with the goal of putting us 
in the strongest position to best serve our customers and continue delivering on our long-term operating 
plan. 

At Descartes, we are metrics-driven, focused on results. We put our customers first, mindful that their 
successes are the driving force behind Descartes’ own success. In fiscal 2012, this enabled us to deliver 
another year of record operating results. We entered fiscal 2013 with a strong balance sheet, a proven 
ability to execute and a landscape of consolidation opportunities that can help make our customers even 
more  successful.  Most  importantly,  we  entered  the  year  with  a  continued  motivation  to  help  improve 
logistics operations to make the world more safe, secure and efficient. 

We look forward to continuing to deliver for you and our customers in the coming year. 

Arthur Mesher, 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS 

Our  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  (“MD&A”) 
contains references to Descartes using the words “we,” “us,” “our” and similar words and the reader is 
referred to using the words “you,” “your,” and similar words.  

This MD&A also refers to our fiscal years. Our fiscal year commences on February 1st of each year and 
ends on January 31st of the following year. Our fiscal year, which ended on January 31, 2012, is referred 
to as the “current fiscal year,” “fiscal 2012,” “2012” or using similar words. Our fiscal year, which ended 
on January 31, 2011, is referred to as the “previous fiscal year,” “fiscal 2011,” “2011” or using similar 
words.  Other  fiscal  years  are  referenced  by  the  applicable  year  during  which  the  fiscal  year  ends.  For 
example,  2013  refers  to  the  annual  period  ending  January  31,  2013  and  the  “fourth  quarter  of  2013” 
refers to the quarter ending January 31, 2013.  

This  MD&A,  which  is  prepared  as  of  March  9,  2012,  covers  our  year  ended  January  31,  2012,  as 
compared  to  years  ended  January  31,  2011  and  2010.  You  should  read  the  MD&A  in  conjunction  with 
our  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  for  2012.  We  prepare  and  file  our  consolidated  financial 
statements  and  MD&A  in  United  States  (“US”)  dollars  and  in  accordance  with  US  generally  accepted 
accounting  principles  (“GAAP”).  All  dollar  amounts  we  use  in  the  MD&A  are  in  US  currency,  unless  we 
indicate otherwise. 

We  have  prepared  the  MD&A  with  reference  to  the  Form  51-102F1  MD&A  disclosure  requirements 
established under National Instrument 51-102 “Continuous Disclosure Obligations” (“NI 51-102”) of the 
Canadian Securities Administrators. 

Additional  information  about  us,  including  copies  of  our  continuous  disclosure  materials  such  as  our 
annual information form, is available on our website at http://www.descartes.com, through the EDGAR 
website at http://www.sec.gov or through the SEDAR website at http://www.sedar.com.  

Certain statements made in this Annual Report to Shareholders, including, but not limited to, statements 
in the “Trends / Business Outlook” section and statements regarding our expectations concerning future 
revenues and earnings, including potential variances from period to period; our expectations regarding 
the cyclical nature of our business, including an expectation that our third quarter will be strongest for 
shipping volumes and our first quarter will be the weakest, and that we will see a smaller increase in our 
second fiscal quarter going forward due to recent departures of customers for our legacy ocean services; 
the  impact  of  our  customs  compliance  business  on  our  revenues;  mix  of  revenues  between  services 
revenues  and  license  revenues  and  potential  variances from  period  to  period;  our  plans  to  continue  to 
allow  customers  to  elect  to  license  technology  in  lieu  of  subscribing  to  services;  our  planning  for 
anticipated  loss  of  revenues  and  customers  in  fiscal  2013  and  beyond;  our  baseline  calibration;  our 
ability to keep our operating expenses at a level below our baseline revenues; our future business plans 
and  business  planning  process;  use  of  proceeds  from  previously  completed  financings  or  other 
transactions; allocation  of purchase  price for completed acquisitions; our expectations regarding future 
cost-reduction activities; expenses, including amortization of intangibles and stock-based compensation; 
goodwill  impairment  tests  and  the  possibility  of  future  impairment  adjustments;  capital  expenditures; 
income tax provision and expense; effective tax rates applicable to future fiscal periods; anticipated tax 
benefits;  acquisition-related  costs;  our  liability  with  respect  to  various  claims  and  suits  arising  in  the 
ordinary  course;  any  commitments  referred  to  in  the  “Commitments,  Contingencies  and  Guarantees” 
section of this MD&A; our intention to actively explore future business combinations and other strategic 
transactions;  our  liability  under  indemnification  obligations;  anticipated  geographic  break-down  of 
business  and  revenues;  our  reinvestment  of  earnings  of  subsidiaries  back  into  such  subsidiaries;  the 
sufficiency of capital  to  meet  working capital  and  capital  expenditure requirements  and our anticipated 
growth strategy; our ability to raise capital; and other matters related thereto constitute forward-looking 
information for the purposes of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). When used in 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
this  document,  the  words  “believe,”  “plan,”  “expect,”  “anticipate,”  “intend,”  “continue,”  “may,”  “will,” 
“should” or the negative of such terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking 
statements.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks,  uncertainties and assumptions that 
may  cause  future  results  to  differ  materially  from  those  expected.  Factors  that  may  cause  such 
differences include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under the heading “Certain Factors That 
May  Affect  Future  Results”  appearing  in  the  MD&A.  If  any  of  such  risks  actually  occur,  they  could 
materially  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations.  In  that  case,  the 
trading  price  of  our  common  shares  could  decline,  perhaps  materially.  Readers  are  cautioned  not  to 
place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. 
Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s 
current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may 
not  be  appropriate  for  other  purposes.  Except  as  required  by  applicable  law,  we  do  not  undertake  or 
accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking 
statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions 
or circumstances on which any such statements are based. 

5 

 
 
OVERVIEW 

We are a global provider of federated network and 
global  logistics  technology  solutions  that  help  our 
customers  make  and  receive  shipments  and 
manage  related  resources.  Using  our  federated 
network and technology  solutions, companies  can 
reduce  costs,  improve  operational  performance, 
save  time,  comply  with  regulatory  requirements 
and enhance the service that they deliver to their 
own  customers.  Our  network-based  solutions, 
which  primarily  consist  of  services  and  software, 
connect  people  to  their  trading  partners  and 
enable  business  document  exchange  (bookings, 
bills  of  lading  and  status  messages);  regulatory 
compliance and customs filing; route and resource 
planning,  execution,  monitoring  and  reporting; 
inventory 
and 
transportation  management;  and  warehouse 
operations.  Our  pricing  model  provides  our 
in  purchasing  our 
customers  with 
solutions 
license, 
subscription  or  transactional  basis.  Our  primary 
focus  is  on  serving  transportation  providers  (air, 
ocean  and 
logistics  service 
providers (including third-party logistics providers, 
freight  forwarders  and  customs  brokers)  and 
distribution-intensive companies where delivery is 
either  a  key  or  a  defining  part  of  their  own 
product  or  service  offering,  or  where  there  is  an 
opportunity  to  reduce  costs  and  improve  service 
levels by optimizing the use of their assets.  

truck  modes), 

a  perpetual 

either  on 

visibility; 

flexibility 

asset 

rate 

and 

The Market 
Supply chain management has been evolving over 
the  past  several  years  as  companies  are 
increasingly  seeking  automation  and  real-time 
control of their supply chain activities. We believe 
companies are  looking for integrated resources  in 
motion  management  solutions  (or  RiMMS)  for 
managing  inventory  in  transit,  conveyance  units, 
people  and  business  documents.  RiMMS  systems 
integrate  mobile 
resource  management 
applications  (MRM)  with  end-to-end  supply  chain 
as 
(SCE) 
execution 
transportation  management, 
and 
scheduling,  inventory  visibility,  and  global  trade 
and compliance systems (GT&C), such as customs 
filing.  

applications, 

routing 

such 

We  believe  logistics-intensive  organizations  are 
seeking  new  ways  to  reduce  operating  costs, 

3

differentiate  themselves,  and  improve  margins 
that are trending downward. Existing global trade 
and  transportation  processes  are  often  manual 
and complex to manage. This is a consequence of 
the  growing  number  of  business  partners 
participating  in  companies’  global  supply  chains 
and a lack of standardized business processes. 

Additionally,  global  sourcing,  logistics  outsourcing 
and  changes  in  day-to-day  requirements  are 
adding to the overall complexities that companies 
face  in  planning  and  executing  in  their  supply 
chains.  Whether  a  shipment  is  delayed  at  the 
border,  a  customer  changes  an  order  or  a 
breakdown  occurs  on  the  road,  there  are  more 
and  more  issues  that  can  significantly  impact  the 
status  of  fulfillment  schedules  and  associated 
costs.  

These challenges are heightened for suppliers that 
have  end  customers 
frequently  demanding 
narrower order-to-fulfillment periods, lower prices 
scheduling  and 
and  greater 
rescheduling  deliveries.  End  customers  also  want 
real-time  updates  on  delivery  status,  adding 
considerable burden to supply chain management 
as  process  efficiency  is  balanced  with  affordable 
service.  

flexibility 

in 

this  market,  manual, 

In 
fragmented  and 
distributed  logistics  solutions  are  often  proving 
inadequate  to  address  the  needs  of  operators. 
Connecting  manufacturers  and  suppliers 
to 
carriers  on  an  individual,  one-off  basis  is  too 
costly, complex and risky for organizations dealing 
with  many  trading  partners.  Further,  many  of 
these  solutions  don’t  provide 
flexibility 
required 
to  efficiently  accommodate  varied 
processes for organizations to remain competitive. 
We  believe  this  presents  an  opportunity  for 
logistics  technology  providers  to  unite  the  highly 
fragmented  community  and  help  customers 
improve efficiencies in their operations. 

the 

As the market continues to change, we have been 
evolving  to  meet  our  customers’  needs.  The  rate 
of  adoption  of  newer  RiMMS-like 
logistics 
technology  is  evolving,  but  a  disproportionate 
number  of  organizations  still  have  manual 
business  processes.  We  have  been  educating  our 
the  value  of 
prospects  and  customers  on 
through  our 
connecting 
and 
federated 
automating,  as  well  as  standardizing,  multi-party 
business  processes.  We  believe 
that  our 
customers  are  increasingly  looking  for  a  single 

trading  partners 

to 
global 

network 

logistics 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
source,  network-based  solution  provider  who  can 
help  them  manage  the  end-to-end  shipment 
process  –  from  the  booking  of  the  move  of  a 
shipment,  to  the  tracking  of  that  shipment  as  it 
moves,  to  the  regulatory  compliance  filings  to  be 
made during the move and, finally, the settlement 
and audit of the invoice relating to that move.  

and 

require 

logistics 

regulatory 

companies 

Additionally, 
initiatives  mandating 
electronic  filing  of  shipment  information  with 
customs  authorities 
to 
automate their processes to remain compliant and 
competitive.  Our  customs  compliance  technology 
helps  shippers,  transportation  providers,  freight 
intermediaries 
forwarders  and  other 
securely 
shipment 
electronically 
information  with  customs  authorities  and  self-
audit their own efforts. Our technology also helps 
carriers 
efficiently 
coordinate  with  customs  brokers  and  agencies  to 
expedite  cross-border  shipments.  While  many 
compliance 
the  US, 
compliance is quickly becoming a global issue with 
international  shipments  crossing  several  borders 
on the way to their final destinations.     

forwarders 

initiatives 

started 

freight 

and 

file 

in 

Solutions 
To help deliver the advantages of RiMMS solutions 
to  customers,  Descartes  developed  the  Logistics 
Descartes’ 
Technology 
Logistics 
the  simple,  elegant 
Technology  Platform 
synthesis 
and 
community. 

applications 

Platform. 

network, 

of 

is 

Platform 

Logistics 

The 
fuses 
Technology 
Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (GLN), one of 
the  world's  most  extensive  logistics  networks 
covering  multiple  transportation  modes,  with  a 
broad  array  of  modular,  interoperable  web  and 
wireless  logistics  management  applications.  The 
Logistics Technology Platform leverages one of the 
world’s  largest  multimodal  logistics  communities 
to  enable  companies 
to  quickly  and  cost-
effectively connect and collaborate.  

The  applications  available  over  the  Logistics 
Technology Platform that work in conjunction with 
the  GLN,  help  transportation  companies  and 
logistics  service  providers  (LSPs)  better  control 
their shipment management process, comply with 
regulatory  requirements,  expedite  cross-border 
shipments  and  connect  and  communicate  with 
their  trading  partners.  LSPs  are  increasingly 
looking  for  technology  to  help  them  manage  the 
end-to-end  shipment  lifecycle  –  from  the  booking 

4

of  the  shipment  with  the  transportation  provider 
to the settlement and audit of the invoice relating 
to the shipment. 

reduce 

logistics 

Applications  are  also  available  on  the  Logistics 
to  help  manufacturer, 
Technology  Platform 
retailer,  distributor  and  mobile  service  provider 
(MRDM)  enterprises 
costs, 
efficiently  use  logistics  assets  and  decrease  lead-
time  variability  for  their  global  shipments  and 
regional operations. In addition, these applications 
arm  the  customer  service  departments  of  private 
fleets and contract carriers with information about 
the  location,  availability,  usage  and  scheduling  of 
vehicles so they can provide better information to 
their own clients.  

Our applications are designed to support: 

•  GT&C 

–  which 

encompasses 

the 
preparation  and  filing  of  the  necessary 
electronic  documentation  relating  to  a 
shipment,  such  as  cross-border  customs 
documentation, 
or 
manifests; 

freight  waybills 

•  SCE  –  which  entails  the  processes  related 
to managing shipments from their point of 
origin  to their  point of destination, as well 
as 
those 
shipments  (e.g.  booking  data,  orders, 
contracts  and  rates,  shipment  status, 
invoices,  payments, 
proof  of  delivery, 
etc.); and 

the  documents 

related 

to 

•  MRM 

involves 

gathering, 

–  which 

tracking, 
information 
measuring, 
filing,  delegating 
reporting,  compliance 
and  optimizing  the  use  of  mobile  assets 
and  people  that  are  involved  in  the 
movement of goods.   

The  Logistics  Technology  Platform  supports  a 
community  of  over  35,000  trading  partners 
sending  over  1  billion  messages  annually  in  over 
160  countries.  Designed  specifically  for  logistics 
Logistics 
their  users, 
processes  and 
Technology  Platform  enables  organizations  to 
centrally  manage  information,  deliver  messages 
and  transform  data  so  they  can  efficiently  and 
effectively  gain  better  control  of  global  inbound 
and outbound shipments and improve profitability.   

the 

By uniting the reach of the GLN with the power of 
these  applications,  our  federated  network  creates 
an  ecosystem  that  supports  and  streamlines  the 
key 
logistics 
managers. 

functional  areas 

facing  today’s 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
InterCommIT is a SaaS provider of electronic data 
management  services  that  enable  its  clients  to 
seamlessly exchange data electronically.  

provider 

On  January  20,  2012,  we  acquired  privately-held 
GeoMicro,  Inc.  (“GeoMicro”),  a  leading  California-
based 
geographic 
information systems and commercial turn-by-turn 
navigation. GeoMicro’s platform enables advanced 
routing, navigation, field service, and spatial data 
business intelligence solutions.  

advanced 

of 

Sales and Distribution 
Our sales efforts are primarily directed toward two 
specific  customer  markets:  (a)  transportation 
companies  and  LSPs;  and  (b)  MRDMs.  Our  sales 
staff is regionally based and trained to sell across 
our  solutions  to  specific  customer  markets.  In 
North  America  and  Europe,  we  promote  our 
products  primarily  through  direct  sales  efforts 
aimed  at  existing  and  potential  users  of  our 
products. In the Asia Pacific, Indian subcontinent, 
Ibero-America  and  African  regions,  we  focus  on 
making  our  channel  partners  successful.  Channel 
partners  for  our  other  international  operations 
include  distributors,  alliance  partners  and  value-
added resellers.  

United by Design 
Descartes’  ‘United  By  Design’  strategic  alliance 
program  is  intended  to  ensure  complementary 
hardware,  software  and  network  offerings  are 
interoperable  with  Descartes’  solutions  and  work 
together  seamlessly  to  solve  multi-party  business 
problems.   

‘United  By  Design’  is  intended  to  create  a  global 
logistics-intensive  organizations 
ecosystem  of 
working  together  to  standardize  and  automate 
business  processes  and  manage  resources  in 
motion.  The  program  centers  on  Descartes’  Open 
Standard  Collaborative  Interfaces  (Open  SCIs), 
which  provide  a  wide  variety  of  connectivity 
mechanisms  to  integrate  a  broad  spectrum  of 
applications and services.   

Marketing 
Marketing  materials  are  delivered 
through 
targeted  programs  designed  to  reach  our  core 
customer  groups.  These  programs  include  trade 
shows  and  user  group  conferences,  partner-
focused marketing programs, and direct corporate 
marketing efforts. 

Recent Updates 
On  June  10,  2011,  we  acquired  privately-held 
Telargo  Inc.,  (“Telargo”),  a  provider  of  telematics 
solutions.  Telargo 
is  a  software-as-a-service 
(“SaaS”)  provider  of  MRM  telematics  solutions 
that  enable  its  clients  to  monitor  and  manage 
mobile  assets  and  help  fleet  owners  comply  with 
various transportation regulations.  

On November 2, 2011, we acquired privately-held 
InterCommIT B.V. (“InterCommIT”), a provider of 
integration-as-a-service. 
business-to-business 

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS  

The following table shows, for the years indicated, our results of operations in millions of dollars (except 
per share and weighted average share amounts): 

Year ended 

Total revenues 

Cost of revenues 

Gross margin 

Operating expenses 

Other charges 

Amortization of intangible assets 

Income from operations 

Investment income 

Income before income taxes 

Income tax expense (recovery) 

Net income 

EARNINGS PER SHARE 

Basic 

Diluted 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (thousands) 

Basic 

Diluted 

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION 

Total assets 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
73.8 

2011
99.2 

114.0 

2012 

38.3 

75.7 

46.3 

2.1 

12.0 

15.3 

0.1 

15.4 

3.4 

12.0 

33.9 

65.3 

42.1 

4.0 

11.5 

7.7 

0.2 

7.9 

(3.6)

11.5 

23.0 

50.8 

35.8 

1.7 

6.9 

6.4 

0.3 

6.7 

(7.6)

14.3 

0.19 

0.19 

0.19

0.18

0.26

0.25

62,218 

63,400 

61,523

62,888

55,389

56,437

258.9

241.3

208.2 

Total  revenues  consist  of  services  revenues  and  license  revenues.  Services  revenues  are 
principally  comprised  of    the  following:  (i)  ongoing  transactional  fees  for  use  of  our  services  and 
products  by  our  customers,  which  are  recognized  as  the  transactions  occur;  (ii)  professional  services 
revenues  from  consulting,  implementation  and  training  services  related  to  our  services  and  products, 
which  are  recognized  as  the  services  are  performed;  and  (iii)  maintenance,  subscription  and  other 
related revenues, which include revenues associated with maintenance and support of our services and 
products, which are recognized ratably over the subscription period. License revenues are derived from 
perpetual licenses granted to our customers to use our software products. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table provides additional analysis of our services and license revenues (in millions of dollars and 
as a proportion of total revenues) generated over each of the years indicated: 

Year ended 

Services revenues 
Percentage of total revenues 

License revenues 

Percentage of total revenues 
Total revenues 

January 31,
2012
105.7
93%

January 31, January 31,
2010
69.6
94%

2011
93.7
94%

8.3

7%
114.0

5.5

6%
99.2

4.2

6%
73.8

Our services revenues were $105.7 million, $93.7 million and $69.6 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively. The increase in services revenues in 2012 was primarily due to the inclusion of a full year 
of  services  revenues  from  our  acquisitions  of  Porthus  NV  (“Porthus”),  Imanet  (“Imanet”)  and  Routing 
International NV (“Routing International”) during 2011, as well as the inclusion of service revenues from 
our acquisitions of Telargo, InterCommIT and GeoMicro during 2012. 

The  increase  in  services  revenues  in  2011  from  2010  is  primarily  due  to  the  inclusion  of  a  full  year  of 
services revenues from our acquisition of Scancode Systems Inc. (“Scancode”) during 2010, as well as 
the  inclusion  of  services  revenues  from  our  acquisitions  of  Porthus,  Imanet  and  Routing  International 
during 2011. 

Our  license  revenues  were  $8.3  million,  $5.5  million  and  $4.2  million  in  2012,  2011  and  2010, 
respectively.  While  our  sales  focus  has  been  on  generating  services  revenues  in  our  on-demand,  SaaS 
business  model,  we  have  continued  to  see  a  market  for  licensing  the  products  in  our  Delivery 
Management suite to MRDM enterprises. The amount of license revenue in a period is dependent on our 
customers’  preference  to  license  our  solutions  instead  of  purchasing  our  solutions  as  a  service  and  we 
anticipate variances from period to period. 

As  a  percentage  of  total  revenues,  our  services  revenues  were  93%,  94%  and  94%  in  2012,  2011 
and  2010,  respectively.  Our  high  percentage  of  services  revenues  reflects  our  continued  success  in 
selling  to  new  customers  under  our  services-based  business  model  rather  than  our  former  model  that 
emphasized perpetual license sales. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We  operate  in  one  business  segment  providing  logistics  technology  solutions.  The  following  table 
provides  additional  analysis  of  our  segmented  revenues  by  geographic  location  of  customer  (in 
millions of dollars): 

Year Ended 

United States 
Percentage of total revenues 

Canada 
Percentage of total revenues 

Americas, excluding Canada and United States 
Percentage of total revenues 

Belgium 
Percentage of total revenues 

Europe, Middle-East and Africa (“EMEA”), excluding Belgium 
Percentage of total revenues 

Asia Pacific 
Percentage of total revenues 
Total revenues 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
44.5
60%

2012 
48.6 
43% 

2011
44.9
45%

15.1 
13% 

1.2 
1% 

19.3 
17% 

24.5 
21% 

5.3 
5% 
114.0 

13.0
13%

1.0
1%

17.7
18%

19.1
19%

3.5
4%
99.2

9.2
13%

0.8
1%

1.5
2%

14.2
19%

3.6
5%
73.8

Revenues from the United States were $48.6 million, $44.9 million and $44.5 million in 2012, 2011 
and 2010, respectively. The increase in 2012 was primarily attributable to the inclusion of revenue in the 
United States from our acquisitions of Telargo and GeoMicro, increased shipping volumes, as well as new 
customers in the MRM market in the United States. The increase in revenues from the United States is 
also due to increased license revenues.  

The increase in 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to the inclusion of a full year of revenue in 
the  United  States  from  our  acquisition  of  Scancode  as  well  as  increased  license  revenues.  These 
increases  were  partially  offset  by  the  recent  departure  of  certain  customers  for  our  legacy  ocean 
services. 

Revenues  from  Canada  were  $15.1  million,  $13.0  million  and  $9.2  million  in  2012,  2011  and  2010, 
respectively. The increase in 2012 was primarily attributable to the inclusion of a full period of Canadian 
revenues from our acquisition of Canadian-based Imanet in 2011. Revenues from Canada in 2012 were 
also  impacted  by  favourable  foreign  exchange  rates  for  the  translation  of  Canadian  dollar  revenues  as 
compared to 2011. 

The  increase  in  2011  as  compared  to  2010  was  principally  due  to  the  inclusion  of  a  full  year  of 
Canadian-based  revenues  from  our  acquisitions  of  Scancode  and  Imanet.  Revenues  from  Canada  in 
2011  were  also  impacted  by  favourable  foreign  exchange  rates  for  the  translation  of  Canadian  dollar 
revenues as compared to 2010.  

Revenues from the Americas region, excluding Canada and the United States, were $1.2 million, 
$1.0 million and $0.8 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in 2012 compared to 
2011 was principally due to increased license revenues from resellers. 

The increase in 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to increased license revenues. 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from Belgium were $19.3 million, $17.7 million and $1.5 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively. The increase in 2012 was principally due to the inclusion of a full year of revenue from our 
acquisitions of Belgian-based Porthus and Routing International in 2011.  

The  increase  in  2011  as  compared  to  2010  was  principally  due  to  the  acquisitions  of  Belgian-based 
Porthus and Routing International. 

Revenues from the EMEA region, excluding Belgium, were $24.5 million, $19.1 million and $14.2 
million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase  in 2012 was primarily due to inclusion of a 
full  year  of  revenue  from  our  acquisitions  of  Porthus  and  Routing  International  in  2011,  as  well  as  the 
acquisition of InterCommIT in 2012. The increase in 2012 is also due to the favourable impact of foreign 
exchange rates for the translation of revenues earned in euros as compared to 2011. 

The increase in 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to the acquisitions of Porthus and Routing 
International. These increases were partially offset by the unfavourable impact of foreign exchange rates 
for the translation of revenues earned in euros as compared to 2010. 

Revenues from the Asia Pacific region were $5.3 million, $3.5 million and $3.6 million in 2012, 2011 
and 2010, respectively. The increase in 2012 as compared to 2011 was principally due to the inclusion 
of revenues from our acquisition of Telargo.  

The decrease in 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to lower license revenues.  

The following table provides analysis of cost of revenues (in millions of dollars) and the related gross 
margins for the years indicated: 

Year ended 

Services 
Services revenues 
Cost of services revenues 
Gross margin 

Gross margin percentage 

License 
License revenues 
Cost of license revenues 
Gross margin 

Gross margin percentage 

Total 
Revenues 
Cost of revenues 
Gross margin 

Gross margin percentage 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010

2012 

2011

105.7 
36.3 
69.4 

66% 

8.3 
2.0 
6.3 

76% 

114.0 
38.3 
75.7 

66% 

93.7
32.7
61.0

65%

5.5
1.2
4.3

78%

99.2
33.9
65.3

66%

69.6
22.0
47.6

68%

4.2
1.0
3.2

76%

73.8
23.0
50.8

69%

Cost of services revenues consists of internal costs of running our systems and applications, as well 
as  salaries  and  other  personnel-related  expenses  incurred  in  providing  professional  service  and 
maintenance work, including consulting and customer support. 

Gross margin percentage for services revenues was 66%, 65% and 68% in 2012, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively.  The  increase  in  2012  compared  to  2011  was  primarily  due  to  creation  of  operating 
efficiencies.  This  increase  was  partially  offset  by  the  acquisition  of  Telargo  in  2012,  which  currently 
operates at lower margins than our other services revenue streams.  

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The decrease in 2011 compared to 2010 was primarily due to the acquisition of Porthus which operated 
at lower margins than our other services revenue streams. 

Cost of license revenues consists of costs related to our sale of third-party technology, such as third-
party map license fees, referral fees and royalties. 

Gross margin percentage for license revenues was 76%, 78%, and 76% in 2012, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively.  Our  gross  margin  on  license  revenues  is  dependent  on  the  proportion  of  our  license 
revenues that involve third-party technology and the type of third-party technology. Consequently, our 
gross margin percentage for license revenues is higher when a lower proportion of our license revenues 
attracts third-party technology costs, and vice versa. This was the primary contributor to the changes in 
license margins in 2012, 2011 and 2010. 

Operating  expenses  (consisting  of  sales  and  marketing,  research  and  development  and  general  and 
administrative expenses) were $46.3 million, $42.1 million and $35.8 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively.  The  increase  in  operating  expenses  over  those  three  years  primarily  arose  from  the 
addition of businesses that we acquired during that period. 

Our operating expenses in 2010 were impacted by a $2.9 million increase in stock-based compensation 
expense which increased from $0.5 million in 2009 to $3.4 million in 2010 and subsequently decreased 
to  $1.1  million  and  $1.2  million  in  2011  and  2012,  respectively.  As  described  in  Note  2  to  the 
consolidated financial statements, the increased stock-based compensation expense in 2010, 2011 and 
2012 compared to 2009 is due to a change of forfeiture rate estimates used in the calculation of stock-
based compensation expense. This change of estimate resulted in $1.8 million in additional stock-based 
compensation expense in 2010, and the correction of an immaterial error of $1.1 million, of which $0.5 
million pertained to 2009 and $0.6 million to 2008. 

