f10qsep3011.htm
 
 


 
 

UNITED STATES
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011
 
OR
 
[  ]TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ----- to -----
 

Commission file number 0-13163
   
Acxiom Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
   
DELAWARE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
71-0581897
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
P.O. Box 8180, 601 E. Third Street,
Little Rock, Arkansas
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
72201
(Zip Code)
   
(501) 342-1000
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
   
Yes  [X]
No  [ ]
 
     
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such filings).
 
Yes [X]
No [ ]
 
     
 
 
1

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
 
Large accelerated filer [X]
 
 
Accelerated filer   [ ]
   
 
Non-accelerated filer [ ]
 
Smaller reporting company [ ]
 
   
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)
 
 
   
Yes  [ ]
No  [X]
     
             
The number of shares of Common Stock, $ 0.10 par value per share outstanding as of November 2, 2011 was 78,274,188.
 


 
 2

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
September 30, 2011
 
 

 
 Part I.  Financial Information                                                                                                                           Page No.
   Item 1.        Financial Statements  
 
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
         as of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2011 (Unaudited)  
 
 4
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
         for the Three Months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited)  
 
 5
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
         for the Six Months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited)   
 
 6
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity and Comprehensive Income
         for the Six Months ended September 30, 2011 (Unaudited)  
 
 7
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
         for the Six Months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Unaudited) 
 8-9
                                                                                                                 
 
 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
10-21
 
 
 Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
22-32
 
 
 Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
 
33
 
 
 Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
33
 

Part II.              Other Information
 
 Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
34
 
 
 Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
34
 
 
 Item 6.
Exhibits
 
34-35
 
 Signature     36
 

                                                                                                                              
 

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
September 30, 2011
   
March 31, 2011
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 119,163     $ 207,023  
Trade accounts receivable, net
    181,423       176,654  
Deferred income taxes
    11,778       12,480  
Refundable income taxes
    -       7,402  
Other current assets
    56,715       55,691  
Total current assets
    369,079       459,250  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization
    251,301       255,307  
Software, net of accumulated amortization
    19,189       26,412  
Goodwill
    413,662       417,654  
Purchased software licenses, net of accumulated amortization
    34,974       38,583  
Deferred costs, net
    70,502       81,837  
Data acquisition costs, net
    14,038       17,627  
Other assets, net
    6,988       9,955  
    $ 1,179,733     $ 1,306,625  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current installments of long-term debt
  $ 27,826     $ 27,978  
Trade accounts payable
    25,525       27,507  
Accrued expenses
               
Payroll
    34,477       42,236  
Other
    81,820       75,852  
Deferred revenue
    52,746       55,921  
Income taxes payable
    2,978       -  
Total current liabilities
    225,372       229,494  
Long-term debt
    284,957       394,260  
Deferred income taxes
    85,353       84,360  
Other liabilities
    7,109       7,478  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Equity:
               
Common stock
    11,913       11,777  
Additional paid-in capital
    848,277       837,439  
Retained earnings
    482,363       459,096  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    9,972       15,991  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (781,163 )     (739,125 )
Total Acxiom stockholders' equity
    571,362       585,178  
Noncontrolling interest
    5,580       5,855  
Total equity
    576,942       591,033  
    $ 1,179,733     $ 1,306,625  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               

 
 
4
 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
     
For the Three Months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue:
           
Services
  $ 230,655     $ 225,584  
Products
    69,379       66,085  
Total revenue
    300,034       291,669  
Operating costs and expenses:
               
Cost of revenue
               
Services
    181,121       175,687  
Products
    47,962       48,320  
Total cost of revenue
    229,083       224,007  
Selling, general and administrative
    39,539       40,274  
Gains, losses and other items, net
    2,465       78  
Total operating costs and expenses
    271,087       264,359  
Income from operations
    28,947       27,310  
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense
    (4,719 )     (6,260 )
Other, net
    (965 )     111  
Total other expense
    (5,684 )     (6,149 )
Earnings before income taxes
    23,263       21,161  
Income taxes
    10,286       8,464  
Net earnings
  $ 12,977     $ 12,697  
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
    685       (584 )
Net earnings attributable to Acxiom
  $ 12,292     $ 13,281  
                 
Earnings per share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.16     $ 0.16  
Diluted
  $ 0.16     $ 0.16  
                 
Earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders:
               
Basic
  $ 0.15     $ 0.17  
Diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.16  
                 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               



 

 


ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
     
For the Six Months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue:
           
Services
  $ 456,259     $ 436,240  
Products
    132,709       125,824  
Total revenue
    588,968       562,064  
Operating costs and expenses:
               
Cost of revenue
               
Services
    361,584       340,337  
Products
    96,840       94,091  
Total cost of revenue
    458,424       434,428  
Selling, general and administrative
    76,658       78,229  
Gains, losses and other items, net
    2,709       21  
Total operating costs and expenses
    537,791       512,678  
Income from operations
    51,177       49,386  
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense
    (10,174 )     (12,158 )
Other, net
    (1,052 )     (340 )
Total other expense
    (11,226 )     (12,498 )
Earnings before income taxes
    39,951       36,888  
Income taxes
    16,959       14,755  
Net earnings
  $ 22,992     $ 22,133  
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (275 )     (953 )
Net earnings attributable to Acxiom
  $ 23,267     $ 23,086  
                 
Earnings per share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.28     $ 0.28  
Diluted
  $ 0.28     $ 0.27  
                 
Earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders:
               
Basic
  $ 0.29     $ 0.29  
Diluted
  $ 0.28     $ 0.28  
                 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               




 
 6

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
SIX MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

                                 
Accumulated
                         
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
               
other
   
Treasury Stock
             
   
Number
         
paid-in
   
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
comprehensive
   
Number
         
Noncontrolling
   
Total
 
   
of shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Income
   
earnings
   
income
   
of shares
   
Amount
   
Interest
   
Equity
 
Balances at March 31, 2011
    117,767,535     $ 11,777     $ 837,439           $ 459,096     $ 15,991       (37,183,774 )   $ (739,125 )   $ 5,855     $ 591,033  
Employee stock awards, benefit plans and other issuances
    498,116       50       5,724     $ -       -       -       (219,984 )     (2,956 )     -       2,818  
Restricted stock units vested
    866,379       86       (86 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Non-cash share-based compensation
    -       -       5,200       -       -       -       -       -       -       5,200  
Acquisition of treasury stock
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (3,704,900 )     (39,082 )     -       (39,082 )
Comprehensive income:
                                                                               
Foreign currency translation
    -       -       -       (5,719 )     -       (5,719 )     -       -       -       (5,719 )
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap
    -       -       -       (300 )     -       (300 )     -       -       -       (300 )
Net earnings (loss)
    -       -       -       23,267       23,267       -       -       -       (275 )     22,992  
Total comprehensive income
                          $ 17,248                                                  
Balances at September 30, 2011
    119,132,030     $ 11,913     $ 848,277             $ 482,363     $ 9,972       (41,108,658 )   $ (781,163 )   $ 5,580     $ 576,942  
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
     
For the Six Months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net earnings
  $ 22,992     $ 22,133  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    70,254       73,706  
Loss on disposal or impairment of assets
    2,893       -  
Deferred income taxes
    1,135       3,943  
Non-cash share-based compensation expense
    5,200       6,460  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    (9,676 )     (8,498 )
Other assets
    (4,592 )     (8,151 )
Deferred costs
    (831 )     (22,621 )
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    6,071       (7,982 )
Deferred revenue
    (2,978 )     964  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    90,468       59,954  
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Disposition of operations
    (1,043 )     -  
Capitalized software development costs
    (1,520 )     (2,567 )
Capital expenditures
    (24,711 )     (30,486 )
Payments received for investments
    -       175  
Data acquisition costs
    (4,550 )     (6,951 )
Net cash paid in acquisitions
    (255 )     (12,927 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (32,079 )     (52,756 )
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Payments of debt
    (113,775 )     (36,567 )
Contingent consideration paid for prior acquisitions
    (326 )     -  
Acquisition of treasury stock
    (34,100 )     -  
Sale of common stock
    2,818       4,820  
Proceeds from partner’s contributions
    -       133  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (145,383 )     (31,614 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (866 )     (304 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (87,860 )     (24,720 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    207,023       224,104  
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 119,163     $ 199,384  
                 


 
  8

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
     
For the Six Months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
           
Cash paid during the period for:
           
Interest
  $ 11,331     $ 11,676  
Income taxes
    5,387       21,082  
Payments on capital leases and installment payment arrangements
    8,978       11,379  
Payments on software and data license liabilities
    491       1,057  
Prepayments of debt
    100,000       20,000  
Other debt payments, excluding line of credit
    4,306       4,131  
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Acquisition of property and equipment under capital leases and installment payment arrangements
    4,691       17,650  
 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               
                 
                 
                 
                 


 

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.           BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Acxiom Corporation (“Registrant,” “Acxiom” or “the Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “the Commission”).  In the opinion of the Registrant’s management all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods included have been made and the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  Certain note information has been omitted because it has not changed significantly from that reflected in notes 1 through 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of Item 8 of the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (“2011 Annual Report”), as filed with the Commission on May 27, 2011.  This report and the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in connection with the 2011 Annual Report.  The financial information contained in this report is not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other period or for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Certain of the accounting policies used in the preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements are complex and require management to make judgments and/or significant estimates regarding amounts reported or disclosed in these financial statements.  Additionally, the application of certain of these accounting policies is governed by complex accounting principles and their interpretation.  A discussion of the Company’s significant accounting principles and their application is included in note 1 and in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, to the Company’s 2011 Annual Report.


