Table of Contents

 

 

 

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 June 30, 2012

 

OR

 

o

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 o

 

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 files).  Yes x  No o

 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)  Yes o  No x

 

The number of shares of Common Stock, $ 0.10 par value per share outstanding as of August 2, 2012 was 75,029,287.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

June 30, 2012

 

 

Page No.

Part I.     Financial Information

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012 (Unaudited)

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)

4

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)

5

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months ended June 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

6

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)

7-8

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

9-20

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

21-30

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

31

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

31

 

 

 

Part II.    Other Information

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

32

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

32

Item 6.

Exhibits

33

 

 

 

Signature

 

34

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

June 30,
2012

 

March 31,
2012

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

179,282

 

$

229,648

 

Trade accounts receivable, net

 

172,549

 

169,446

 

Deferred income taxes

 

14,688

 

15,107

 

Other current assets

 

58,064

 

57,804

 

Total current assets

 

424,583

 

472,005

 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

242,935

 

253,373

 

Software, net of accumulated amortization

 

14,501

 

13,211

 

Goodwill

 

381,439

 

382,285

 

Purchased software licenses, net of accumulated amortization

 

24,548

 

25,294

 

Deferred costs, net

 

56,600

 

61,977

 

Data acquisition costs, net

 

13,785

 

15,009

 

Other assets, net

 

3,163

 

3,697

 

 

 

$

1,161,554

 

$

1,226,851

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current installments of long-term debt

 

$

24,905

 

$

26,336

 

Trade accounts payable

 

23,442

 

31,030

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Payroll

 

31,585

 

54,839

 

Other

 

78,535

 

77,062

 

Deferred revenue

 

52,588

 

59,949

 

Income taxes payable

 

9,966

 

16,400

 

Total current liabilities

 

221,021

 

265,616

 

Long-term debt

 

248,613

 

251,886

 

Deferred income taxes

 

91,643

 

93,039

 

Other liabilities

 

4,134

 

4,455

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

12,055

 

12,003

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

865,229

 

860,165

 

Retained earnings

 

549,692

 

536,359

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

11,929

 

13,601

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

(842,736

)

(810,381

)

Total Acxiom stockholders’ equity

 

596,169

 

611,747

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

(26

)

108

 

Total equity

 

596,143

 

611,855

 

 

 

$

1,161,554

 

$

1,226,851

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

271,659

 

$

276,044

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenue

 

209,326

 

218,289

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

36,749

 

36,807

 

Gains, losses and other items, net

 

160

 

244

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

246,235

 

255,340

 

Income from operations

 

25,424

 

20,704

 

Other expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(3,240

)

(5,455

)

Other, net

 

(547

)

(87

)

Total other expense

 

(3,787

)

(5,542

)

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes

 

21,637

 

15,162

 

Income taxes

 

8,438

 

6,063

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

 

$

13,199

 

$

9,099

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

916

 

Net earnings

 

$

13,199

 

$

10,015

 

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(134

)

(960

)

Net earnings attributable to Acxiom

 

$

13,333

 

$

10,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.11

 

Net earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

0.01

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Acxiom stockholders

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.11

 

Net earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

0.01

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Acxiom stockholders

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.13

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

13,199

 

$

10,015

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(1,734

)

2,302

 

Unrealized gains on interest rate swap

 

62

 

704

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(1,672

)

3,006

 

Comprehensive income

 

11,527

 

13,021

 

Less: comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(134

)

(960

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Acxiom stockholders

 

$

11,661

 

$

13,981

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

 

 

other

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

paid-in

 

Retained

 

comprehensive

 

Number

 

 

 

Noncontrolling

 

Total

 

 

 

of shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

earnings

 

income

 

of shares

 

Amount

 

Interest

 

Equity

 

Balances at March 31, 2012

 

120,027,013

 

$

12,003

 

$

860,165

 

$

536,359

 

$

13,601

 

(43,213,027

)

$

(810,381

)

$

108

 

$

611,855

 

Employee stock awards, benefit plans and other issuances

 

182,581

 

18

 

2,445

 

 

 

(51,048

)

(702

)

 

1,761

 

Restricted stock units vested

 

338,431

 

34

 

(34

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash share-based compensation