The  following  table  provides  additional  analysis  of  operating  expenses  (in  millions  of  dollars)  for  the 
years indicated: 

Year ended 

Total revenues 

Sales and marketing expenses 
Percentage of total revenues 

Research and development expenses 
Percentage of total revenues 

General and administrative expenses 
Percentage of total revenues 
Total operating expenses 
Percentage of total revenues 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
73.8

2012 
114.0 

2011
99.2

13.0 
11% 

19.0 
17% 

14.3 
13% 
46.3 
41% 

11.5
12%

17.0
17%

13.6
14%
42.1
42%

10.6
14%

14.5
20%

10.7
14%
35.8
49%

Sales  and  marketing  expenses  include  salaries,  commissions,  stock-based  compensation  and  other 
personnel-related  costs,  bad  debt  expenses,  travel  expenses,  advertising  programs  and  services,  and 
other promotional activities associated with selling and marketing our services and products. Sales and 
marketing  expenses  were  $13.0  million,  $11.5  million  and  $10.6  million  in  2012,  2011  and  2010, 
respectively,  representing  as  a  percentage  of  total  revenues  11%,  12%  and  14%  in  2012,  2011  and 
2010,  respectively.  The  increase  in  sales  and  marketing  expenses  in  2012  as  compared  to  2011  is 
primarily due to the acquisitions in 2012 of Telargo, InterCommIT and GeoMicro, as well as the inclusion 
of  a  full  year  of  expenses  for  Porthus,  Imanet  and  Routing  International.  The  increase  in  2012  as 
compared to 2011 is also a result of an unfavourable foreign exchange impact from our Canadian dollar 
and euro denominated sales and marketing expenses. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales and marketing expenses increased in  2011 as compared to  2010 from the acquisition of Porthus 
and  to  a  lesser  extent  the  acquisitions  of  Imanet  and  Routing  International.  The  increase  in  2011  as 
compared to 2010 is also a result of an unfavourable foreign exchange impact from our Canadian dollar 
sales and marketing expenses  while  a favourable foreign exchange impact from our  euro denominated 
sales and marketing expenses partially offset this increase in 2011. 

Research  and  development  expenses  consist  primarily  of  salaries,  stock-based  compensation  and 
other  personnel-related  costs  of  technical  and  engineering  personnel  associated  with  our  research  and 
product  development  activities,  as  well  as  costs  for  third-party  outsourced  development  providers.  We 
expensed  all  costs  related  to  research  and  development  in  2012,  2011  and  2010.  Research  and 
development  expense  was  $19.0  million,  $17.0  million  and  $14.5  million  in  2012,  2011  and  2010, 
respectively,  representing  as  a  percentage  of  total  revenues  17%,  17%  and  20%  in  2012,  2011  and 
2010, respectively. The increase in research and development expenses in 2012 as compared to 2011 is 
primarily  attributable  to  increased  payroll  and  related  costs  from  the  acquisitions  of  Telargo, 
InterCommIT  and  GeoMicro  in  2012,  as  well  as  the  inclusion  of  a  full  year  of  expenses  for  Porthus, 
Imanet  and  Routing  International.  The  increase  in  2012  as  compared  to  2011  is  also  a  result  of  an 
unfavourable  foreign  exchange  impact  from  our  Canadian  dollar  and  euro  denominated  research  and 
development expenses. 

The  increase  in  research  and  development  expenses  in  2011  as  compared  to  2010  is  primarily 
attributable to increased payroll and related costs from the acquisition of Porthus and to a lesser extent 
Imanet  and  Routing  International.  The  increase  in  2011  as  compared  to  2010  is  also  a  result  of  an 
unfavourable  foreign  exchange  impact  from  our  Canadian  dollar  research  and  development  expenses 
while  a  favourable  exchange  impact  from  our  euro  denominated  research  and  development  expenses 
partially offset this increase in 2011. 

General  and  administrative  expenses  consist  primarily  of  salaries,  stock-based  compensation  and 
other  personnel-related  costs  of  administrative  personnel,  as  well  as  professional  fees  and  other 
administrative expenses. General and administrative costs were $14.3 million, $13.6 million and $10.7 
million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing as a percentage of total revenues 13%, 14% 
and 14% in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in general and administrative expenses in 
2012  as  compared  to  2011  is  primarily  attributable  to  additional  general  and  administrative  expenses 
associated related to our recent acquisitions. The increase in 2012 as compared to 2011 is also a result 
of  an  unfavourable  foreign  exchange  impact  from  our  Canadian  dollar  and  euro  denominated  general 
and administrative expenses. 

The  increase  in  general  and  administrative  expenses  in  2011  as  compared  to  2010  is  primarily 
attributable  to additional general and administrative expenses associated with Porthus.  The increase in 
2011  as  compared  to  2010  is  also  a  result  of  an  unfavourable  foreign  exchange  impact  from  our 
Canadian dollar general and administrative expenses while a favourable exchange impact from our euro 
denominated general and administrative expenses partially offset this increase in 2011. 

Other  charges  consist  primarily  of  acquisition-related  costs  and  restructuring  charges.  Other  charges 
were $2.1 million, $4.0 million and $1.7 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decrease in 
2012  as  compared  to  2011  was  due  to  $0.5  million  in  2012,  compared  to  $2.1  million  in  2011,  of 
restructuring  charges  related  to  integration  of  previously  completed  acquisitions  and  other  cost-
reduction activities. The decrease is also due to a one-time $0.4 million write-off, in 2011, of computer 
software assets acquired as part of the Porthus acquisition.  

The increase in 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to $2.1 million in 2011, compared to $0.8 
million in 2010, of restructuring charges related to integration of previously completed acquisitions and 
other  cost-reduction  activities.  This  increase  was  also  attributable  to  the  inclusion  of  $1.5  million  of 
acquisition-related costs in 2011, compared to $0.9 million of such costs in 2010. The 2011 acquisition-
related costs were primarily professional fees related to our acquisitions of Porthus, Imanet and Routing 
International.  In  2011,  other  charges  also  included  $0.4  million  related  to  the  write-off  of  computer 
software assets acquired as part of the Porthus acquisition. 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization  of  intangible  assets  is  amortization  of  the  value  attributable  to  intangible  assets, 
including  customer  agreements  and  relationships,  non-compete  covenants,  existing  technologies  and 
trade  names,  associated  with  acquisitions  completed  by  us  as  of  January  31,  2012.  Intangible  assets 
with a finite life are amortized to income over their useful life. The amount of amortization expense in a 
fiscal  period  is  dependent  on  our  acquisition  activities,  as  well  as  our  asset  impairment  tests. 
Amortization  of  intangible  assets  was  $12.0  million,  $11.5  million  and  $6.9  million  in  2012,  2011  and 
2010,  respectively.  The  increase  in  amortization  expense  over  those  three  years  primarily  arose  from 
the addition of businesses that we acquired during that period. As at January 31, 2012, the unamortized 
portion of all intangible assets amounted to $46.7 million. 

We  test  the  fair  value  of  our  finite  life  intangible  assets  for  recoverability  when  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances indicate that there may be evidence of impairment. We write down intangible assets with 
a finite life to fair value when the related undiscounted cash flows are not expected to allow for recovery 
of the carrying value. Fair value of intangible assets is determined by discounting the expected related 
cash flows. No finite life intangible asset impairment has been identified or recorded for any of the fiscal 
periods reported. 

Investment  income  was  $0.1  million,  $0.2  million  and  $0.3  million  in  2012,  2011  and  2010, 
respectively.  The  decrease  in  investment  income  over  those  three  years  is  principally  a  result  of  lower 
interest rates in the 2012 and 2011 periods. 

Income tax expense (recovery) is comprised of current and deferred income tax expense (recovery). 
Income tax expense (recovery) for 2012, 2011 and 2010 was 22%, (46%) and (113%) of income before 
income taxes, respectively, with current income tax expense being approximately 9%, 4% and 13% of 
income before income taxes, respectively. 

Income  tax  expense  –  current  was  $1.4  million,  $0.3  million  and  $0.9  million  in  2012,  2011  and 
2010,  respectively.  Current  income  taxes  arise  primarily  from  US  income  that  is  subject  to  federal 
alternative  minimum  tax  and  that  is  not  fully  sheltered  by  loss  carryforwards  in  certain  US  states, 
Canadian income earned by Imanet, income earned by the Belgian and Slovakian operations of Porthus, 
income  earned  by  InterCommIT,  and  income  earned  by  the  France  and  Netherlands  operations  of 
Routing International. 

Income  tax  expense  (recovery)  –  deferred  was  $1.9  million,  ($3.9)  million  and  ($8.5)  million  in 
2012,  2011  and  2010,  respectively.  The  deferred  income  tax  expense  increased  in  2012  relative  to 
2011, primarily as a result of utilizing loss carryforwards to offset increased taxable income, especially in 
Canada.  In addition, a release of valuation allowances in the UK and Netherlands increased the deferred 
income tax recovery in 2011, but this recovery did not recur in 2012.  Partially offsetting the increase in 
deferred income tax expense was a change in valuation allowance and other tax estimates in the United 
States.   

A  net  deferred  tax  asset  of  $33.9  million  is  recorded  on  our  2012  consolidated  balance  sheet  for  tax 
benefits that we currently expect to realize in future years. We have provided a valuation allowance of 
$33.9  million  in  2012  for  the  amount  of  tax  benefits  that  are  not  currently  expected  to  be  realized.  In 
determining the valuation allowance, we considered various factors by taxing jurisdiction, including our 
currently  estimated  taxable income  over future  periods, our history of losses for tax purposes,  our  tax 
planning strategies and the likelihood of success of our tax filing positions, among others. A change to 
any of these factors could impact the estimated valuation allowance and, as a consequence, result in an 
increase  (recovery)  or  decrease  (expense)  to  the  deferred  tax  assets  recorded  on  our  consolidated 
balance sheets. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overall,  we  generated  net  income  of  $12.0  million,  $11.5  million  and  $14.3  million  in  2012,  2011  and 
2010, respectively. The $0.5 million increase in 2012 from 2011 was primarily a result of a $10.4 million 
increase  in  gross  margin,  a  $1.9  million  decrease  in  other  charges,  partially  offset  by  a  $7.0  million 
increase in income tax expense, a $4.2 million increase in operating expenses, a $0.5 million increase in 
amortization of intangible assets, and a $0.1 million decrease in investment income.  

The  $2.8  million  decrease  in  2011  from  2010  was  primarily  a  result  of  a  $6.3  million  increase  in 
operating expenses, a $4.6 million increase in amortization of intangible assets, a $4.0 million decrease 
in  income  tax  recovery,  a  $2.3  million  increase  in  other  charges  and  a  $0.1  million  decrease  in 
investment income. Partially offsetting these changes was a $14.5 million increase in gross margin.  

QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS 

The  following  table  provides  an  analysis  of  our  unaudited  operating  results  (in  thousands  of  dollars, 
except  per  share  and  weighted  average  number  of  share  amounts)  for  each  of  the  quarters  ended  on 
the date indicated.  

April 30, July 31, October 31,  January 31,
2012

2011 

2011

2011

Total

2012 
Revenues 
Gross margin 
Operating expenses 
Net income 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding 
(thousands): 
  Basic  
  Diluted  

2011 
Revenues 
Gross margin 
Operating expenses 
Net income 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding 
(thousands): 
  Basic  
  Diluted  

27,076
18,162
11,239
2,152
0.03
0.03

28,841
19,058
11,618
2,640
0.04
0.04

28,502 
19,007 
11,403 
2,724 
0.04 
0.04 

29,571 113,990
75,677
19,450
46,325
12,065
12,026
4,510
0.19
0.07
0.19
0.07

61,881
63,194

62,221
63,358

62,350 
63,408 

62,410
63,629

62,218
63,400

April 30, July 31, October 31,  January 31,
2011

2010 

2010

2010

21,286
13,899
9,417
192
-
-

25,249
16,696
10,951
2,023
0.03
0.03

25,787 
17,208 
10,968 
1,616 
0.03 
0.03 

26,853
17,497
10,760
7,708
0.13
0.12

Total

99,175
65,300
42,096
11,539
0.19
0.18

61,432
62,681

61,481
62,718

61,526 
62,849 

61,651
63,181

61,523
62,888

Our services revenues continue to have seasonal trends. In our first fiscal quarter, we historically have 
seen  lower  shipment  volumes  by  air  and  truck  which  impact  the  aggregate  number  of  transactions 
flowing through our GLN business document exchange. In our second fiscal quarter, we historically have 
seen  an  increase  in  ocean  services  revenues  as  ocean  carriers  are  in  the  midst  of  their  customer 
contract negotiation period, but, going forward with the recent loss of ocean customers, our trends will 
follow  general  industry  shipment  and  transactional  volumes.  In  the  third  quarter,  we  have  historically 
seen  shipment  and  transactional  volumes  at  their  highest.  In  the  fourth  quarter,  the  various 
international holidays impact the aggregate number of shipping days in the quarter, and historically we 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
have seen this adversely impact the number of transactions our network processes and, consequently, 
the amount of services revenues we receive. 

Revenues  have  been  positively  impacted  by  the  eight  acquisitions  that  we  have  completed  since  the 
beginning  of  2010.  In  addition,  over  the  past  three  fiscal  years  we  have  seen  increased  transactions 
processed over our GLN business document exchange as we help our customers comply with electronic 
filing  requirements  of  US,  Canadian  and  European  Union  customs  regulations.  These  increases  have 
been  tempered  by  the  general  economic  downturn  that  started  impacting  our  business  and  global 
shipping volumes in 2009. 

In  2011,  net  income  was  positively  impacted  by  the  acquisitions  of  Porthus,  Imanet  and  Routing 
International.  Net  income  was  also  impacted  by  $0.6  million,  $0.3  million,  $0.2  million  and  $0.9  of 
restructuring  charges  related  to  integration  of  previously  completed  acquisitions  and  other  cost-
reduction  activities  expensed  in  the  first,  second,  third  and  fourth  quarters  of  2011,  respectively.  As 
well,  $0.9  million,  $0.5  million  and  $0.2  million  of  acquisition-related  costs  were  incurred  in  the  first, 
second and fourth quarters of 2011, respectively. Net income in the third quarter of 2011 was negatively 
impacted by $0.4 million related to the write-off of certain computer software assets acquired as part of 
the  Porthus  acquisition.  These  assets  were  made  redundant  during  the  period  as  we  continued  to 
integrate  Porthus  into  our  operations.  An  income  tax  recovery  of  $5.2  million  also  contributed  to  net 
income  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2011.  The  income  tax  recovery  resulted  primarily  from  a  $6.9  million 
reduction  in  the  valuation  allowance  for  deferred  tax  assets  in  our  Netherlands  and  United  Kingdom 
operations, partially offset by the recognition of additional valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in 
our Dexx BVBA (“Dexx”) and Australian operations. 

In  the  first  quarter  of  2012,  net  income  was  positively  impacted  by  the  strengthening  of  the  euro  in 
comparison  to  the  US  dollar,  while  the  strengthening  of  the  Canadian  dollar  in  comparison  to  the  US 
dollar  negatively  impacted  net  income.  Also  negatively  impacting  net  income  was  $0.3  million  of 
acquisition-related costs with respect to completed and prospective acquisitions. 

In  the  second  quarter  of  2012,  our  revenues  and  expenses  increased  as  a  result  of  including  a  partial 
quarter  of  revenues  and  expenses  from  the  acquisition  of  Telargo.  As  well,  revenue  was  positively 
impacted  by  increased  shipping  volumes  and  new  customers  in  the  MRM  market.  Net  income  was 
negatively  impacted  by  $0.3  million  of  acquisition-related  costs  and  $0.1  million  of  restructuring 
charges.  

In the third quarter of 2012, our revenues and expenses increased as a result of including a full quarter 
of revenues and expenses from our acquisition of Telargo. Net income was negatively impacted by $0.4 
million of acquisition-related costs and restructuring charges. 

In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2012,  our  revenues  and  expenses  increased  as  a  result  of  including  a  partial 
quarter  of  revenues  and  expenses  from  our  acquisitions  of  InterCommIT  and  GeoMicro.  As  well,  net 
income  was  negatively  impacted  by  $0.7  million  of  acquisition-related  costs  and  $0.4  million  of 
restructuring charges.  

Our  weighted average shares outstanding has increased since the first  quarter of 2011  due to  periodic 
employee stock option exercises. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Historically,  we  have  financed  our  operations  and  met  our  capital  expenditure  requirements  primarily 
through cash flows provided from operations and sales of debt and equity securities. As at January 31, 
2012,  we  had  $65.5  million  in  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  $3.0  million  in  unused  available  lines  of 
credit. As at January 31, 2011, prior to our acquisitions of Telargo, InterCommIT and GeoMicro, we had 
$69.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $3.0 million in available lines of credit. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We  believe  that,  considering  the  above,  we  have  sufficient  liquidity  to  fund  our  current  operating  and 
working  capital  requirements,  including  the  payment  of  current  operating  leases.  We  also  believe  that 
we have the ability to generate sufficient amounts of cash and cash equivalents in the long-term to meet 
planned  growth  targets  and  fund  strategic  transactions.  Should  additional  future  financing  be 
undertaken,  the  proceeds  from  any  such  transaction  could  be  utilized  to  fund  strategic  transactions  or 
for general corporate purposes. We expect, from time to time, to consider select strategic transactions 
to  create  value  and  improve  performance,  which  may  include  acquisitions,  dispositions,  restructurings, 
joint  ventures  and  partnerships,  and  we  may  undertake  a  financing  transaction  in  connection  with  any 
such potential strategic transaction. 

If  any  of  our  non-Canadian  subsidiaries  have  earnings,  our  intention  is  that  these  earnings  be  re-
invested  in  the  subsidiary  indefinitely.  Accordingly,  to  date  we  have  not  encountered  legal  or  practical 
restrictions  on  the  abilities  of  our  subsidiaries  to  repatriate  money  to  Canada,  even  if  such  restrictions 
may exist in respect of certain foreign jurisdictions where we have subsidiaries. To the extent there are 
restrictions,  they  have  not  had  a  material  effect  on  the  ability  of  our  Canadian  parent  to  meet  its 
financial obligations. 

The  table  set  forth  below  provides  a  summary  of  cash  flows  for  the  periods  indicated  in  millions  of 
dollars: 

Year ended 

Cash provided by operating activities 
Additions to capital assets 
Proceeds from the sale of investment in affiliate 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired 
Issuance of common shares, net of issue costs 
Repayment of financial liabilities 
Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents and 
short-term investments 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and short-term 
investments 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, beginning 
of period 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, end of 
period 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
16.5 
(1.6)
- 
(15.0)
40.3 
- 

2012 
23.9 
(4.7) 
- 
(21.3) 
1.7 
(4.3) 

2011
19.9 
(1.6)
0.5 
(45.0)
1.1 
(0.4)

0.6 
(4.1) 

69.6 

65.5 

0.5 
(25.0)

(3.2)
37.0 

94.6 

57.6 

69.6 

94.6 

Cash  provided  by  operating  activities  was  $23.9  million,  $19.9  million  and  $16.5  million  for  2012, 
2011  and  2010,  respectively.  For  2012,  the  $23.9  million  of  cash  provided  by  operating  activities 
resulted from $12.0 million of net income, plus $17.8 million of non-cash items included in net income 
and less $5.9 million of cash used in changes in our operating assets and liabilities. For 2011, the $19.9 
million  of  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  resulted  from  $11.5  million  of  net  income,  plus 
adjustments  for  $11.7  million  of  non-cash  items  included  in  net  income  and  less  $3.3  million  of  cash 
used in changes in our operating assets and liabilities. For 2010, the $16.5 million of cash provided by 
operating activities resulted from $14.3 million of net income, plus adjustments for $3.9 million of non-
cash items included in net income and less $1.7 million of cash used in changes in our operating assets 
and liabilities. Cash provided by operating activities increased in 2012 compared to 2011, primarily due 
to net income adjusted for non-cash expenses which increased $6.6 million in 2012 compared to 2011. 
This  increase  was  partially  offset  by  cash  used  in  changes  in  our  operating  assets  and  liabilities  which 
increased  $2.6  million  in  2012  compared  to  2011.  Cash  provided  by  operating  activities  increased  in 
2011  compared  to  2010,  primarily  due  to  net  income  adjusted  for  non-cash  expenses  which  increased 
$5.0 million in 2011 compared to 2010. This increase was partially offset by cash used in changes in our 
operating assets and liabilities which decreased $1.6 million in 2011 compared to 2010.  

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additions  to  capital  assets  of  $4.7  million,  $1.6  million  and  $1.6  million  in  2012,  2011  and  2010, 
respectively, were primarily composed of investments in computing equipment and software to support 
our  network  and  build  out  infrastructure.  The  increase  in  additions  in  2012  was  primarily  composed  of 
investments  in  software  related  to  the  implementation  of  a  new  enterprise  resource  planning  (ERP) 
system. 

Proceeds from the sale of investment in affiliate of $0.5 million in 2011 were related to the sale of 
the investment in Desk Solutions NV, which was acquired as part of the Porthus acquisition. There was 
no such sale of investment in affiliates during 2012. 

Business  acquisitions,  net  of  cash  acquired  of  $21.3  million  in  2012  was  primarily  comprised  of 
$5.0  million  of  cash,  net  of  cash  acquired,  for  the  acquisition  of  Telargo,  $13.6  million  of  cash,  net  of 
cash acquired, for the acquisition of InterCommIT and $2.7 million of cash, net of cash acquired, for the 
acquisition of GeoMicro.  

Business acquisitions,  net of cash acquired of  $45.0 million in 2011  were primarily  comprised of $34.6 
million  of  cash,  net  of  cash  acquired,  for  the  acquisition  of  Porthus,  $5.8  million  of  cash,  net  of  cash 
acquired, for the acquisition of Imanet and $4.1 million of cash, net of cash acquired, for the acquisition 
of  Routing  International.  The  balance  of  this  amount  consists  of  additional  purchase  price  paid  for 
business acquisitions we completed prior to 2011. 

Business  acquisitions,  net  of  cash  acquired  of  $15.0  million  in  2010  were  primarily  comprised  of  $8.9 
million  of  cash,  net  of  cash  acquired,  for  the  acquisition  of  Oceanwide  Inc.  (“Oceanwide”)  and  $5.9 
million  of  cash,  net  of  cash  acquired,  for  the  acquisition  of  Scancode.  The  balance  of  this  amount 
consists of additional  purchase price  and acquisition-related cost  paid in  2010 for  business acquisitions 
that we completed prior to 2010.  

Issuance  of  common  shares  of  $1.7  million  in  2012  and  $1.1  million  in  2011  was  a  result  of  the 
exercise of employee stock options.  

The  $40.3  million  of  cash  provided  by  issuance  of  common  shares  in  2010  was  comprised  of  $39.0 
million  net  cash  proceeds  received  from  the  issuance  of  7,170,404  common  shares  pursuant  to  our 
October  2009  bought-deal  share  offering,  including  the  over-allotment  option  exercised  by  the 
underwriters and $1.3 million from the exercise of employee stock options. 

Repayment  of  financial  liabilities  of  $4.3  million  in  2012  was  primarily  due  to  repayment  of  debt 
obligations acquired as part of the Telargo acquisition. 

Repayment  of  financial  liabilities  of  $0.4  million  in  2011  was  primarily  due  to  repayment  of  debt 
obligations acquired as part of the Porthus, Imanet and Routing International acquisitions. 

Working  capital.  As  at  January  31,  2012,  our  working  capital  (current  assets  less  current  liabilities) 
was  $78.2  million.  Current  assets  include  $65.5  million  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  $17.2  million  in 
current  trade  receivables  and  $12.4  million  in  current  deferred  tax  assets.  Current  liabilities  include 
$12.2  million  of  accrued  liabilities,  $6.6  million  of  deferred  revenue  and  $5.2  million  of  accounts 
payable. Our working capital has decreased since January 31, 2011 by $0.3 million, primarily as a result 
of net income of $12.0 million, offset by cash used for business.  

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  short-term  investments.  As  at  January  31,  2012,  all  funds  were 
held in interest-bearing bank accounts or certificates of deposit, primarily with major Canadian, US and 
European banks. Cash and cash equivalents include short-term deposits and debt securities with original 
maturities of three months or less. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES  

Commitments 
To  facilitate  a  better  understanding  of  our  commitments,  the  following  information  is  provided  (in 
millions of dollars) in respect of our operating and capital lease obligations: 

  Less than
1 year

1-3 years

4-5 years  More than
 5 years

Operating lease obligations 
Capital lease obligations 
Total 

3.3
0.1
3.4

4.5
0.1
4.6

2.3 
- 
2.3 

1.0
-
1.0

Total

11.1
0.2
11.3

Lease Obligations 
We  are  committed  under  non-cancelable  operating  leases  for  business  premises,  computer  equipment 
and  vehicles  with  terms  expiring  at  various  dates  through  2020.  We  are  also  committed  under  non-
cancelable  capital  leases  for  computer  equipment  expiring  at  various  dates  through  2015.  The  future 
minimum amounts payable under these lease agreements are described in the chart above. 

Other Obligations 
Income taxes 
We believe that it is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefit as of January 31, 2012 
could  increase  tax  expense  in  the  next  twelve  months  by  $4.9  million  primarily  relating  to  underlying 
uncertain  tax  positions,  relating  primarily  to  the  tax  years  becoming  statute  barred  for  the  purpose  of 
future tax examinations by local taxing jurisdictions and the expiration of competent authority relief.   

Deferred Share Unit and Restricted Share Unit Plans 
As  discussed  in  the  “Trends  /  Business  Outlook”  section  later  in  this  MD&A  and  in  Note  15  to  the 
consolidated  financial  statements,  we  maintain  deferred  share  unit  (“DSU”)  and  restricted  share  unit 
(“RSU”) plans for our directors and employees. Any payments made pursuant to these plans are settled 
in cash. As DSUs are fully vested upon issuance, the DSU liability recorded on our consolidated balance 
sheets  is  calculated  as  the  total  number  of  DSUs  outstanding  at  the  consolidated  balance  sheet  date 
multiplied by the closing price of our common shares on the TSX at the consolidated balance sheet date. 
For RSUs, the units vest over time and the liability recognized at any given consolidated balance sheet 
date reflects only those units vested at that date that have not yet been settled in cash. As such, we had 
an  unrecognized  aggregate  liability  for  the  unvested  RSUs  of  $1.9  million  for  which  no  liability  was 
recorded  on  our  consolidated  balance  sheet  at  January  31,  2012,  in  accordance  with  Financial 
Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  Accounting  Standard  Codification  (“ASC”)  Topic  718 
“Compensation  –  Stock  Compensation”  (“ASC  Topic  718”).  The  ultimate  liability  for  any  payment  of 
DSUs and RSUs is dependent on the trading price of our common shares. 

Contingencies 
We are subject to a variety of other claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course 
of our business. The consequences of these matters are not presently determinable but, in the opinion 
of  management  after  consulting  with  legal  counsel,  the  ultimate  aggregate  liability  is  not  currently 
expected to have a material effect on our annual results of operations or financial position. 

Product Warranties 
In  the  normal  course  of  operations,  we  provide  our  customers  with  product  warranties  relating  to  the 
performance of our software and network services. To date, we have not encountered material costs as 
a  result  of  such  obligations  and  have  not  accrued  any  liabilities  related  to  such  obligations  on  our 
consolidated financial statements. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantees 
In the normal course of business we enter into a variety of agreements that may contain features that 
meet  the  definition  of  a  guarantee  under  FASB  ASC  Topic  460,  “Guarantees”  (“ASC  Topic  460”).  The 
following lists our significant guarantees: 

Intellectual property indemnification obligations 
We  provide  indemnifications  of  varying  scope  to  our  customers  against  claims  of  intellectual  property 
infringement made  by third parties arising from the use of our products. In the event of such a  claim, 
we are generally obligated to defend our customers against the claim and we are liable to pay damages 
and  costs  assessed  against  our  customers  that  are  payable  as  part  of  a  final  judgment  or  settlement. 
These  intellectual  property  infringement  indemnification  clauses  are  not  generally  subject  to  any  dollar 
limits and remain in force for the term of our license and services agreement with our customers, where 
license  terms  are  typically  perpetual.  To  date,  we  have  not  encountered  material  costs  as  a  result  of 
such indemnifications. 

