[February 05, 2013]

CSG Systems International Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year Revenues

CSG Systems International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSGS), a global provider of software- and services-based business support solutions that help clients generate revenue and maximize customer relationships, today reported results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.

Key Financial Highlights:

• Fourth quarter 2012 results:
  • Total revenues were $198.0 million.
  • Non-GAAP operating income was $33.0 million, or 16.7% of total revenues and GAAP operating income was $22.1 million, or 11.2% of total revenues.
  • Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) was $0.67, which includes an unexpected benefit of $0.13 as a result of a lower than previously anticipated effective income tax rate. GAAP EPS was $0.48.
• Full year 2012 results:
  • Total revenues were $756.9 million.
  • Non-GAAP operating income was $135.5 million, or 17.9% of total revenues and GAAP operating income was $96.6 million, or 12.8% of total revenues.
  • Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) was $2.33, which includes an unexpected benefit of $0.13 as a result of a lower than previously anticipated effective income tax rate. GAAP EPS was $1.51.
• Cash flows from operations for the quarter were $19.1 million, and $127.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

"We enter 2013 in a position of strength as a result of the actions we have taken over the past several years," said Peter Kalan, chief executive officer and president of CSG Systems International, Inc. "We have a solid base of over 500 clients worldwide that depend upon us to help them execute upon their business plans. We have invested in our people, our products and our clients to ensure that they are successful. We have demonstrated our ability to manage our costs in a difficult and challenging business environment. And finally, we have a solid business model that is based on highly visible, recurring revenues, resulting in strong cash flows."

Financial Overview (unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages):

For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG's use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG's website at www.csgi.com.

Results of Operations

Revenues: Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $198.0 million, a 6% increase when compared to revenues of $187.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, and a 4% increase when compared to $190.0 million for the third quarter of 2012. Total revenues for the full year 2012 were $756.9 million, a 3% increase when compared to revenues of $734.7 million for full year 2011. The year-over-year revenue increases can be primarily attributed to increased revenues from various ancillary services and software sales during the current quarter and year and from the revenues generated from the Ascade business that CSG acquired in mid-July 2012, while the sequential quarterly increase is due primarily to a strong fourth quarter of software sales.

Non-GAAP Results: Non-GAAP operating income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $33.0 million, or 16.7% of total revenues, compared to $40.0 million, or 21.3%, for the fourth quarter of 2011. Non-GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2012 was $31.1 million, or 16.4% of total revenues. Non-GAAP operating income for the full year 2012 was $135.5, or 17.9% of total revenues, which compares to $139.0 million, or 18.9%, for the full year 2011. The year-over-year decreases in operating income and operating income margin is mainly due to the expected increases in data processing and employee-related costs. The sequential quarterly increase in operating income and operating income margin reflects the higher sequential revenues, mainly associated with the strong software sales.

Non-GAAP EPS for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $0.67, compared to non-GAAP EPS of $0.64 for the fourth quarter of 2011, and $0.50 for the third quarter of 2012. Non-GAAP EPS for the full year 2012 was $2.33, compared to non-GAAP EPS of $2.25 for the full year 2011. Both the fourth quarter and full year of 2012 non-GAAP EPS include an unexpected benefit of $0.13 as a result of a lower than previously anticipated effective income tax rate for 2012. The year-over-year improvement in the 2012 full year non-GAAP EPS performance relates mainly to a lower effective income rate between years.

GAAP Results: GAAP operating income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $22.1 million, or 11.2% of total revenues, compared to $27.0 million, or 14.4%, for the same period in 2011. GAAP operating income for the full year 2012 was $96.6 million, or 12.8% of total revenues, compared to $96.3 million, or 13.1%, for the full year 2011.

GAAP EPS for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $0.48, compared to $0.35 for the fourth quarter of 2011. GAAP EPS for the full year 2012 was $1.51, compared to $1.28 for the full year 2011.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flows

Balance Sheet: Certain key balance sheet items as of the indicated dates are as follows (in thousands):

Cash Flows: Certain key operating cash flow items for the indicated quarters then ended are as follows (in thousands):

CSG is currently in negotiations with one of its largest customers for a longer-term renewal of the current contract that expires at the end of February. The above current financial guidance assumes no material change in the revenue earned from this customer during 2013 pursuant to the terms of the existing agreement; as it is impossible to predict with certainty at this time what impact, if any, the terms of a longer-term contract extension will have on CSG's 2013 results of operations. When this contract is extended in the future, CSG will determine what updates may be necessary to the above guidance.