 
10 

 


2.           EARNINGS PER SHARE AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Earnings Per Share

A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of basic and diluted earnings per share is shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
   
For the quarter ended
September 30
   
For the six months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Basic earnings per share:
                       
Numerator – net earnings
  $ 12,977     $ 12,697     $ 22,992     $ 22,133  
Denominator – weighted-average shares outstanding
    80,985       80,046       80,963       79,894  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.28     $ 0.28  
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Numerator – net earnings
  $ 12,977     $ 12,697     $ 22,992     $ 22,133  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Weighted-average shares outstanding
    80,985       80,046       80,963       79,894  
Dilutive effect of common stock options, warrants, and restricted stock as computed under the treasury stock method
    612       1,236       842       1,475  
      81,597       81,282       81,805       81,369  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.28     $ 0.27  
                                 
Basic earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders:
                               
Numerator – net earnings
  $ 12,292     $ 13,281     $ 23,267     $ 23,086  
Denominator – weighted-average shares outstanding
    80,985       80,046       80,963       79,894  
Basic earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders
  $ 0.15     $ 0.17     $ 0.29     $ 0.29  
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders:
                               
Numerator – net earnings
  $ 12,292     $ 13,281     $ 23,267     $ 23,086  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Weighted-average shares outstanding
    80,985       80,046       80,963       79,894  
Dilutive effect of common stock options, warrants, and restricted stock as computed under the treasury stock method
    612       1,236       842       1,475  
      81,597       81,282       81,805       81,369  
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders
  $ 0.15     $ 0.16     $ 0.28     $ 0.28  
                                 

 
11 

 

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had options and warrants outstanding providing for the purchase of approximately 10.4 million shares of common stock together with restricted stock units relating to 1.9 million shares of stock.  Options, warrants and restricted stock units that were outstanding during the periods presented, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect was antidilutive are shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

   
For the quarter ended
September 30
   
For the six months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Number of shares outstanding under options, warrants and restricted stock units
    10,582       9,174       10,069       8,075  
Range of exercise prices for options and warrants
  $ 11.50-$62.06     $ 14.68-$75.55     $ 13.14-$62.06     $ 16.35-$75.55  
                                 

Stockholders’ Equity

On August 29, 2011, the board of directors adopted a common stock repurchase program for a twelve-month period ending August 23, 2012.  Under the repurchase program, the Company may purchase up to $50 million worth of its common stock.  Through September 30, 2011, the Company had repurchased 3.7 million shares of its stock for $39.1 million.  Cash paid for repurchases of $34.1 million differs from the aggregate purchase price due to trades made at the end of the period which were settled subsequent to September 30, 2011.

3.           SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION:

Share-based Compensation Plans

Stock Option Activity
The Company has stock option and equity compensation plans for which a total of 38.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance since inception of the plans.  These plans provide that the exercise prices of qualified options will be at or above the fair market value of the common stock at the time of the grant.  Board policy has required that nonqualified options be priced at or above the fair market value of the common stock at the time of grant.  At September 30, 2011, there were a total of 5.3 million shares available for future grants under the plans.

The Company granted 500,576 stock options in the six months ended September 30, 2011.  The per-share weighted-average fair value of the stock options granted during the six months ended September 30, 2011 was $6.40.  This valuation was determined using a customized binomial lattice approach with the following weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield of 0.0%; risk-free interest rate of 2.4%; expected option life of 6.0 years; expected volatility of 46% and a suboptimal exercise multiple of 1.9.

Option activity for the six months ended September 30, 2011 was as follows:

   
Number
of shares
   
Weighted-average exercise price
per share
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)
   
Aggregate intrinsic value
(in thousands)
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2011
    9,526,989     $ 20.75              
Granted
    500,576     $ 13.74              
Exercised
    (208,507 )   $ 10.31           $ 165  
Forfeited or cancelled
    (771,616 )   $ 20.49                
Outstanding at September 30, 2011
    9,047,442     $ 20.63       4.44     $ 530  
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2011
    8,144,840     $ 21.35       3.98     $ 338  

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between Acxiom’s closing stock price on the last trading day of its second quarter of fiscal 2012 and the exercise price for each in-the-money option) that would have been received by the option holders had vested option holders exercised their options on September 30, 2011.  This amount changes based upon changes in the fair market value of Acxiom’s stock.
 
 
12

 

Following is a summary of stock options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2011:

     
Options outstanding
   
Options exercisable
 
Range of
exercise price
per share
   
Options
outstanding
 
Weighted- average remaining contractual life
 
Weighted-average
exercise price
per share
   
Options
exercisable
   
Weighted-average
exercise price
per share
 
                             
$ 3.69 - $ 9.62       275,674  
6.23 years
  $ 8.72       165,174     $ 8.59  
$ 10.22 - $ 15.00       2,257,932  
5.73 years
  $ 12.74       1,636,402     $ 12.36  
$ 15.10 - $ 19.82       2,136,988  
4.41 years
  $ 16.67       2,006,416     $ 16.65  
$ 20.12 - $ 25.00       2,191,433  
4.68 years
  $ 22.94       2,151,433     $ 22.90  
$ 25.98 - $ 29.30       1,175,275  
2.79 years
  $ 26.69       1,175,275     $ 26.69  
$ 30.93 - $ 39.12       758,660  
2.46 years
  $ 35.70       758,660     $ 35.70  
$ 40.50 - $ 62.06       251,480  
2.97 years
  $ 44.11       251,480     $ 44.11  
          9,047,442  
4.44 years
  $ 20.63       8,144,840     $ 21.35  

Total expense related to stock options for the six months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $0.8 million and $1.4 million respectively.  Future expense for these options is expected to be approximately $2.9 million over the next four years.

Restricted Stock Unit Activity
During the six months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted non performance-based restricted stock units covering 765,061 shares of common stock with a value at the date of grant of $10.1 million.  Of the restricted stock units granted in the current period, 631,967 vest in equal annual increments over four years and 133,094 vest in one year.  Valuation of these units is equal to the quoted market price for the shares on the date of grant.

 
Non-vested non performance-based restricted stock unit activity for the period ending September 30, 2011 was as follows:

   
Number
of shares
   
Weighted average fair value per
share at grant date
(in thousands)
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2011
    1,195,043     $ 13.42       2.16  
Granted
    765,061     $ 13.26          
Vested
    (402,257 )   $ 12.84          
Forfeited or cancelled
    (89,553 )   $ 13.44          
Outstanding at September 30, 2011
    1,468,294     $ 13.23       2.48  

During the six months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted performance-based restricted stock units covering 302,099 shares of common stock with a value at the date of grant of $3.6 million.  All of the performance-based restricted stock units granted in the current period vest subject to attainment of performance criteria established by the compensation committee of the board of directors.  Of the units granted in the current period, 172,945 may vest in a number of shares from zero to 200% of their award, based on the total shareholder return of Acxiom stock compared to total shareholder return of a group of peer companies established by the committee for the period from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014.  The remaining 129,154 units represent an inducement award granted to the Company’s chief executive officer.  The chief executive officer may vest in up to 100% of the award based on price targets for the Company’s common stock during the determination period from January 26, 2013 to July 26, 2014.  The value of the performance units is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model.


 
13 

 


Non-vested performance-based restricted stock unit activity for the period ending September 30, 2011 was as follows:

   
Number
of shares
   
Weighted average fair value per
share at grant date
(in thousands)
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2011
    586,269     $ 15.26       0.51  
Granted
    302,099     $ 11.85          
Vested
    (470,779 )   $ 13.02          
Forfeited or cancelled
    (33,160 )   $ 24.43          
Outstanding at September 30, 2011
    384,429     $ 17.31       2.39  

The expense related to restricted stock in the six months ended September 30, 2011 was $4.4 million.  The expense related to restricted stock in the six months ended September 30, 2010 was $5.1 million.  Future expense for these restricted stock units is expected to be approximately $21.0 million over the next four years.

4.           DIVESTITURES:

Prior to July 12, 2011, the Company owned a 51% interest in Acxiom MENA (“MENA”), a limited liability company registered under the laws and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  MENA comprises the Company’s Middle East and North Africa operations.  The consolidated net earnings of the Company in the statement of operations included the 49% noncontrolling interests of MENA.  On July 12, 2011, the Company entered into a transaction with MENA’s minority partners to fully dispose of its interest in its MENA subsidiary.  The terms of the disposal included a $1.0 million cash payment to MENA and the release of any claims that the acquirer may have against the Company and an agreement to hold the Company harmless from any future liabilities.  Following the transaction, the Company will have continued involvement primarily related to providing transaction support for a period not longer than two years.  The entity will no longer be a related party of the Company.