Other indemnification agreements 
In  the  normal  course  of  operations,  we  enter  into  various  agreements  that  provide  general 
indemnifications.  These  indemnifications  typically  occur  in  connection  with  purchases  and  sales  of 
assets,  securities  offerings  or  buy-backs,  service  contracts,  administration  of  employee  benefit  plans, 
retention  of  officers  and  directors,  membership  agreements,  customer  financing  transactions,  and 
leasing transactions. In  addition,  our corporate  by-laws provide for  the  indemnification of our directors 
and  officers.  Each  of  these  indemnifications  requires  us,  in  certain  circumstances,  to  compensate  the 
counterparties  for  various  costs  resulting  from  breaches  of  representations  or  obligations  under  such 
arrangements,  or  as  a  result  of  third  party  claims  that  may  be  suffered  by  the  counterparties  as  a 
consequence  of  the  transaction.  We  believe  that  the  likelihood  that  we  could  incur  significant  liability 
under these obligations is remote. Historically, we have not made any significant payments under such 
indemnifications.  

In  evaluating  estimated  losses  for  the  guarantees  or  indemnities  described  above,  we  consider  such 
factors  as  the  degree  of  probability  of  an  unfavorable  outcome  and  the  ability  to  make  a  reasonable 
estimate of the amount of loss. We are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential 
amount payable under such guarantees or indemnities as many of these arrangements do not specify a 
maximum  potential  dollar  exposure  or  time  limitation.  The  amount  also  depends  on  the  outcome  of 
future  events  and  conditions,  which  cannot  be  predicted.  Given  the  foregoing,  to  date,  we  have  not 
accrued any liability on our financial statements for the guarantees or indemnities described above. 

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA 

We have an unlimited number of common shares authorized for issuance. As of March 8, 2012, we had 
62,432,727 common shares issued and outstanding. 

As  of  March  8,  2012,  there  were  2,987,251  options  issued  and  outstanding,  and  212,218  remaining 
available for grant under all stock option plans.  

On  December  21,  2010,  we  announced  that  the  TSX  had  approved  the  purchase  by  us  of  up  to  an 
aggregate  of  4,997,322  common  shares  of  Descartes  pursuant  to  a  normal  course  issuer  bid.  The 
purchases  could  occur  from  time  to  time  until  December  22,  2011,  through  the  facilities  of  the  TSX 
and/or the NASDAQ, if and when we consider advisable. As of March 8, 2012 there were no purchases 
made pursuant to this normal course issuer bid. We did not renew the normal course issuer bid in fiscal 
2012. 

On November 30, 2004, we announced that our board of directors had adopted a shareholder rights plan 
(the “Rights Plan”) to ensure the fair treatment of shareholders in connection with any take-over offer, 
and  to  provide  our  board  of  directors  and  shareholders  with  additional  time  to  fully  consider  any 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
unsolicited  take-over  bid.  We  did  not  adopt  the  Rights  Plan  in  response  to  any  specific  proposal  to 
acquire control of the company. The Rights Plan was approved by the TSX and was originally approved 
by our shareholders on May 18, 2005. The Rights Plan took effect as of November 29, 2004. On May 29, 
2008, our shareholders approved certain amendments to the Rights Plan and approved the Rights Plan 
continuing  in  effect.  At  the  annual  shareholders  meeting  held  on  June  2,  2011,  our  shareholders 
approved certain amendments to the Rights Plan and approved the Rights Plan continuing in effect. We 
understand that the Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other Canadian companies and approved 
by their shareholders. 

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Our  consolidated  financial  statements  included  herein  and  accompanying  notes  are  prepared  in 
accordance  with  GAAP.  Preparing  financial  statements  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and 
assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets,  liabilities,  revenues  and  expenses.  These 
estimates and assumptions are affected  by management’s application of accounting  policies. Estimates 
are deemed critical when a different estimate could have reasonably been used or where changes in the 
estimates are reasonably likely to occur from period to period and would materially impact our financial 
condition or results of operations. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 to the fiscal 
2012 consolidated financial statements.  

Our  management  has  discussed  the  development,  selection  and  application  of  our  critical  accounting 
policies  with  the  audit  committee  of  the  board  of  directors.  In  addition,  the  board  of  directors  has 
reviewed the accounting policy disclosures in this MD&A.  

The  following  discusses  the  critical  accounting  estimates  and  assumptions  that  management  has  made 
under these policies and how they affect the amounts reported in the fiscal 2012 consolidated financial 
statements: 

Revenue recognition 
We  recognize  revenue  when  it  is  realized  or  realizable  and  earned.  We  consider  revenue  realized  or 
realizable and earned when there exists persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the product has been 
delivered  or  the  services  have  been  provided  to  the  customer,  the  sales  price  is  fixed  or  determinable 
and collectability is reasonably assured.  

In recognizing revenue, we make estimates and assumptions on factors such as the probability of collection 
of the revenue from the customer, the amount of revenue to allocate to individual elements in a multiple 
element  arrangement,  the  selling  price  and  other  matters.  We  make  these  estimates  and  assumptions 
using our past experience, taking into account any other current information that may be relevant. These 
estimates  and  assumptions  may  differ  from  the  actual  outcome  for  a  given  customer  which  could  impact 
operating results in a future period. 

Government Grants 
Government  grants  relating  to  costs  are  deferred  and  recognized  in  the  statements  of  operations  as  a 
reduction  of  expense  over  the  period  necessary  to  match  them  with  the  costs  that  they  are  intended  to 
compensate. 

Long-Lived Assets 
We test long-lived assets for recoverability when events or changes in circumstances indicate evidence 
of impairment. 

Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. An impairment 
loss is recognized when the estimate of undiscounted future cash flows generated by such assets is less 
than  the  carrying  amount.  Measurement  of  the  impairment  loss  is  based  on  the  present  value  of  the 
expected  future  cash  flows.  Our  impairment  analysis  contains  estimates  due  to  the  inherently 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
speculative  nature  of  forecasting  long-term  estimated  cash  flows  and  determining  the  ultimate  useful 
lives of assets. Actual results will differ, which could materially impact our impairment assessment. 

In the case of goodwill, we test for impairment at least annually at October 31st of each year and at any 
other  time  if  any  event  occurs  or  circumstances  change  that  would  more  likely  than  not  reduce  our 
enterprise  value  below  our  carrying  amount.  Application  of  the  goodwill  impairment  test  requires 
judgment,  including  the  identification  of  reporting  units,  assigning  assets  and  liabilities  to  reporting 
units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, assessing qualitative factors and determining the fair value 
of  each  reporting  unit.  Significant  judgments  required  to  estimate  the  fair  value  of  reporting  units 
include  estimating  future  cash  flows,  determining  appropriate  discount  rates  and  other  assumptions. 
Changes  in  these  estimates  and  assumptions  could  materially  affect  the  determination  of  fair  value 
and/or goodwill impairment for each reporting unit. 

Stock-based compensation 
We  adopted  ASC  Topic  718  effective  February  1,  2006  using  the  modified  prospective  application 
method. Accordingly, the fair value of that portion of employee stock options that is ultimately expected 
to  vest  has  been  amortized  to  expense  in  our  consolidated  statement  of  operations  since  February  1, 
2006 based on the straight-line attribution method. 

The  fair  value  of  stock  option  grants  is  calculated  using  the  Black-Scholes  option-pricing  model. 
Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of our common stock and other factors. The risk-free 
interest rates are based on the Government of Canada average bond yields for a period consistent with 
the expected life of the option in effect at the time of the grant. The expected option life is based on the 
historical life of our granted options and other factors.  

Income Taxes 
We have provided for income taxes based on information that is currently available to us. Tax filings are 
subject to audits, which could materially change the amount of current and deferred income tax assets 
and liabilities. We record deferred tax assets on our consolidated balance sheet for tax benefits that we 
currently expect to realize in future periods. Over recent years, we determined that there was sufficient 
positive evidence such that it was more likely than not that we would utilize all or a portion of deferred 
tax  assets  in  certain  jurisdictions,  to  offset  taxable  income  in  future  periods. This  positive  evidence 
included  that  we  have  earned  cumulative  income,  after  permanent  differences,  in  each  of  these 
jurisdictions  in  at  least  the  current  and  two  preceding  tax  years.  As  such,  over  recent  years,  we  have 
reduced our valuation allowance by amounts which represent the amount of tax loss carry forwards that 
we project will be used to offset taxable income in these jurisdictions over the ensuing six-year period. 
In making the projection for the six-year period, we made certain assumptions, including the following: 
(i)  that  there  will  be  continued  customer  migration  from  technology  platforms  owned  by  our  US  entity 
and our Swedish entity to a technology platform owned by another entity in our corporate group, further 
reducing  taxable  income  in  the  US  and  Sweden;  and  (ii)  that  tax  rates  in  these  jurisdictions  will  be 
consistent over the six-year period of projection, except in Canada where rates are expected to decrease 
through  2015  and  then  remain  consistent  thereafter.  Any  further  change  to  increase  or  decrease  the 
valuation  allowance  for  the  deferred  tax  assets  would  result  in  an  income  tax  expense  or  income  tax 
recovery, respectively, on the consolidated statements of operations. 

Business Combinations 
In connection with business acquisitions that we have completed, we identify and estimate the fair value 
of net assets acquired, including certain identifiable intangible assets (other than goodwill) and liabilities 
assumed  in  the acquisitions.  Any excess of the  purchase  price over  the  estimated fair value of the net 
assets  acquired  is  assigned  to  goodwill.  Intangible  assets  include  customer  agreements  and 
relationships,  non-compete  covenants,  existing  technologies  and  trade  names.  Our  initial  allocation  of 
purchase price is generally preliminary in nature and may not be final for up to one year from the date 
of  acquisition.  Changes  to  the  estimate  and  assumptions  used  in  determining  our  purchase  price 
allocation may result in material differences depending on the size of the acquisition completed. 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory 
Finished goods inventories are stated at the lower of cost and market value. Market value is the current 
replacement cost of the inventory. The cost of finished goods is determined on the basis of the first-in-
first-out method.  

CHANGE IN / INITIAL ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements 
In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, “Multiple Deliverable 
Revenue  Arrangements  a  consensus  of  the  FASB  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force”  (“ASU  2009-13”).  ASU 
2009-13  amends  ASC  Subtopic  605-25  “Revenue  Recognition:  Multiple-Element  Arrangements”. 
Specifically  ASU  2009-13  amends  the  criteria  for  separating  consideration  in  multiple-deliverable 
arrangements and establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. 
The  selling  price  used  for  each  deliverable  will  be  based  on  vendor-specific  objective  evidence  if 
available, third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available, or estimated selling 
price  if  neither  vendor-specific  objective  evidence  nor  third-party  evidence  is  available.  The  guidance 
eliminates  the  use  of  the  residual  method  and  requires  entities  to  allocate  revenue  using  the  relative-
selling-price  method.  ASU  2009-13  is  effective  for  fiscal  years  beginning  on  or  after  June  15,  2010, 
which  was our fiscal year  beginning  February  1,  2011. The adoption of this amendment has  not  had  a 
material impact on our results of operations to date. 

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-14, “Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software 
Elements” (“ASU 2009-14”). ASU 2009-14 changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that 
include  both  tangible  products  and  software  elements.  Tangible  products  containing  both  software  and 
non-software  components  that  function  together  to  deliver  the  product’s  essential  functionality  will  no 
longer  be  within  the  scope  of  ASC  Subtopic  985-605,  “Software  Revenue  Recognition”.  The  entire 
product, including the software and non-software deliverables, will therefore be accounted for under ASC 
Topic  605, “Revenue Recognition”.  ASU 2009-14 is effective for fiscal years  beginning on or after June 
15,  2010, which was our fiscal year beginning February  1,  2011.  The  adoption of  this amendment has 
not had a material impact on our results of operations to date. 

In  January  2010,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2010-06,  “Improving  Disclosures  about  Fair  Value 
Measurements” (“ASU 2010-06”). ASU 2010-06 amends ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and 
Disclosures” (“ASC Topic 820”) to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of 
Level  1  and  2  and  separate  disclosures  about  purchases,  sales,  issuances  and  settlements  relating  to 
Level  3  measurements.  The  ASU  also  clarifies  existing  fair  value  disclosures  about  the  level  of 
disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASU 2010-06  is 
effective  for  the  first  reporting  period  beginning  after  December  15,  2009,  which  was  our  reporting 
period  ended  April  30,  2010,  except  for  the  requirement  to  provide  the  Level  3  activity  of  purchases, 
sales  issuances,  and  settlements  on  a  gross  basis,  which  is  effective  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after 
December 15, 2010, which was our fiscal year beginning February 1, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2010-
06,  including  the  requirements  adopted  in  the  current  period,  has  not  had  a  material  impact  on  our 
results of operations or disclosure to date. 

In  April  2010,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2010-17,  “Revenue  Recognition  –  Milestone  Method”  (“ASU  2010-
17”). ASU 2010-17 establishes a revenue recognition model for contingent consideration that is payable 
upon achievement of an uncertain future milestone. ASU 2010-17 applies to research and development 
arrangements  and  requires  a  milestone  payment  be  recorded  in  the  period  received  if  the  milestone 
meets  all  the  necessary  criteria  to  be  considered  substantive.  However,  entities  will  not  be  precluded 
from making an accounting policy decision to apply another appropriate accounting policy that results in 
the  deferral  of  some  portion  of  the  milestone  payment.  ASU  2010-17  is  effective  for  fiscal  years 
beginning  on  or  after  June  15,  2010,  which  was  our  fiscal  year  beginning  February  1,  2011.  The 
adoption of this amendment has not had a material impact on our results of operations to date. 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29, “Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information 
for  Business  Combinations”  (“ASU  2010-29”).  ASU  2010-29  clarifies  that  a  public  entity  presenting 
comparative  financial  statements,  should  disclose  revenue  and  earnings  of  the  combined  entity  as 
though  any  business  combinations  that  occurred  during  the  current  fiscal  year  had  occurred  as  of  the 
beginning of the comparative period. In addition ASU 2010-29 also expands the supplemental pro forma 
disclosures  under  ASC  Topic  805  to  include  a  description  of  the  nature  and  amount  of  material,  non-
recurring  pro  forma  adjustments  directly  attributable  to  the  business  combination  included  in  the 
reported  pro  forma  revenue  and  earnings.  ASU  2010-29  is  effective  prospectively  for  business 
combinations  for  acquisitions  taking  place  in  fiscal  periods  beginning  on  or  after  December  15,  2010, 
which  was  our  fiscal  year  beginning  February  1,  2011.The  adoption  of  ASU  2010-29  has  not  had  a 
material impact on our results of operations or disclosure to date.  

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, “Testing Goodwill for Impairment” (“ASU 2011-08”). 
ASU 2011-08 permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely 
than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining 
whether it is necessary to perform the two step goodwill impairment test described in ASC Topic 350-20 
“Intangibles  –  Goodwill  and  Other:  Goodwill”.  ASU  2011-08  is  effective  for  condensed  and  annual 
periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2011,  with  the  option  of  early  adoption.  The  adoption  of  ASU 
2011-08 has been completed for our fiscal 2012 third quarter results. The adoption of this amendment 
has not had a material impact on our results of operations or disclosures. 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted 
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement 
and  Disclosure  Requirements  in  US  GAAP  and  IFRSs”  (“ASU  2011-04”).  ASU  2011-04  amends  the 
wording  used  to  describe  many  of  the  requirements  in  US  GAAP  for  measuring  fair  value  and  for 
disclosing  information  about  fair  value  measures.  ASU  2011-04  is  effective  for  condensed  and  annual 
periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2011,  which  is  our  fiscal  year  beginning  February  1,  2012.  The 
adoption  of  this  amendment  is  not  expected  to  have  a  material  impact  on  our  results  of  operations  or 
disclosures. 

In  June  2011,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2011-05,  “Presentation  of  Comprehensive  Income”  (“ASU  2011-
05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as 
part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires the presentation of the statement 
of income and other comprehensive income consecutively. ASU 2011-05 is effective for condensed and 
annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, which is our fiscal year beginning February 1, 2012. 
The adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations 
or disclosures. 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12 “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the 
Presentation  of  Reclassifications  of  Items  Out  of  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Income  in 
Accounting  Standards  Update  No.  2011-05”  (“ASU  2011-12”).  ASU  2011-12  amends  certain  pending 
paragraphs in Update 2011-05 to allow the Board time to redeliberate whether to present on the face of 
the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income 
on the  components of  net income  and other  comprehensive income for all periods presented. All other 
requirements in Update 2011-05 are not affected by this update. The adoption of this amendment is not 
expected to have a material impact on our results of operations or disclosures.  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 

Under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management,  including  our  Chief  Executive 
Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  management  evaluated  our  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  (as 
defined  in National Instrument  52-109) as of January 31, 2012. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief 
Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  concluded  that  the  design  and  operation  of  our  disclosure 
controls and procedures were effective.  

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management,  including  our  Chief  Executive 
Officer and  Chief Financial  Officer,  management assessed  the effectiveness of our  internal control over 
financial reporting (as defined in National Instrument 52-109) as of January 31, 2012, based on criteria 
established  in  “Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework,  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission”. Based on the assessment, our Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief  Financial  Officer  concluded  that,  as  of  January  31,  2012,  our  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting was effective.  

TRENDS / BUSINESS OUTLOOK 

This  section  discusses  our  outlook  for  fiscal  2013  and  in  general  as  of  the  date  of  this  MD&A,  and 
contains forward-looking statements. 

Our  business  may  be  impacted  from  time  to  time  by  the  general  cyclical  and  seasonal  nature  of 
particular modes of transportation and the freight market in general, as well as the industries that such 
markets  serve.  Factors  which  may  create  cyclical  fluctuations  in  such  modes  of  transportation,  or  the 
freight  market  in  general,  include:  legal  and  regulatory  requirements;  timing  of  contract  renewals 
between our customers and their own customers; seasonal-based tariffs; vacation periods applicable to 
particular shipping or receiving nations; weather-related events or natural disasters that impact shipping 
in particular geographies; availability of credit to support shipping operations; economic downturns; and 
amendments  to  international  trade  agreements.  As  many  of  our  services  are  sold  on  a  “per  shipment” 
basis, we anticipate that our business will continue to reflect the general cyclical and seasonal nature of 
shipment volumes with our third quarter being the strongest quarter for shipment volumes, compared to 
our  first  quarter  being  the  weakest  quarter  for  shipment  volumes.  Historically,  in  our  second  fiscal 
quarter, we have seen an increase in ocean services revenues as ocean carriers are in the midst of their 
customer contract negotiation period.  In our second fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2011, we did not see, 
and going forward, we do not expect to see, as large an increase in our second fiscal quarter revenues 
as  we  have  seen  historically  in  the  second  fiscal  quarter,  primarily  due  to  departures  of  customers  for 
our legacy ocean services in prior fiscal periods. 

CBP  enforces  e-manifest  initiatives  requiring  vehicles  entering  the  US,  including  planes,  trucks  and 
ocean  liners,  to  file  an  electronic  manifest,  providing  CBP  with  an  advance  electronic  notice  of  the 
contents  of  the  vehicle.  A  similar  e-manifest  advanced  notification  initiative,  called  Advanced 
Commercial  Information  (“ACI”),  has  been  developed  for  Canadian  land  ports  by  Canadian  Border 
Service  Agency  with  a  phased  implementation  which  began  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  calendar  2010. 
Similar advanced notification manifest security filing requirements have been introduced in the European 
Union  (“EU”),  and  import  controls  systems  began  being  phased  in  at  different  EU  member  states  with 
export  control  systems  and  enforcement  penalties  to  follow  at  a  later  date.  We  have  various  customs 
compliance services specifically designed to help with these advance notification filing requirements. The 
implementations in Canada and the EU are expected to span at least 18 months, and we anticipate that 
our revenues will continue to be positively impacted by these initiatives in fiscal 2013.  

In  fiscal  2012,  our  services  revenues  comprised  93%  of  our  total  revenues,  with  the  balance  being 
license revenues. We expect that our focus in fiscal 2013 will remain on generating services revenues, 
primarily  by  promoting  use  of  our  GLN  (including  customs  compliance  services)  and  the  migration  of 
customers  using  our  legacy  license-based  products  to  our  services-based  architecture.  We  anticipate 
maintaining the flexibility to license our products to those customers who prefer to buy the products in 
that  fashion  and  the  composition  of  our  revenues  in  any  one  quarter  between  services  revenues  and 
license revenues will be impacted by the buying preferences of our customers.  

We have significant contracts with our license customers for ongoing support and maintenance, as well 
as  significant  service  contracts  which  provide  us  with  recurring  services  revenues.  In  addition,  our 
installed customer base  has historically  generated additional  new  license  and  services revenues for us. 
Service contracts are generally renewable at a customer’s option, and there are generally no mandatory 
payment obligations or obligations to license additional software or subscribe for additional services. For 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
fiscal 2013, based on our historical experience, we anticipate that over a one-year period we may lose 
approximately 3% to 5% of our aggregate revenues in the ordinary course. There can be no assurance 
that we will be able to replace such lost revenue with new revenue from new customer relationships or 
from existing customers.  

We internally measure and manage our “baseline calibration,” a non-GAAP financial measure, which we 
define as the difference between our “baseline revenues” and “baseline operating expenses”. We define 
our  “baseline  revenues,”  a  non-GAAP  financial  measure,  as  our  visible,  recurring  and  contracted 
revenues.  Baseline  revenues  are  not  a  projection  of  anticipated  total  revenues  for  a  period  as  they 
exclude any anticipated or expected new sales for a period beyond the date that the baseline revenues 
are measured. We define our “baseline operating expenses,” a non-GAAP financial measure, as our total 
expenses  less  interest,  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization  (for  which  we  include  amortization  of 
intangible assets and deferred compensation), stock-based compensation, acquisition-related costs and 
restructuring charges. Baseline operating expenses are not a projection of anticipated total expenses for 
a  period  as  they  exclude  any  expenses  associated  to  anticipated  or  expected  new  sales  for  a  period 
beyond the date that the baseline expenses are measured. Our baseline calibration is not a projection of 
net  income  for  a  period  as  determined  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  or  adjusted  earnings  before  interest, 
taxes, depreciation and amortization for a period as it excludes anticipated or expected new sales for a 
period  beyond  the  date  that  the  baseline  calibration  is  measured,  excludes  any  costs  of  goods  sold  or 
other expenses associated with such new sales, and excludes the expenses identified as excluded in the 
definition  of  “baseline  operating  expenses,”  above.  We  calculate  and  disclose  “baseline  revenues,” 
“baseline  operating  expenses”  and  “baseline  calibration”  because  management  uses  these  metrics  in 
determining  its  planned  levels  of  expenditures  for  a  period.  These  metrics  are  estimates  and  not 
projections,  nor  actual  financial  results,  and  are  not  indicative  of  current  or  future  performance.  These 
metrics do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are unlikely to be comparable to 
similarly-titled  metrics  used  by  other  companies  and  are  not  a  replacement  or  proxy  for  any  GAAP 
measure. At February 1, 2012, using foreign exchange rates of CDN $1.00 to $1.00 and the euro 1.32 to 
$1.00, we estimated that our baseline revenues for the first quarter of 2013 were approximately $28.0 
million  and  our  baseline  operating  expenses  were  approximately  $21.4  million.  We  consider  this  to  be 
our  baseline  calibration  of  approximately  $6.6  million  for  the  first  quarter  of  2013,  or  approximately 
24% of our baseline revenues as at February 1, 2012.  

In  fiscal  2012,  we  incurred  $0.5  million  in  restructuring  charges  as  we  continue  to  re-calibrate  our 
business  through  the  implementation  of  cost  reduction  initiatives  and  further  accelerate  integration 
activity  for  acquired  companies.  We  expect  to  incur  $0.1  million  to  $0.2  million  in  additional  charges 
pursuant to established restructuring and integration plans in fiscal 2013.  

We  anticipate  that  in  fiscal  2013,  the  significant  majority  of  our  business  will  continue  to  be  in  the 
Americas regions, while our presence in the EMEA regions will continue to increase. We anticipate that 
revenues  from  the  Asia  Pacific  region  will  continue  to  represent  approximately  3%  to  5%  of  our  total 
revenues in fiscal 2013. 

We  estimate  that  amortization  expense  for  existing  intangible  assets  will  be  $12.0  million  for  2013, 
$11.4  million  for  2014,  $9.3  million  for  2015,  $6.7  million  for  2016,  $5.1  million  for  2017  and  $2.2 
million  thereafter,  assuming  that  no  impairment  of  existing  intangible  assets  occurs  in  the  interim  and 
subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. 

We anticipate that stock-based compensation expense in fiscal 2013 will be approximately $0.4 million 
to  $0.5  million,  subject  to  any  necessary  quarterly  adjustments  resulting  from  reconciling  estimated 
stock option forfeitures to actual stock option forfeitures. 

We  performed  our  annual  goodwill  impairment  tests  in  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  350  on  October  31, 
2011  and  determined  that  there  was  no  evidence  of  impairment  as  of  that  date.  We  are  currently 
scheduled to perform our next annual impairment test on October 31, 2012. We will continue to perform 
quarterly  analyses  of  whether  any  event  has  occurred  that  would  more  likely  than  not  reduce  our 
enterprise  value  below  our  carrying  amounts  and,  if  so,  we  will  perform  a  goodwill  impairment  test 
between  the  annual  dates.  The  likelihood  of  any  future  impairment  increases  if  our  public  market 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
capitalization  is  adversely  impacted  by  global  economic,  capital  market  or  other  conditions  for  a 
sustained  period  of  time.  Any  future  impairment  adjustment  will  be  recognized  as  an  expense  in  the 
period that the adjustment is identified. 

In 2012, capital expenditures  were $4.7 million, or 4% of revenues, as we began implementing a new 
ERP system and continued to invest in our network and build out our administrative infrastructure. While 
we  are  still  advancing  on  these  initiatives  we  anticipate  that  we  will  incur  up  to  $4.0  million  in  capital 
expenditures in fiscal 2013. 

We  conduct  business  in  a  variety  of  foreign  currencies  and,  as  a  result,  our  foreign  operations  are 
subject to foreign exchange fluctuations. Our operations operate in their local currency environment and 
use  their  local  currency  as  their  functional  currency.  Assets  and  liabilities  of  foreign  operations  are 
translated  into  US  dollars  at  the  exchange  rate  in  effect  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  Revenues  and 
expenses  of  foreign  operations  are  translated  using  monthly  average  exchange  rates.  Translation 
adjustments  resulting  from  this  process  are  accumulated  in  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  as  a 
separate  component  of  shareholders’  equity.  Transactions  incurred  in  currencies  other  than  the 
functional currency are converted to the functional currency at the transaction date. All foreign currency 
transaction gains and losses are included in net income. Some of our cash is held in foreign currencies. 
We currently have no specific hedging program in place to address fluctuations in international currency 
exchange  rates.  We  can  make  no  accurate  prediction  of  what  will  happen  with  international  currency 
exchange rates in fiscal 2013, going forward. However, if the US dollar is weak in comparison to foreign 
currencies,  then  we  anticipate  this  will  increase  the  expenses  of  our  business  and  have  a  negative 
impact on our results of operations. In such cases we may need to undertake cost-reduction activities to 
maintain our calibration. By way of illustration, 52% of our revenues in 2012 were in US dollars, 29% in 
euro,  15%  in  Canadian  dollars,  and  the  balance  in  mixed  currencies,  while  31%  of  our  operating 
expenses are in US dollars, 33% in Canadian dollars, 31% in euro, and the balance in mixed currencies. 