 

 

 

2,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,653

 

Acquisition of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,321,203

)

(31,653

)

 

(31,653

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

(1,734

)

 

 

 

(1,734

)

Unrealized loss on interest rate swap

 

 

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

 

62

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

 

 

13,333

 

 

 

 

(134

)

13,199

 

Total comprehensive income
Balances at June 30, 2012

 

120,548,025

 

$

12,055

 

$

865,229

 

$

549,692

 

$

11,929

 

(45,585,278

)

$

(842,736

)

$

(26

)

$

596,143

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

6



Table of Contents

 

ACXIOM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

13,199

 

$

10,015

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

30,995

 

35,295

 

Loss on disposal or impairment of assets

 

24

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(1,403

)

37

 

Non-cash share-based compensation expense

 

2,653

 

2,355

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

(4,609

)

(3,622

)

Other assets

 

(1,397

)

(8,517

)

Deferred costs

 

(647

)

(386

)

Accounts payable and other liabilities

 

(33,464

)

(3,674

)

Deferred revenue

 

(7,218

)

1,251

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

(1,867

)

32,754

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalized software development costs

 

(3,673

)

(529

)

Capital expenditures

 

(3,538

)

(12,577

)

Data acquisition costs

 

(2,302

)

(2,776

)

Net cash paid in acquisitions

 

 

(255

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(9,513

)

(16,137

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Payments of debt

 

(6,856

)

(32,312

)

Acquisition liability payment

 

(287

)

(326

)

Acquisition of treasury stock

 

(33,097

)

 

Sale of common stock

 

1,761

 

39

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(38,479

)

(32,599

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

(507

)

53

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(50,366

)

(15,929

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

229,648

 

206,973

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

179,282

 

$

191,044

 

 

7



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

3,223

 

$

5,589

 

Income taxes

 

16,193

 

1,098

 

Payments on capital leases and installment payment arrangements

 

4,562

 

4,794

 

Payments on software and data license liabilities

 

129

 

367

 

Prepayments of debt

 

 

25,000

 

Other debt payments

 

2,165

 

2,151

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment under capital leases and installment payment arrangements

 

2,157

 

3,747

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

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, 2012 (“2012 Annual Report”), as filed with the Commission on May 25, 2012.  This report and the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in connection with the 2012 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, 2013.

 

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 2012 Annual Report.

 

Discontinued Operations -

 

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the Company announced the sale of its background screening unit, Acxiom Information Security Systems (AISS).  The sale was completed in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  As a result, AISS results for the prior year are presented as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.  Revenue and expenses related to discontinued operations are netted and presented on one line, net of tax, in the statement of operations.

 

Reclassifications -

 

Certain amounts reported in previous periods have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements -

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to an existing accounting standard which requires companies to present net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements.  We adopted the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

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
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

 

$

13,199

 

$

9,099

 

Net earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

916

 

Net earnings

 

$

13,199

 

$

10,015

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(134

)

(960

)

Net earnings attributable to Acxiom

 

$

13,333

 

$

10,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding

 

76,473

 

80,942

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.11

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

0.01

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.12

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(0.01

)

Net earnings attributable to Acxiom

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding

 

76,473

 

80,942

 

Dilutive effect of common stock options, warrants, and restricted stock as computed under the treasury stock method

 

1,584

 

1,072

 

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

 

78,057

 

82,014

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.11

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

0.01

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.12

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(0.01

)

Net earnings attributable to Acxiom

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.13

 

 

Some earnings per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

 

As of June 30, 2012, the Company had options and warrants outstanding providing for the purchase of approximately 10.0 million shares of common stock together with restricted stock units relating to 2.2 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
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Number of shares outstanding under options, warrants and restricted stock units

 

8,117

 

9,063

 

Range of exercise prices for options and warrants

 

$13.74-$62.06

 

$13.70-$62.06

 

 

10



Table of Contents

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

On August 29, 2011, the board of directors adopted a common stock repurchase program.  That program was subsequently modified and expanded on December 5, 2011, and again on May 24, 2012.  Under the modified common stock repurchase program, the Company may purchase up to $150.0 million worth of its common stock through the period ending May 24, 2013.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2012, the Company repurchased 2.3 million shares of its common stock for $31.7 million.  Cash paid for acquisition of treasury stock in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows may differ from the aggregate purchase price due to trades made during one fiscal period that settle in a different fiscal period.  Through June 30, 2012, the Company had repurchased 8.1 million shares of its stock for $99.8 million, leaving remaining capacity of $50.2 million under the stock repurchase program.