The Company recorded a loss on disposal of $3.4 million in the statement of operations.  Of the $3.4 million loss, $2.5 million is recorded in gains, losses and other items, net and $0.9 million is recorded in net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.  The deconsolidation of MENA in July 2011 resulted in the elimination of the accumulated deficit attributed to MENA from the Company’s consolidated statement of equity and comprehensive income of $0.9 million.  All goodwill associated with the MENA operations was written off as a goodwill impairment charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, therefore there was no goodwill allocated to the disposed operations.  The revenue associated with the MENA operations for fiscal 2011 was approximately $5.7 million.

5.           OTHER CURRENT AND NONCURRENT ASSETS:

Other current assets consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

   
September 30,
2011
   
March 31,
 2011
 
Prepaid expenses
  $ 44,490     $ 40,501  
Non-trade receivables
    496       1,409  
Assets of non-qualified retirement plan
    11,228       12,840  
Other miscellaneous assets
    501       941  
Other current assets
  $ 56,715     $ 55,691  

Other noncurrent assets consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

   
September 30,
 2011
   
March 31,
 2011
 
Acquired intangible assets, net
  $ 4,491     $ 6,896  
Other miscellaneous noncurrent assets
    2,497       3,059  
Other assets
  $ 6,988     $ 9,955  

The acquired intangible assets noted above represent customer relationship intangibles acquired through purchase acquisitions, net of accumulated amortization.
 
 
 
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6.           GOODWILL:

Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair values of net assets acquired in business combinations.  Goodwill is measured and tested for impairment on an annual basis in the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year in accordance with applicable accounting standards, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist.  Triggering events for interim impairment testing include indicators such as adverse industry or economic trends, restructuring actions, downward revisions to projections of financial performance, or a sustained decline in market capitalization.  The performance of the impairment test involves a two-step process.  The first step requires comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its net book value, including goodwill.  A potential impairment exists if the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is lower than its net book value.  The second step of the impairment test involves assigning the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its identifiable assets, with any residual fair value being assigned to goodwill.  If the carrying value of an individual indefinite-lived intangible asset (including goodwill) exceeds its estimated fair value, the asset is written down by an amount equal to the excess, and a corresponding amount is recorded as a charge to operations for the period in which the impairment test is completed.  Completion of the Company’s annual impairment test during the quarter ended June 30, 2011 indicated no potential impairment of its goodwill balances.

The carrying amount of goodwill, by business segment, for the six months ended September 30, 2011 is presented in the following table.

(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Information
Services
   
Information
Products
   
Total
 
Balance at March 31, 2011
  $ 347,411     $ 70,243     $ 417,654  
Purchase adjustments
    1       -       1  
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment
    (3,048 )     (945 )     (3,993 )
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 344,364     $ 69,298     $ 413,662  

The beginning goodwill balances reflect an impairment charge of $77.3 million related to Europe Information Services, MENA Information Services, and Europe Information Products which was recorded in the year ended March 31, 2011.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as either an operating segment or one step below operating segment, known as a component.  Acxiom’s two segments as presented above are the Information Services segment and the Information Products segment.  Because each of these segments contains both US and International components, and there are some differences in economic characteristics between the components in the different geographic regions, management has tested a total of seven components.  The goodwill amounts as of April 1, 2011 included in each component tested were:  US Information Services, $306.3 million; Europe Information Services, $13.4 million; APAC Information Services, $10.8 million; Brazil Information Services, $16.9 million; US Information Products, $51.2 million; Europe Information Products, $9.1 million; and APAC Information Products, $10.0 million.

In order to estimate a valuation for each of the components tested, management used an income approach based on a discounted cash flow model together with valuations based on an analysis of public company market multiples and a similar transactions analysis.

The income approach involved projecting cash flows for each component into the future and discounting these cash flows at an appropriate discount rate.  Management used budget figures for the first year of the projection model, and then projected those figures into the future years using management’s best estimates of future revenue growth, operating margins, and other cash flow assumptions.  The discount rates used for each component in order to arrive at an estimated fair value were estimated as the weighted-average cost of capital which a marketplace participant would use to value each component.  These weighted-average costs of capital rates included a market risk factor, added to a risk-free rate of return, and a size premium that was specific to the component being tested.  The resulting cost of equity was then weighted-averaged with the after-tax cost of debt.

The public company market multiple method was used to estimate values for each of the components by looking at market value multiples to revenue and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for selected public companies that were believed to be representative of companies that marketplace participants would use to arrive at comparable multiples for the individual component being tested.  These multiples were then used to develop an estimated value for that component.


 
15 

 


The similar transactions method compared multiples based on acquisition prices of other companies believed to be those that marketplace participants would use to compare to the individual component being tested.  Those multiples were then used to develop an estimated value for that component.

In order to arrive at an estimated value for each component, management used a weighted-average approach to combine the results of each analysis.  Management believes that using multiple valuation approaches and then weighting them appropriately is a technique that a marketplace participant would use.

As a final test of the valuation results, the total of the values of the components was reconciled to the actual market value of Acxiom Corporation stock as of the April 1, 2011 valuation date.  This reconciliation indicated an implied control premium.  Management believes this control premium is reasonable compared to historical control premiums observed in actual transactions.

As of April 1, 2011, each of the components had an estimated fair value in excess of its carrying value, indicating no impairment.  For all of the components other than the Brazil Information Services component, the calculated fair value exceeded the carrying value by a large margin with the smallest margin being more than 20%.  The Brazil Information Services component was recently acquired, as of July 1, 2010, and therefore even though the Brazil Information Services component’s fair value exceeded its carrying value, the fair value was not materially different from the carrying value.

Management believes that the estimated valuations it arrived at are reasonable and consistent with what other marketplace participants would use in valuing the Company’s components.  However, management cannot give any assurance that these market values will not change in the future.  For example, if discount rates demanded by the market increase, this could lead to reduced valuations under the income approach.  If the Company’s projections are not achieved in the future, this could lead management to reassess their assumptions and lead to reduced valuations under the income approach.  If the market price of the Company’s stock decreases, this could cause the Company to reassess the reasonableness of the implied control premium, which might cause management to assume a higher discount rate under the income approach which could lead to reduced valuations.  If future similar transactions exhibit lower multiples than those observed in the past, this could lead to reduced valuations under the similar transactions approach.  And finally, if there is a general decline in the stock market and particularly in those companies selected as comparable to the Company’s components, this could lead to reduced valuations under the public company market multiple approach.  The Company’s annual impairment test is performed during the first quarter of each fiscal year.  Given the current market conditions and continued economic uncertainty, the fair value of the Company’s components could deteriorate which could result in the need to record impairment charges in future periods.  The Company also monitors potential triggering events including changes in the business climate in which it operates, attrition of key personnel, volatility in the capital markets, the Company’s market capitalization compared to its book value, the Company’s recent operating performance, and the Company’s financial projections.  The occurrence of one or more triggering events could require additional impairment testing, which could result in future impairment charges.  In particular, since the Brazil Information Services component’s carrying value is not materially different from fair value, any changes to the Company’s assumptions could lead to an indicated impairment in step one, requiring the Company to proceed to step two and potentially record an impairment charge.  The Company has experienced operating losses in this component since the acquisition as the Company attempts to integrate operations and realize synergies, but the Company still believes the component will meet management’s long-term forecasts.  In the near-term, as management monitors the situation, it is possible it may change the revenue and cash flow projections, which could require the recording of an impairment charge.


 
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7.           LONG-TERM DEBT:

Long-term debt consists of the following (dollars in thousands):

   
September 30,
2011
   
March 31,
2011
 
Term loan credit agreement
  $ 252,000     $ 355,000  
Capital leases and installment payment obligations on land, buildings and equipment payable in monthly payments of principal plus interest at rates ranging from approximately 3% to 8%; remaining terms up to twelve years
    38,539       43,195  
Software license liabilities payable over terms up to three years; effective interest rates ranging from approximately 4% to 7%
    4,194       4,686  
Other debt and long-term liabilities
    18,050       19,357  
Total long-term debt and capital leases
    312,783       422,238  
Less current installments
    27,826       27,978  
Long-term debt, excluding current installments
  $ 284,957     $ 394,260  

The Company’s amended and restated credit agreement provides for (1) term loans up to an aggregate principal amount of $600 million and (2) revolving credit facility borrowings consisting of revolving loans, letter of credit participations and swing-line loans up to an aggregate amount of $120 million.

The term loan is payable in quarterly installments of approximately $1.5 million each, through December 31, 2014, with a final payment of approximately $232.5 million due March 15, 2015.  The revolving loan commitment expires March 15, 2014.

Revolving credit facility borrowings currently bear interest at LIBOR plus a credit spread, or at an alternative base rate or at the Federal Funds rate plus a credit spread, depending on the type of borrowing.  The LIBOR credit spread is 2.75%.  There were no revolving credit borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2011 or March 31, 2011.  Term loan borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus a credit spread of 3.00%.  The weighted-average interest rate on term loan borrowings at September 30, 2011 was 3.7%.  Outstanding letters of credit at September 30, 2011 were $0.4 million.