As  at  March  8,  2012,  we  had  84,060  outstanding  deferred  share  units  and  329,570  outstanding 
restricted  share  units.  DSUs  and  RSUs  are  notional  share  units  granted  to  directors,  officers  and 
employees that, when vested, are settled in cash by Descartes using the fair market value of Descartes’ 
common shares at the vesting date. DSUs, which have only been granted to directors, vest upon award 
but are only paid at the completion of the applicable director’s service to Descartes. RSUs generally vest 
and  are  paid  over  a  period  of  three-  to  five-years.  Our  liability  to  pay  amounts  for  DSUs  and  RSUs  is 
determined  using  the  fair  market  value  of  Descartes’  common  shares  at  the  applicable  balance  sheet 
date.  Increases  in  the  fair  market  value  of  Descartes’  common  shares  between  reporting  periods  will 
require us to record additional expense in a reporting period; while decreases in the fair market value of 
Descartes’ common shares between reporting periods will require us to record an expense recovery. For 
DSUs,  the  amount  of  any  expense  or  recovery  is  based  on  the  entire  number  of  DSUs  outstanding  as 
DSUs  are  fully  vested  upon  award.  For  RSUs,  the  amount  of  any  expense  or  recovery  is  based  on  the 
number  of  RSUs  that  were  expensed  in  the  applicable  reporting  period  as  employees  performed 
services, but that have not yet vested or been paid pursuant to the terms of the RSU grant. Because the 
expense  is  subject  to  fluctuations  in  our  stock  price,  we  are  not  able  to  predict  these  expenses  or 
expense recoveries and, accordingly, they are outside our calibration.  

As of January 31, 2012, our gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $4.9 million. We expect that 
the  unrecognized  tax  benefits  could  increase  within  the  next  12  months  due  to  uncertain  tax  positions 
that may be taken, although at this time a reasonable estimate of the possible increase cannot be made. 

In fiscal  2012,  we  recorded a deferred income  tax expense  of $1.9 million resulting primarily from the 
utilization of loss carry forwards to offset taxable income, especially in Canada.  The amount of any tax 
expense or recovery in a period will depend on the amount of taxable income, if any, we generate in a 
jurisdiction, our then current effective tax rate in that jurisdiction, and estimations of our ability to utilize 
deferred tax asset balances in the future. We can provide no assurance as to the timing or amounts of 
any  income  tax  expense  or  recovery,  nor  can  we  provide  any  assurance  that  our  current  valuation 
allowance for deferred tax assets will not need to be adjusted further. 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our  tax  expense  for  a  period  is  difficult  to  predict  as  it  depends  on  many  factors,  including  the  actual 
jurisdictions in which income is earned, the tax rates in those jurisdictions, the amount of deferred tax 
assets relating to the jurisdictions and the valuation allowances relating to those tax assets. At this time, 
we anticipate that our income tax expense (current and deferred) for fiscal 2013 will be 32% to 37% of 
income  before  income  taxes,  exclusive  of  any  potential  further  changes  to  the  valuation  allowance  for 
our  deferred  tax  assets  or  other  company  events.  We  also  anticipate  the  current  income  tax  expense 
portion for fiscal 2013 will be approximately 10% to 15% of income before income taxes. 

We intend to actively explore business combinations during fiscal 2013 to add complementary services, 
products  and  customers  to  our  existing  businesses.  Going  forward,  we  intend  to  focus  our  acquisition 
activities on companies that are targeting the same customers as us and processing similar data and, to 
that end, will listen to our customers’ suggestions as they relate to acquisition opportunities. Depending 
on the size and scope of any business combination, or series of business combinations, we may need to 
raise  additional  debt  or  equity  capital.  However,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  we  will  be  able  to 
undertake such a financing transaction.  

Certain  future  commitments  are  set  out  above  in  the  section  of  this  MD&A  called  “Commitments, 
Contingencies  and  Guarantees”.  We  believe  that  we  have  sufficient  liquidity  to  fund  our  current 
operating and working capital requirements, including the payment of these commitments. 

CERTAIN FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS 

Any  investment  in  us  will  be  subject  to  risks  inherent  to  our  business.  Before  making  an  investment 
decision,  you  should  carefully  consider  the  risks  described  below  together  with  all  other  information 
included  in  this  report.  The  risks  and  uncertainties  described  below  are  not  the  only  ones  facing  us. 
Additional risks and uncertainties that we are not aware of or have not focused on, or that we currently 
deem  immaterial,  may  also  impair  our  business  operations.  This  report  is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by 
these risk factors. 

If any of the following risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial 
condition, liquidity or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline 
and you may lose all or part of your investment. 

General economic conditions may affect results of operations and financial condition.  
Demand for our products depends in large part upon the level of capital and operating expenditures by 
many of our customers. Decreased capital and operational spending could have a material adverse effect 
on the demand for our products and our business, results of operations, cash flow and overall financial 
condition. Disruptions in the financial markets, the downgrade in US debt and debt concerns in Europe 
may adversely impact the availability of credit already arranged and the availability and cost of credit in 
the future,  which could  result in the delay or cancellation of projects or  capital programs on which our 
business depends. In addition, disruptions in the financial markets may also have an adverse impact on 
regional  economies  or  the  world  economy,  which  could  negatively  impact  the  capital  and  operating 
expenditures of our customers. These conditions may reduce the willingness or ability of our customers 
and prospective customers to commit funds to purchase our products and services, or their ability to pay 
for our products and services after purchase. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of 
the current disruptions in the financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the US and Europe 
and in other geographies.  

Making and integrating acquisitions involves a number of risks that could harm our business.  
We have in the past acquired, and in the future expect to seek to acquire, additional products, services, 
customers, technologies or businesses that we believe are complementary to ours. For example, in 2012 
we  acquired  Telargo,  InterCommIT  and  GeoMicro.  In  2011  we  acquired  Porthus,  one  of  our  largest 
acquisitions in the past several years, as well as Imanet and Routing International. In 2010 we acquired 
two businesses, Oceanwide and Scancode, and from 2007 to 2009 we acquired ten businesses in total. 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
However, we may not be able to identify appropriate products, technologies or businesses for acquisition 
or, if identified, conclude such acquisitions on terms acceptable to us. Acquisitions involve a number of 
risks, including: diversion of management’s attention from current operations; disruption of our ongoing 
business; difficulties in integrating and retaining all or part of the acquired business, its customers and 
its personnel; assumption of disclosed and undisclosed liabilities; dealing with unfamiliar laws, customs 
and practices in foreign jurisdictions; and the effectiveness of the acquired company’s internal controls 
and  procedures.  In  particular,  with  our  acquisition  of  Telargo,  we  are  in  the  process  of  integrating  a 
business with inventory, which we have not had as part of our business previously. In addition, we may 
not identify all risks or fully assess risks identified in connection with an  acquisition. As well, in  paying 
for  an  acquisition,  we  may  deplete  our  cash  resources  or  dilute  our  shareholder  base  by  issuing 
additional  shares.  Furthermore,  there  is  a  risk  that  our  valuation  assumptions,  customer  retention 
expectations and our models for an acquired product or business may be erroneous or inappropriate due 
to foreseen or unforeseen circumstances and thereby cause us to overvalue an acquisition target. There 
is also a risk that the contemplated benefits of an acquisition may not materialize as planned or may not 
materialize within the time period or to the extent anticipated. The individual or combined effect of these 
risks could have a material adverse effect on our business. 

We may have difficulties maintaining or growing our acquired businesses. 
Businesses  that  we  acquire  may  sell  products  or  operate  services  that  we  have  limited  experience 
operating  or  managing.  For  example,  InterCommIT  provides  messaging  services  to  insurance  and 
financial institutions, Telargo manages inventory, and Porthus offers media and technology services. We 
may  experience  unanticipated  challenges  or  difficulties  maintaining  these  businesses  at  their  current 
levels  or  growing  these  businesses.  Factors  that  may  impair  our  ability  to  maintain  or  grow  acquired 
businesses may include, but are not limited to: 

•  Challenges in integrating acquired businesses with our business; 
• 
• 

Loss of customers of the acquired business; 
Loss  of  key  personnel  from  the  acquired  business,  such  as  former  executive  officers  or  key 
technical personnel; 
For  regulatory  compliance  businesses,  changes  in  government  regulations  impacting  electronic 
regulatory filings or import/export compliance, including changes in which government agencies 
are responsible for gathering import and export information; 

• 

•  Difficulties  in  gaining  necessary  approvals  in  international  markets  to  expand  acquired 

businesses as contemplated; 

•  Our  inability  to  obtain  or  maintain  necessary  security  clearances  to  provide  international 

shipment management services; and 
•  Other risk factors identified in this report. 

Our  existing  customers  might  cancel  contracts  with  us,  fail  to  renew  contracts  on  their 
renewal  dates,  and/or  fail  to  purchase  additional  services  and  products,  or  consolidate 
contracts with acquired companies.  
We depend on our installed customer base for a significant portion of our revenues. We have significant 
contracts with our license customers for ongoing support and maintenance, as well as significant service 
contracts that provide recurring services revenues to us. An example would be our contract to operate 
the US Census Bureau’s Automated Export System, AESDirect. In addition, our installed customer base 
has  historically  generated  additional  new  license  and  services  revenues  for  us.  Service  contracts  are 
generally renewable at a customer’s option, and there are generally no mandatory payment obligations 
or obligations to license additional software or subscribe for additional services. 

If our customers fail to renew their service contracts, fail to purchase additional services or products, or 
consolidate  contracts  with  acquired  companies,  then  our  revenues  could  decrease  and  our  operating 
results could be adversely affected. Factors influencing such contract terminations could include changes 
in  the  financial  circumstances  of  our  customers,  dissatisfaction  with  our  products  or  services,  our 
retirement  or  lack  of  support  for  our  legacy  products  and  services,  our  customers  selecting  or  building 
alternate technologies to replace us, and changes in our customers’ business or in regulation impacting 
our  customers’  business  that  may  no  longer  necessitate  the  use  of  our  products  or  services,  general 
economic  or  market  conditions,  or  other  reasons.  Further,  our  customers  could  delay  or  terminate 
implementations or use  of our services and  products or  be  reluctant to  migrate to new  products. Such 
customers will not generate the revenues we may have anticipated within the timelines anticipated, if at 

27 

 
 
 
 
  
all, and may be less likely to invest in additional services or products from us in the future. We may not 
be  able  to  adjust  our  expense  levels  quickly  enough  to  account  for  any  such  revenues  losses.  Our 
business  may  also  be  unfavorably  affected  by  market  trends  impacting  our  customer  base,  such  as 
consolidation activity. 

Changes  in  government  filing  requirements  for  global  trade  may  adversely  impact  our 
business. 
Our  regulatory  compliance  services  help  our  customers  comply  with  government  filing  requirements 
relating to global trade. The services that we offer may be impacted, from time to time, by changes in 
these  requirements. Changes in  requirements that impact  electronic  regulatory filings or import/export 
compliance, including changes adding or reducing filing requirements, changes in enforcement practices 
or changing the government agency responsible for the requirement could impact our business, perhaps 
adversely.  

Disruptions in the movement of freight could negatively affect our revenues. 
Our  business  is  highly  dependent  on  the  movement  of  freight  from  one  point  to  another  since  we 
generate transaction revenues as freight is moved by, to or from our customers. If there are disruptions 
in  the  movement  of  freight,  whether  as  a  result  of  labour  disputes,  weather  or  natural  disaster,  or 
caused by terrorists, political instability, or security activities, contagious illness outbreaks, or otherwise, 
then  our  revenues  will  be  adversely  affected.  As  these  types  of  freight  disruptions  are  generally 
unpredictable,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  our  revenues  will  not  be  adversely  affected  by  such 
events. 

Changes in the value of the US dollar, as compared to the currencies of other countries where 
we transact business, could harm our operating results and financial condition.  
During 2012, 52% of our revenues were denominated in US dollars, and historically our revenues have 
been  denominated  primarily  in  US  dollars.  However,  the  majority  of  our  international  expenses, 
including  the  wages  of  our  non-US  employees  and  certain  key  supply  agreements,  have  been 
denominated  in  Canadian  dollars  and  euros.  Therefore,  changes  in  the  value  of  the  US  dollar  as 
compared to the Canadian dollar and the euro may materially affect our operating results. We generally 
have  not  implemented  hedging  strategies  to  mitigate  our  exposure  to  currency  fluctuations  affecting 
international accounts receivable, cash balances and inter-company accounts. We also have not hedged 
our  exposure  to  currency  fluctuations  affecting  future  international  revenues  and  expenses  and  other 
commitments.  Accordingly,  currency  exchange  rate  fluctuations  have  caused,  and  may  continue  to 
cause, variability in our foreign currency denominated revenue streams, expenses, and our cost to settle 
foreign currency denominated liabilities.  

We are dependent on certain key vendors for our inventory of mobile asset units, which could 
impede our development and expansion. 
We currently have relationships with a small number of mobile asset unit vendors over which we have 
no operational or financial control and no influence in how these vendors conduct business. Suppliers of 
mobile asset units could among other things, extend delivery times, raise prices and limit supply due to 
their  own  shortages  and  business  requirements.  Interruption  in  the  supply  of  equipment  from  these 
vendors could delay our ability to maintain, grow and expand our telematic solutions business.   

We may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities or expenses. 
We are subject to income and non-income taxes in various jurisdictions and our tax structure is subject 
to  review  by  both  domestic  and  foreign  taxation  authorities.  The  determination  of  our  worldwide 
provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities requires significant judgment. In the ordinary course 
of  a  global  business,  there  are  many  transactions  and  calculations  where  the  ultimate  tax  outcome  is 
uncertain.  Tax  filings  are  subject  to  audits,  which  could  materially  change  the  amount  of  current  and 
deferred income tax assets and liabilities. We have recorded a valuation allowance against a portion of 
our  net  deferred  tax  assets.  If  we  achieve  a  consistent  level  of  profitability,  the  likelihood  of  further 
reducing our deferred tax valuation allowance for some portion of the losses incurred in prior periods in 
one  of  our  jurisdictions  will  increase.  We  calculate  our  current  and  deferred  tax  provision  based  on 
estimates and assumptions that could differ from the actual results reflected in income tax returns filed 
during subsequent years. Adjustments based on filed returns are generally recorded in the period when 
the  tax  returns  are  filed  and  the  global  tax  implications  are  known.  Our  estimate  of  the  potential 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
outcome  for  any  uncertain  tax  issue  is  highly  judgmental.  Any  further  changes  to  the  valuation 
allowance  for  our  deferred  tax  assets  would  also  result  in  an  income  tax  recovery  or  income  tax 
expense, as applicable, on the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the valuation 
allowance is changed. In addition, when we reduce our deferred tax valuation allowance, we will record 
income tax expense in any subsequent period where we use that deferred tax asset to offset any income 
tax payable in that period, reducing net income reported for that period, perhaps materially.  

Increases  in  fuel  prices  and  other  transportation  costs  may  have  an  adverse  effect  on  the 
businesses of our customers resulting in them spending less money with us. 
Our customers are all involved, directly or indirectly, in the delivery of goods from one point to another, 
particularly  transportation  providers  and  freight  forwarders.  As  the  costs  of  these  deliveries  become 
more  expensive,  whether  as  a  result  of  increases  in  fuel  costs  or  otherwise,  our  customers  may  have 
fewer  funds  available  to  spend  on  our  products  and  services.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  these 
companies  will  be  able  to  allocate  sufficient  funds  to  use  our  products  and  services.  In  addition,  rising 
fuel costs may cause global or geographic-specific reductions in the number of shipments being made, 
thereby  impacting  the  number  of  transactions  being  processed  by  our  GLN  and  our  corresponding 
network revenues. 

Our common share price has in the past been volatile and may also be volatile in the future.  
The trading  price of our  common shares may  be subject to fluctuation in the future. This may make it 
more  difficult  for  you  to  resell  your  common  shares  when  you  want  at  prices  that  you  find  attractive. 
Increases  in  our  common  share  price  may  also  increase  our  compensation  expense  pursuant  to  our 
existing  director,  officer  and  employee  compensation  arrangements.  Fluctuations  in  our  common  share 
price may be caused by events unrelated to our operating performance and beyond our control. Factors 
that may contribute to fluctuations include, but are not limited to:  

•  Revenue  or  results  of  operations  in  any  quarter  failing  to  meet  the  expectations,  published  or 

otherwise, of the investment community;  

•  Changes in recommendations or financial estimates by industry or investment analysts;  
•  Changes in management or the composition of our board of directors;  
•  Outcomes of litigation or arbitration proceedings;  
•  Announcements of technological innovations or acquisitions by us or by our competitors;  
• 
•  Developments with respect to our intellectual property rights or those of our competitors;  
• 

Introduction of new products or significant customer wins or losses by us or by our competitors;  

Fluctuations  in  the  share  prices  of  other  companies  in  the  technology  and  emerging  growth 
sectors;  

•  General market conditions; and  
•  Other risk factors set out in this report. 

If  the  market  price  of  our  common  shares  drops  significantly,  shareholders  could  institute  securities 
class action lawsuits against us, regardless of the merits of such claims. Such a lawsuit could cause us to 
incur substantial costs and could divert the time and attention of our management and other resources 
from our business. 

If we need additional capital in  the future and are unable to obtain it as needed  or can only 
obtain  it  on  unfavorable  terms,  our  operations  may  be  adversely  affected,  and  the  market 
price for our securities could decline. 
Historically, we have financed our operations primarily through cash flows from our operations and the 
sale of our equity securities. As at January 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of $65.5 million 
and $3.0 million in unutilized operating lines of credit. 

We may need to raise additional debt or equity capital to fund expansion of our operations, to enhance 
our  services  and  products,  or  to  acquire  or  invest  in  complementary  products,  services,  businesses  or 
technologies. However, with the global economic downturn and its impact on credit and capital markets, 
there  can  be  no  assurance  that  we  will  be  able  to  undertake  such  a  financing  transaction.  If  we  raise 
additional  funds  through  further  issuances  of  convertible  debt  or  equity  securities,  our  existing 
shareholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, 
preferences,  and  privileges  superior  to  those  attaching  to  our  common  shares.  Any  debt  financing 
secured  by  us  in  the  future  could  involve  restrictive  covenants  relating  to  our  capital-raising  activities 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional 
capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions. In addition, we may not be 
able to obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If adequate funds are not available 
on terms favorable to us, our operations and growth strategy may be adversely affected and the market 
price for our common shares could decline. 

 If we fail to attract and retain key personnel, it would adversely affect our ability to develop 
and effectively manage our business.  
Our  performance  is  substantially  dependent  on  the  performance  of  our  key  technical,  sales  and 
marketing, and senior management personnel. We do not maintain life insurance policies on any of our 
employees  that  list  the  company  as  a  loss  payee.  Our  success  is  highly  dependent  on  our  ability  to 
identify,  hire,  train,  motivate,  promote,  and  retain  highly  qualified  management,  directors,  technical, 
and  sales  and  marketing  personnel,  including  key  technical  and  senior  management  personnel. 
Competition  for  such  personnel  is  always  strong.  Our  inability  to  attract  or  retain  the  necessary 
management, directors, technical, and sales and marketing personnel, or to attract such personnel on a 
timely  basis,  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  results  of  operations,  financial 
condition and the price of our securities. 

We have in the past, and may in the future, make changes to our executive management team or board 
of directors. There can be no assurance that these changes and the resulting transition will not have a 
material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  results  of  operations,  financial  condition  and  the  price  of  our 
securities. 

We  may  not  be  able  to  compensate  for  downward  pricing  pressure  on  certain  products  and 
services by increased volumes of transactions or increased prices elsewhere in our business, 
ultimately resulting in lower revenues. 
Some of our products and services  are sold  to industries where  there is downward pricing  pressure on 
the particular product or service due to competition, general industry conditions or other causes. If we 
cannot  offset  any  such  downward  pricing  pressure,  then  the  particular  customer  may  generate  less 
revenue for our business or we may have less aggregate revenue. This could have an adverse impact on 
our operating results. 

Concerns  about  the  environmental  impacts  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and  global  climate 
change  may  result  in  environmental  taxes,  charges,  regulatory  schemes,  assessments  or 
penalties, which could restrict or negatively impact our operations or reduce our profitability.  
The impacts of human activity on global climate change have attracted considerable public and scientific 
attention, as well as the attention of the United States and other governments. Efforts are being made 
to  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and  energy  consumption,  including  those  from  automobiles  and 
other  modes  of  transportation.  The  added  cost  of  any  environmental  regulation,  taxes,  charges, 
assessments  or  penalties  levied  or  imposed  on  our  customers  in  light  of  these  efforts  could  result  in 
additional costs for our customers, which could lead them to reduce use of our services. There are also a 
number  of  legislative  and  environmental  regulatory  initiatives  internationally  that  could  restrict  or 
negatively  impact  our  operations  or  increase  our  costs.  Additionally,  environmental  regulation,  taxes, 
charges, assessments or penalties could be levied or imposed directly on us. Any enactment of laws or 
passage of regulations regarding greenhouse gas emissions by Canada, the United States, or any other 
jurisdiction we conduct our business in, could adversely affect our operations and financial results.  

The general cyclical and seasonal nature of our business may have a material adverse effect 
on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  
Our  business  may  be  impacted  from  time  to  time  by  the  general  cyclical  and  seasonal  nature  of 
particular modes of transportation and the freight market in general, as well as the cyclical and seasonal 
nature of the industries that such markets serve. Factors which may create cyclical fluctuations in such 
modes  of  transportation  or  the  freight  market  in  general  include  legal  and  regulatory  requirements, 
timing  of  contract  renewals  between  our  customers  and  their  own  customers,  seasonal-based  tariffs, 
vacation  periods  applicable  to  particular  shipping  or  receiving  nations,  weather-related  events  that 
impact  shipping  in  particular  geographies  and  amendments  to  international  trade  agreements.  Since 
some of our revenues from particular products and services are tied to the volume of shipments being 
processed, adverse fluctuations in the volume of global shipments or shipments in any particular mode 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
of  transportation  may  adversely  affect  our  revenues.  Declines  in  shipment  volumes  in  the  US  or 
internationally likely would have a material adverse effect on our business. 

Changes  to  earnings  resulting  from  past  acquisitions  may  adversely  affect  our  operating 
results.  
Under ASC Topic 805, the accounting standard for business combinations, we allocate the total purchase 
price  to  an  acquired  company’s  net  tangible  assets,  intangible  assets  and  in-process  research  and 
development  based  on  their  values  as  of  the  date  of  the  acquisition  (including  certain  assets  and 
liabilities that are recorded at fair value) and record the excess of the purchase price over those values 
as  goodwill.  Management’s  estimates  of  fair  value  are  based  upon  assumptions  believed  to  be 
reasonable  but  which  are  inherently  uncertain.  After  we  complete  an  acquisition,  the  following  factors, 
among  others,  could  result  in  material  charges  that  would  adversely  affect  our  operating  results  and 
may adversely affect our cash flows:  

Impairment of goodwill or intangible assets;  

• 
•  A reduction in the useful lives of intangible assets acquired;  
• 

Identification  of  assumed  contingent  liabilities  after  we  finalize  the  purchase  price  allocation 
period; 

•  Charges to our operating results to eliminate certain pre-merger activities that duplicate those of 

the acquired company or to reduce our cost structure; or  

•  Charges  to  our  operating  results  resulting  from  revised  estimates  to  restructure  an  acquired 

company’s operations after we finalize the purchase price allocation period.  

Routine  charges  to  our  operating  results  associated  with  acquisitions  include  amortization  of  intangible 
assets, in-process research and development as well as other acquisition related charges, restructuring 
and stock-based compensation associated with assumed stock awards. Charges to our operating results 
in  any  given  period  could  differ  substantially  from  other  periods  based  on  the  timing  and  size  of  our 
future acquisitions and the extent of integration activities.  

We expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with combining the operations of our acquired 
companies,  which  may  be  substantial.  Additional  costs  may  include  costs  of  employee  redeployment, 
relocation  and  retention,  including  salary  increases  or  bonuses,  accelerated  stock-based  compensation 
expenses  and  severance  payments,  reorganization  or  closure  of  facilities,  taxes,  and  termination  of 
contracts that provide redundant or conflicting services. These costs would be accounted for as expenses 
and would decrease our net income and earnings per share for the periods in which those adjustments 
are made.  

System  or  network  failures  or  information  security  breaches  in  connection  with  our  services 
and products could reduce our sales, impair our reputation, increase costs or result in liability 
claims, and seriously harm our business.  
Any disruption to our services and products, our own information systems or communications networks 
or those of third-party providers upon whom we rely as part of our own product offerings, including the 
Internet,  could  result  in  the  inability  of  our  customers  to  receive  our  products  for  an  indeterminate 
period of time. In addition, any disruption to the availability of customer information, or any compromise 
to the integrity or confidentiality of customer information in our systems or networks, or the systems or 
networks of third parties on which we rely, could result in our customers being unable to effectively use 
our  products  or  services  or  forced  to  take  mitigating  actions  to  protect  their  information.  Our  services 
and  products  may  not  function  properly  for  reasons,  which  may  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  the 
following:  

Interruption in the supply of power;  

•  System or network failure;  
• 
•  Virus proliferation; 
• 
Information or infrastructure security breaches; 
•  Earthquake, fire, flood or other natural disaster; or  
•  An act of war or terrorism.  

31 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Back-up and redundant systems may be insufficient or may fail and result in a disruption of availability 
of our products or services to our customers or the integrity or availability of our customers’ information. 
Any  disruption  to  our  services  or compromise  of  customer  information  could  impair  our  reputation  and 
cause  us  to  lose  customers  or  revenue,  or  face  litigation,  necessitate  customer  service  or  repair  work 
that would involve substantial costs and distract management from operating our business. 

Fair  value  assessments  of  our  intangible  assets  required  by  GAAP  may  require  us  to  record 
significant non-cash charges associated with intangible asset impairment.  
Significant  portions  of  our  assets,  which  include  customer  agreements  and  relationships,  non-compete 
covenants,  existing  technologies  and  trade  names,  are  intangible.  We  amortize  intangible  assets  on  a 
straight-line basis over  their estimated useful  lives, which are generally three to five years. We review 
the carrying value of these assets at least annually for evidence of impairment. In accordance with ASC 
Topic 360-10-35, “Property, Plant, and Equipment: Overview: Subsequent Measurement” an impairment 
loss is recognized when the estimate of undiscounted future cash flows generated by such assets is less 
than  the  carrying  amount.  Measurement  of  the  impairment  loss  is  based  on  the  present  value  of  the 
expected future cash flows. Future fair value assessments of intangible assets may require impairment 
charges  to  be  recorded  in  the  results  of  operations  for  future  periods.  This  could  impair  our  ability  to 
achieve or maintain profitability in the future. 

If  our  common  share  price  decreases  to  a  level  such  that  the  fair  value  of  our  net  assets  is 
less  than  the  carrying  value  of  our  net  assets,  we  may  be  required  to  record  additional 
significant non-cash charges associated with goodwill impairment. 
We  account  for  goodwill  in  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  350,  which  among  other  things,  requires  that 
goodwill  be  tested  for  impairment  at  least  annually.  We  have  designated  October  31st  as  the  date  for 
our  annual  impairment  test.  Although  the  results  of  our  testing  on  October  31,  2011  indicated  no 
evidence of impairment, should the fair value of our net assets, determined by our market capitalization, 
be less than the carrying value of our net assets at future annual impairment test dates, we may have 
to recognize goodwill impairment losses in our future results of operations. This could impair our ability 
to achieve or maintain profitability in the future. 

From  time  to  time,  we  may  be  subject  to  litigation  or  dispute  resolution  that  could  result  in 
significant costs to us and damage to our reputation.  
From time to time, we may be subject to litigation or dispute resolution relating to any number or type 
of claims, including claims for damages related to undetected errors or malfunctions of our services and 
products or  their deployment,  claims related to  previously-completed acquisition  transactions or claims 
relating  to  applicable  securities  laws.  A  product  liability,  patent  infringement,  acquisition-related  or 
securities  class  action  claim  could  seriously  harm  our  business  because  of  the  costs  of  defending  the 
lawsuit, diversion of employees’ time and attention, and potential damage to our reputation. 