For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG's use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG's website at www.csgi.com.

Conference Call

CSG will host a one-hour conference call on February 5, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. ET, to discuss CSG's fourth quarter and year end results. The call will be carried live and archived on the Internet. A link to the conference call is available at www.csgi.com. In addition, to reach the conference by phone, dial (877) 941-0844 and ask the operator for the CSG International conference call and Liz Bauer, chairperson.

Additional Information

For information about CSG, please visit CSG's web site at www.csgi.com. Additional information can be found in the Investor Relations section of the web site.

About CSG International

CSG Systems International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGS) is a market-leading business support solutions and services company serving the majority of the top 100 global communications service providers, including leaders in fixed, mobile and next-generation networks such as AT&T, Comcast, DISH Network, France Telecom, MasterCard, Orange, T-Mobile, Telefonica, Time Warner Cable, Vodafone, Vivo and Verizon. With over 25 years of experience and expertise in voice, video, data and content services, CSG International offers a broad portfolio of licensed and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based products and solutions that help clients compete more effectively, improve business operations and deliver a more impactful customer experience across a variety of touch points. For more information, visit our website at www.csgi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that are based on assumptions about a number of important factors and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what appears in this news release. Some of these key factors include, but are not limited to the following items:

• CSG derives approximately forty percent of its revenues from its three largest clients;
• Continued market acceptance of CSG's products and services;
• CSG's ability to continuously develop and enhance products in a timely, cost-effective, technically advanced and competitive manner;
• CSG's ability to deliver its solutions in a timely fashion within budget, particularly large and complex software implementations;
• CSG's dependency on the global telecommunications industry, and in particular, the North American telecommunications industry;
• CSG's ability to meet its financial expectations as a result of increased dependency on software sales, which are subject to greater volatility;
• Increasing competition in CSG's market from companies of greater size and with broader presence in the communications sector;
• CSG's ability to successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses or assets to achieve expected strategic, operating and financial goals;
• CSG's ability to protect its intellectual property rights;
• CSG's ability to maintain a reliable, secure computing environment;
• CSG's ability to conduct business in the international marketplace;
• CSG's ability to comply with applicable U.S. and International laws and regulations; and
• Fluctuations in credit market conditions, general global economic and political conditions, and foreign currency exchange rates.

This list is not exhaustive and readers are encouraged to review the additional risks and important factors described in CSG's reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC.

EXHIBIT 1

EXHIBIT 2
CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
DISCLOSURES FOR NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Limitations

To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), CSG uses non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP EPS, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP free cash flow. CSG believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with its GAAP financial measures, provide investors with greater transparency to the information used by CSG's management in its financial and operational decision making. CSG uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the following purposes:

• Certain internal financial planning, reporting, and analysis;
• Forecasting and budgeting purposes;
• Certain management compensation incentives; and
• Communications with CSG's Board of Directors, stockholders, financial analysts, and investors.

These non-GAAP financial measures are provided with the intent of providing investors with the following information:

• A more complete understanding of CSG's underlying operational results, trends, and cash generating capabilities;
• Consistency and comparability with CSG's historical financial results; and
• Comparability to similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of performance under GAAP, and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial information. Limitations with the use of non-GAAP financial measures include the following items:

• Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles;
• The way in which CSG calculates non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the way in which other companies calculate similar non-GAAP financial measures;
• Non-GAAP financial measures do not include all items of income and expense that affect CSG's operations and that are required by GAAP to be included in financial statements;
• Certain adjustments to CSG's non-GAAP financial measures result in the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in CSG's financial statements in future periods; and
• Certain charges excluded from CSG's non-GAAP financial measures are cash expenses, and therefore do impact CSG's cash position.