The term loan allows prepayments before maturity.  The credit agreement is secured by the accounts receivable of Acxiom and its domestic subsidiaries, as well as by the outstanding stock of certain Acxiom subsidiaries.

Under the terms of the term loan, the Company is required to maintain certain debt-to-cash flow and debt service coverage ratios, among other restrictions.  At September 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with these covenants and restrictions.  In addition, if certain financial ratios and other conditions are not satisfied, the revolving credit facility limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends in excess of $30 million in any fiscal year (plus additional amounts in certain circumstances).

In fiscal 2009, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement.  The agreement provided for the Company to pay interest through July 25, 2011 at a fixed rate of 3.25% plus the applicable credit spread on $95.0 million notional amount while receiving interest for the same period at the LIBOR rate on the same notional amount.  The fair market value of the derivative was zero at inception and is zero at September 30, 2011 since the derivative has reached maturity.  The company recognized no gains or losses associated with this derivative.

On July 25, 2011, the Company entered into a new swap agreement.  The new agreement provides for the Company to pay interest through January 27, 2014 at a fixed rate of 0.94% plus the applicable credit spread on $150.0 million notional amount, while receiving interest for the same period at the LIBOR rate on the same notional amount.  The LIBOR rate as of September 30, 2011 was 0.25%.  The swap was entered into as a cash flow hedge against LIBOR interest rate movements on the term loan.  The Company assesses the effectiveness of the hedge based on the hypothetical derivative method.  There was no ineffectiveness for the period ended September 30, 2011.  Under the hypothetical derivative method, the cumulative change in fair value of the actual swap is compared to the cumulative change in fair value of the hypothetical swap, which has terms that identically match the critical terms of the hedged transaction.  Thus, the hypothetical swap is presumed to perfectly offset the hedged cash flows.  The change in the fair value of the hypothetical swap will then be regarded as a proxy for the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future cash flows from the hedged transactions.  All of the fair values are derived from an interest-rate futures model.  As of September 30, 2011, the hedge relationship qualified as an effective hedge under applicable accounting standards.  Consequently, all changes in fair value of the derivative will be deferred and recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) until the related forecasted transaction is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.  The fair market value of the derivative was zero at inception and an unrealized loss of $1.2 million since inception is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) with the offset recorded to other noncurrent liabilities.  The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) may be recognized in the statement of operations if certain terms of the floating-rate debt change, if the floating-rate debt is extinguished or if the interest rate swap agreement is terminated prior to maturity.  The Company has assessed the creditworthiness of the counterparty of the swap and concludes that no substantial risk of default exists as of September 30, 2011.

 
17

 
8.           ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS:

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts, returns and credits of $4.6 million at September 30, 2011 and $5.6 million at March 31, 2011.

9.           SEGMENT INFORMATION:

The Company reports segment information consistent with the way management internally disaggregates its operations to assess performance and to allocate resources.  The Information Services segment includes the Company’s global lines of business for Customer Data Integration (CDI), Multichannel Marketing Services, Infrastructure Management Services and Consulting Services.  The Information Products segment is comprised of the Company’s global Consumer Insights line of business and the U.S. Background Screening Products line of business.  The Company’s calculation of segment operating income allocates all corporate expenses, excluding those reported as gains, losses and other items, to the segments.

The following tables present information by business segment (dollars in thousands):

   
For the quarter ended
September 30
   
For the six months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue:
                       
Information services
  $ 230,655     $ 225,584     $ 456,259     $ 436,240  
Information products
    69,379       66,085       132,709       125,824  
Total revenue
  $ 300,034     $ 291,669     $ 588,968     $ 562,064  
                                 
Income (loss) from operations:
                               
Information services
  $ 23,211     $ 22,952     $ 43,383     $ 43,831  
Information products
    8,201       4,436       10,503       5,576  
Other
    (2,465 )     (78 )     (2,709 )     (21 )
Income from operations
  $ 28,947     $ 27,310     $ 51,177     $ 49,386  
                                 

10.           RESTRUCTURING, IMPAIRMENT AND OTHER CHARGES:

The Company records costs associated with employee terminations and other exit activity in accordance with applicable accounting standards when those costs become probable and are reasonably estimable.  The following table summarizes the restructuring activity for the six months ended September 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):

   
Associate-related reserves
   
Ongoing
contract costs
   
Total
 
Balance at March 31, 2011
  $ 5,562     $ 9,542     $ 15,104  
Payments
    (5,306 )     (561 )     (5,867 )
Charges and adjustments
    223       (55 )     168  
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 479     $ 8,926     $ 9,405  
                         
The above balances are included in accrued expense on the consolidated balance sheet.


 
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Restructuring Plans

In fiscal 2011, the Company recorded $4.4 million in restructuring charges and adjustments included in gains, losses and other items in the consolidated statement of operations.  The expense included severance and other associate-related charges of $3.4 million, offset by adjustments to previous restructuring plans of $1.7 million, and executive leadership transition charges of $2.7 million.

The associate-related charges of $3.4 million resulted from the termination of associates in the United States, Australia, and Europe.  Of the $3.4 million accrued, $0.4 million remained accrued at September 30, 2011. These amounts are expected to be paid out during fiscal 2012.

The transition charges of $2.7 million resulted from the transition agreement between the Company and its Chief Executive Officer upon his resignation in March 2011.  According to the agreement, one lump sum payment equal to two times the Officer’s annual salary and bonus opportunity was to be paid by the Company.  The entire amount of $2.7 million was accrued at March 31, 2011 and was paid in full in April 2011.

As part of restructuring plans in fiscal 2008 and 2009, the Company recorded a total of $22.2 million in lease accruals included in gains, losses and other items in the consolidated statement of operations.  The lease accruals were evaluated under the accounting standards which govern exit costs.  These accounting standards require the Company to make an accrual for the liability for lease costs that will continue to be incurred without economic benefit to the Company upon the date that the Company ceases using the leased property.  On or before the date of the restructuring plan, the Company ceased using certain leased office facilities.  The Company attempts to sublease those facilities to the extent possible.  The Company established a liability for the fair value of the remaining lease payments, partially offset by the estimated sublease payments to be received over the course of those leases.  The fair value of these liabilities is based on a net present value model using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate.  These liabilities will be paid out over the remainder of the leased properties’ terms, of which the longest continues through November 2021.  Actual sublease terms may differ from the estimates originally made by the Company.  Any future changes in the estimates or in the actual sublease income could require future adjustments to the liability for these leases, which would impact net income in the period the adjustment is recorded.  The remaining amount accrued at September 30, 2011 is $8.9 million.

11.           COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Legal Matters

The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings. Management routinely assesses the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes to those matters, as well as ranges of probable losses, to the extent losses are reasonably estimable. The Company records accruals for these matters to the extent that management concludes a loss is probable and the financial impact, should an adverse outcome occur, is reasonably estimable. These accruals are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In management’s opinion, the Company has made appropriate and adequate accruals for these matters and management believes the probability of a material loss beyond the amounts accrued to be remote; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if accruals are not adequate, an adverse outcome could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Listed below are certain claims made against the Company and/or its subsidiaries for which the potential exposure is considered material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Management believes the Company has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these matters.

On April 26, 2011 a lawsuit styled Macomb County Employees’ Retirement System v. Acxiom Corporation, et al was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas against the Company and certain current and former officers and a director of the Company. The action sought to be certified as a class action covering persons who acquired Acxiom stock between October 27, 2010 and March 30, 2011. The action purported to assert claims that the defendants violated federal securities laws by not properly disclosing that the Company was experiencing a significant decline in its International operations and that the Company failed to properly and timely account for impaired assets related to its International operations. On August 29, 2011, the attorneys for the plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of all claims asserted.


 
19 

 


The Company is involved in various other claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business.  In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of all of these other matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Commitments

The Company leases or licenses data processing equipment, software, office furniture and equipment, land and office space under noncancellable operating leases or licenses.  The Company has a future commitment for lease or license payments over the next 29 years of $133.9 million.

In connection with a certain building, the Company has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with a local real estate developer.  The Company is guaranteeing a portion of the loan for the building.  In addition, in connection with the disposal of certain assets, the Company has guaranteed loans for the buyers of the assets.  These guarantees were made by the Company primarily to facilitate favorable financing terms for those third parties.  Should the third parties default on this indebtedness, the Company would be required to perform under these guarantees.  Substantially all of the third-party indebtedness is collateralized by various pieces of real property.  At September 30, 2011 the Company’s maximum potential future payments under these guarantees of third-party indebtedness were $1.3 million.

12.           INCOME TAX

In determining the quarterly provision for income taxes, the Company makes its best estimate of the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year. The anticipated effective tax rate for fiscal 2012 is approximately 40%, excluding the loss on the MENA disposal, for which there is no tax benefit.
 
At September 30, 2011, the Company had $3.1 million in gross unrecognized tax benefits, which is included in other liabilities on the balance sheet. This entire amount, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. The total amount of accrued interest and penalties for such unrecognized tax benefits, and included in the amount above, is $0.5 million.