Further,  our  services  and  products  are  complex  and  often  implemented  by  our  customers  to  interact 
with  third-party  technology  or  networks.  Claims  may  be  made  against  us  for  damages  properly 
attributable to those third-party technologies or networks, regardless of our lack of responsibility for any 
failure resulting in a loss - even if our services and products perform in accordance with their functional 
specifications. We may also have disputes with key suppliers for damages incurred which, depending on 
resolution  of  the  disputes,  could  impact  the  ongoing  quality,  price  or  availability  of  the  services  or 
products  we  procure  from  the  supplier.  Limitation  of  liability  provisions  in  certain  third-party  contracts 
may not be  enforceable  under the laws of some  jurisdictions. As a  result, we could  be required  to pay 
substantial  amounts  of  damages  in  settlement  or  upon  the  determination  of  any  of  these  types  of 
claims, and incur damage to the reputation of Descartes and our products. The likelihood of such claims 
and the amount of damages we may be required to pay may increase as our customers increasingly use 
our  services  and  products  for  critical  business  functions,  or  rely  on  our  services  and  products  as  the 
systems  of  record  to  store  data  for  use  by  other  customer  applications.  Our  insurance  may  not  cover 
potential claims, or may not be adequate to cover all costs incurred in defense of potential claims or to 
indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed.  

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We  could  be  exposed  to  business  risks  in  our  international  operations  that  could  cause  our 
operating results to suffer.  
While  our  headquarters  are  in  North  America,  we  currently  have  direct  operations  in  both  Europe  and 
the  Asia  Pacific  region.  We  anticipate  that  these  international  operations  will  continue  to  require 
significant  management  attention  and  financial  resources  to  localize  our  services  and  products  for 
delivery in these markets, to develop compliance expertise relating to international regulatory agencies, 
and  to  develop  direct  and  indirect  sales  and  support  channels  in  those  markets.  We  face  a  number  of 
risks associated with conducting our business internationally that could negatively impact our operating 
results. These risks include, but are not limited to:  

Longer collection time from foreign clients, particularly in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions;  

• 
•  Difficulty in repatriating cash from certain foreign jurisdictions;  
• 

Language  barriers,  conflicting  international  business  practices,  and  other  difficulties  related  to 
the management and administration of a global business;  

•  Difficulties  and  costs  of  staffing  and  managing  geographically  disparate  direct  and  indirect 

operations;  

•  Volatility or fluctuations in foreign currency and tariff rates;  
•  Multiple, and possibly overlapping, tax structures;  
•  Complying with complicated and widely differing global laws and regulations; 
•  Trade restrictions;  
•  The need to consider characteristics unique to technology systems used internationally;  
•  Economic or political instability in some markets; and 
•  Other risk factors set out in this report. 

We have a substantial accumulated deficit and a history of losses and may incur losses in the 
future.  
As  at  January  31,  2012,  our  accumulated  deficit  was  $324.7  million.  We  had  losses  in  2005  and  prior 
fiscal  periods.  Our  profits  in  2006  benefited  from  one-time  gains  on  the  disposition  of  an  asset  and  a 
significant portion of our net income and earnings per share in the fourth quarter of each of 2011 and 
2010  benefited  from  non-cash,  net  deferred  income  tax  recoveries  of  $4.4  million  and  $10.9  million, 
respectively. There can be no assurance that we will not incur losses again in the future. We believe that 
the  success  of  our  business  and  our  ability  to  remain  profitable  depends  on  our  ability  to  keep  our 
baseline  operating  expenses  to  a  level  at  or  below  our  baseline  revenues.  However,  non-cash,  non-
operational  charges,  such  as  income  tax  expenses  or  impairment  charges,  may  adversely  impact  our 
ability to be profitable in any particular period. There can be no assurance that we can generate further 
expense  reductions  or  achieve  revenue  growth,  or  that  any  expense  reductions  or  revenue  growth 
achieved can be sustained, to enable us to do so. If we fail to maintain profitability, this would increase 
the possibility that the value of your investment will decline.  

We may not remain competitive. Increased competition could seriously harm our business.  
The market for supply chain technology is highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. 
We  expect  that  competition  will  increase  in  the  future.  To  maintain  and  improve  our  competitive 
position, we must continue to develop and introduce in a timely and cost effective manner new products, 
product features and network services to keep pace with our competitors. We currently face competition 
from a  large number of  specific  entrants,  some  of which are focused on  specific  industries, geographic 
regions or other components of markets we operate in. 

Current  and  potential  competitors  include  supply  chain  application  software  vendors,  customers  that 
undertake  internal  software  development  efforts,  value-added  networks  and  business  document 
exchanges,  enterprise  resource  planning  software  vendors,  regulatory  filing  companies,  and  general 
business application software vendors. Many of our current and potential competitors may have one or 
more of the following relative advantages:  

Longer operating history;  

Lower cost structure and more profitable operations;  

• 
•  Greater financial, technical, marketing, sales, distribution and other resources;  
• 
•  Superior product functionality and industry-specific expertise;  
•  Greater name recognition;  
•  Broader range of products to offer;  
•  Better performance;  

33 

 
 
 
 
 
Larger installed base of customers;  

• 
•  Established relationships with existing customers or prospects that we are targeting; and/or  
•  Greater worldwide presence.  

Further, current and potential competitors have established, or may establish, cooperative relationships 
and  business  combinations  among  themselves  or  with  third  parties  to  enhance  their  products,  which 
may  result  in  increased  competition.  In  addition,  we  expect  to  experience  increasing  price  competition 
and  competition  surrounding  other  commercial  terms  as  we  compete  for  market  share.  In  particular, 
larger  competitors  or  competitors  with  a  broader  range  of  services  and  products  may  bundle  their 
products, rendering our products more expensive and/or less functional. As a result of these and other 
factors, we may be unable to compete successfully with our existing or new competitors. 

If we are unable to generate broad market acceptance of our services, products and pricing, 
serious harm could result to our business.  
We  currently  derive  substantially  all  of  our  revenues  from  our  federated  network  and  global  logistics 
technology  solutions  and  expect  to  do  so  in  the  future.  Broad  market  acceptance  of  these  types  of 
services and products, and their related pricing, is therefore critical to our future success. The demand 
for, and market acceptance of, our services and products is subject to a high level of uncertainty. Some 
of  our  services  and  products  are  often  considered  complex  and  may  involve  a  new  approach  to  the 
conduct  of  business  by  our  customers.  The  market  for  our  services  and  products  may  weaken, 
competitors may develop superior services and products, or we may fail to develop acceptable services 
and products to address new market conditions. Any one of these events could have a material adverse 
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  

Our  success  and  ability  to  compete  depend  upon  our  ability  to  secure  and  protect  patents, 
trademarks and other proprietary rights.  
We consider certain aspects of our internal operations, our products, services and related documentation 
to  be  proprietary,  and  we  primarily  rely  on  a  combination  of  patent,  copyright,  trademark  and  trade 
secret laws and other measures to protect our proprietary rights. Patent applications or issued patents, 
as  well  as  trademark,  copyright,  and  trade  secret  rights,  may  not  provide  adequate  protection  or 
competitive  advantage  and  may  require  significant  resources  to  obtain  and  defend.  We  also  rely  on 
contractual  restrictions  in  our  agreements  with  customers,  employees,  outsourced  developers  and 
others to protect our intellectual property rights. There can be no assurance that these agreements will 
not  be  breached,  that  we  have  adequate  remedies  for  any  breach,  or  that  our  patents,  copyrights, 
trademarks or trade secrets will not otherwise become known. Moreover, the laws of some countries do 
not  protect  proprietary  intellectual  property rights as  effectively as do the laws of  the US and  Canada. 
Protecting and defending our intellectual property rights could be costly regardless of venue. Through an 
escrow  arrangement,  we  have  granted  some  of  our  customers  a  contingent  future  right  to  use  our 
source  code  for  software  products  solely  for  their  internal  maintenance  services.  If  our  source  code  is 
accessed  through  an  escrow,  the  likelihood  of  misappropriation  or  other  misuse  of  our  intellectual 
property may increase. 

infringe  third-party  proprietary  rights  could  trigger 

Claims  that  we 
indemnification 
obligations  and  result  in  significant  expenses  or  restrictions  on  our  ability  to  provide  our 
products or services.  
Competitors  and  other  third-parties  have  claimed,  and  in  the  future  may  claim,  that  our  current  or 
future  services  or  products  infringe  their  proprietary  rights  or  assert  other  claims  against  us.  Many  of 
our competitors have obtained patents covering products and services generally related to our products 
and services, and they may assert these patents against us. Such claims, whether with or without merit, 
could be time consuming and expensive to litigate or settle and could divert management attention from 
focusing on our core business. 

As  a  result  of  such  a  dispute,  we  may  have  to  pay  damages,  incur  substantial  legal  fees,  suspend  the 
sale or deployment of our services and products, develop costly non-infringing technology, if possible, or 
enter  into  license  agreements,  which  may  not  be  available  on  terms  acceptable  to  us,  if  at  all.  Any  of 
these  results  would  increase  our  expenses  and  could  decrease  the  functionality  of  our  services  and 
products,  which  would  make  our  services  and  products  less  attractive  to  our  current  and/or  potential 
customers. We have agreed in some of our agreements, and may agree in the future, to indemnify other 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
parties  for  any  expenses  or  liabilities  resulting  from  claimed  infringements  of  the  proprietary  rights  of 
third  parties.  If  we  are  required  to  make  payments  pursuant  to  these  indemnification  agreements,  it 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  

Our results of operations may vary significantly from quarter to quarter and therefore may be 
difficult to predict or may fail to meet investment community expectations. 
Our  results  of  operations  may  vary  from  quarter  to  quarter  in  the  future  due  to  a  variety  of  factors, 
many of which are outside of our control. Such factors include, but are not limited to: 

•  Volatility or fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;  
•  Timing of acquisitions and related costs; 
•  Timing of restructuring activities; 
•  The termination of any key customer contracts, whether by the customer or by us; 
•  Recognition and expensing of deferred tax assets; 
• 

Legal  costs  incurred  in  bringing  or  defending  any  litigation  with  customers  or  third-party 
providers, and any corresponding judgments or awards; 
Legal and compliance costs incurred to comply with regulatory requirements; 
Fluctuations in the demand for our services and products; 

• 
• 
•  The impact of stock-based compensation expense; 
•  Price and functionality competition in our industry; 
•  Changes in legislation and accounting standards; 
•  Our  ability  to  satisfy  contractual  obligations  in  customer  contracts  and  deliver  services  and 

products to the satisfaction of our customers; and 

•  Other risk factors discussed in this report. 

Although  our  revenues  may  fluctuate  from  quarter  to  quarter,  significant  portions  of  our  expenses  are 
not variable in the short term, and we may not be able to reduce them quickly to respond to decreases 
in  revenues.  If  revenues  are  below  expectations,  this  shortfall  is  likely  to  adversely  and/or 
results. 
disproportionately 

operating 

affect 

our 

35 

 
 
  
 
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
AND INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL 
REPORTING 

Financial Statements 
Management  is  responsible  for  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  and  all  other 
information  in  this  Annual  Report.  These  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in 
accordance  with  US  GAAP  and  necessarily  include  amounts  that  reflect  management’s  judgment  and 
best  estimates.  Financial  information  contained  elsewhere  in  this  Annual  Report  is  prepared  on  a  basis 
consistent with the consolidated financial statements. 

The Board of Directors carries out its responsibilities for the consolidated financial statements through its 
Audit  Committee,  consisting  solely  of  independent  directors.  The  Audit  Committee  meets  with 
management and independent auditors to review the consolidated financial statements and the internal 
controls  as  they  relate  to  financial  reporting.  The  Audit  Committee  reports  its  findings  to  the  Board  of 
Directors  for  its  consideration  in  approving  the  consolidated  financial  statements  for  issuance  to 
shareholders. 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 
Management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, 
the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  and  effected  by  the  Board  of  Directors, 
management  and  other  personnel  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial 
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. 

Due  to  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect 
misstatements on a timely basis. 

Under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management,  including  our  Chief  Executive 
Officer and  Chief Financial  Officer,  management assessed  the effectiveness of our  internal control over 
financial reporting as of January 31, 2012, based on criteria established in “Internal Control – Integrated 
Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission”. Based 
on  the  assessment,  management  concluded  that,  as  of  January  31,  2012,  our  internal  control  over 
financial reporting was effective. 

Management’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  January  31,  2012,  has  been  audited  by 
Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,  Independent  Registered  Chartered  Accountants,  who  also  audited  our 
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  the  year  ended  January  31,  2012,  as  stated  in  the  Report  of 
Independent Chartered Accountants, which expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our 
internal control over financial reporting. 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, no changes were made to the Company’s internal control 
over  financial  reporting  that  have  materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the 
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Arthur Mesher 
Chairman of the Board  
Chief Executive Officer 

Stephanie Ratza 
Chief Financial Officer 
Waterloo, Ontario 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Waterloo, Ontario 

37 

 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of The Descartes Systems Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as 
of January 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over 
financial  reporting  and  for  its  assessment  of the  effectiveness  of  internal  control over  financial  reporting,  included  in  the  accompanying 
Management’s Report on Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion 
on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States).    Those 
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial 
reporting  was  maintained  in  all  material  respects.    Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control 
based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our 
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

A  company's  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  a  process  designed  by,  or  under  the  supervision  of,  the  company's  principal 
executive  and  principal  financial  officers,  or  persons  performing  similar  functions,  and  effected  by  the  company's  board  of  directors, 
management,  and  other  personnel  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of 
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company's internal control over 
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately 
and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and  dispositions  of  the  assets  of  the  company;  (2)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are 
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the 
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of 
the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because  of  the  inherent  limitations  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  including  the  possibility  of  collusion  or  improper 
management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Also, 
projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that 
the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may 
deteriorate.  

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2012, 
based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the 
Treadway Commission. 

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted  auditing  standards  and  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company 
Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 31, 2012 of the 
Company and our report dated March 9, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. 

Independent Registered Chartered Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 
Toronto, Ontario 
March 9, 2012 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of  The  Descartes  Systems  Group  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  (the 
“Company”), which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as at January 31, 2012 and January 31, 2011, and the consolidated statements 
of operations, shareholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 
31, 2012, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information. 

Management's Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements 

Management  is  responsible  for  the  preparation  and  fair  presentation  of  these  consolidated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 
accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  for  such  internal  control  as  management  determines  is 
necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or 
error. 

Auditor's Responsibility 

Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these  consolidated  financial  statements  based  on  our  audits.  We  conducted  our  audits  in 
accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted  auditing  standards  and  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board 
(United States).  Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 
assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

An  audit  involves  performing  procedures  to  obtain  audit  evidence  about  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  consolidated  financial 
statements.  The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the 
consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control 
relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are 
appropriate in the circumstances.  An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness 
of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.  

Opinion 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Descartes Systems 
Group Inc. and subsidiaries as at January 31, 2012 and January 31, 2011, and the results of their operations and cash flows for each of the 
years in the three-year period ended January 31, 2012 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of 
America. 

Other Matter 

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States),  the 
Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated 
Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  and  our  report  dated  March  9,  2012 
expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Independent Registered Chartered Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 
Toronto, Ontario 
March 9, 2012 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE DESCARTES SYSTEMS GROUP INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(US DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS; US GAAP) 

ASSETS 

CURRENT ASSETS 

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 4) 

Accounts receivable (net) 

Trade (Note 5) 

Other 

Prepaid expenses and other 

Inventory (Note 6) 

Deferred income taxes (Note 17) 

CAPITAL ASSETS (Note 8) 

GOODWILL (Note 9) 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Note 10) 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note 17) 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Accounts payable 

Accrued liabilities (Note 11) 

Income taxes payable (Note 17) 

Deferred revenue 

Other liabilities 

DEFERRED REVENUE 

INCOME TAX LIABILITY (Note 17) 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note 17) 

OTHER LIABILITIES 

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES (Note 12) 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

Common shares – unlimited shares authorized; Shares issued and outstanding totaled 
62,432,727 at January 31, 2012 (January 31, 2011 – 61,741,702) (Note 13) 
Additional paid-in capital 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income  

Accumulated deficit 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

Approved by the Board: 

January 31,

January 31,

2012

2011

65,547 

69,644 

17,154 

14,417 

5,324 

2,814 

413 

3,967 

1,968 

- 

12,420 

11,654 

103,672 

101,650 

9,287 

68,005 

46,681 

31,279 

7,309 

56,742 

40,703 

34,865 

258,924 

241,269 

5,250 

12,247 

1,318 

6,636 

70 

4,992 

11,342 

471 

6,310 

67 

25,521 

23,182 

1,718 

3,277 

9,754 

98 

1,665 

2,468 

8,267 

172 

40,368 

35,754 

90,924 
452,424 

(63)

88,148 
452,300 

1,822 

(324,729)

(336,755) 

218,556 

205,515 

258,924 

241,269 

E. Demirian 
Director   

Stephen Watt 
Director 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
THE DESCARTES SYSTEMS GROUP INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(US DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS; US GAAP) 

Year Ended   

REVENUES 

COST OF REVENUES 

GROSS MARGIN 

EXPENSES 

Sales and marketing 

Research and development 

General and administrative 

Other charges (Note 18) 

Amortization of intangible assets  

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 

INTEREST EXPENSE 

INVESTMENT  INCOME 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 

INCOME TAX EXPENSE (RECOVERY) (Note 17) 

Current 

Deferred 

NET INCOME 

EARNINGS  PER SHARE (Note 14) 

Basic 

Diluted 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (thousands) 

Basic 

Diluted 

January 31, 

January 31,

January 31,

2012 

2011

2010

113,990 

38,313 

75,677 

13,009 

19,044 

14,272 

2,131 

11,996 

60,452 

15,225 

99,175

33,875

65,300

11,492

16,971

13,633

3,995

11,471

57,562

7,738

(9) 

174 

(14)

209

73,768

22,983

50,785

10,695

14,435

10,728

1,615

6,929

44,402

6,383

-

342

15,390 

7,933

6,725

1,438 

1,926 

3,364 

277

(3,883)

(3,606)

12,026 

11,539

855

(8,480)

(7,625)

14,350

0.19 

0.19 

0.19

0.18

0.26

0.25

62,218 

63,400 

61,523

62,888

55,389

56,437

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE DESCARTES SYSTEMS GROUP INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
(US DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS; US GAAP) 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010

2012 

2011

Common shares 
Balance, beginning of year 

Shares issued: 
  Stock options exercised 
  Issue of common shares net of issuance costs 

Balance, end of year 

Additional paid-in capital 
Balance, beginning of year 

Unearned compensation related to issuance of stock options 
Stock-based compensation expense (Note 15) 
Stock options exercised 
Stock option income tax benefits 
Purchase of non-controlling interest (Note 3) 

Balance, end of year 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income  
Balance, beginning of year 

Foreign currency translation adjustments 

Balance, end of year 

Accumulated deficit 
Balance, beginning of year 

Net income 

Balance, end of year 

Total Shareholders’ Equity 

Comprehensive income 
Net income 
Other comprehensive (loss) income: 

88,148 

86,609

44,986

2,776 
- 

90,924 

1,539
-

88,148

3,874
37,749

86,609

452,300 
11 
1,213 
(1,001) 
(99) 
- 

451,591
8
1,076
(404)
-
29

449,462
38
3,371
(1,335)
55
-

452,424 

452,300

451,591

1,822  
(1,885) 

(63) 

(2,034)
3,856

1,822

363 
(2,397)

(2,034)

(336,755) 
12,026 

(348,294)
11,539

(362,644)
14,350

(324,729) 

(336,755)

(348,294)

218,556 

205,515

187,872

12,026 

11,539

14,350

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax recovery of $350 

(1,885) 

3,856

(2,397)

for the year ended January 31, 2012 (January 31, 2011 - $534)  

Total other comprehensive (loss) income 

Comprehensive income 

(1,885) 

10,141 

3,856

15,395

(2,397)

11,953

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE DESCARTES SYSTEMS GROUP INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
(US DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS; US GAAP) 

Year Ended   

OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
Net income 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: 

Depreciation 

Amortization of intangible assets 

Write-off of redundant assets (Note 8) 

Amortization of deferred compensation 

Stock-based compensation expense 

Gain on sale of investment in affiliate (Note 7) 

Loss from investment in affiliate (Note 7) 

Deferred income taxes 

Deferred tax charge 

     Changes in operating assets and liabilities: 

   Accounts receivable 

   Trade 

   Other 

   Prepaid expenses and other  

   Inventory 

   Accounts payable 

   Accrued liabilities 

   Income taxes payable 

   Deferred revenue 

Cash provided by operating activities 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

Maturities of short-term investments 

Purchase of short-term investments 

Additions to capital assets 

Proceeds from the sale of investment in affiliate (Note 7) 

Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired and bank indebtedness 
assumed 
Acquisition-related costs 

Cash used in investing activities 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Issuance of common shares for cash, net of issue costs 

Repayment of other liabilities 

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: 

Cash paid during the year for interest 

Cash paid during the year for income taxes 

January 31,  January 31,

January 31,

2012 

2011

2010

12,026 

11,539 

14,350

2,462 

11,996 

- 

11 

2,420 

11,471 

417 

8 

1,870

6,929

-

38

1,213 

1,076 

3,371

- 

- 

(20)

19 

-

-

1,926 

196 

(3,883)

(8,480)

196 

197

(460) 

(822) 

(619) 

75 

(1,065) 

(1,682) 

99 

(1,430) 

2,748 

106 

51 

(275)

(3,088)

(1,733)

(1,163)

23,926 

19,889 

788

219

364

478

(3,253)

1,665

(2,001)

16,535

- 

- 

5,071 

40,501

- 

(35,362)

(4,734) 

(1,656)

(1,626)

- 

487 

-

(21,281) 

(44,989)

(14,964)

- 

- 

(58)

(26,015) 

(41,087)

(11,509)

1,775 

(4,342) 

(2,567) 

559 

1,133 

(358)

775 

513 

(4,097) 

(19,910)

69,644 

65,547 

89,554 

69,644 

40,293

-

40,293

(3,187)

42,132

47,422

89,554

9 

727 

21 

1,319 

-

709

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE DESCARTES SYSTEMS GROUP INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
(Tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, 
except per share amounts; US GAAP) 

Note 1 - Description of the Business 

The  Descartes  Systems  Group  Inc.  (“Descartes”,  “Company”,  “our”  or  “we”)  is  a  global  provider  of 
federated  network  and  global  logistics  technology  solutions  that  help  our  customers  make  and  receive 
shipments  and  manage  related  resources.  Our  network-based  solutions,  which  primarily  consist  of 
services and software, connect people to their trading partners and enable business document exchange 
(bookings,  bills  of  lading,  status  messages);  regulatory  compliance  and  customs  filing;  route  and 
resource  planning,  execution  and  monitoring;  inventory  and  asset  visibility;  rate  and  transportation 
management; and warehouse operations. 

Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies 

Basis of presentation 
We  prepare  our  consolidated  financial  statements  in  US  dollars  and  in  accordance  with  accounting 
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  

Our fiscal year commences on February 1st of each year and ends on January 31st of the following year. 
Our fiscal year, which ended January 31, 2012, is referred to as the “current fiscal year,” “fiscal 2012,” 
“2012”  or  using  similar  words.  Our  fiscal  year,  which  ended  January  31,  2011,  is  referred  to  as  the 
“previous fiscal year,” “fiscal 2011,” “2011” or using similar words. Other fiscal years are referenced by 
the  applicable  year  during  which  the  fiscal  year  ends.  For  example,  “2013”  refers  to  the  annual  period 
ending  January  31,  2013  and  the  “fourth  quarter  of  2013”  refers  to  the  quarter  ending  January  31, 
2013. 

Change of Forfeiture Rate Estimate 
Descartes  accounts  for  stock-based  compensation  in  accordance  with  the  guidance  of  Financial 
Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  Accounting  Standards  Codification  (“ASC”)  Topic  718, 
“Compensation  -  Stock  Compensation”  (“ASC  Topic  718”).  ASC  Topic  718  requires  us  to  estimate  a 
forfeiture  rate  for  option  grants  designed  to  facilitate  the  expensing  of  that  portion  of  the  fair  value  of 
stock options grants that we ultimately expect to vest.  

In 2010, we reviewed our forfeiture rate assumptions. We considered various factors, including evidence 
of the decline in the attrition rate of employees, executive officers, and directors who had been granted 
stock  options  and  evidence  that,  with  recent  increases  in  the  price  of  our  common  shares,  our 
outstanding unvested stock options were on average significantly more ‘in-the-money’. After considering 
these  various  factors,  we  determined  to  change  our  forfeiture  rate  estimates  and  stock-based 
compensation accounting as follows: 

•  A 0% forfeiture rate estimate for grants of stock options to executive officers and directors; and 
•  A 10% annualized forfeiture rate estimate for other grants of stock options. 

We also determined to perform a quarterly reconciliation of actual forfeiture experience to the estimated 
forfeiture experience. 

We  followed  the  guidance  in  ASC  Topic  250  “Accounting  Changes  and  Error  Corrections”  (“ASC  Topic 
250”)  and  accounted  for  this  change  of  estimate  and  the  corresponding  reconciliation  to  actual 
forfeitures in 2010. As a result of the above changes, we expensed $1.8 million in additional stock-based 
compensation in 2010. 

44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Correction of Immaterial Error 
In  connection  with  our  review  of  our  forfeiture  estimates  in  2010,  and  in  light  of  actual  forfeiture 
experience  that  varied  from  the  original  forfeiture  estimate  used,  we  determined  that  there  was 
insufficient evidence to support the forfeiture estimate used beginning November 1, 2007 in fiscal 2008 
and fiscal 2009. We determined that the difference between the original forfeiture estimate used and the 
actual forfeiture experience should be accounted for as an error. As stock-based compensation expense 
is a non-cash item, this error did not impact net cash provided by operations in any period. 

This  error  resulted  in  the  understatement  of  stock-based  compensation  expense,  with  a  corresponding 
understatement of additional paid in capital, as follows (in millions of dollars): 

Years Ended January 31,  

2008 
2009 

0.6
0.5
1.1

We considered the guidance in ASC Topic  250,  in assessing the materiality of the  error. In accordance 
with ASC Topic 250 and other GAAP guidance, we considered the total mix of information applicable to 
the error, including an evaluation from quantitative and qualitative perspectives. We concluded that the 
correction of this non-cash error is not material to the previously issued historical consolidated financial 
statements  as  well  as  the  fiscal  2010  consolidated  financial  statements.  Accordingly,  we  corrected  the 
error in 2010 by expensing $1.1 million of additional stock-based compensation expense. 

Basis of consolidation 
The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  financial  statements  of  Descartes  and  our  wholly-
owned subsidiaries. We do not have any variable interests in variable interest entities. All intercompany 
accounts and transactions have been eliminated during consolidation. 

Financial instruments 
Fair value of financial instruments 
Financial  instruments  are  comprised  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable,  accounts  payable 
and  accrued  liabilities.  The  estimated  fair  values  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable, 
accounts  payable  and  accrued  liabilities  are  approximate  to  book  values  because  of  their  short-term 
maturities. 

Foreign exchange risk 
We are exposed to foreign exchange risk because a higher proportion of our revenues are denominated in 
US dollars relative to expenditures. Accordingly, our results are affected, and may be affected in the future, 
by  exchange  rate  fluctuations  of  the  US  dollar  relative  to  the  Canadian  dollar,  euro  and  various  other 
foreign currencies. 

Interest rate risk 
We  are  exposed  to  reductions  in  interest  rates,  which  could  adversely  impact  expected  returns  from  our 
investment of corporate funds in interest bearing bank accounts. 

