Jeremy,
  Here is the announcement I found on AOL:
  CONWAY, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1997--Acxiom Corporation (Nasdaq: ACXM) reported record revenue and earnings today for the  fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.  
  Consolidated revenues for the year ended March 31, 1997 were  $402,016,000, up 49% over the $269,902,000 reported for 1996.  Net  earnings were $27,512,000 ($.47 per share), up 51% from the earnings  in the previous year of $18,223,000 ($.35 per share).  
  For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 1997, consolidated  revenues were $105,982,000, up 38% from the same quarter a year ago. Net earnings for the quarter were $8,141,000 ($.14 per share), an  increase of 56% compared to earnings in the previous year's fourth  quarter of $5,203,000 ($ .10 per share).  All per-share amounts are  adjusted for a 2-for-1 stock split which was effective November 11,  1996.  
  "We had another outstanding year and achieved several important  milestones," said Charles D. Morgan, Acxiom's Chairman.  "We made  significant progress on our data content and data delivery strategy  including two acquisitions early in the year and several data  distribution alliances with important partners throughout the year."
  Data Distribution Alliances 
  Oracle Corporation announced an agreement with Acxiom to provide  data content for its new Data Mart Suites products on March 31, 1997. For companies that want to build a customer-focused, decision-support data mart, Acxiom will be a strategic partner to provide external  consumer support data such as age, income level, occupation, marital  status, etc., to enhance the Oracle database.  During the fiscal year Acxiom also completed data distribution and/or other cooperative  marketing agreements with IBM, Red Brick Systems, Inc., Informix  Software, Inc., Arbor Software Corporation, AppSource Corporation,  Business Objects, Inc., Microstrategy, Inc. and Trajecta, Inc.   Revenues from these and other similar relationships are expected to  grow strongly over the next few years.  
  Growth -- Across the Board 
  "We grew 29% internally this year in addition to $55 million in  growth from acquisitions," Morgan continued.  "Our internal growth  was driven by a number of new customers as well as several new  agreements with existing customers."  
  During the quarter Acxiom successfully completed the first two  development phases associated with the Trans Union Corporation  Marketing Services agreement.  Also during the quarter Acxiom and  Trans Union renegotiated the deliverables for the next phase, and  extended both the Marketing Services and Data Center Management  agreements for an additional three years.  "These extensions reflect  the continuing and growing partnership between Trans Union and  Acxiom," said Ralph Sorice, Executive Vice President, Trans Union.  
  Revenues from Trans Union now exceed $50 million per year and  with continued future growth, Acxiom projects that the Trans Union  contract extensions will result in over $200 million added to its  contractual revenue backlog.  
  Recently acquired customers for which revenue increased  substantially during the year include America On-Line, The Bank of  New York, Bell Atlantic Communications, Inc., Blockbuster  Entertainment, Inc., Britannia Building Society, Brunswick  Corporation, Capital One Services, Conde Nast Publications, Dell  Products L.P., First USA Bank, IBM, NOVUS Services, Inc., NUMA  Corporation, PNC Bank, N.A., Phillips Publishing International, Inc., The Polk Company, Sam's Wholesale Club, Transamerica Financial  Services, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  
  Realignment 
  Acxiom recently completed an organizational realignment into four operating divisions supported by a small corporate office.  "We have  realigned Acxiom effective April 1, 1997, to structure ourselves for  continued growth," Mr. Morgan continued.  "I believe our new  divisional structure can support Acxiom's growth to a $2-$3 billion  corporation."  
  The four divisions include three in the U.S. and one  international division.  The Acxiom International Division is based  in London, England, led by Jerry C.D. Ellis, with seven years of  Acxiom experience.  This division maintains small offices in the  Netherlands and Malaysia in addition to major facilities in London  and Sunderland, England.  "Acxiom International intends to expand  both through acquisitions and through internal growth in Europe, the  Asia Pacific region and other areas of the world," said Ellis.   Revenues from Acxiom International in fiscal 1997 were $28 million, a 60% increase over the previous year.  
