Versant Object Technology Corp says it expects to report a net loss of between $0.12 and $0.15 per share for the fourth quarter of 1997, compared to a profit of $.07 per share a year ago. Total loss for 1997 is expected to range from $.15 to $.18 per share against net income of $.18 per share for 1996. Revenues for the fourth quarter are expected to be up about 60% at approximately $8.8m to $9.1m. Total revenue for 1997 will range from $29.4m to $29.7m, also an increase of roughly 60% year over year. The Fremont, California object database company attributes the poor numbers to a combination of a license revenue shortfall resulting from large project opportunities that it couldn’t close when it expected, as well as higher sales and marketing expenses. The higher expenses were due to what Versant describes as unusual regional concentrations of sales which resulted in higher commission costs, higher than expected spending on marketing programs and higher than expected fees associated with the recruiting of new company personnel, primarily in the sales and marketing area. Versant plans to release final fourth-quarter and twelve-month results on January 29.