 

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 requires that nonqualified options be priced at or above the fair market value of the common stock at the time of grant.  At June 30, 2012, there were a total of 4.4 million shares available for future grants under the plans.

 

The Company granted 497,409 stock options in the three months ended June 30, 2012.  The per-share weighted-average fair value of the stock options granted during the three months ended June 30, 2012 was $5.00.  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 1.7%; expected option life of 4.5 years; expected volatility of 43% and a suboptimal exercise multiple of 1.4.

 

Option activity for the three months ended June 30, 2012 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, 2012

 

8,322,077

 

$

20.91

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

497,409

 

$

13.31

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(27,500

)

$

10.18

 

 

 

$

136

 

Forfeited or cancelled

 

(176,690

)

$

17.33

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2012

 

8,615,296

 

$

20.57

 

4.36

 

$

6,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at June 30, 2012

 

7,285,698

 

$

21.87

 

3.43

 

$

3,838

 

 

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 first quarter of fiscal 2013 and the exercise price for each in-the-money option) that would have been received by the option holders had option holders exercised their options on June 30, 2012.  This amount changes based upon changes in the fair market value of Acxiom’s stock.

 

11



Table of Contents

 

Following is a summary of stock options outstanding and exercisable as of June 30, 2012:

 

 

 

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

 

114,595

 

5.77 years

 

$

8.65

 

87,595

 

$

8.57

 

$ 10.22 - $ 15.00

 

2,500,397

 

6.96 years

 

$

12.99

 

1,220,943

 

$

12.44

 

$ 15.10 - $ 19.82

 

1,875,920

 

3.81 years

 

$

16.68

 

1,852,776

 

$

16.67

 

$ 20.12 - $ 25.00

 

2,106,717

 

3.84 years

 

$

22.92

 

2,106,717

 

$

22.92

 

$ 25.98 - $ 29.30

 

1,102,201

 

2.19 years

 

$

26.69

 

1,102,201

 

$

26.69

 

$ 30.93 - $ 39.12

 

673,924

 

1.95 years

 

$

35.81

 

673,924

 

$

35.81

 

$ 40.50 - $ 62.06

 

241,542

 

2.30 years

 

$

44.09

 

241,542

 

$

44.09

 

 

 

8,615,296

 

4.36 years

 

$

20.57

 

7,285,698

 

$

21.87

 

 

Total expense related to stock options for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $0.4 million and $0.4 million respectively.  Future expense for these options is expected to be approximately $6.4 million over the next four years.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Activity

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2012, the Company granted time-vesting restricted stock units covering 533,992 shares of common stock with a value at the date of grant of $7.1 million.  The restricted stock units granted in the current period vest in equal annual increments over four years.  Valuation of these units is equal to the quoted market price for the shares on the date of grant.

 

Non-vested time-vesting restricted stock unit activity for the period ending June 30, 2012 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, 2012

 

1,175,161

 

$

13.40

 

2.21

 

Granted

 

533,992

 

$

13.28

 

 

 

Vested

 

(338,431

)

$

13.22

 

 

 

Forfeited or cancelled

 

(55,470

)

$

14.24

 

 

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2012

 

1,315,252

 

$

13.36

 

2.76

 

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2012, the Company granted performance-based restricted stock units covering 384,563 shares of common stock with a value at the date of grant of $5.2 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, 333,463 may vest in a number of shares from zero to 200% of the award, based on the attainment of an earnings per-share target for fiscal 2015, with a multiplier 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, 2012 to March 31, 2015.  The remaining 51,100 units represent inducement awards granted to an executive officer.  The executive officer may vest in up to 100% of the inducement 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.

 

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Non-vested performance-based restricted stock unit activity for the period ending June 30, 2012 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, 2012

 

511,864

 

$

10.91

 

2.31

 

Granted

 

384,563

 

$

13.50

 

 

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2012

 

896,427

 

$

12.02

 

2.32

 

 

Total expense related to restricted stock units in the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $2.2 million and $2.0 million respectively.  Future expense for these restricted stock units is expected to be approximately $24.3 million over the next four years.