13.           FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, unbilled and notes receivable, short-term borrowings and trade payables - The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Long-term debt - The interest rate on the term loan and revolving credit agreement is adjusted for changes in market rates and therefore the carrying value of these loans approximates fair value.  The estimated fair value of other long-term debt was determined based upon the present value of the expected cash flows considering expected maturities and using interest rates currently available to the Company for long-term borrowings with similar terms.  At September 30, 2011, the estimated fair value of long-term debt approximates its carrying value.

Derivative instruments included in other liabilities - The carrying value is adjusted to fair value through other comprehensive income (loss) at each balance sheet date.  The fair value is determined from an interest-rate futures model.

Under applicable accounting standards financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company assigned assets and liabilities to the hierarchy in the accounting standards, which is Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, Level 2 - significant other observable inputs and Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs.


 
 20

 


The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):

   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Other current assets
  $ 11,228     $ -     $ -     $ 11,228  
Total assets
  $ 11,228     $ -     $ -     $ 11,228  
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Other current liabilities
  $ 11,228     $ -     $ -     $ 11,228  
Other liabilities
    -       1,192       -       1,192  
Total liabilities
  $ 11,228     $ 1,192     $ -     $ 12,420  


 
21 

 


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction and Overview

Acxiom is a recognized leader in marketing technology and services that enable marketers to successfully manage audiences, personalize consumer experiences and create profitable customer relationships.  Our superior industry-focused, consultative approach combines consumer data and analytics, databases, data integration and consulting solutions for personalized, multichannel marketing strategies.  Acxiom leverages over 40 years of experience of data management to deliver high-performance, highly secure, reliable information management services.  Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA and serves clients around the world from locations in the United States, Europe, South America and the Asia-Pacific region.

As the Company completes the second quarter of fiscal 2012 the Company is in a management transition.  The Company named a new chief executive officer on July 25, 2011 and is actively recruiting a new chief financial officer.

Highlights of the quarter ended September 30, 2011 are identified below.

 
·  
Revenue of $300.0 million, an increase of 2.9% from $291.7 million in the second fiscal quarter a year ago.
 
·  
Total operating expenses were $271.1 million for the quarter, a 2.5% increase compared to $264.4 million in the same quarter a year ago.
 
·  
During the current quarter, the Company disposed of its ownership interest in Acxiom MENA - its operations in the Middle East.  The Company recorded a net loss on disposal of $2.5 million in gains, losses, and other items, net, and $0.9 million in net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.
 
·  
Gross margin was 23.6% compared to 23.2% in the same quarter a year ago.
 
·  
Income from operations increased 6.0% to $28.9 million compared to $27.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.
 
·  
Pre-tax earnings increased 9.9% to $23.3 million, compared to $21.2 million in the same quarter a year ago.
 
·  
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Acxiom shareholders were $0.15 compared to $0.16 in the same quarter a year ago.
 
·  
Operating cash flow was $57.7 million compared to operating cash flow of $43.0 million for the same quarter a year ago.
 
·  
The Company made term loan prepayments of $75.0 million.
 
·  
The Company acquired 3.7 million shares of its stock for $39.1 million as part of a stock repurchase program.


The highlights above are intended to identify to the reader some of the more significant events and transactions of the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  However, these highlights are not intended to be a full discussion of the Company’s results for the quarter.  These highlights should be read in conjunction with the following discussion of Results of Operations and Capital Resources and Liquidity and with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnotes accompanying this report.


 
22 

 


Results of Operations

A summary of selected financial information for each of the periods reported is presented below (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):
   
For the quarter ended
September 30
   
For the six months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
 
Revenue
                                   
Services
  $ 230.6     $ 225.6       2 %   $ 456.3     $ 436.3       5 %
Products
    69.4       66.1       5 %     132.7       125.8       6 %
    $ 300.0     $ 291.7       3 %   $ 589.0     $ 562.1       5 %
Total operating costs and expenses
    271.1       264.4       (2 )%     537.8       512.7       (5 )%
Income from operations
  $ 28.9     $ 27.3       6 %   $ 51.2     $ 49.4       4 %
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders
  $ 0.15     $ 0.16       (6 )%   $ 0.28     $ 0.28       0 %


Revenue
Total revenue increased $8.4 million, or 2.9%, to $300.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $291.7 million for the comparable period in fiscal year 2011.  For the six months ended September 30, 2011, total revenue increased 4.8% to $589.0 million.

Services
Services revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $230.6 million, representing a $5.0 million increase, or 2.2%, from the same quarter a year ago.  On a geographic basis, International services increased $3.1 million, or 13.9%, while US services increased $1.9 million, or 1.0%.  Excluding favorable exchange rate movements and the impact of the MENA disposal in the current year and the Portugal and Netherlands disposals in the fourth quarter of the prior year, International services increased approximately $3.3 million in the quarter.  The International services increase was attributable to an increase in Europe services.  US revenue increases resulted from growth in the Multi-channel Marketing and Consulting Services lines of businesses.  Excluding Infrastructure Management revenue, US services revenue increased 3.1% compared to the same quarter a year ago with increases in most major US industry verticals.  By line of business, Services revenue increases were primarily in Multi-channel Marketing Services, at $6.6 million or 7.5%; and Consulting Services, at $3.0 million or 29.4%. The Infrastructure Management business, impacted by the loss of a significant contract in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, was down $2.1 million or 2.7% for the quarter when compared to the same quarter in the prior year.

Services revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2011 was $456.3 million, representing a $20.0 million increase, or 4.6%, from the same period last year.  On a geographic basis, International services increased $7.3 million, or 17.5%, while US services increased $12.7 million, or 3.2%.  International services revenue includes revenue in the current year related to the Brazil acquisition and revenue in the prior year related to the divested operations of MENA, Portugal, and the Netherlands.  Excluding favorable exchange rate movements and the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, International services increased approximately $5.2 million.  International services business in all geographies experienced an increase during the period.  US revenue increases resulted from growth in the Multi-channel Marketing and Consulting Services lines of businesses.  Excluding Infrastructure Management revenue, US services revenue increased 6.0% during the six months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period a year ago, with increases in most major US industry verticals.  By line of business, Services revenue increases were primarily in Multi-channel Marketing Services, at $15.2 million or 8.9%; and Consulting Services, at $4.2 million or 20.7%. The Infrastructure Management business, impacted by the loss of a significant contract in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, was down $2.1 million or 1.3% for the six months ended September 30, 2011 when compared to the same period a year ago.

Products
Products revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $69.4 million, representing a $3.3 million or 5.0% increase from the same quarter a year ago.  International operations increased $2.5 million compared to the prior-year quarter.  Excluding the impact of favorable exchange rates and the disposal of the Portugal and Netherlands businesses, International products revenue increased $1.5 million.  The increase resulted from increases in project activity in Europe.  In the US, product revenue increased $0.8 million, or 1.6%.  Consumer Insights revenue increased approximately 1.9% in the quarter ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the prior-year quarter, as most US markets had increases in project-related activity.

 
 
23

 
Products revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2011 was $132.7 million, representing a $6.9 million or 5.5% increase compared to the same period last year.  International operations increased $2.6 million during the period.  Excluding the impact of favorable exchange rates and divestitures, International products revenue increased approximately $1.0 million due to stronger second quarter results in Europe.   In the US, product revenue increased $4.3 million, or 4.4%.  Consumer Insights revenue increased approximately 5.0% in the period as most US markets had increases in project-related activity.  Background screening revenue increased 2.5% in the period.

Operating Costs and Expenses
The following table presents the Company’s operating costs and expenses for each of the periods presented (dollars in millions):

   
For the quarter ended
September 30
   
For the six months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
 
Cost of revenue
                                   
Services
  $ 181.1     $ 175.7       (3 )%   $ 361.6     $ 340.3       (6 )%
Products
    48.0       48.3       1 %     96.8       94.1       (3 )%
Total cost of revenue
  $ 229.1     $ 224.0       (2 )%   $ 458.4     $ 434.4       (6 )%
Selling, general and administrative
    39.5       40.3       2 %     76.7       78.3       2 %
Gains, losses and other items, net
    2.5       0.1               2.7       -          
Total operating costs
and expenses
  $ 271.1     $ 264.4       (2 )%   $ 537.8     $ 512.7       (5 )%


   
For the quarter ended
September 30
   
For the six months ended
September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Gross profit margin
                       
Services
    21.5 %     22.1 %     20.8 %     22.0 %
Products
    30.9       26.9       27.0       25.2  
Total gross profit margin
    23.6 %     23.2 %     22.2 %     22.7 %
Operating profit margin
    9.6 %     9.4 %     8.7 %     8.8 %

Cost of services revenue of $181.1 million during the current quarter represents an increase of $5.4 million, or 3.1% compared to the same quarter a year ago.  Gross margin for services revenue decreased from 22.1% to 21.5%.  Margins in the current quarter were negatively impacted by the impact of the lost outsourcing contract in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the additional delivery resources required to support current business, and a shift in the mix of services revenue.  US services gross margins decreased from 24.2% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 to 22.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 primarily due to increasing delivery costs, while International services gross margins were 13.9% compared to 1.9% a year ago due to improved results in Brazil and the disposal of MENA.