Credit risk 
We are exposed to credit risk through our invested cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable. We hold 
our  cash  and  cash  equivalents  with  reputable  financial  institutions.  The  lack  of  concentration  of  accounts 
receivable  from  a  single  customer  and  the  dispersion  of  customers  among  industries  and  geographical 
locations mitigate this risk. 

We do not use any type of speculative financial instruments, including but not limited to foreign exchange 
contracts, futures, swaps and option agreements, to manage our foreign exchange or interest rate risks. In 
addition, we do not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.  

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation 
We conduct business in a variety of foreign currencies and, as a result, all of our foreign operations are 
subject to foreign exchange fluctuations. All operations operate in their local currency environment and 
use  their  local  currency  as  their  functional  currency.  The  functional  currency  of  the  parent  company  is 
Canadian  dollars.  Assets  and  liabilities  of  foreign  operations  are  translated  into  US  dollars  at  the 
exchange  rate  in  effect  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  Revenues  and  expenses  of  foreign  operations  are 
translated  using  monthly  average  exchange  rates.  Translation  adjustments  resulting  from  this  process 
are accumulated in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. 

Transactions  incurred  in  currencies  other  than  the  functional  currency  are  converted  to  the  functional 
currency  at  the  transaction  date.  All  foreign  currency  transaction  gains  and  losses  are  included  in  net 
income. For the year ended January 31, 2012, foreign currency transaction losses of nil were included in 
net income (January 31, 2011 - $0.3 million; January 31, 2010 - $0.1 million). 

Use of estimates 
Preparing  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  GAAP  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and 
assumptions  that  affect  the  amounts  that  are  reported  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and 
accompanying note disclosures. Although these estimates and assumptions are based on management’s 
best  knowledge  of  current  events,  actual  results  may  be  different  from  the  estimates.  Estimates  and 
assumptions are used when accounting for items such as allowance for doubtful accounts, allocations of 
the  purchase  price  and  the  fair  value  of  net  assets  acquired  in  business  combination  transactions, 
depreciation of capital assets, amortization of intangible assets, assumptions embodied in the valuation 
of  assets  for  impairment  assessment,  stock-based  compensation,  restructuring  costs,  valuation 
allowances against deferred tax assets, tax positions and recognition of contingencies. 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents include short-term deposits with original maturities of three months or less.  

Allowance for doubtful accounts 
We  maintain  an  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  for  estimated  losses  resulting  from  customers  who  do 
not make their required payments. Specifically, we consider the age of the receivables, historical write-
offs, the creditworthiness of the customer, and current economic trends among other factors. Accounts 
receivable are written off, and the associated allowance is eliminated, if it is determined that the specific 
balance is no longer collectible. 

Inventory 
Inventory consists of finished goods inventory stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost 
is determined on a first-in-first-out basis. 

Impairment of long-lived assets 
We account for the impairment and disposition of long-lived assets in accordance with ASC Section 360-
10-35 “Property, Plant, and Equipment: Overall: Subsequent Measurement” (“ASC Section 360-10-35”). 
We test long-lived assets, such as capital assets and finite life intangible assets, for recoverability when 
events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that  there  may  be  an  impairment.  An  impairment  loss  is 
recognized  when  the estimate of undiscounted future cash flows generated  by such assets is less than 
the carrying amount. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the present value of the expected 
future cash flows. 

Goodwill and intangible assets 
We  account  for  goodwill  in  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  350,  “Intangibles  –  Goodwill  and  Other”  (“ASC 
Topic 350”). When we acquire a business, we determine the fair value of the net tangible and intangible 
(other than goodwill) assets acquired and compare the total amount to the amount that we paid for the 
assets.  Any  excess  of  the  amount  paid  over  the  fair  value  of  those  net  assets  is  considered  to  be 
goodwill. We test for impairment at least annually at October 31st of each year and at any other time if 
any event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce our enterprise value 
below  our  carrying  amount.  Any  excess  of  carrying  value  over  fair  value  is  charged  to  income  in  the 
period in which impairment is determined. Our annual goodwill impairment testing on October 31, 2011 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
indicated  no  evidence  that  goodwill  impairment  had  occurred  as  of  that  date.  We  will  perform  further 
quarterly  analysis  of  whether  any  event  has  occurred  that  would  more  likely  than  not  reduce  our 
enterprise  value  below  our  carrying  amounts  and,  if  so,  we  will  perform  a  goodwill  impairment  test 
between  the  annual  dates.  Any  future  impairment  adjustment  will  be  recognized  as  an  expense  in  the 
period that the adjustment is identified.  

Intangible  assets  related  to  our  acquisitions  are  recorded  at  their  fair  value  at  the  acquisition  date. 
Intangible  assets  include  customer  agreements  and  relationships,  non-compete  covenants,  existing 
technologies  and  trade  names.  Intangible  assets  are  amortized  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  their 
estimated  useful  lives.  We  write  down  intangible  assets  with  a  finite  life  to  fair  value  when  the  related 
undiscounted  cash  flows  are  not  expected  to  allow  for  recovery  of  the  carrying  value.  Fair  value  of 
intangibles is determined by discounting the expected related future cash flows. 

Amortization of our intangible assets is generally recorded at the following rates: 

Customer agreements and relationships 
Non-compete covenants 
Existing technology 
Trade names   

Straight-line over one-and-a-half to twenty years 
Straight-line over two to seven years 
Straight-line over one to six years 
Straight-line over one-and-a half to fifteen years 

Capital assets 
Capital  assets  are  recorded  at  cost.  Depreciation  of  our  capital  assets  is  generally  recorded  at  the 
following rates: 

Computer equipment and software  30% declining balance  
20% declining balance 
Furniture and fixtures  
Straight-line over lesser of useful life or term of lease 
Leasehold improvements 

Revenue recognition 
We  follow  the  accounting  guidelines  and  recommendations  contained  in  ASC  Subtopic  985-605, 
“Software:  Revenue  Recognition”  (“ASC  Subtopic  985-605”)  and  ASC  Topic  605,  “Revenue  Recognition” 
(“ASC Topic 605”). 

We  recognize  revenue  when  it  is  realized  or  realizable  and  earned.  We  consider  revenue  realized  or 
realizable and earned when there exists persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the product has been 
delivered  or  the  services  have  been  provided  to  the  customer,  the  sales  price  is  fixed  or  determinable 
and  collectibility  is  reasonably  assured.  In  addition  to  this  general  policy,  the  specific  revenue 
recognition policies for each major category of revenue are included below. 

Services  Revenues  -  Services  revenues  are  principally  composed  of  the  following:  (i)  ongoing 
transactional  fees  for  use  of  our  services  and  products  by  our  customers,  which  are  recognized  as  the 
transactions  occur;  (ii)  professional  services  revenues  from  consulting,  implementation  and  training 
services related to our services and products, which are recognized as the services are performed; and 
(iii)  maintenance,  subscription  and  other  related  revenues,  which  include  revenues  associated  with 
maintenance  and  support  of  our  services  and  products,  which  are  recognized  ratably  over  the 
subscription period. 

License Revenues - License revenues derive from licenses granted to our customers to use our software 
products, and are recognized in accordance with ASC Subtopic 985-605. 

We  enter  into  arrangements  from  time  to  time  that  may  consist  of  multiple  deliverables  which  may 
include  any  combination  of  services,  hardware  and  software  licenses.  Our  typical  multiple-element 
arrangements  involve:  (i)  software  with  maintenance  support  services,  (ii)  professional  services  with 
one  time  set-up  fees  and  (iii)  hardware  with  services.  For  any  arrangements  involving  multiple 
deliverables  involving  non  software  elements  (hardware,  one  time  set-up  fees,  professional  services, 
subscription, etc.) the consideration from the arrangement is allocated to each respective element based 
on  its  relative  selling  price,  using  vendor-specific  objective  evidence  (“VSOE”)  of  selling  price.    In 

47 

 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
instances when we are unable to establish the selling price using VSOE, we attempt to establish selling 
price of each element based on acceptable third party evidence of selling price (“TPE”); however we are 
generally  unable  to  reliably  determine  the  selling  price  of  similar  competitor  products  or  services  on  a 
stand-alone  basis.    In  these  instances,  we  use  our  best  estimate  of  selling  price  (“BESP”)  in  our 
allocation  of  the  arrangement  consideration.    The  objective  of  BESP  is  to  determine  the  price  at  which 
we would transact a sale if the product or service was sold on a stand-alone basis.  We determine BESP 
for each specific element in a multiple element arrangement considering multiple factors including, but 
not  limited  to,  market  conditions,  competitive  landscape,  internal  costs,  gross  margin  objectives  and 
pricing practices.  

For  arrangements  involving  multiple  deliverables  of  software  with  maintenance  support  services,  the 
revenue  is  recognized  based  on  ASC  Subtopic  985-605.    If  we  are  unable  to  determine  VSOE  of  fair 
value for all of the deliverables of the arrangement, but are able to obtain VSOE of fair value for all the 
undelivered elements, revenue is allocated using the residual method.  Under the residual method, the 
amount of revenue allocated to the delivered elements equals the total arrangement consideration less 
the aggregate fair value of any undelivered elements.  If VSOE of fair value of any undelivered software 
items  does  not  exist,  revenue  from  the  entire  arrangement  is  initially  deferred  and  recognized  at  the 
earlier of: (i) delivery of those elements for which VSOE of fair value did not exist; or (ii) when VSOE of 
fair value can be established. 

We evaluate the collectibility of our trade receivables based upon a combination of factors on a periodic 
basis.  When  we  become  aware  of  a  specific  customer’s  inability  to  meet  its  financial  obligations  to  us 
(such as in the case of bankruptcy filings or material deterioration in the customer’s operating results or 
financial position, payment experiences and existence of credit risk insurance for certain customers), we 
record  a  specific  bad  debt  provision  to  reduce  the  customer’s  related  trade  receivable  to  its  estimated 
net  realizable  value.  If  circumstances  related  to  specific  customers  change,  the  estimate  of  the 
recoverability of trade receivables could be further adjusted. 

Government Grants 
Government grants relating to costs are deferred and recognized in the income statement as a reduction of 
expense over the period necessary to match them with the costs that they are intended to compensate. 

Research and development costs 
We  incur  costs  related  to  research  and  development  of  our  software  products.  To  date,  we  have  not 
capitalized any development costs under ASC Subtopic 985-20, “Software: Costs of Software to Be Sold, 
Leased, or  Marketed” (“ASC Subtopic 985-20”). Costs incurred between the time of establishment of a 
working model and the point where products are marketed are expensed as they are insignificant.  

Stock-based compensation 
We  adopted  ASC  Topic  718,  “Compensation  –  Stock  Compensation”  (“ASC  Topic  718”)  effective 
February 1, 2006 using the modified prospective application method. Accordingly, the fair value of that 
portion of employee stock options that is ultimately expected to vest has been amortized to expense in 
our  consolidated  statement  of  operations  since  February  1,  2006  based  on  the  straight-line  attribution 
method.  The  accounting  for  our  various  stock-based  employee  compensation  plans  is  described  more 
fully in Note 15 below. 

Income taxes 
We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC Topic 740”). ASC 
Topic  740  requires  the  determination  of  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  based  on  the  differences 
between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates 
in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The measurement of a deferred 
tax asset is adjusted by a valuation allowance, if necessary, to recognize tax benefits only to the extent 
that, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that they will be realized. In determining the 
valuation allowance, we consider factors by taxing jurisdiction, including our estimated taxable income, 
our  history  of  losses  for  tax  purposes,  our  tax  planning  strategies  and  the  likelihood  of  success  of  our 
tax filing positions, among others. A change to any of these factors could impact the estimated valuation 
allowance and income tax expense. 

48 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective  February  1,  2007,  we  adopted  ASC  Subtopic  740-10  “Accounting  for  Uncertainty  in  Income 
Taxes  -  an  interpretation  of  FASB  Statement  No.  109”  (“ASC  Subtopic  740”)  which  prescribes  a 
recognition  threshold  and  measurement  attribute  for  the  financial  statement  recognition  and 
measurement  of  a  tax  position  taken  or  expected  to  be  taken  in  a  tax  return.  ASC  Subtopic  740  also 
provides  accounting  guidance  on  derecognition,  classification,  interest  and  penalties,  accounting  in 
interim periods, disclosure and transition. The accounting for ASC Subtopic 740 is described more fully 
in Note 17 below. 

Earnings per share 
Basic  earnings  per  share  is  calculated  by  dividing  net  income  by  the  weighted  average  number  of 
common  shares  outstanding  during  the  period.  Diluted  earnings  per  common  share  is  calculated  by 
dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and all 
additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares had 
been issued during the period. The treasury stock method is used to compute the dilutive effect of stock 
options. 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements 
In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, “Multiple Deliverable 
Revenue  Arrangements  a  consensus  of  the  FASB  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force”  (“ASU  2009-13”).  ASU 
2009-13  amends  ASC  Subtopic  605-25  “Revenue  Recognition:  Multiple-Element  Arrangements”. 
Specifically  ASU  2009-13  amends  the  criteria  for  separating  consideration  in  multiple-deliverable 
arrangements and establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. 
The  selling  price  used  for  each  deliverable  will  be  based  on  vendor-specific  objective  evidence  if 
available, third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available, or estimated selling 
price  if  neither  vendor-specific  objective  evidence  nor  third-party  evidence  is  available.  The  guidance 
eliminates  the  use  of  the  residual  method  and  requires  entities  to  allocate  revenue  using  the  relative-
selling-price  method.  ASU  2009-13  is  effective  for  fiscal  years  beginning  on  or  after  June  15,  2010, 
which  was our fiscal year  beginning  February  1,  2011. The adoption of this amendment has  not  had  a 
material impact on our results of operations to date. 

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-14, “Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software 
Elements” (“ASU 2009-14”). ASU 2009-14 changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that 
include  both  tangible  products  and  software  elements.  Tangible  products  containing  both  software  and 
non-software  components  that  function  together  to  deliver  the  product’s  essential  functionality  will  no 
longer  be  within  the  scope  of  ASC  Subtopic  985-605,  “Software  Revenue  Recognition”.  The  entire 
product, including the software and non-software deliverables, will therefore be accounted for under ASC 
Topic  605, “Revenue Recognition”.  ASU 2009-14 is effective for fiscal years  beginning on or after June 
15,  2010, which was our fiscal year beginning February  1,  2011.  The  adoption of  this amendment has 
not had a material impact on our results of operations to date. 

In  January  2010,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2010-06,  “Improving  Disclosures  about  Fair  Value 
Measurements” (“ASU 2010-06”). ASU 2010-06 amends ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and 
Disclosures” (“ASC Topic 820”) to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of 
Level  1  and  2  and  separate  disclosures  about  purchases,  sales,  issuances  and  settlements  relating  to 
Level  3  measurements.  The  ASU  also  clarifies  existing  fair  value  disclosures  about  the  level  of 
disaggregation  and  about  inputs  and  valuation  techniques  used  to  measure  fair  value.  ASU  2010-06  is 
effective  for  the  first  reporting  period  beginning  after  December  15,  2009,  which  was  our  reporting 
period  ended  April  30,  2010,  except  for  the  requirement  to  provide  the  Level  3  activity  of  purchases, 
sales  issuances,  and  settlements  on  a  gross  basis,  which  is  effective  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after 
December 15, 2010, which was our fiscal year beginning February 1, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2010-
06,  including  the  requirements  adopted  in  the  current  period,  has  not  had  a  material  impact  on  our 
results of operations or disclosure to date. 

In  April  2010,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2010-17,  “Revenue  Recognition  –  Milestone  Method”  (“ASU  2010-
17”). ASU 2010-17 establishes a revenue recognition model for contingent consideration that is payable 
upon achievement of an uncertain future milestone. ASU 2010-17 applies to research and development 
arrangements  and  requires  a  milestone  payment  be  recorded  in  the  period  received  if  the  milestone 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
meets  all  the  necessary  criteria  to  be  considered  substantive.  However,  entities  will  not  be  precluded 
from making an accounting policy decision to apply another appropriate accounting policy that results in 
the  deferral  of  some  portion  of  the  milestone  payment.  ASU  2010-17  is  effective  for  fiscal  years 
beginning  on  or  after  June  15,  2010,  which  was  our  fiscal  year  beginning  February  1,  2011.  The 
adoption of this amendment has not had a material impact on our results of operations to date. 

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29, “Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information 
for  Business  Combinations”  (“ASU  2010-29”).  ASU  2010-29  clarifies  that  a  public  entity  presenting 
comparative  financial  statements,  should  disclose  revenue  and  earnings  of  the  combined  entity  as 
though  any  business  combinations  that  occurred  during  the  current  fiscal  year  had  occurred  as  of  the 
beginning of the comparative period. In addition ASU 2010-29 also expands the supplemental pro forma 
disclosures  under  ASC  Topic  805  to  include  a  description  of  the  nature  and  amount  of  material,  non-
recurring  pro  forma  adjustments  directly  attributable  to  the  business  combination  included  in  the 
reported  pro  forma  revenue  and  earnings.  ASU  2010-29  is  effective  prospectively  for  business 
combinations  for  acquisitions  taking  place  in  fiscal  periods  beginning  on  or  after  December  15,  2010, 
which  was  our  fiscal  year  beginning  February  1,  2011.The  adoption  of  ASU  2010-29  has  not  had  a 
material impact on our results of operations or disclosure to date.  

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, “Testing Goodwill for Impairment” (“ASU 2011-08”). 
ASU 2011-08 permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely 
than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining 
whether it is necessary to perform the two step goodwill impairment test described in ASC Topic 350-20 
“Intangibles  –  Goodwill  and  Other:  Goodwill”.  ASU  2011-08  is  effective  for  condensed  and  annual 
periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2011,  with  the  option  of  early  adoption.  The  adoption  of  ASU 
2011-08 has been completed for our fiscal 2012 third quarter results. The adoption of this amendment 
has not had a material impact on our results of operations or disclosures. 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted 
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement 
and  Disclosure  Requirements  in  US  GAAP  and  IFRSs”  (“ASU  2011-04”).  ASU  2011-04  amends  the 
wording  used  to  describe  many  of  the  requirements  in  US  GAAP  for  measuring  fair  value  and  for 
disclosing  information  about  fair  value  measures.  ASU  2011-04  is  effective  for  condensed  and  annual 
periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2011,  which  is  our  fiscal  year  beginning  February  1,  2012.  The 
adoption  of  this  amendment  is  not  expected  to  have  a  material  impact  on  our  results  of  operations  or 
disclosures. 

In  June  2011,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2011-05,  “Presentation  of  Comprehensive  Income”  (“ASU  2011-
05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as 
part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires the presentation of the statement 
of income and other comprehensive income consecutively. ASU 2011-05 is effective for condensed and 
annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, which is our fiscal year beginning February 1, 2012. 
The adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations 
or disclosures. 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12 “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the 
Presentation  of  Reclassifications  of  Items  Out  of  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Income  in 
Accounting  Standards  Update  No.  2011-05”  (“ASU  2011-12”).  ASU  2011-12  amends  certain  pending 
paragraphs in Update 2011-05 to allow the Board time to redeliberate whether to present on the face of 
the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income 
on the  components of  net income  and other  comprehensive income for all periods presented. All other 
requirements in Update 2011-05 are not affected by this update. The adoption of this amendment is not 
expected to have a material impact on our results of operations or disclosures.  

50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 3 - Acquisitions 

On  June  10,  2011,  we  acquired  privately-held  Telargo  Inc.  (“Telargo”),  a  provider  of  telematics 
solutions.  Telargo  is  a  software-as-a-service  (“SaaS”)  provider  of  mobile  resource  management 
applications  (“MRM”)  telematics  solutions  that  enable  its  clients  to  monitor  and  manage  mobile  assets 
and  help  fleet  owners  comply  with  various  transportation  regulations.  The  total  purchase  price  for  the 
acquisition  was  $9.3  million,  including  $5.0  million  in  cash,  net  of  cash  acquired,  and  $4.3  million  to 
repay  financial  liabilities.  We  also  incurred  acquisition-related  costs,  primarily  for  advisory  services,  of 
$0.5 million included in  other charges in our consolidated statements of operations in  2012.  The gross 
contractual  amount  of  trade  accounts  receivable  acquired  was  $2.3  million  with  a  fair  value  of  $1.1 
million at the date of acquisition. Our acquisition date estimate of contractual cash flows not expected to 
be  collected  is  $1.2  million.  We  have  recognized  $2.4  million  of  revenues  and  a  $1.3  million  net  loss 
from Telargo since the date of acquisition in our consolidated statements of operations in 2012. 

During  2012,  the  purchase  price  allocation  for  Telargo  was  adjusted  due  to  changes  made  to  opening 
working capital estimates. The purchase price allocation adjustments were as follows: (i) current assets 
decreased by $0.2 million from $1.8 million to $1.6 million; and (ii) current liabilities increased by $0.2 
million from $2.8 million to $3.0 million. 

On  November  2,  2011,  we  acquired  privately-held  InterCommIT  BV  (“InterCommIT”),  a  provider  of 
business-to-business  integration-as-a-service.  InterCommIT  is  a  SaaS  provider  of  electronic  data 
management  services  that  enable  its  clients  to  seamlessly  exchange  data  electronically.  The  total 
purchase  price  for  the  acquisition  was  $13.6  million  in  cash,  net  of  cash  acquired.    We  also  incurred 
acquisition-related costs, primarily for advisory services, of $0.6 million included in other charges in our 
consolidated  statements  of  operations  in  2012.  The  gross  contractual  amount  of  trade  accounts 
receivable  acquired  was  $1.2  million  with  a  fair  value  of  $1.2  million  at  the  date  of  acquisition.  Our 
acquisition  date  estimate  of  contractual  cash  flows  not  expected  to  be  collected  is  nil.  We  have 
recognized  $1.5  million  of  revenues  and  a  $0.1  million  net  loss  from  InterCommIT  since  the  date  of 
acquisition in our consolidated statements of operations for 2012.  

On January 20, 2012, we acquired privately-held GeoMicro, Inc. (“GeoMicro”), a leading California-based 
provider  of  advanced  geographic  information  systems  and  commercial  turn-by-turn  navigation. 
GeoMicro’s  platform  enables  advanced  routing,  navigation,  field  service,  and  spatial  data  business 
intelligence solutions.  The total purchase price for the acquisition was  $2.7 million in cash, net  of cash 
acquired.    We  also  incurred  acquisition-related  costs,  primarily  for  advisory  services,  of  $0.1  million 
included  in  other  charges  in  our  consolidated  statements  of  operations  in  2012.  The  gross  contractual 
amount  of  trade  accounts  receivable  acquired  was  $0.2  million  with  a  fair  value  of  $0.2  million  at  the 
date of acquisition. Our acquisition date estimate of contractual cash flows not expected to be collected 
is nil. We have recognized $0.4 million of revenues and a $0.4 million net income from GeoMicro since 
the date of acquisition in our consolidated statements of operations for 2012.  

51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The preliminary purchase price allocations for businesses we acquired during fiscal 2012, which have not 
been finalized, are as follows: 

GeoMicro  InterCommIT  Telargo 

Total

Purchase price consideration: 

Cash, excluding cash acquired related to 
Telargo ($201), InterCommIT ($829) and 
GeoMicro ($152) 
Net working capital adjustments 

Allocated to: 
Current assets 
Deferred tax asset 
Capital assets 
Current liabilities 
Deferred revenue 
Deferred income tax liability 
Other long term liabilities 
Net tangible (liabilities) assumed 
Finite life intangible assets acquired: 

Customer agreements and relationships 
Existing technology 
Non-compete covenants 
Trade names 

Goodwill 

2,674
 (4)
2,670

194
715
29
(672)
(559)
(987)
-
(1,280)

364
1,746
90
51
1,699
2,670

13,605 
(38) 
13,567 

5,002 
(829) 
4,173 

21,281 
(871)
20,410 

1,309 
4 
87 

1,606 
2,344 
        381 
(510)      (3,045) 
(410)         (893) 
(2,693)      (2,441) 
(229)      (4,277) 
(6,325) 

(2,442) 

2,367 
       427 
7,806         5,749 
           - 
           - 
4,322 
4,173 

193 
273 
5,370 
13,567 

3,109 
3,063 
497 
(4,227)
(1,862)
(6,121)
(4,506)
(10,047)

3,158 
15,301 
283 
324 
11,391 
20,410 

The Telargo, InterCommIT and GeoMicro transactions were accounted for using the acquisition method 
in accordance with ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”. The purchase price allocations in the table 
above  represent our estimates of  the allocations of the purchase  price and  the fair  value of net assets 
acquired.  As  part  of  our  process  for  determining  the  fair  value  of  the  net  assets  acquired,  we  engage 
third-party valuation specialists. The valuation of the acquired assets is preliminary, may differ from the 
final  purchase  price  allocation,  and  these  differences  may  be  material.  Revisions  to  the  valuation  will 
occur as additional information about the fair value of assets and liabilities becomes available. The final 
purchase price allocations will be completed within one year from the respective acquisition dates. 

No  in-process  research  and  development  was  acquired  in  the  Telargo,  InterCommIT  or  GeoMicro 
transactions. 

The acquired intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows: 

  Customer agreements and relationships 
  Non-compete covenants 
  Existing technology 
  Trade names 

GeoMicro 
4 years
5 years
4 years
2 years

InterCommIT 
6.8 years 
7 years 
5.3 years 
2 years 

Telargo
6.1 years
6 years
n/a
n/a

The  goodwill  on  the  Telargo,  InterCommIT  and  GeoMicro  acquisitions  arose  as  a  result  of  the  value  of 
their  respective  assembled  workforces  and  the  combined  strategic  value  to  our  growth  plan.  The 
goodwill  arising  from  the  Telargo,  InterCommIT  and  GeoMicro  acquisitions  is  not  deductible  for  tax 
purposes. 

The  pro  forma  results  of  operations  for  the  Telargo,  InterCommIT  and  GeoMicro  transactions  have  not 
been presented as they are not material to our consolidated financial statements.  

52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On  March  19,  2010,  we  acquired  96.17%  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  Zemblaz  NV  (NYSE  Alternext 
Brussels: ALPTH) (formerly denominated Porthus NV, “Porthus”), a provider of global trade management 
solutions,  at  EUR  12.50  per  share.  Porthus’  solutions  complement  those  of  Descartes  and  grow  our 
presence in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. The purchase price for the acquisition was $39.1 
million in cash. We also incurred acquisition-related costs, primarily for brokerage and advisory services, 
of  $1.1  million  included  in  other  charges  in  2011.  The  gross  contractual  amount  of  trade  accounts 
receivable  acquired  was  $6.9  million  with  a  fair  value  of  $6.6  million  at  the  date  of  acquisition.  Our 
acquisition date estimate of the contractual cash flows not expected to be collected is $0.3 million. We 
have recognized $19.1 million of revenues and $3.9 million of net income before amortization expense 
of  $3.9  million  from  Porthus  since  the  date  of  acquisition  in  our  consolidated  statements  of  operations 
for 2011. 

On  April  16,  2010,  we  purchased  the  remaining  3.83%  of  the  Porthus  shares  at  EUR  12.50  per  share, 
and  all  outstanding  warrants  at  a  price  of  EUR  12.33  per  warrant  issued  pursuant  to  Porthus’  2000 
warrant  plan  and  a  price  of  EUR  20.76  per  warrant  issued  pursuant  to  its  2001  warrant  plan.  The 
purchase price for the remaining shares and warrants was $1.8 million in cash.  

The fair value of the non-controlling interest  in  Porthus  was determined based on  active market prices 
for  the  3.83%  shares  not  acquired  as  part  of  the  March  19,  2010  acquisition.  The  excess  of  the  $1.8 
million  purchase-price  consideration  when  this  non-controlling  interest  was  acquired  on  April  16,  2010 
and the fair value of the non-controlling interest in Porthus was recorded to additional paid-in capital. 

