Datalink Corporation Reports First Quarter Operating Results Strong Growth Continues MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2000--Datalink Corporation (NASDAQ: DTLK - news), a premier independent provider of networked data storage solutions, reported that revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 increased 9% to $28.0 million from $25.7 million in the same period a year ago. As previously announced and discussed below, Datalink recently changed its 2000 revenue recognition policies in response to a recent SEC accounting bulletin. As a result, Datalink's 2000 operating results are not directly comparable with its 1999 results. Absent the change in revenue recognition policies, first quarter 2000 revenues would have been $34.8 million, a 35% increase over the first quarter of 1999. 
  Greg Meland, Datalink's President and CEO commented: ``We continue to experience strong demand in the marketplace for our networked data storage solutions. Over the past year, we have added sales and technical staff to meet the growing marketplace demand for data storage technology and data storage capacity. Datalink continues to lead its industry in the implementation of open networked data storage solutions, such as storage area networks.' 
  ``Across all industries, we see dramatic increases in the volume of business-critical data. We are well positioned to help businesses with the challenge of managing this data. We partner with fibre channel switch leader Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., and others with industry leading products, to blend the best new technologies into open networked solutions for our customers. As we look to seize the growing opportunity in the marketplace, we plan to continue to expand our sales and technical staff.' 
  As previously announced, Datalink modified its revenue recognition policies beginning January 1, 2000 in response to the Securities and Exchange Commission's recently issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 - ``Revenue Recognition.' With these operating results, Datalink has applied its new policies. The changes relate to sales of hardware and software solutions, and service contracts. Historically, Datalink recognized hardware and software product revenues upon shipment to customers and service contract revenues upon signing of the contract. Datalink now recognizes hardware and software product revenues upon completion of installation services, and service contract revenues over the life of the contract, which is typically one year. 
  Dan Kinsella, Datalink's Chief Financial Officer, stated: ``Our new accounting policies merely defer the recognition of our revenues and do not impact the cash flows, revenues or profits we ultimately recognize. However, as a result of our accounting policy changes, we regularly ship hardware and software products at the end of a quarter that will not be included in our reported revenues because we did not complete our installation and configuration services. Our 2000 operating results therefore cannot be directly compared to our prior period operating results, as we recognized revenues in prior periods upon shipment.' 
  Datalink reported first quarter 2000 income before the cumulative effect of the changes in accounting policies of $936,000, or $.10 per diluted share. By comparison, Datalink's first quarter 1999 net income, adjusted to include income taxes and exclude public offering costs, was $910,000 or $.14 per diluted share. 
  Kinsella further commented: ``We generated outstanding growth and profitability in the first quarter. However, because we could not practically complete installation and configuration for a significant number of hardware and software solutions we shipped during March, we have deferred a significant amount of revenue and profits from our first quarter. We expect to recognize revenues for these transactions in our second quarter as we complete the installation and configuration services for our customers.' 
  Kinsella also noted that in the first quarter of 2000, Datalink has recognized a $1.3 million one-time non-cash charge, net of income taxes, for the cumulative effect of the accounting policy changes, or $.14 per diluted share. 
  Datalink Corporation, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a premier independent provider of networked data storage solutions for open systems computing environments. Datalink develops solutions that are designed to store, access and protect business critical information using best of breed technologies and professional services. Datalink's multi-tiered professional services organization delivers a comprehensive suite of services, including analysis, design, integration, implementation, training, technical support and maintenance. 
  The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a ``safe harbor' for certain forward-looking statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect our views regarding future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those identified below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. The words ``aim,' ``believe,' ``expect,' ``anticipate,' ``intend,' ``estimate' and other expressions which indicate future events and trends identify forward-looking statements. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: our ability to hire and retain key technical and other personnel; competition and pricing pressures that may adversely affect our revenues and profits; the level of continuing demand for data storage; our dependence on key suppliers; the strain placed on our resources by growth and expansion; our ability to adapt to rapid technological change; risks associated with possible future acquisitions; fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; future changes in applicable accounting rules; any remaining impact of Year 2000 issues; and volatility in our stock price. 