Cost of services revenue of $361.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2011 represents an increase of $21.2 million, or 6.2% compared to the same period last year.  Gross margin for services revenue decreased from 22.0% to 20.8%.  Margins were negatively impacted by the impact of the lost outsourcing contract in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the additional delivery resources required to support current business, and a shift in the mix of services revenue.  US services gross margins decreased from 24.0% for the six months ended September 30, 2010 to 22.6% for the six months ended September 30, 2011 primarily due to lost business and increasing delivery costs, while International services gross margins were 6.8% compared to 2.7% a year ago due to improved results in Europe and the disposal of MENA.

 
24

 
Cost of products revenue of $48.0 million during the current quarter represents a decrease of $0.4 million, or 0.7% compared to the same quarter a year ago.  Products revenue gross margins increased to 30.9% during the quarter from 26.9% in the same quarter a year ago.   Both US and International businesses had increasing margins due to lower costs in the US and increasing leverage from Europe revenue increases.  Cost of products revenue of $96.8 million during the six months ended September 30, 2011 represents an increase of $2.7 million, or 2.9% compared to the same period last year.  Products revenue gross margins increased to 27.0% for the six months ended September 30, 2011 from 25.2% during the same period a year ago.   Both US and International businesses had increasing margins due to increasing leverage from revenue increases.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $39.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  This represents a 1.8% decrease compared to $40.3 million reported in the prior-year same quarter.  As a percent of total revenue, these expenses were 13.2% compared to 13.8% a year ago.  Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $76.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2011.  This represents a $1.6 million decrease from the same period last year.  As a percent of total revenue, these expenses were 13.0% compared to 13.9% a year ago.  Costs were relatively flat in both the US and International operations.  Lower non-cash stock compensation costs due to executive changes and lower marketing expenses impacted selling, general, and administrative expenses during the period.  Some components of selling, general, and administrative expenses, such as sales commissions, are more variable than others and fluctuate as revenue and sales activity move.

The current year balance, on a quarter and year-to-date basis, of gains, losses and other items, net primarily represents the $2.5 million net loss related to the disposal of the MENA operations.  The loss is primarily attributable to the forgiveness of debt to the MENA operations, including a $1.0 million cash payment as part of the disposition.

Other Income (Expense)
Interest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $4.7 million compared to $6.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.  The decrease results from a decline in the average balance of the term loan of approximately $160 million, while the average interest rate remained relatively flat.  Interest on other debt, such as capital leases, also remained relatively flat.    Interest expense for the six months ended September 30, 2011 was $10.2 million compared to $12.2 million in the same period last year.  The decrease results from a decline in the average balance of the term loan of approximately $120 million, while the average interest rate remained relatively flat.  Interest on other debt, such as capital leases, also remained relatively flat.  During the six months ended September 30, 2011, the Company pre-paid $100 million of the term loan.

Other income (expense) was $1.0 million expense in the current quarter compared to $0.1 million income in the prior-year quarter.  Other expense was $1.1 million and $0.3 million in the current and prior-year six-month periods, respectively.  Both in the current and prior-year quarters and six-month periods, other income and expense was comprised primarily of interest income on notes receivable and investment income along with foreign currency transaction gains and losses.  Other income (expense) for the current year was negatively impacted by foreign currency transaction losses on balances in Brazil, Europe, and Australia.

Income taxes
The effective tax rate for the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was 44% and 40%, respectively.  The effective tax rate for the six months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was 42.4% and 40%, respectively.  The current period rate, on a quarter and year-to-date basis, was 40% excluding the impact of the loss on disposal of MENA, for which there is no tax benefit.  The tax rates in both current and prior-year periods were impacted by losses in certain foreign jurisdictions.  The Company does not record the tax benefit of certain of those losses due to uncertainty of future benefit.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

Working Capital and Cash Flow
Working capital at September 30, 2011 totaled $143.7 million compared to $229.8 million at March 31, 2011.  Total current assets decreased $90.2 million due to decreases in cash and cash equivalents of $87.9 million, primarily related to the prepayment of debt, and refundable income taxes of $7.4 million, offset by increases in trade accounts receivable of $4.8 million.  Current liabilities decreased $4.1 million due to decreases in trade accounts payable of $2.0 million, accrued payroll and related expenses of $7.8 million, and deferred revenue of $3.2 million offset by increases in other accrued expenses of $6.0 million, and income taxes of $3.0 million.

The Company made prepayments on its term loan of $75.0 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and has made total prepayments on the term loan of $100.0 million during the six months ended September 30, 2011.   


 
25 

 


Accounts receivable days sales outstanding was 56 days at September 30, 2011 compared to 53 days at March 31, 2011, and is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
September 30,
2011
   
March 31,
2011
 
Numerator – trade accounts receivable, net
  $ 181,423     $ 176,654  
Denominator:
               
Quarter revenue
    300,034       298,796  
Number of days in quarter
    92       90  
Average daily revenue
  $ 3,261     $ 3,320  
Days sales outstanding
    56       53  

Net cash provided by operating activities was $90.5 million for the six months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of $30.5 million from the same period a year ago.  The increase primarily resulted from favorable working capital changes and decreases in cost deferrals of approximately $21.8 million resulting from decreased Infrastructure Management contract migration activity.

Investing activities used $32.1 million in cash during the six months ended September 30, 2011.  This resulted from capital expenditures of $24.7 million, capitalization of data acquisition costs of $4.6 million, and capitalization of software development costs of $1.5 million.  Additionally, during the current quarter, a $1.0 million payment was made to MENA upon disposition of Acxiom’s interest in the business.  Cash paid in acquisitions of $12.9 million in the same period last year represents the acquisitions of Acxiom Brazil and a digital marketing company in Australia.

Financing activities used $145.4 million in the six months ended September 30, 2011.  Payments of debt of $113.8 million include term loan prepayments of $100.0 million, capital lease and installment credit payments of $9.0 million, software and data license payments of $0.5 million and other debt payments of $4.3 million.  The current period also includes the acquisition of $34.1 million of Company stock pursuant to the Board of Directors’ approved stock repurchase plan.  The Company purchased 3.7 million shares at a cost of $39.1 million, of which $34.1 million was paid during the current period.  The remaining $5.0 million is included in other accrued expenses as of September 30, 2011 and was paid when the trades settled in October 2011.

Non-cash investing and financing activities included acquisition of property and equipment under capital leases and installment payment arrangements of $4.7 million in the six months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $17.7 million in the same period last year.  Future payments under these arrangements will be reflected as debt payments.

Credit and Debt Facilities
The Company’s amended and restated credit agreement provides for (1) term loans up to an aggregate principal amount of $600 million and (2) revolving credit facility borrowings consisting of revolving loans, letter of credit participations and swing-line loans up to an aggregate amount of $120 million.

The term loan is payable in quarterly installments of approximately $1.5 million each, through December 31, 2014, with a final payment of approximately $232.5 million due March 15, 2015.  The revolving loan commitment expires March 15, 2014.

Revolving credit facility borrowings currently bear interest at LIBOR plus a credit spread, or at an alternative base rate or at the Federal Funds rate plus a credit spread, depending on the type of borrowing.  The LIBOR credit spread is 2.75%.  There were no revolving credit borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2011 or March 31, 2011.  Term loan borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus a credit spread of 3.00%.  The weighted-average interest rate on term loan borrowings at September 30, 2011 was 3.7%.  Outstanding letters of credit at September 30, 2011 were $0.4 million.

The term loan allows prepayments before maturity.  The credit agreement is secured by the accounts receivable of Acxiom and its domestic subsidiaries, as well as by the outstanding stock of certain Acxiom subsidiaries.

Under the terms of the term loan, the Company is required to maintain certain debt-to-cash flow and debt service coverage ratios, among other restrictions.  At September 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with these covenants and restrictions.  In addition, if certain financial ratios and other conditions are not satisfied, the revolving credit facility limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends in excess of $30 million in any fiscal year (plus additional amounts in certain circumstances).
 
 
 
26

 

On July 25, 2011, the Company entered into a swap agreement.  The agreement provides for the Company to pay interest through January 27, 2014 at a fixed rate of 0.94% plus the applicable credit spread on $150.0 million notional amount, while receiving interest for the same period at the LIBOR rate on the same notional amount.  The LIBOR rate as of September 30, 2011 was 0.25%.  The swap was entered into as a cash flow hedge against LIBOR interest rate movements on the term loan.  The fair market value of the derivative was zero at inception and an unrealized loss of $1.2 million since inception is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) with the offset recorded to other noncurrent liabilities.  The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) may be recognized in the statement of operations if certain terms of the floating-rate debt change, if the floating-rate debt is extinguished or if the interest rate swap agreement is terminated prior to maturity.  The Company has assessed the creditworthiness of the counterparty of the swap and concludes that no substantial risk of default exists as of September 30, 2011.