During  2011,  the  purchase  price  allocation  for  Porthus  was  adjusted  due  to  changes  made  to  opening 
working capital estimates. The purchase price allocation adjustments were as follows: (i) current assets 
increased  by  $0.1  million  from  $14.0  million  to  $14.1  million;  (ii)  current  liabilities  increased  by  $0.6 
million  from  $7.0  million  to  $7.6  million;  (iii)  deferred  revenue  increased  by  $0.6  million  from  $1.2 
million to $1.8 million; (iv) deferred income tax liability decreased by $0.4 million from $6.9 million to 
$6.5 million; and (v) goodwill increased $0.7 million from $15.2 million to $15.9 million. 

On April 19, 2010, we purchased all of the shares of privately-held 882976 Ontario Inc., doing business 
as Imanet (“Imanet”), a provider of enterprise and on-demand technology solutions to customs brokers, 
freight forwarders, exporters and self-clearing importers. Imanet’s solutions focus on enabling members 
of  the  international  trade  community  to  communicate  with  Canada  Border  Services  Agency  (“CBSA”). 
Leading  customs  brokers,  freight  forwarders  and  Canadian  importers  manage  their  shipments  and 
interactions with CBSA using Imanet’s solutions. Imanet’s solutions complement Descartes’ Global Trade 
and  Compliance  solutions.  The  purchase  price  for  the  acquisition  was  $5.8  million  in  cash.  We  also 
incurred  acquisition-related  costs,  primarily  for  advisory  services,  of  $0.1  million  included  in  other 
charges  in  2011.  The  gross  contractual  amount  of  trade  accounts  receivable  acquired  was  $0.6  million 
with a fair value of $0.4 million at  the date of acquisition.  Our acquisition date  estimate of contractual 
cash flows not expected to be collected is $0.2 million. We have recognized $2.5 million of revenues and 
$0.5  million  of  net  income  before  amortization  expense  of  $0.7  million  from  Imanet  since  the  date  of 
acquisition in our consolidated statements of operations for 2011. 

During  2011,  the  purchase  price  allocation  for  Imanet  was  adjusted  due  to  changes  made  to  opening 
working  capital  estimates  and  the  purchase  price  consideration  related  to  these  net  working  capital 
adjustments. The purchase price allocation adjustments were as follows: (i) purchase price consideration 
was  reduced  by  $0.1  million  from  $5.9  million  to  $5.8  million;  (ii)  current  assets  decreased  by  $0.1 
million  from  $0.9  million  to  $0.8  million;  (iii)  current  liabilities  decreased  by  $0.1  million  from  $0.6 
million to $0.5 million; and (iv) goodwill decreased $0.1 million from $2.3 million to $2.2 million. 

On  June  16,  2010,  we  acquired  privately-held  Belgian-based  Routing  International  NV  (“Routing 
International”), a developer and distributor of optimized route planning solutions. Routing International’s 
solutions  join  Descartes’  MRM  2.0  solution  suite,  which  combines  optimized  real-time  planning  with 
wireless  mobile  technology  to  manage  resources  in  motion.  The  purchase  price  for  the  acquisition  was 
$3.9 million in cash. We also incurred acquisition-related costs, primarily for advisory services included 
in  other  charges  in  2011,  of  $0.2  million.  The  gross  contractual  amount  of  trade  accounts  receivable 

53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
acquired was $1.4 million with a fair value of $1.0 million at the date of acquisition. Our acquisition date 
estimate of contractual cash flows not expected to be collected is $0.4 million. We have recognized $1.8 
million  of  revenues  and  $0.2  million  of  net  income  before  amortization  expense  of  $0.3  million  from 
Routing  International  NV  since  the  date  of  acquisition  in  our  consolidated  statements  of  operations  for 
2011. 

During 2011, the purchase price allocation for Routing International was adjusted due to changes made 
to opening working capital estimates and the purchase price consideration related to these net working 
capital  adjustments.  The  purchase  price  allocation  adjustments  were  as  follows:  (i)  purchase  price 
consideration  was  reduced  by  $0.3  million  from  $4.2  million  to  $3.9  million;  (ii)  current  assets 
decreased by $0.2 million from $1.9 million to $1.7 million; and (iii) goodwill decreased by $0.1 million 
from $2.6 million to $2.5 million. 

The final purchase price allocations for businesses we acquired during the year ended January 31, 2011, 
are set out in the following table:  

Routing 
International 

Imanet

Porthus 

Total

Purchase price consideration: 

Cash, excluding cash acquired related to 
Porthus ($6,282), Imanet ($146) and 
Routing International ($567) 
Net working capital adjustments 

Allocated to: 
Current assets 
Current deferred tax asset 
Investment in affiliate 
Capital assets 
Current liabilities 
Deferred revenue 
Deferred income tax liability 
Other long term liabilities 
Net tangible assets (liabilities) assumed 
Finite life intangible assets acquired: 

Customer agreements and relationships 
Existing technology 
Non-compete covenants 
Trade names 

Goodwill 
Non-controlling interest 

4,339 
(491) 
3,848 

1,686 
136 
- 
62 
(719) 
(956) 
(536) 
(137) 
(464) 

592 
1,168 
- 
- 
2,552 
- 
3,848 

5,973 
(216)
5,757 

39,137 
- 
39,137 

797 
- 
- 

14,108 
755 
544 
161           1,813  
(471)        (7,582) 
(245)        (1,838) 
(1,115)        (6,496) 
(70)           (241) 
1,063 

(943)

2,198         10,838  
1,984         12,053  
196             281  
109             822  
15,878 
(1,798) 
39,137 

2,213 
- 
5,757 

49,449 
(707)
48,742 

16,591 
891 
544 
2,036 
(8,772)
(3,039)
(8,147)
(448)
(344)

13,628 
15,205 
477 
931 
20,643 
(1,798)
48,742 

The results of operations for businesses we acquired in 2011 are included in our consolidated statement 
of operations from the date acquired, as indicated below. 

The  Porthus,  Imanet  and  Routing  International  transactions  were  accounted  for  using  the  acquisition 
method  in  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  805,  “Business  Combinations”.  The  purchase  price  allocations  in 
the table above represent our estimates of the allocations of the purchase price and the fair value of net 
assets  acquired.  As  part  of  our  process  for  determining  the  fair  value  of  the  net  assets  acquired,  we 
engage third-party valuation specialists.  

No  in-process  research  and  development  was  acquired  in  the  Porthus,  Imanet  or  Routing  International 
transactions. 

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The acquired intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows: 

  Customer agreements and relationships 
  Non-compete covenants 
  Existing technology 
  Trade names 

Routing 
International 
5 years
n/a
3.5 years
n/a

Imanet 
8 years 
5 years 
4 years 
3 years 

Porthus
6.5 years
4.5 years
5 years
1.5 years

The goodwill on the Porthus, Imanet and Routing International acquisitions arose as a result of the value 
of  their  respective  assembled  workforces  and  the  combined  strategic  value  to  our  growth  plan.  The 
goodwill arising from the Porthus, Imanet and Routing International acquisitions is not deductible for tax 
purposes. 

As  required  by  GAAP,  the  financial  information  in  the  table  below  summarizes  selected  results  of 
operations on a pro forma basis as if we had acquired Porthus as of the beginning of each of the periods 
presented.  The  pro  forma  results  of  operations  for  the  Imanet  and  Routing  International  transactions 
have  not  been  included  in  the  table  below  as  they  are  not  material  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements.  This  pro  forma  information  is  for  information  purposes  only  and  does  not  purport  to 
represent what our results of operations for the periods presented would have been had the acquisition 
of Porthus occurred at the beginning of the period indicated, or to project our results of operations for 
any future period. 

Pro forma results of operations 

Year Ended   

Revenues 

Net income 

Earnings per share 

Basic 

Diluted 

January 31, January 31,
2010

2011

102,519       101,979

12,230        15,729

0.20

0.19

0.28

0.28

On February 5, 2009, we acquired the logistics business of privately-held Oceanwide Inc. in an all-cash 
transaction.  The  acquisition  added  more  than  700  members  to  our  Global  Logistics  Network™  (“GLN”) 
and  extended  our  customs  compliance  solutions.  Oceanwide’s  logistics  business  (“Oceanwide”)  is 
focused  on  a  web-based,  hosted  software-as-a-service  model.  We  acquired  100%  of  Oceanwide’s  US 
operations  and  certain  Canadian  assets  and  liabilities  related  to  the  logistics  business.  The  purchase 
price  for  this  acquisition  was  approximately  $8.9  million  in  cash.  We  also  incurred  acquisition-related 
costs, primarily for advisory services, during 2010 in the amount of $0.2 million, which are included in 
other  charges  in  our  consolidated  statements  of  operations.  The  gross  contractual  amount  of  trade 
accounts receivable acquired was $1.2 million with a fair value of $1.0 million at the date of acquisition. 
Our acquisition date estimate of the contractual cash flows not expected to be collected is $0.2 million. 
We  have  included  $6.6  million  of  revenues  from  Oceanwide  since  the  date  of  acquisition  in  our 
consolidated statements of operations for 2010. 

During  2010,  the  purchase  price  consideration  for  Oceanwide  was  reduced  by  $0.2  million  from  $9.1 
million  to  $8.9  million  due  to  changes  made  to  opening  working  capital  estimates.  This  $0.2  million 
purchase  price  adjustment  was  allocated  as  follows:  (i)  current  assets  decreased  by  $0.1  million  from 
$1.8 million to $1.7 million; and (ii) current liabilities increased by $0.1 million from $1.4 million to $1.5 
million.  

55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On  March  10,  2009,  we  acquired  100%  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  privately-held  Scancode  Systems 
Inc.  (“Scancode”)  in  an  all-cash  transaction.  Scancode  provides  its  customers  with  a  system  that 
provides  up-to-date  rates  that  allow  customers  to  both  make  efficient  shipment  decisions  and  comply 
with  carrier  manifesting  and  labeling  requirements.  The  purchase  price  for  this  acquisition  was 
approximately  $6.3  million  in  cash.  We  also  incurred  acquisition-related  costs,  primarily  for  advisory 
services,  during  2010  in  the  amount  of  $0.2  million  which  were  included  in  other  charges  in  our 
consolidated  statements  of  operations.  The  gross  contractual  amount  of  trade  accounts  receivable 
acquired was $0.8 million with a fair value of $0.8 million at the date of acquisition. Our acquisition date 
estimate  of  the  contractual  cash  flows  not  expected  to  be  collected  is  $0.1  million.  We  have  included 
$5.1 million of revenues from Scancode since the date of acquisition in our consolidated statements of 
operations for 2010. 

During  2010,  the  purchase  price  consideration  for  Scancode  was  reduced  by  $0.1  million  from  $6.4 
million  to  $6.3  million  due  to  changes  made  to  opening  working  capital  estimates.  This  $0.1  million 
purchase  price  adjustment  was  allocated  as  follows:  (i)  current  assets  decreased  by  $0.5  million  from 
$3.6 million to $3.1 million, primarily resulting from changes to the current portion of deferred income 
tax asset; (ii) the long-term portion of deferred revenue increased by $0.1 million from $1.4 million to 
$1.5 million; (iii) the long-term deferred income tax liability decreased by $0.4 million from $1.8 million 
to $1.4 million; and (iv) goodwill increased by $0.1 million from $3.4 million to $3.5 million.  

The  final  purchase  price  allocations  for  the  businesses  we  acquired  during  the  year  ended  January  31, 
2010, are set out in the following table: 

Purchase price consideration: 
Cash, excluding cash acquired related to Oceanwide ($225) 
and Scancode ($603) 
Net working capital adjustments 

Allocated to: 
Current assets 
Capital assets 
Current liabilities 
Deferred revenue 
Income tax liability 
Deferred income tax liability 
Net tangible liabilities assumed 
Finite life intangible assets acquired: 

Customer agreements and relationships 
Non-compete covenants 
Existing technology 
Trade names 

Goodwill 

Oceanwide 

 Scancode

Total

8,990 
(88) 
8,902 

1,706 
172 
(1,458) 
(249) 
(47) 
(2,058) 
(1,934) 

4,165 
104 
2,118 
46 
4,403 
8,902 

7,698 
(1,420) 
6,278 

3,142 
89 
(3,692) 
(1,465) 
- 
(1,363) 
(3,289) 

4,332 
- 
1,637 
109 
3,489 
6,278 

16,688
(1,508)
15,180

4,848
261
(5,150)
(1,714)
(47)
(3,421)
(5,223)

8,497
104
3,755
155
7,892
15,180

The  results  of  operations  for  the  businesses  that  we  acquired  in  2010  are  included  in  our  consolidated 
statement of operations from the date acquired, as indicated below.  

The  Oceanwide  and  Scancode  transactions  were  accounted  for  using  the  acquisition  method  in 
accordance  with  ASC  Topic  805.  The  purchase  price  allocations  in  the  table  above  represent  our 
estimates  of  the  allocations  of  the  purchase  price  and  the  fair  value  of  net  assets  acquired.  As  part  of 
our  process  for  determining  the  fair  value  of  the  net  assets  acquired,  we  engage  third-party  valuation 
specialists.  

No in-process research and development was acquired in the Oceanwide or Scancode transactions. 

56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
The acquired intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows: 

  Customer agreements and relationships
  Non-compete covenants 
  Existing technology 
  Trade names 

  Oceanwide Scancode
8 years
n/a
5 years
2 years

5 years
2 years
3 years
2 years

The  goodwill  on  the  Oceanwide  and  Scancode  acquisitions  arose  as  a  result  of  the  value  of  their 
respective assembled workforces and the combined strategic value to our growth plan. Goodwill of $0.1 
million  that  relates  to  our  acquisition  of  certain  of  Oceanwide’s  Canadian  assets  and  liabilities  is 
deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill arising from the acquisitions of Oceanwide’s US operations and 
Scancode is not deductible for tax purposes. 

Supplemental pro forma information was impracticable to disclose as the pre-acquisition accounting for 
deferred revenues and deferred income taxes is based on estimates and assumptions that would require 
us  to  retroactively  apply  assumptions  about  management’s  intent  in  a  prior  period  that  cannot  be 
independently substantiated  at this  time and  to  make significant  estimates about amounts  that  can no 
longer be objectively determined. 

Note 4 – Cash and Cash Equivalents  

Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash on deposit with banks 
Total cash and cash equivalents  

January 31, January 31,
2011

2012

65,547
65,547

69,644
69,644

We have operating lines of credit in Canada aggregating $3.0 million (CDN 3.0 million) as at January 31, 
2012, of which nil was utilized (nil at January 31, 2011).  Borrowings under these facilities bear interest 
at prime  based on the  borrowed  currency (3%  on Canadian dollar  borrowings and  3.25% on US dollar 
borrowings at January 31, 2012), are due on demand, and are secured by our investment portfolio and 
a general assignment of inventory and accounts receivable. 

As  at  January  31,  2012  we  have  outstanding  letters  of  credit  of  approximately  $0.1  million  (EUR  0.1 
million) related to three of our leased premises ($0.1 million at January 31, 2011). 

Note 5 - Trade Receivables 

Trade receivables 
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts 

January 31, January 31,
2011

2012

17,886 
(732)
17,154 

15,634
(1,217)
14,417

Bad  debt  expense  was  $0.3  million  for  the  year  ended  January  31,  2012  (January  31,  2011  -  $0.5 
million; January 31, 2010 – $0.4 million). 

57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 6 –Inventory 

Finished goods 

January 31, 
2012 
413 
413 

January 31,
2011

-
-

Finished goods inventory consists of hardware and related parts for mobile asset units sold. No provision 
for excess or obsolete inventories has been recorded for the year ended January 31, 2012. 

Note 7 - Investment in Affiliate 

As  part  of  the  acquisition  of  Porthus,  we  acquired  44.4%  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  privately-held 
Desk Solutions NV (“Desk Solutions”). The investment in Desk Solutions has been accounted for under 
the equity method in accordance with ASC Topic 323, “Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures” 
(“ASC Topic 323”). Loss from Desk Solutions of $19,000 for the year ended January 31, 2011 is included 
in investment income in the consolidated statements of operations for 2011. This investment was sold in 
the second quarter of 2011 for proceeds of $487,000. A gain on the sale of this investment of $20,000 is 
included  in  investment  income  for  the  year  ended  January  31,  2011  in  the  consolidated  statements  of 
operations for 2011. 

Note 8 - Capital Assets 

Cost 

Computer equipment and software 
Furniture and fixtures 
Leasehold improvements 
Assets under construction 

Accumulated amortization 

Computer equipment and software 
Furniture and fixtures 
Leasehold improvements 

January 31, January 31,
2011

2012

25,746
1,947
3,086
2,637
33,416

19,851
1,700
2,578
24,129
9,287

24,257
1,895
2,914
-
29,066

17,822
1,630
2,305
21,757
7,309

Computer equipment and software cost includes $0.3 million of assets recorded under capital leases as 
of January 31, 2012 ($0.3 million as of January 31, 2011). Included within depreciation expense in our 
consolidated statements of operations is amortization expense from assets under capital leases of $0.1 
million for the year ended January 31, 2012 (January 31, 2010 - $0.1 million). 

Pursuant  to  ASC  Topic  350-40  “Intangibles  –  Goodwill  and  Other  –  Internal  Use  Software”  we  have 
capitalized $0.6 million of costs relating to the implementation of our SAP Enterprise Resource Planning 
System, included in the assets under construction category.  

As discussed in Note 18, other charges include $0.4 million for write-off of redundant assets for the year 
ended  January  31,  2011.  The  redundant  assets  represent  computer  software  from  our  Belgian 
operations,  acquired  as  part of the  Porthus  acquisition,  which were made  redundant as  we continue  to 
integrate Porthus into our operations. 

58 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 9 - Goodwill 

Balance, beginning of year 

Business acquisition – Telargo 
Business acquisition – InterCommIT 
Business acquisition – GeoMicro 
Business acquisition – Porthus 
Business acquisition – Imanet 
Business acquisition – Routing International 
Adjustments on account of foreign exchange and prior acquisitions 

Balance, end of year 

January 31, January 31,
2011
34,456
-
-
-
15,878
2,213
2,552
1,643
56,742

2012
56,742
4,322
5,370
1,699
-
-
-
(128)
68,005

The  business  acquisitions  of  Telargo,  InterCommIT,  GeoMicro,  Porthus,  Imanet  and  Routing 
International are described in Note 3 to these consolidated financial statements.  

In  2012,  the  adjustment  on  account  of  foreign  exchange  and  prior  acquisitions  includes  a  $0.8  million 
earn-out adjustment  in respect of the August 17, 2007 acquisition of Global Freight  Exchange Limited. 
Specific  performance  targets  were  met  during  the  period  ending  August  17,  2011,  resulting  in  an 
additional  amount  payable  to  the  former  owners.  As  this  acquisition  closed  prior  to  the  effective  date  of 
ASC Topic 805 (previously Statement 141(R)), this adjustment has been accrued to goodwill. No adjustments 
relating to the earn-out were recorded in 2011. 

Note 10 - Intangible Assets 

Cost 

Customer agreements and relationships 
Non-compete covenants 
Existing technology 
Trade names 

Accumulated amortization 

Customer agreements and relationships 
Non-compete covenants 
Existing technology 
Trade names 

January 31, 
2012 

January 31,
2011

40,851 
1,607 
38,012 
4,115 

84,585 

20,532 
1,052 
13,380 
2,940 
37,904 
46,681 

38,264
1,349
23,583
3,849

67,045

15,636
951
7,415
2,340
26,342
40,703

Intangible  assets  related  to  our  acquisitions  are  recorded  at  their  fair  value  at  the  acquisition  date. 
During  2012,  additions  to  intangible  assets  primarily  consisted  of  the  acquisitions  of  Telargo, 
InterCommIT and GeoMicro, described in Note 3 to these consolidated financial statements. The balance 
of the change in intangible assets is due to foreign currency translation. 

Intangible  assets  with  a  finite  life  are  amortized  into  income  over  their  useful  lives.  Amortization 
expense for existing intangible assets is expected to be $46.7 million over the following periods: $12.0 
million  for  2013,  $11.4  million  for  2014,  $9.3  million  for  2015,  $6.7  million  for  2016,  $5.1  million  for 
2017  and  $2.2  million  thereafter.  Expected  future  amortization  expense  is  subject  to  fluctuations  in 
foreign exchange rates. 

59 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We write down intangible assets with a finite life to fair value when the related undiscounted cash flows 
are not expected to allow for recovery of the carrying value. Fair value of intangibles is determined by 
discounting  the  expected  related  future  cash  flows.  No  finite  life  intangible  asset  impairment  has  been 
identified or recorded in our consolidated statements of operations for any of the fiscal years presented. 

Note 11 - Accrued Liabilities 

Accrued compensation and benefits 
Amounts payable to former shareholders of prior acquisitions 
Accrued purchase price consideration and other acquisition-related costs 
Other accrued liabilities 

January 31, 
2012 
6,284 
390 
792 
4,781 
12,247 

January 31,
2011

5,950
391
264
4,737
11,342

Note 12 - Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees 

Commitments 
To facilitate a better understanding of our commitments, the following information is provided in respect 
of our operating and capital lease obligations: 

Years Ended January 31,  

2013 
2014 
2015  
2016 
2017 
Thereafter 

Operating 
Leases
3,351
2,412
2,024
1,548
801
1,045
11,181

Capital 
Leases 
62 
62 
31 
- 
- 
- 
155 

Total
3,413
2,474
2,055
1,548
801
1,045
11,336

Lease Obligations 
We  are  committed  under  non-cancelable  operating  leases  for  business  premises,  computer  equipment 
and  vehicles  with  terms  expiring  at  various  dates  through  2020.  We  are  also  committed  under  non-
cancelable  capital  leases  for  computer  equipment  expiring  at  various  dates  through  2015.  The  future 
minimum  amounts  payable  under  these  lease  agreements  are  outlined  in  the  table  above.  Rental 
expense from operating leases was $3.6 million for the year ended January 31, 2012 (January 31, 2011 
- $3.1 million; January 31, 2010 - $1.5 million). 

Other Obligations 
Income Taxes 
We believe that it is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefit as of January 31, 2012 
could  increase  tax  expense  in  the  next  12  months  by  $4.9  million  primarily  relating  to  the  underlying 
uncertain tax positions, relating primarily to the tax years becoming statute barred for purpose of future 
tax examinations by local taxing jurisdictions and the expiration of competent authority relief. 

Deferred Share Unit and Restricted Share Unit Plans 
As  described  in  Note  15  to  these  consolidated  financial  statements,  we  maintain  deferred  share  unit 
(“DSU”)  and  restricted  share  unit  (“RSU”)  plans  for  our  directors  and  employees.  Any  payments  made 
pursuant  to  these  plans  are  settled  in  cash.  As  DSUs  are  fully  vested  upon  issuance,  the  DSU  liability 
recorded  on  our  consolidated  balance  sheets  is  calculated  as  the  total  number  of  DSUs  outstanding  at 
the consolidated balance sheet date multiplied by the closing price of our common shares on the TSX at 
the  consolidated  balance  sheet  date.  For  RSUs,  the  units  vest  over  time  and  the  liability  recognized  at 
any given consolidated balance sheet date reflects only those units vested at that date that have not yet 

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
been settled in cash. As such, we had an unrecognized aggregate liability for the unvested RSUs of $1.9 
million  for  which  no  liability  was  recorded  on  our  consolidated  balance  sheet  at  January  31,  2012,  in 
accordance  with  ASC  Topic  718  “Compensation  –  Stock  Compensation”.  The  ultimate  liability  for  any 
payment of DSUs and RSUs is dependent on the trading price of our common shares. 

Contingencies 
We are subject to a variety of other claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course 
of our business. The consequences of these matters are not presently determinable but, in the opinion 
of  management  after  consulting  with  legal  counsel,  the  ultimate  aggregate  liability  is  not  currently 
expected to have a material effect on our annual results of operations or financial position. 

Product Warranties 
In  the  normal  course  of  operations,  we  provide  our  customers  with  product  warranties  relating  to  the 
performance  of  our  hardware,  software  and  network  services.  To  date,  we  have  not  encountered 
material  costs  as  a  result  of  such  obligations  and  have  not  accrued  any  liabilities  related  to  such 
obligations on our consolidated financial statements. 

Guarantees 
In the normal course of business we enter into a variety of agreements that may contain features that 
meet the definition of a guarantee under ASC Topic 460, “Guarantees” (“ASC Topic 460”). The following 
lists our significant guarantees: 

Intellectual property indemnification obligations 
We  provide  indemnifications  of  varying  scope  to  our  customers  against  claims  of  intellectual  property 
infringement made  by third parties arising from the use of our products. In the event of such a  claim, 
we are generally obligated to defend our customers against the claim and we are liable to pay damages 
and  costs  assessed  against  our  customers  that  are  payable  as  part  of  a  final  judgment  or  settlement. 
These  intellectual  property  infringement  indemnification  clauses  are  not  generally  subject  to  any  dollar 
limits and remain in force for the term of our license agreement with our customer, which license terms 
are  typically  perpetual.  To  date,  we  have  not  encountered  material  costs  as  a  result  of  such 
indemnifications. 

Other indemnification agreements 
In  the  normal  course  of  operations,  we  enter  into  various  agreements  that  provide  general 
indemnifications.  These  indemnifications  typically  occur  in  connection  with  purchases  and  sales  of 
assets,  securities  offerings  or  buy-backs,  service  contracts,  administration  of  employee  benefit  plans, 
retention  of  officers  and  directors,  membership  agreements  and  leasing  transactions.  These 
indemnifications that we provide require us, in certain circumstances, to compensate the counterparties 
for various costs resulting from breaches of representations or obligations under such arrangements, or 
as  a  result  of  third  party  claims  that  may  be  suffered  by  the  counterparty  as  a  consequence  of  the 
transaction. We believe that the likelihood that we could incur significant liability under these obligations 
is remote. Historically, we have not made any significant payments under such indemnifications.  

In  evaluating  estimated  losses  for  the  guarantees  or  indemnities  described  above,  we  consider  such 
factors  as  the  degree  of  probability  of  an  unfavorable  outcome  and  the  ability  to  make  a  reasonable 
estimate of the amount of loss. We are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential 
amount payable under such guarantees or indemnities as many of these arrangements do not specify a 
maximum  potential  dollar  exposure  or  time  limitation.  The  amount  also  depends  on  the  outcome  of 
future  events  and  conditions,  which  cannot  be  predicted.  Given  the  foregoing,  to  date,  we  have  not 
accrued any liability in our financial statements for the guarantees or indemnities described above. 

61 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 13 - Share Capital 

Common Shares Outstanding 
We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of our common shares, without par value, for unlimited 
consideration. Our common shares are not redeemable or convertible. 

(thousands of shares) 
Balance, beginning of year 

Shares issued: 

Stock options exercised 
Issue of common shares 

Balance, end of year 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
53,013

2012 
61,742 

2011
61,411

691 
- 
62,433 

331
-
61,742

1,227
7,171
61,411

On  December  21,  2010,  we  announced  that  the  TSX  had  approved  the  purchase  by  us  of  up  to  an 
aggregate  of  4,997,322  common  shares  of  Descartes  pursuant  to  a  normal  course  issuer  bid.  The 
purchases can occur from time to time until December 22, 2011, through the facilities of the TSX and/or 
the NASDAQ, if and when we consider advisable. As of January 31, 2012 there were no purchases made 
pursuant to this normal course issuer bid. We did not renew the normal course issuer bid in fiscal 2012. 

On December 18, 2009, Descartes announced that it was making a normal course issuer bid to purchase 
up  to  5,458,773  common  shares  of  Descartes  through  the  facilities  of  the  TSX  and/or  NASDAQ. 
Descartes  did  not  purchase  any  shares  under  the  bid,  which  commenced  on  December  23,  2009  and 
expired on December 22, 2010. 