                      --FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW--
                           Datalink Corporation             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations                  (in thousands, except per share data)
                                Three Months Ended                                    March 31,                                  (unaudited)                                 2000     1999
   Revenues                      $27,998 $25,682  Cost of revenues               20,312  19,071                               -------------------  Gross profit                    7,686   6,611                               -------------------
   Sales and marketing             3,475   2,529  General and   administrative                 2,135   1,690  Engineering                       595     776  Offering costs (1)                  -     173                               -------------------  Total operating expenses        6,205   5,168                               -------------------  Income from operations          1,481   1,443
   Interest income  (expense), net                     76     (74)                               -------------------  Income before income  taxes                           1,557   1,369
   Income taxes (2)                  638    (556)                               -------------------  Income before cumulative   effect of a change    in accounting principle         919   1,925
   Cumulative impact of a   change in accounting        policy, net of         income taxes (3)        (1,327)      -                               -------------------
   Net income (loss)              $ (408) $1,925                               ===================
   Net income per share:
   Basic:  Income per share before   cumulative effect of a    change in accounting         $ 0.10  $ 0.29      principle
   Loss per share from the     cumulative effect of a      change in accounting       principle                  (0.15)      -                               -------------------
             Net income           (loss) per share     $ (0.05) $ 0.29                               ===================
     Fully diluted:    Income per share before      cumulative effect of      a change in      accounting principle       $ 0.10  $ 0.29
     Loss per share from the      cumulative effect of       a change in       accounting principle       (0.14)      -                               -------------------
     Net income (loss) per     share                       $(0.04) $ 0.29                               ===================
   Weighted average shares    outstanding:
          Basic                    8,773   6,710
          Fully          diluted                 9,261   6,710
  (1)  Reflects legal, accounting, and other costs associated with the      Company's initial public offering, which was postponed due to      market conditions.
  (2)  Income tax benefit in 1999 reflects a one time tax benefit from      the conversion of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary from      C-Corporation status to the Company's S-Corporation status.
  (3)  Effective January 1, 2000 the Company changed its revenue      recognition policies related to hardware and software products      and for service contracts. The amount represents the cumulative      impact of the new policies, net of income taxes, on periods prior      to January 1, 2000.
   Pro forma income (loss)    and income (loss) per    share calculations:
   Pro forma income before    cumulative effect of    a change in account    principle (1)                 $ 919   $ 808  Cumulative effect of a    change in accounting    principle, net of    income taxes                 (1,327)      -                               -----------------
           Net income (loss)      $ (408)  $ 808                               ===================
     Pro forma income per      share before      cumulative effect of      a change in      accounting      prinicple  (2)             $ 0.10  $ 0.10
     Cumulative effect per      share, of a change in      accounting principle,      net of income taxes         (0.14)      -                               -------------------         Net income           (loss) per share     $ (0.04) $ 0.10                               ===================
   Weighted average shares    used in calculating pro    forma income per share:
      Fully diluted weighted       average shares             9,261   6,710
      Additional shares     required to fund     distribution to     shareholders                     -   1,309                               -------------------
                                   9,261   8,019                               ===================
  (1)  Pro forma net income is calculated as if the Company was subject      to income taxes for all periods presented.
  (2)  Pro forma income per share is computed by dividing pro forma net      income by the fully dilluted weighted average number of shares      for the period, after giving effect to the number of shares that      would be required to be sold at the initial offering price to      fund a distribution to the shareholders of all previously taxed,      but undistributed, S Corporation earnings.
  Net income per share assuming income taxes and excluding offering cost   expenses before the cumulative effect of a change in accounting   principle:
  Net income(1)                    $ 919   $ 910
   Net income per share:
                       Basic      $ 0.10  $ 0.14
                       Fully                    diluted      $ 0.10  $ 0.14
   Weighted average shares    outstanding:                      Basic                                  8,773   6,710                      Fully                    diluted       9,261   6,710
  (1)  Reflects net income excluding offering expenses and assuming the      Company was subject to income taxes for all periods presented. |