Off-Balance Sheet Items and Commitments
In connection with a certain building, the Company has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with a local real estate developer.  The Company is guaranteeing a portion of the loan for the building.  In addition, in connection with the disposal of certain assets, the Company has guaranteed loans for the buyers of the assets.  These guarantees were made by the Company primarily to facilitate favorable financing terms for those third parties.  Should the third parties default on this indebtedness, the Company would be required to perform under these guarantees.  Substantially all of the third-party indebtedness is collateralized by various pieces of real property.  At September 30, 2011 the Company’s maximum potential future payments under these guarantees of third-party indebtedness were $1.3 million.

Outstanding letters of credit which reduce the borrowing capacity under the Company’s revolving credit facility were $0.4 million at September 30, 2011.

Contractual Commitments
The following table presents Acxiom’s contractual cash obligations, exclusive of interest, and purchase commitments at September 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands).  The table does not include the future payment of gross unrealized tax benefit liabilities of $3.1 million or the future payment, if any, against the Company’s non-current interest rate swap liability of $1.2 million as the Company is not able to predict the periods in which these payments will be made. The column for 2012 represents the six months ending March 31, 2012.  All other columns represent fiscal years ending March 31.

   
For the years ending March 31
 
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
2016
   
Thereafter
   
Total
 
Term loan
  $ 3,000     $ 6,000     $ 6,000     $ 237,000     $ -     $ -     $ 252,000  
Capital lease and installment payment obligations
    8,546       14,191       5,515       1,331       862       8,094       38,539  
Software license liabilities
    2,426       1,768       -       -       -       -       4,194  
Other long-term debt
    1,326       2,688       1,608       1,663       7,314       3,451       18,050  
Total long-term obligations
    15,298       24,647       13,123       239,994       8,176       11,545       312,783  
Operating lease payments
    10,892       21,964       20,401       15,448       12,588       52,647       133,940  
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 26,190     $ 46,611     $ 33,524     $ 255,442     $ 20,764     $ 64,192     $ 446,723  

   
For the years ending March 31
 
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
2016
   
Thereafter
   
Total
 
Total purchase commitments
  $ 41,830     $ 34,639     $ 16,499     $ 14,191     $ 10,453     $ 3,030     $ 120,642  

Purchase commitments include contractual commitments for the purchase of data and open purchase orders for equipment, paper, office supplies, construction and other items.  Purchase commitments in some cases will be satisfied by entering into future operating leases, capital leases, or other financing arrangements, rather than payment of cash.  The above commitments relating to long-term obligations do not include future payments of interest.  The Company estimates future interest payments on debt and capital leases for the remainder of fiscal 2012 of $8.8 million.


 
27 

 


The following are contingencies or guarantees under which the Company could be required, in certain circumstances, to make cash payments as of September 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):

Guarantee on certain partnership and other loans
 
1,263
Outstanding letters of credit
 
374

The total amount of partnership and other loans of which the Company guarantees the portion noted in the above table is $5.0 million as of September 30, 2011.

While the Company does not have any other material contractual commitments for capital expenditures, certain levels of investments in facilities and computer equipment continue to be necessary to support the growth of the business.  In some cases, the Company also sells software and hardware to clients.  In addition, new outsourcing or facilities management contracts frequently require substantial up-front capital expenditures to acquire or replace existing assets.  Management believes that the Company’s existing available debt and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet the Company’s working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future.  The Company also evaluates acquisitions from time to time, which may require up-front payments of cash.  Depending on the size of the acquisition it may be necessary to raise additional capital.  If additional capital becomes necessary as a result of any material variance of operating results from projections or from potential future acquisitions, the Company may access available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit agreement, issue debt, equity or hybrid securities, or take a combination of these actions or other actions.  However, no assurance can be given that the Company would be able to obtain funding through the issuance of debt, equity or hybrid securities at terms favorable to the Company, or that the desired funding would be available.

For a description of certain risks that could have an impact on results of operations or financial condition, including liquidity and capital resources, see “Risk Factors” contained in Part I, Item 1A, of the Company’s 2011 Annual Report.

Non-U.S. Operations

The Company has a presence in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Australia, China and Brazil.   Most of the Company’s exposure to exchange rate fluctuation is due to translation gains and losses as there are no material transactions that cause exchange rate impact.  In general, each of the foreign locations is expected to fund its own operations and cash flows, although funds may be loaned or invested from the U.S. to the foreign subsidiaries subject to limitations in the Company’s revolving credit facility.  These advances are considered to be long-term investments, and any gain or loss resulting from changes in exchange rates as well as gains or losses resulting from translating the foreign financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).  Exchange rate movements of foreign currencies may have an impact on the Company’s future costs or on future cash flows from foreign investments.  The Company has not entered into any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  These accounting principles require management to make certain judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  The consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report include a summary of significant accounting policies used in the preparation of Acxiom’s consolidated financial statements.  In addition, the Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed as part of the 2011 Annual Report contains a discussion of the policies which management has identified as the most critical because they require management’s use of complex and/or significant judgments.  None of the Company’s critical accounting policies have materially changed since the date of the last annual report.

Valuation of Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair values of net assets acquired in business combinations.  Goodwill is measured and tested for impairment on an annual basis in the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year in accordance with applicable accounting standards, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist.  Triggering events for interim impairment testing include indicators such as adverse industry or economic trends, restructuring actions, downward revisions to projections of financial performance, or a sustained decline in market capitalization.  The performance of the impairment test involves a two-step process.  The first step requires comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its net book value, including goodwill.  A potential impairment exists if the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is lower than its net book value.  The second step of the impairment test
 
 
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involves assigning the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its identifiable assets, with any residual fair value being assigned to goodwill.  If the carrying value of an individual indefinite-lived intangible asset (including goodwill) exceeds its estimated fair value, the asset is written down by an amount equal to the excess, and a corresponding amount is recorded as a charge to operations for the period in which the impairment test is completed.  Completion of the Company’s annual impairment test during the quarter ended June 30, 2011 indicated no potential impairment of its goodwill balances.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as either an operating segment or one step below operating segment, known as a component.  Acxiom’s two segments are the Information Services segment and the Information Products segment.  Because each of these segments contains both US and International components, and there are some differences in economic characteristics between the components in the different geographic regions, management has tested a total of seven components.  The goodwill amounts as of April 1, 2011 included in each component tested were:  US Information Services, $306.3 million; Europe Information Services, $13.4 million; APAC Information Services, $10.8 million; Brazil Information Services, $16.9 million; US Information Products, $51.2 million; Europe Information Products, $9.1 million; and APAC Information Products, $10.0 million.

In order to estimate a valuation for each of the components tested, management used an income approach based on a discounted cash flow model together with valuations based on an analysis of public company market multiples and a similar transactions analysis.

The income approach involved projecting cash flows for each component into the future and discounting these cash flows at an appropriate discount rate.  Management used budget figures for the first year of the projection model, and then projected those figures into the future years using management’s best estimates of future revenue growth, operating margins, and other cash flow assumptions.  The discount rates used for each component in order to arrive at an estimated fair value were estimated as the weighted-average cost of capital which a marketplace participant would use to value each component.  These weighted-average costs of capital rates included a market risk factor, added to a risk-free rate of return, and a size premium that was specific to the component being tested.  The resulting cost of equity was then weighted-averaged with the after-tax cost of debt.

The public company market multiple method was used to estimate values for each of the components by looking at market value multiples to revenue and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for selected public companies that were believed to be representative of companies that marketplace participants would use to arrive at comparable multiples for the individual component being tested.  These multiples were then used to develop an estimated value for that component.

The similar transactions method compared multiples based on acquisition prices of other companies believed to be those that marketplace participants would use to compare to the individual component being tested.  Those multiples were then used to develop an estimated value for that component.

In order to arrive at an estimated value for each component, management used a weighted-average approach to combine the results of each analysis.  Management believes that using multiple valuation approaches and then weighting them appropriately is a technique that a marketplace participant would use.

As a final test of the valuation results, the total of the values of the components was reconciled to the actual market value of Acxiom Corporation stock as of the April 1, 2011 valuation date.  This reconciliation indicated an implied control premium.  Management believes this control premium is reasonable compared to historical control premiums observed in actual transactions.

As of April 1, 2011, each of the components had an estimated fair value in excess of its carrying value, indicating no impairment.  For all of the components other than the Brazil Information Services component, the calculated fair value exceeded the carrying value by a large margin with the smallest margin being more than 20%.  The Brazil Information Services component was recently acquired, as of July 1, 2010, and therefore even though the Brazil Information Services component’s fair value exceeded its carrying value, the fair value was not materially different from the carrying value.