On  October  20,  2009,  we  closed  a  bought-deal  public  share  offering  in  Canada  which  raised  gross 
proceeds of CAD 40,002,300 (equivalent to approximately $38.4 million at the time of the transaction) 
from  a  sale  of  6,838,000  common  shares  at  a  price  of  CAD  5.85  per  share.  The  underwriters  also 
exercised  an  over-allotment  option  on  October  20,  2009  to  purchase  an  additional  1,025,700  common 
shares (in aggregate, 15% of the offering) at CAD 5.85 per share comprised of 332,404 common shares 
from Descartes and 693,296 common shares from certain executive officers and directors of Descartes. 
Gross proceeds to us from the exercise of the over-allotment option were CAD 1,944,563 (equivalent to 
approximately  $1.9  million  at  the  time  of  the  transaction).  In  addition,  we  received  an  aggregate  of 
approximately CAD 1,277,648 (equivalent to approximately $1.2 million at the time of the transaction) 
in  proceeds  from  certain  executive  officers  and  directors  of  Descartes  from  their  exercise  of  employee 
stock options to satisfy their respective obligations under the over-allotment option. 

62 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 14 - Earnings Per Share 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”): 

Year Ended 

January 31, 
2012

January 31, 
2011 

January 31, 
2010

Net income for purposes of calculating basic and diluted 
earnings per share  

12,026

11,539 

14,350

(number of shares in thousands) 

Weighted average shares outstanding 
Dilutive effect of employee stock options 
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares 
outstanding 
Earnings per share 

Basic 
Diluted 

62,218
1,182

61,523 
1,365 

55,389
1,048

63,400

62,888 

56,437

0.19
0.19

0.19 
0.18 

0.26
0.25

For  the  years  ended  January  31,  2012,  2011  and  2010,  respectively,  15,000,  219,607  and  348,219 
options were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS as those options had an exercise price greater 
than or equal to the average market value of our common shares during the applicable periods and their 
inclusion  would  have  been  anti-dilutive.  Additionally,  for  2012,  2011  and  2010,  respectively,  the 
application  of  the  treasury  stock  method  excluded  418,480,  222,500  and  1,322,109  options  from  the 
calculation  of  diluted  EPS  as  the  assumed  proceeds  from  the  unrecognized  stock-based  compensation 
expense of such options that are attributed to future service periods made such options anti-dilutive. 

Note 15 - Stock-Based Compensation Plans 

We maintain stock option plans for directors, officers, employees and other service providers. Options to 
purchase  our  common  shares  are  granted  at  an  exercise  price  equal  to  the  fair  market  value  of  our 
common shares on the day of the grant. This fair market value is determined using the closing price of 
our common shares on the TSX on the day immediately preceding the date of the grant. 

Employee stock options generally vest over a five-year period starting from their grant date and expire 
seven years from the grant date. Directors’ and officers’ stock options generally have quarterly vesting 
over  a  three-  to  five-year  period.  We  issue  new  shares  from  treasury  upon  the  exercise  of  a  stock 
option. 

As  of  January  31,  2012,  we  had  2,973,251  stock  options  granted  and  outstanding  under  our 
shareholder-approved stock option plan and 212,218 remained available for grant. In addition, we had 
14,000 stock options outstanding not approved by shareholders.  

Total estimated stock-based compensation expense recognized under ASC Topic 718 related to all of our 
stock options was included in our consolidated statement of operations as follows: 

Year Ended 

Cost of revenues 
Sales and marketing 
Research and development 
General and administrative 
Effect on net income 

January 31,
2012
110
251
308
544
1,213

January 31, 
2011 
73 
229 
130 
644 
1,076 

January 31,
2010
172
815
374
2,010
3,371

Differences  between  how  GAAP  and  applicable  income  tax  laws  treat  the  amount  and  timing  of 
recognition of stock-based compensation expense may result in a deferred tax asset. We have recorded 

63 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
a  valuation  allowance  against  any  such  deferred  tax  asset  except  for  $0.5  million  recognized  in  the 
United States ($0.3 million at January 31, 2011). We realized a nominal tax benefit in connection with 
stock options exercised during 2012. 

As of January 31, 2012, $1.0 million of total unrecognized compensation costs, net of forfeitures, related 
to unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years. The total 
fair value of stock options vested during 2012 was $1.1 million. 

The  fair  value  of  stock  option  grants  is  estimated  using  the  Black-Scholes  option-pricing  model. 
Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of our common stock and other factors. The risk-free 
interest rates are based on the Government of Canada average bond yields for a period consistent with 
the expected life of the option in effect at the time of the grant. The expected option life is based on the 
historical life of our granted options and other factors.  

Assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model were as follows: 

Year Ended 

January 31, 2012

January 31, 2011 

January 31, 2010

  Weighted
-Average

Range

Weighted-
Average

  Expected dividend yield (%) 

  Expected volatility (%) 

  Risk-free rate (%) 
  Expected option life (years) 

-

33.6
2.4
5

-

N/A
N/A
N/A

-

37.3 34.6 to 37.9 
1.8 to 2.6 
5 

2.5
5

Weighted-
Average
-

Range 

- 

Range

-
43.3 42.7 to 43.5
1.9 to 2.3
5

2.0
5

A summary of option activity under all of our plans is presented as follows: 

Number of 
Stock Options 
Outstanding

Weighted-
Average 
Exercise
 Price

Weighted- 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual 
Life (years) 

Aggregate 
Intrinsic
 Value
 (in millions)

Balance at January 31, 2011 

Granted 
Exercised 
Forfeited 
Expired 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

3,760,153
284,534
(691,025)
(182,854)
(183,557)
2,987,251

$4.06
$6.38
$2.49
$5.70
$12.42
$3.97

Vested or expected to vest at January 31, 
2012 

2,886,231

$3.96

Exercisable at January 31, 2012 

2,304,713

$3.70

2.9 

11.7

2.9 

2.4 

11.6

9.6

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $2.18, 
$2.27,  and  $1.26  per  option,  respectively.  The  total  intrinsic  value  of  options  exercised  during  2012, 
2011 and 2010 was approximately $2.9 million, $1.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively.  

64 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options outstanding and options exercisable as at January 31, 2012 by range of exercise price are as 
follows: 

Range of Exercise Prices 

$2.41 – $2.77 
$3.06– $3.78 
$4.08 – $4.94 
$6.19 – $7.03 

Options Outstanding 

  Options Exercisable

Weighted
Average 
Exercise 
Price

Number of 
Stock 
Options 

344,340
$2.53
1,286,531
$3.31
922,900
$4.40
$6.24
433,480
$3.97 2,987,251

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual 
Life (years)
0.3
3.4
1.9
5.8
2.9

  Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 

Number of 
Stock 
Options

344,340
$2.53 
1,005,829
$3.30 
883,150
$4.40 
$6.25 
71,394
$3.70  2,304,713

A  summary  of  the  status  of  our  unvested  stock  options  under  our  shareholder-approved  stock  option 
plan  and  stock  option  plans  not  approved  by  shareholders  as  of  January  31,  2012  is  presented  as 
follows: 

Balance at January 31, 2011 

Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Number of 
Stock Options 
Outstanding 

1,129,366 
284,534 
(570,008) 
(161,354) 
682,538 

Weighted-
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value 
per Share
$1.60
$2.18
$1.87
$2.09
$1.89

Deferred Share Unit Plan 
Our  board  of  directors  adopted  a  deferred  share  unit  plan  effective  as  of  June  28,  2004  pursuant  to 
which  non-employee  directors  are  eligible  to  receive  grants  of  deferred  share  units  (“DSUs”),  each  of 
which has an initial value equal to the weighted-average closing price of our common shares for the five 
trading days preceding the grant date. The plan allows each director to choose to receive, in the form of 
DSUs, all, none or a percentage of the eligible director’s fees which would otherwise be payable in cash. 
If a director has invested less than the minimum amount of equity in Descartes, as prescribed from time 
to time  by the board of  directors (currently  $80,000),  then the director  must take at least 50% of the 
base annual fee for serving as a director (currently $30,000) in the form of DSUs. Each DSU fully vests 
upon award but is distributed only when the director ceases to be a member of the board of directors. 
Vested units are settled in cash based on our common share price when conversion takes place.  

A summary of activity under our DSU plan is as follows: 

Balance at January 31, 2011 

Granted 
Settled in cash 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Number of 
DSUs 
Outstanding
106,383
16,742
(39,065)
84,060

As  at  January  31,  2012,  the  total  number  of  DSUs  held  by  participating  directors  was  84,060, 
representing  an  aggregate  accrued  liability  of  $0.7  million  ($0.7  million  at  January  31,  2011).  The  fair 
value of the DSU liability is based on the closing price of our common shares at the balance sheet date. 
The  total  compensation  cost  related  to  DSUs  recognized  in  our  consolidated  statements  of  operations 
was approximately $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.3 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted Share Unit Plan 
Our  board  of  directors  adopted  a  restricted  share  unit  plan  effective  as  of  May  23,  2007  pursuant  to 
which  certain  of  our  employees  and  outside  directors  are  eligible  to  receive  grants  of  restricted  share 
units,  each  of  which  has  an  initial  value  equal  to  the  weighted-average  closing  price  of  our  common 
shares  for  the  five  trading  days  preceding  the  date  of  the  grant.  The  RSUs  generally  vest  based  on 
continued  employment  and  have  annual  vesting  over  three-  to  five-year  periods.  Vested  units  are 
settled in cash based on our common share price when conversion takes place, which is within 30 days 
following a vesting date and in any event prior to December 31st of the calendar year of a vesting date.  

A summary of activity under our RSU plan is as follows: 

Balance at January 31, 2011 

Granted 
Vested and settled in cash 
Forfeited 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Vested at January 31, 2012 

Unvested at January 31, 2012 

Number of 
RSUs 
Outstanding 

Weighted-
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life 
(years)

413,235 
284,801 
(293,529) 
(18,867) 
385,640 

20,144 

365,496 

1.8

-

1.8

We have recognized the compensation cost of the RSUs ratably over the service/vesting period relating 
to the grant and have recorded an aggregate accrued liability of $1.2 million at January 31, 2012 ($1.1 
million  at  January  31,  2011).  As  at  January  31,  2012,  the  unrecognized  aggregate  liability  for  the 
unvested RSUs was $1.9 million ($1.7 million at January 31, 2011). The fair value of the RSU liability is 
based on the closing price of our common shares at the balance sheet date. The total compensation cost 
related to RSUs recognized in our consolidated statements of operations was approximately $1.5 million, 
$1.5 million and $0.9 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. 

Note 16 - Employee Pension Plans 

We  maintain  various  defined  contribution  benefit  plans  for  our  Canadian,  American  and  British 
employees.  While  the  specifics  of  each  plan  are  different  in  each  country,  we  contribute  an  amount 
related  to  the  level  of  employee  contributions.  These  contributions  are  subject  to  maximum  limits  and 
vesting  provisions,  and  can  be  discontinued  at  our  discretion.  The  pension  costs  were  $0.6  million  in 
2012  (January  31,  2011  -  $0.5  million;  January  31,  2010  -  $0.3  million),  of  which  $0.3  million  was 
payable at January 31, 2012 ($0.2 million at January 31, 2011). 

66 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 17 - Income Taxes 

Income before income taxes is earned in the following tax jurisdictions: 

Year Ended 

Canada 
United States 
Other countries 

January 
31, 
2012 

17,225 
87 
(1,922)
15,390 

January 31, January 31,

2011

2010

5,045 
5,380 
(2,492)
7,933 

489 
6,962 
(726)
6,725 

Income tax expense (recovery) is incurred in the following jurisdictions: 

Year Ended 

Current income tax expense (recovery) 

Canada 
United States 
Other countries 

Deferred income tax expense (recovery) 

Canada 
United States 
Other countries 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010

2012 

2011

605 
295 
538 
1,438 

4,230 
(2,515)
211 
1,926 
3,364 

487 
311 
(521)
277 

(3,245)
4,831 
(5,469)
(3,883)
(3,606)

 (75)
794 
136 
855 

(2,126)
(7,004)
650 
(8,480)
(7,625)

In 2012, our income tax expense was primarily impacted by a change in valuation allowance and other 
tax estimates in the United States which reduced our deferred income tax expense by $1.8 million, and 
a change in the valuation allowance in the Netherlands which increased deferred income tax expense by 
$0.7 million.  In 2011, our income tax recovery was impacted by the release of valuation allowance in 
the Netherlands and United Kingdom. This recovery was partially offset by the net of (i) amendments to 
the  prior-period  United  States  tax  returns  which  resulted  in  a  reduction  of  prior  year  tax  loss 
carryforwards; (ii) taxation of unrealized foreign exchange losses in Sweden; (iii) an adjustment to the 
calculation  of  the  United  States  tax  loss  carryforwards;  (iv)  the  revised  treatment  of  non-deductible 
acquisition-related  costs;  (v)  charging  of  the  tax  effect  of  gains  and  losses  included  in  other 
comprehensive  income  directly  to  other  comprehensive  income;  (vi)  a  change  in  the  uncertain  tax 
positions; (vii) the revised treatment of certain assets as permanent differences rather than temporary 
differences; (viii) the recognition of the Ontario harmonization tax credit and similarly the change in the 
rate applied for taxation of future scientific research and experimental development credits; and (ix) the 
adjustment  to  deferred  tax  assets  set  up  in  Canada  related  to  the  writedown  of  assets  not  currently 
deductible.  In  2011,  items  (i)  through  (ix)  resulted  in  a  $0.9  million,  $0.3  million  and  $0.1  million 
decrease  in  deferred  income  tax  expense  in  Canada,  Sweden  and  the  Netherlands,  respectively,  and  a 
$2.1 million increase in deferred income tax expense in the United States. These items also resulted in a 
$0.4 million and $0.2 million decrease in current income tax expense in Sweden and the United States, 
respectively.  

67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows: 

Assets 

Accruals not currently deductible 
Accumulated net operating losses 
Corporate minimum taxes 
Difference between tax and accounting basis of capital assets 
Writedown of assets not currently deductible 
Research and development and other tax credits and expenses 
Expenses of public offerings 
Other timing differences 

Total deferred income tax assets 
Liabilities 

Difference between tax and accounting basis of intangible assets 
Uncertain tax positions incurred in loss years 

Total deferred income tax liabilities 
Net deferred income taxes 
Valuation allowance 

Net deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance 

Deferred income tax assets – current 
Deferred income tax assets – non-current 
Deferred income tax liabilities – non-current 

Net deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance 

January 31, January 31,
2011

2012

3,538 
48,027 
1,312 
13,099 
1,053 
4,659 
261 
599 
72,548 

(3,410) 
(1,230) 
(4,640) 
67,908 
(33,963) 
33,945 

12,420 
31,279 
(9,754) 
33,945 

2,772
55,769
1,276
12,237
1,055
4,472
482
257
78,320

(6,529)
(1,372)
(7,901)
70,419
(32,562)
37,857

11,457
34,667
(8,267)
37,857

The  measurement  of  a  deferred  tax  asset  is  adjusted  by  a  valuation  allowance,  if  necessary,  to 
recognize tax benefits only to the extent that, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that 
they will be realized. In determining the valuation allowance, we consider factors by taxing jurisdiction, 
including  our  estimated  taxable  income,  our  history  of  losses  for  tax  purposes,  our  tax  planning 
strategies  and  the  likelihood  of  success  of  our  tax  filing  positions,  among  others.  A  change  to  any  of 
these  factors  could  impact  the  estimated  valuation  allowance  and  income  tax  expense.  Based  on  the 
weight  of  positive  and  negative  evidence  regarding  recoverability  of  our  deferred  tax  assets,  we  have 
recorded a valuation allowance for $33.9 million ($32.6 million at January 31, 2011) of our net deferred 
tax  assets  of  $67.9  million  ($70.4  million  at  January  31,  2011),  resulting  in  a  total  net  deferred  tax 
asset of $33.9 million at January 31, 2012 ($37.9 million at January 31, 2011). 

As  at  January  31,  2012,  we  had  not  accrued  for  Canadian  income  taxes  and  foreign  withholding  taxes 
applicable  to  approximately  $32.5  million  of  unremitted  earnings  of  subsidiaries  operating  outside  of 
Canada.  These  earnings,  which  we  consider  to  be  invested  indefinitely,  will  become  subject  to  these 
taxes if and when they are remitted as dividends or if we sell our stock in the subsidiaries. The potential 
amount of unrecognized deferred Canadian income tax liabilities and foreign withholding and income tax 
liabilities  on  the  unremitted  earnings  and  foreign  exchange  gains  is  not  currently  practicably 
determinable. 

68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The provision (recovery) for income taxes varies from the expected provision at the statutory rates for 
the reasons detailed in the table below: 

Year Ended 

Combined basic Canadian statutory rates 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
32.9%

2012 
28.1% 

2011
30.7%

Income tax expense based on the above rates 
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from: 

Permanent differences including amortization of intangibles 
Effect of differences between Canadian and foreign tax rates 
Effect of rate reductions on current year timing differences  
Prior year adjustments and change in estimates 
Application of research and development tax credits 
Increases (decreases) in tax reserves 
Valuation allowance 
Deferral of tax charges 
Other 

Income tax expense (recovery) 

4,325 

2,436 

2,214 

586 
(275)
(228)
(1,242)
- 
734 
(864)
197 
131 
3,364 

(2,198)
695 
659 
(59)
- 
(149)
(5,241)
197 
54 
(3,606)

3,388 
724 
- 
(11) 
(30) 
- 
(14,162) 
197 
55 
(7,625) 

We have income tax loss carryforwards which expire as follows: 

Expiry year 

2013 
2014 
2015 
2016 
2017 
Thereafter 

Canada
-
-
-
-
-
28,783
28,783

United 
States
-
-
-
-
-
30,708
30,708

EMEA
4,261
3,469
1,106
776
-
81,203
90,815

Asia Pacific 
773 
435 
- 
22 
1,116 
18,454 
20,800 

Total
5,034
3,904
1,106
798
1,116
159,148
171,106

The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits: 

Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of year 

Gross (decreases) increases – tax positions in prior periods 
Gross increases – tax positions in the current period 
Lapsing of statutes of limitations 
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of year 

2012 

January 31,  January 31, January 31, 
2010
4,778 
47 
397 
(54)
5,168 

2011
5,168 
(1,368)
874 
(428)
4,246 

4,246 
42 
1,010 

(441) 

4,857 

We expect that the unrecognized tax benefits will increase within the next 12 months due to uncertain 
tax positions expected to be taken, although at this time a reasonable estimate of the possible increase 
cannot  be  made.  Of  the  $4.9  million  of  unrecognized  tax  benefits  at  January  31,  2012,  approximately 
$3.3 million would impact the effective income tax rate if recognized. 

Consistent with our historical financial reporting, we recognize accrued interest and penalties related to 
unrecognized  tax  benefits  in  general  and  administrative  expense.  As  at  January  31,  2012  and  January 
31, 2011, the unrecognized tax benefits have resulted in no material liability for estimated interest and 
penalties. 

69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Descartes  and  our  subsidiaries  file  their  tax  returns  as  prescribed  by  the  tax  laws  of  the  jurisdictions 
within  which  they  operate.  We  are  no  longer  subject  to  income  tax  examinations  by  tax  authorities  in 
our major tax jurisdictions as follows: 

Tax Jurisdiction 

United States Federal 
Canada 
United Kingdom 
Sweden 

Note 18 - Other Charges 

Years No Longer Subject to 
Audit

2008 and prior
2003 and prior
2008 and prior
2005 and prior

Other charges are primarily comprised of charges related to certain restructuring initiatives which have 
been  undertaken  from  time  to  time  under  various  restructuring  plans.  Other  charges  also  include 
acquisition-related  costs  with  respect  to  completed  and  prospective  acquisitions.  Acquisition-related 
costs  primarily  include  advisory  services,  brokerage  services  and  administrative  costs.  In  2011,  other 
charges also included $0.4 million related to the write-off of certain computer software assets, acquired 
as  part  of  the  Porthus  acquisition.  These  assets  became  redundant  during  the  year  ended  January  31, 
2011 due to the integration of Porthus into our operations. 

Other charges included in our consolidated statements of operations are as follows: 

Fiscal 2012 restructuring plan 
Restructuring related to fiscal 2012 acquisitions 
Fiscal 2011 restructuring plan 
Restructuring related to fiscal 2011 acquisitions 
Fiscal 2010 restructuring plan 
Acquisition-related costs 
Write-off of redundant assets 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010
-
-
-
-
754
861
-
1,615

2012 
353 
60 
97 
22 
- 
1,599 
- 
2,131 

2011
-
-
866
1,011
156
1,545
417
3,995

Fiscal 2012 Restructuring Plan 
In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2012,  management  approved  and  began  to  implement  the  fiscal  2012 
restructuring  plan  to  reduce  operating  expenses  and  increase  operating  margins.  To  date  $0.4  million 
has  been  recorded  within  other  charges  in  conjunction  with  this  restructuring  plan.  These  charges  are 
comprised of workforce reduction charges and office closure costs. This plan is complete with expected 
remaining office closure costs of $0.1 million to $0.2 million to be expensed in 2013.  

The  following  table  shows  the  changes  in  the  restructuring  provision  for  the  fiscal  2012  restructuring 
plan. 

Balance at January 31, 2011 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Workforce 
Reduction

- 
314 
(305) 
9 

Office Closure 
Costs 
- 
39 
(20) 
19 

Total
-
353
(325)
28

70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring Related to Fiscal 2012 Acquisitions 
As  described  in  Note  3  to  these  consolidated  financial  statements,  we  completed  three  acquisitions 
during the year ended January 31, 2012. As these acquisitions were completed, management approved 
and began to implement restructuring plans to integrate and streamline operations. To date $0.1 million 
has  been  recorded  within  other  charges  in  conjunction  with  this  restructuring  plan.  These  charges  are 
comprised of workforce reduction charges. This plan is complete with only the remaining provision below 
as payable. 

The  following  table  shows  the  changes  in  the  restructuring  provision  for  restructuring  related  to  fiscal 
2012 acquisitions. 

Balance at January 31, 2011 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Workforce 
Reduction
-
60
(51)
9

Fiscal 2011 Restructuring Plan 
In  the  first  quarter  of  2011,  management  approved  and  began  to  implement  the  fiscal  2011 
restructuring  plan  to  reduce  operating  expenses  and  increase  operating  margins.  To  date  $1.0  million 
has been recorded within other charges, with $0.1 million in 2012, in conjunction with this restructuring 
plan.  These  charges  are  comprised  of  workforce  reduction  charges,  office  closure  costs  and  network 
consolidation costs. This plan is complete with no further expected costs.  

The  following  table  shows  the  changes  in  the  restructuring  provision  for  the  fiscal  2011  restructuring 
plan. 

Balance at January 31, 2010 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 

Balance at January 31, 2011 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Workforce 
Reduction
- 
690 
(380)
310 
(2)
(308)
- 

Office Closure 
Costs
-
142
(123)
19
8
(27)
-

Network 
Consolidation 
Costs 
- 
34 
(34) 
- 
91 
(91) 
- 

Total
-
866
(537)
329
97
(426)
-

71 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring Related to Fiscal 2011 Acquisitions 
As  described  in  Note  3  to  these  consolidated  financial  statements,  we  completed  three  acquisitions 
during the year ended January 31, 2011. As these acquisitions were completed, management approved 
and began to implement restructuring plans to integrate and streamline operations. To date $1.0 million 
has  been  recorded  within  other  charges  in  conjunction  with  this  restructuring  plan.  These  charges  are 
comprised of workforce reduction charges and network consolidation costs. This plan is complete with no 
further expected costs.  

The  following  table  shows  the  changes  in  the  restructuring  provision  for  restructuring  related  to  fiscal 
2011 acquisitions. 

Balance at January 31, 2010 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 

Balance at January 31, 2011 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Workforce 
Reduction
- 
823 
(765)
58 
(13)
(45)
- 

Network 
Consolidation 
Costs 
- 
188 
(184) 
4 
35 
(39) 
- 

Total
-
1,011
(949)
62
22
(84)
-

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan 
In  the  first  quarter  of  2010,  management  approved  and  began  to  implement  the  fiscal  2010 
restructuring  plan  to  reduce  operating  expenses  and  increase  operating  margins.  To  date  $0.9  million 
has  been  recorded  within  other  charges  in  conjunction  with  this  restructuring  plan.  These  charges  are 
comprised  of  workforce  reduction  charges,  office  closure  costs  and  network  consolidation  costs.  This 
plan is complete with only the remaining provision below as payable. 

The  following  table  shows  the  changes  in  the  restructuring  provision  for  the  fiscal  2010  restructuring 
plan. 

Balance at January 31, 2010 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 
Noncash draw downs and foreign 
exchange 

Balance at January 31, 2011 
Accruals and adjustments 
Cash draw downs 
Noncash draw downs and foreign 
exchange 

Balance at January 31, 2012 

Office Closure 
Costs 

Network 
Consolidation 
Costs 

Total 

27
-
(27)

-
-
-
-

-
-

- 
56 
(56) 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

122
156
(251)

2
29
-
-

-
29

Workforce 
Reduction 
95 
100 
(168)

2 
29 
- 
- 

- 
29 

72 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 19 - Segmented Information 

We review our operating results, assess our performance, make decisions about resources, and generate 
discrete  financial  information  at  the  single  enterprise  level.  Accordingly,  we  have  determined  that  we 
operate  in  one  business  segment  providing  logistics  technology  solutions.  The  following  tables  provide 
our segmented revenue information by geographic location of customer and revenue type: 

Year Ended 

Revenues 

United States 
Canada 
Americas, excluding Canada and United States 
Belgium 
EMEA, excluding Belgium 
Asia Pacific 

Year Ended 

Revenues 

Services 
Licenses 

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010

2012 

2011

48,602 
15,051 
1,196 
19,319 
24,515 
5,307 
113,990 

44,903
12,960
958
17,705
19,149
3,500
99,175

44,544
9,167
789
1,450
14,249
3,569
73,768

January 31,  January 31, January 31,
2010

2012 

2011

105,645 
8,345 
113,990 

93,684
5,491
99,175

69,590
4,178
73,768

Services revenues are composed of the following: (i) ongoing transactional and/or subscription fees for 
use of our services and products by our customers; (ii) professional services revenues from consulting, 
implementation  and  training  services  related  to  our  services  and  products;  and  (iii)  maintenance  and 
other related revenues, which include revenues associated with maintenance and support of our services 
and  products.  License  revenues  derive  from  licenses  granted  to  our  customers  to  use  our  software 
products. 

The  following  table  provides  our  segmented  information  by  geographic  area  of  operation  for  our  long-
lived  assets.  Long-lived  assets  represent  capital  assets,  goodwill  and  intangibles  that  are  attributed  to 
individual geographic segments. 

Total long-lived assets 

United States 
Canada 
Belgium 
EMEA, excluding Belgium 
Asia Pacific 

January  31, 
2012 

January 31,
2011

43,312 
24,926 
36,581 
19,148 
6 
123,973 

31,666
25,908
43,055
4,120
5
104,754

73 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
CORPORATE INFORMATION 

Stock Exchange Information 
Our  common  stock  trades  on  the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange 
under  the  symbol  DSG  and  on  The  Nasdaq  Stock  Market 
under the symbol DSGX.  

Transfer Agents 
Computershare Investor Services Inc. 
100 University Avenue 
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1 
North America: (800) 663-9097 
International: (416) 263-9200 

Computershare Trust Company 
12039 West Alameda Parkway 
Suite Z-2 Lakewood, Colorado 
80228 USA 
International: (303) 262-0600 

Independent Registered Chartered Accountants 
Deloitte & Touche LLP 
5140 Yonge Street 
Suite 1700 
North York, Ontario M2N 6L7 
(416) 601-6150 

Investor Inquiries 
Investor Relations 
The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 
120 Randall Drive 
Waterloo, Ontario N2V 1C6 
(519) 746-8110 ext. 2358 
(800) 419-8495 
E-mail: investor@descartes.com 
www.descartes.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 
Corporate Headquarters 

120 Randall Drive 
Waterloo, Ontario N2V 1C6 
Canada 

Phone: (519) 746-8110 
(800) 419-8495 
Fax:   (519) 747-0082 

info@descartes.com 
www.descartes.com