 

4.             DIVESTITURES:

 

Discontinued Operation

 

On February 1, 2012 the Company completed the sale of its background screening unit, Acxiom Information Security Systems (AISS), to Sterling Infosystems, a New York-based technology firm, for $74 million.  The results of operations pertaining to the AISS business have been classified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Summary results of operations of the AISS business unit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 are segregated and included in income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the quarter
ended
June 30, 2011

 

Revenues

 

$

12,890

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes

 

$

1,526

 

Income taxes

 

610

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

$

916

 

 

The net cash flows related to the AISS discontinued operation for each of the categories of operating, investing, and financing activities were not significant for the three months ending June 30, 2011.

 

5.             OTHER CURRENT AND NONCURRENT ASSETS:

 

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

 

 

 

June 30,
2012

 

March 31,
 2012

 

Prepaid expenses

 

$

44,418

 

$

43,768

 

Assets of non-qualified retirement plan

 

13,126

 

13,344

 

Other miscellaneous assets

 

520

 

692

 

Other current assets

 

$

58,064

 

$

57,804

 

 

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

 

 

 

June 30,
 2012

 

March 31,
 2012

 

Acquired intangible assets, net

 

$

1,033

 

$

1,525

 

Other miscellaneous noncurrent assets

 

2,130

 

2,172

 

Other assets

 

$

3,163

 

$

3,697

 

 

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

 

6.             GOODWILL:

 

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, such 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, 2012 indicated no potential impairment of its goodwill balances.

 

The carrying amount of goodwill, by operating segment, at June 30, 2012, and the changes in those balances are presented in the following table.

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Marketing and
Data Services

 

IT
Infrastructure
Management

 

Other Services

 

Total

 

Balance at March 31, 2012

 

$

306,077

 

$

71,508

 

$

4,700

 

$

382,285

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(782

)

 

(64

)

(846

)

Balance at June 30, 2012

 

$

305,295

 

$

71,508

 

$

4,636

 

$

381,439

 

 

Goodwill by component included in Marketing and Data Services as of June 30, 2012 is US, $264.5 million; Europe, $19.1 million; Australia, $14.7 million; China, $6.0 million; and Brazil, $1.0 million.

 

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

 

The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow valuation model include discount rates, growth rates, cash flow projections and terminal value rates. Discount rates, growth rates and cash flow projections are the most sensitive and susceptible to change as they require significant management judgment. Discount rates are determined by using a weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”). The WACC considers market and industry data as well as company-specific risk factors for each reporting unit in determining the appropriate discount rate to be used. The discount rate utilized for each reporting unit is indicative of the return an investor would expect to receive for investing in such a business. Management, considering industry and company-specific historical and projected data, develops growth rates and cash flow projections for each reporting unit. Terminal value rate determination follows common methodology of capturing the present value of perpetual cash flow estimates beyond the last projected period assuming a constant WACC and low long-term growth rates.

 

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 each respective component.

 

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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 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.

 

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 segments are the Marketing and Data Services segment, the IT Infrastructure Management segment, and the Other Services segment.  Because the Marketing and Data Services segment and the Other Services segment contained both U.S. and International components, and there were differences in economic characteristics between the components in the different geographic regions, management tested a total of eight components at the beginning of the year.  The goodwill amounts as of April 1, 2012 included in each component tested were:  U.S. Marketing and Data Services, $264.6 million; Europe Marketing and Data Services, $19.5 million; Australia Marketing and Data Services, $14.9 million; China Marketing and Data Services, $6.0 million; Brazil Marketing and Data Services, $1.1 million; U.S. Infrastructure Management, $71.5 million; U.S. Other Services, $1.8 million; and Europe Other Services, $2.9 million.

 

As of April 1, 2012, each of the components had an estimated fair value in excess of its carrying value, indicating no impairment.  All of the components had a substantial excess carrying value, except for the Brazil component, for which the excess was 11%.

 

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 next annual impairment test will be performed during the first quarter of fiscal 2014.  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 continues to monitor potential triggering events including changes in the business climate in which it operates, attrition of key personnel, the 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 impairment charges.