Management believes that the estimated valuations it arrived at are reasonable and consistent with what other marketplace participants would use in valuing the Company’s components.  However, management cannot give any assurance that these market values will not change in the future.  For example, if discount rates demanded by the market increase, this could lead to reduced valuations under the income approach.  If the Company’s projections are not achieved in the future, this could lead management to reassess their assumptions and lead to reduced valuations under the income approach.  If the market price of the Company’s stock decreases, this could cause the Company
 
 
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to reassess the reasonableness of the implied control premium, which might cause management to assume a higher discount rate under the income approach which could lead to reduced valuations.  If future similar transactions exhibit lower multiples than those observed in the past, this could lead to reduced valuations under the similar transactions approach.  And finally, if there is a general decline in the stock market and particularly in those companies selected as comparable to the Company’s components, this could lead to reduced valuations under the public company market multiple approach.  The Company’s annual impairment test is performed during the first quarter of each fiscal year.  Given the current market conditions and continued economic uncertainty, the fair value of the Company’s components could deteriorate which could result in the need to record impairment charges in future periods.  The Company monitors potential triggering events including changes in the business climate in which it operates, attrition of key personnel, volatility in the capital markets, the Company’s market capitalization compared to its book value, the Company’s recent operating performance, and the Company’s financial projections.  The occurrence of one or more triggering events could require additional impairment testing, which could result in future impairment charges.  In particular, since the Brazil Information Services component’s carrying value is not materially different from fair value, any changes to the Company’s assumptions could lead to an indicated impairment in step one, requiring the Company to proceed to step two and potentially record an impairment charge.  The Company has experienced operating losses in this component since the acquisition as the Company attempts to integrate operations and realize synergies, but the Company still believes the component will meet management’s long-term forecasts.  In the near-term, as management monitors the situation, it is possible it may change the revenue and cash flow projections, which could require the recording of an impairment charge.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standard update, which amends the fair value measurement guidance and includes some enhanced disclosure requirements. The most significant change in disclosures is an expansion of the information required for Level 3 measurements based on unobservable inputs. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We will adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and we do not expect the adoption will have a material impact on our financial statements and disclosures.

In June 2011, the FASB issued a new accounting standard, which eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of stockholders’ equity. Instead, an entity will be required to present items of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We will adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

In September 2011, the FASB issued a revised accounting standard, which is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of the annual goodwill impairment test by providing entities an option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. Specifically, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the current two-step test. If an entity believes, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. This standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We will adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and we do not expect the adoption will have a material impact on our financial statements.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements.  These statements, which are not statements of historical fact, may contain estimates, assumptions, projections and/or expectations regarding the Company’s financial position, results of operations, market position, product development, growth opportunities, economic conditions, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation.  Forward-looking statements are often identified by words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “foresee,” and similar words or phrases.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results and experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements.


 
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Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to the following:
 
·  
management’s expectations about the macro economy;
 
·  
management’s current views and estimates regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations;
 
·  
that the amounts for restructuring and impairment charges and accruals for litigation will be within estimated ranges;
 
·  
that the cash flows used in estimating the recoverability of assets will be within the estimated ranges; and
 
·  
that items which management currently believes are not material will continue to not be material in the future.

Among the factors that may cause actual results and expectations to differ from anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are the following:
 
·  
the risk factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report and elsewhere in this report and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
 
·  
the possibility that we may be unable to quickly attract and hire a qualified chief financial officer;
 
·  
the possibility that in the event a change of control of the Company is sought that certain clients may attempt to invoke provisions in their contracts resulting in a decline in revenue and profit;
 
·  
the possibility that the integration of acquired businesses may not be as successful as planned;
 
·  
the possibility that the fair value of certain of our assets may not be equal to the carrying value of those assets now or in future time periods;
 
·  
the possibility that sales cycles may lengthen;
 
·  
the possibility that we will not be able to properly motivate our sales force or other associates;
 
·  
the possibility that we may not be able to attract and retain qualified technical and leadership associates, or that we may lose key associates to other organizations;
 
·  
the possibility that we will not be able to continue to receive credit upon satisfactory terms and conditions;
 
·  
the possibility that competent, competitive products, technologies or services will be introduced into the marketplace by other companies;
 
·  
the possibility that there will be changes in consumer or business information industries and markets that negatively impact the Company;
 
·  
the possibility that we will not be able to protect proprietary information and technology or to obtain necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms;
 
·  
the possibility that there will be changes in the legislative, accounting, regulatory and consumer environments affecting our business, including but not limited to litigation, legislation, regulations and customs relating to our ability to collect, manage, aggregate and use data;
 
·  
the possibility that data suppliers might withdraw data from us, leading to our inability to provide certain products and services;
 
·  
the possibility that we may enter into short-term contracts which would affect the predictability of our revenues;
 
·  
the possibility that the amount of ad hoc, volume-based and project work will not be as expected;
 
·  
the possibility that we may experience a loss of data center capacity or interruption of telecommunication links or power sources;
 
·  
the possibility that we may experience failures or breaches of our network and data security systems, leading to potential adverse publicity, negative customer reaction, or liability to third parties;
 
·  
the possibility that our clients may cancel or modify their agreements with us;
 
·  
the possibility that we will not successfully complete customer contract requirements on time or meet the service levels specified in the contracts, which may result in contract penalties or lost revenue;
 
·  
the possibility that we experience processing errors which result in credits to customers, re-performance of services or payment of damages to customers; and
 
·  
general and global negative economic conditions.

 
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With respect to the provision of products or services outside our primary base of operations in the United States, all of the above factors apply, along with the difficulty of doing business in numerous sovereign jurisdictions due to differences in scale, competition, culture, laws and regulations.

Other factors are detailed from time to time in periodic reports and registration statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that we have the product and technology offerings, facilities, associates and competitive and financial resources for continued business success, but future revenues, costs, margins and profits are all influenced by a number of factors, including those discussed above, all of which are inherently difficult to forecast.

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information or otherwise.

 
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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

Acxiom’s earnings are affected by changes in short-term interest rates primarily as a result of its term loan and revolving credit agreement, which bears interest at a floating rate.  Acxiom currently uses an interest-rate swap agreement to mitigate the changes in interest rate risk on $150 million of its floating-rate debt.  Risk can be estimated by measuring the impact of a near-term adverse movement of one percentage point in short-term market interest rates.  If short-term market interest rates increase one percentage point during the next four quarters compared to the previous four quarters, there would be no material adverse impact on Acxiom’s results of operations.  Acxiom has no material future earnings or cash flow expenses from changes in interest rates related to its other long-term debt obligations as substantially all of Acxiom’s remaining long-term debt instruments have fixed rates.  At both September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2011, the fair value of Acxiom’s fixed rate long-term debt approximated carrying value.

The Company has a presence in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Australia, China and Brazil.  In general, each of the foreign locations is expected to fund its own operations and cash flows, although funds may be loaned or invested from the U.S. to the foreign subsidiaries.  Therefore, exchange rate movements of foreign currencies may have an impact on Acxiom’s future costs or on future cash flows from foreign investments.  Acxiom, at this time, has not entered into any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.


Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

         (a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

As of September 30, 2011 under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and our principal financial and accounting officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our principal financial and accounting officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

(b)  
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting.


 
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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in various claims and litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of the business.  None of these, however, are believed to be material in their nature or scope, except those incorporated by reference under this Part II, Item 1.

Refer to the discussion of certain legal proceedings pending against the Company under Part I, Item 1, Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 11 Commitments and Contingencies, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a)           Not Applicable

(b)           Not Applicable

(c)           The table below provides information regarding purchases by Acxiom of its common stock during the periods indicated.
Period
 
Total Number
 of Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid
 Per Share
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
   
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
 
7/1/11 – 7/31/11
    0       n/a       0     $ 0  
8/1/11 – 8/31/11
    68,400       11.06       68,400       49,243,304  
9/1/11 -- 9/30/11
    3,636,500       10.54       3,636,500       10,918,137  
      Total
    3,704,900       10.55       3,704,900     $ 10,918,137  

The repurchases listed above were made pursuant to a repurchase program adopted by the Board of Directors on August 29, 2011.  Under this common stock repurchase program, the Company may purchase up to $50 million worth of its common stock over the twelve-month period ending August 23, 2012.

Item 6.                      Exhibits

(a)           The following exhibits are filed with this Report:

 
10.1
Employment Agreement between the Company and Scott E. Howe dated July 26, 2011 (previously filed on July 27, 2011, as Exhibit 10.1 to Acxiom Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference)

 
10.2
2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation (previously filed on July 27, 2011, as Exhibit 10.2 to Acxiom Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference)

 
10.3
Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement under the 2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation (previously filed on July 27, 2011, as Exhibit 10.3 to Acxiom Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference)

 
10.4
Form of Stock Option Grant Agreement under the 2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation (previously filed on July 27, 2011, as Exhibit 10.4 to Acxiom Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference)

 
10.5
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation (previously filed on July 27, 2011, as Exhibit 10.5 to Acxiom Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference)

 
31(a)
Certification of Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
34

 
 
31(b)
Certification of principal financial and accounting officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
32(a)
Certification of Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
32(b)
Certification of principal financial and accounting officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
101
The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the six months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2011, and March 31, 2011, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended September 30, 2011, and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in detail.


 
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ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



Acxiom Corporation



Dated:  November 8, 2011


By:  /s/Art G. Kellam                                                      
(Signature)
Art G. Kellam
Vice President-Finance and Corporate Controller
(principal financial and accounting officer)


 
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