CSG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement only. Additionally, CSG provides specific information regarding the treatment of GAAP amounts considered in preparing the non-GAAP financial measures and reconciles each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Basis of Presentation

The table below outlines the exclusions from CSG's non-GAAP financial measures:

CSG believes that excluding certain items in calculating its non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding CSG's performance and these items are excluded for the following reasons:

• Restructuring charges are infrequent expenses that result from cost reduction initiatives and/or significant changes to CSG's business, to include such things as involuntary employee terminations, and facility consolidations and abandonments. These charges are not considered reflective of CSG's recurring core business operating results. The exclusion of these items in calculating CSG's non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG's current operating results with historical and future periods.
• The Ascade acquisition-related charges relate to certain direct and incremental expenses related to the acquisition of Ascade, and thus, are not considered reflective of CSG's recurring core business operating results. These charges include expenses related to legal, accounting, and other professional services. The exclusion of these charges in calculating CSG's non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG's current financial results with historical and future periods.
• Stock-based compensation results from CSG's issuance of its common stock to its employees under incentive compensation programs. The amount of this incentive compensation in any period is not generally linked to the level of performance by employees or CSG, but instead is more dependent on CSG's stock price at the stock grant date, and the employee service period over which the equity awards vest. The exclusion of these expenses in calculating CSG's non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to evaluate the non-cash expense related to compensation included in CSG's results of operations, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash generating capabilities of CSG's business.
• Amortization of acquired intangible assets is the result of business acquisitions. A portion of the purchase price in an acquisition is allocated to acquired intangible assets (e.g., software, client relationships, etc.), which are then amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives. This annual amortization expense is generally unchanged from the initial estimates, regardless of performance of the acquired business in any one period. Also, the value assigned to acquired intangible assets in a business combination is based on various estimates and valuation techniques, and does not necessarily represent the costs CSG would incur to develop such capabilities internally. Additionally, amortization of acquired intangible assets can be inconsistent in amount and frequency, and can be significantly affected by the timing and size of an acquisition. The exclusion of these expenses in calculating CSG's non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to evaluate the non-cash expense related to acquisitions included in CSG's subsequent results of operations, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash generating capabilities of CSG's business.
• The convertible debt securities OID is the result of allocating a portion of the principal balance of the debt at issuance to the equity component of the instrument, as required under current accounting rules. This OID is then amortized to interest expense over the life of the respective convertible debt instrument. The interest expense related to the amortization of the OID is a non-cash expense, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash interest costs of CSG's convertible debt securities for cash flow, liquidity, and debt service purposes.
• Unusual items within CSG's quarterly and/or annual income tax expense can occur from such things as income tax accounting timing matters, income taxes related to unusual events, or as a result of different treatment of certain items for book accounting and income tax purposes. Consideration of such items in calculating CSG's non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG's current financial results with historical and future periods.

CSG also reports non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow. Management believes non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure to investors in evaluating CSG's operating performance, liquidity, debt servicing capabilities, and enterprise valuation. CSG defines adjusted EBITDA as income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, foreign currency transaction adjustments, and unusual items, such as restructuring charges, as discussed above. Additionally, management uses non-GAAP free cash flow, among other measures, to assess its financial performance and cash generating capabilities, and believes that it is useful to investors because it shows CSG's cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, repurchase its common stock, and fund ongoing operations. CSG defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash flows from operating activities less the purchases of property and equipment.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP Operating Income:

The reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

Non-GAAP EPS:

The reconciliations of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA:

CSG's calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG's non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to net income and cash flows from operating activities are provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands):

Free Cash Flow:

CSG's calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG's non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities are provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands):

Non-GAAP Financial Measures - 2013 Financial Guidance

Non-GAAP Operating Income Margin:

The reconciliation of GAAP operating income margin to non-GAAP operating income margin, as included in CSG's 2013 full year financial guidance, is as follows:

Non-GAAP EPS:

The reconciliation of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS as included in CSG's 2013 full year financial guidance is as follows:

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA:

CSG's calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG's non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to net income and cash flows from operations are provided below for CSG's 2013 full year financial guidance at the mid-point (in thousands):

Free Cash Flow:

CSG's calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG's non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities is provided below for the indicated period (in thousands):

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