  The three U.S.-based divisions are the Acxiom Data Products  Division, the Acxiom Services Division and the Acxiom Alliances  Division.  The Data Products Division is led by C. Alex Dietz, with  over 25 years of experience at Acxiom.  Included in the Acxiom Data  Products Division are Direct Media, Greenwich, CT; Data Quick, La  Jolla, CA; Pro CD, Danvers, MA; and InfoBase, Conway, AR.  The Data  Products Division contributed $116 million in revenue during fiscal  1997 and grew 110% over the previous year.  "Our vision is to be the  recognized data content leader for both consumer and business data," said Dietz.  "We also plan to build a world-class data repository and leading edge data delivery systems to distribute our data content."  
  The Acxiom Alliances Division is led by James T. Womble, with 23 years experience at Acxiom.  Included in the Alliances Division are  the outsourcing relationships with Trans Union, Polk, Guideposts, ADP and M/A/R/C, along with the Financial Services industry business  units.  The Alliances Division contributed $129 million in revenue in fiscal 1997 and grew 43% over the previous year.  "We see significant opportunity to grow our existing strategic relationships," said  Womble.  "And we continue to find opportunities to build new  alliances that create win/win partnerships for both Acxiom and our  customers."  
  The Acxiom Services Division is led by Paul L. Zaffaroni, with  over eight years of Acxiom experience.  The Services Division  consists of most of the Company's traditional computer processing  services customers including Allstate, Citibank, IBM, and the  Insurance, Telecommunications, Publishing, Retail, High Tech and  Utilities industry customers.  The Services Division contributed $129 million in revenue in fiscal 1997, a 23% increase over the previous  year.  "Our vision is to be the premier service provider of data,  data integration and data warehousing solutions to the Fortune 500," said Zaffaroni.  
  Acxiom provides a wide spectrum of data products, data  integration services, and mailing list services, as well as data  warehousing and decision support services to major firms in the  United States and United Kingdom.  Founded in 1969, Acxiom is  headquartered in Conway, Arkansas, with operations throughout the  United States and the United Kingdom.  
  This press release contains forward looking statements that  involve risks and uncertanties, including statements about future  revenue growth.  Actual results could differ, based upon market  conditions and other risks detailed from time to time in the  Company's SEC filings.   -0- *T
  Acxiom Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Consolidated Statements of Earnings
  (Unaudited)
  For the Three Months Ended
  March 31,
  -----------------------------
  1997             1996
  -----------------------------
  Revenue                      $105,982,000     $ 77,029,000 Operating costs and expenses:      Salaries and benefits          39,293,000       26,794,000 Computer, communications and  other equipment               13,574,000       13,009,000 Data costs                     21,710,000       17,020,000 Other operating costs and  expenses                      17,094,000       10,939,000
  ----------       ---------- Total operating costs and  expenses                      91,671,000       67,762,000
  ----------       ---------- Income from operations         14,311,000        9,267,000
  ----------       ----------
  Other income (expense): Interest expense               (1,406,000)        (686,000) Other, net                       (364,000)        (173,000)
  -----------      -----------
  (1,770,000)        (859,000)
  -----------      ----------- Earnings before income   taxes                         12,541,000        8,408,000
  Income taxes                    4,400,000        3,205,000
  ----------       ---------- Net earnings                    8,141,000        5,203,000
  Earnings per share                   0.14             0.10
  Weighted average shares  outstanding                   59,540,000       52,334,000
  For the Twelve Months Ended
  March 31,
  1997             1996 Revenue                      $402,016,000     $269,902,000 Operating costs and expenses:      Salaries and benefits         145,038,000       98,075,000 Computer, communications and  other equipment               58,552,000       40,972,000 Data costs                     76,282,000       63,442,000 Other operating costs and  expenses                      70,431,000       35,755,000 Total operating costs and   expenses                     350,303,000      238,244,000 Income from operations         51,713,000       31,658,000
  Other income (expense): Interest expense               (3,903,000)      (1,863,000) Other, net                     (3,772,000)        (399,000)
  -----------      -----------
  (7,675,000)      (2,262,000) Earnings before income               taxes                         44,038,000       29,396,000 Income taxes                   16,526,000       11,173,000 Net earnings                   27,512,000       18,223,000 Earnings per share                   0.47             0.35 Weighted average shares  outstanding                   59,143,000       52,078,000 *T
  CONTACT: 
  Acxiom Corporation, Conway
  Robert S. Bloom, 501/336-1321
  KEYWORD:  ARKANSAS
  INDUSTRY KEYWORD:  COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED EARNINGS
  URL:  acxiom.com
  BW1130  APR 30,1997
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