 

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7.             LONG-TERM DEBT:

 

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

 

 

 

June 30,
2012

 

March 31,
2012

 

Term loan credit agreement

 

$

222,500

 

$

224,000

 

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 ten years

 

33,316

 

35,726

 

Other debt and long-term liabilities

 

17,702

 

18,496

 

Total long-term debt and capital leases

 

273,518

 

278,222

 

Less current installments

 

24,905

 

26,336

 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

 

$

248,613

 

$

251,886

 

 

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 $207.5 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 June 30, 2012 or March 31, 2012.  Term loan borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus a credit spread of 3.00%.  The weighted-average interest rate on term loan borrowings at June 30, 2012 was 3.8%.  Outstanding letters of credit at June 30, 2012 were $2.5 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 June 30, 2012, 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).

 

On July 25, 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate 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 June 30, 2012 was 0.47%.  The swap was entered into as a cash flow hedge against LIBOR interest rate movements on the term loan.  As of June 30, 2012, the hedge relationship qualified as an effective hedge under applicable accounting standards.  Consequently, all changes in fair value of the derivative are 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 $1.0 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 June 30, 2012.

 

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8.             ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS:

 

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts, returns and credits of $5.7 million at June 30, 2012 and $4.9 million at March 31, 2012.

 

9.             SEGMENT INFORMATION:

 

The Company reports segment information consistent with the way management internally disaggregates its operations to assess performance and to allocate resources.  We regularly review our segments and the approach used by management to evaluate performance and allocate resources.  The Company’s business segments consist of Marketing and data services, IT Infrastructure management, and Other services.  The Marketing and data services segment includes the Company’s global lines of business for Customer Data Integration (CDI), Consumer Insight Solutions, Marketing Management Services, and Consulting and Agency Services.  The IT Infrastructure management segment develops and delivers IT outsourcing and transformational solutions.  The Other services segment includes the e-mail fulfillment business, the US risk business, and the UK fulfillment business.

 

Our management uses the revenues and earnings of the three operating segments, among other factors, for performance evaluation and resource allocation.  The Company evaluates performance of the segments based on segment operating income.  The Company’s calculation of segment operating income does not include inter-company transactions and allocates all corporate expenses, excluding those reported as impairments or gains, losses and other items.  Because segment operating income excludes certain impairments and gains, losses and other items this measure is considered a non-GAAP financial measure, which is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Management believes segment operating income is a helpful measure in evaluating performance of the business segments.  While management considers segment operating income to be a helpful measure of comparative operating performance, this measure should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP presented elsewhere in the financial statements.  In addition, the Company’s calculation of segment operating income may be different from measures used by other companies and therefore comparability may be affected.

 

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

 

 

 

For the quarter ended
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing and data services

 

$

185,676

 

$

184,996

 

IT Infrastructure management

 

70,290

 

73,050

 

Other services

 

15,693

 

17,998

 

Total revenue

 

$

271,659

 

$

276,044

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing and data services

 

$

18,366

 

$

17,260

 

IT Infrastructure management

 

8,831

 

4,247

 

Other services

 

(1,613

)

(559

)

Corporate

 

(160

)

(244

)

Income from operations

 

$

25,424

 

$

20,704

 

 

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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 three months ended June 30, 2012 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Associate-related
reserves

 

Ongoing
contract costs

 

Total

 

Balance at March 31, 2012

 

$

9,597

 

$

11,049

 

$

20,646

 

Payments

 

(5,140

)

(652

)

(5,792

)

Charges and adjustments

 

(91

)

130

 

39

 

Balance at June 30, 2012

 

$

4,366

 

$

10,527

 

$

14,893

 

 

The above balances are included in accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Restructuring Plans

 

In fiscal 2012, the Company recorded a total of $12.8 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 payments of $9.9 million, lease accruals of $2.6 million, and adjustments to the fiscal 2011 restructuring plan of $0.3 million.

 

The associate-related accruals of $9.9 million relate to the termination of associates in the United States, Australia, Europe, and Brazil.  Of the amount accrued, $4.3 million remained accrued as of June 30, 2012.  These costs are expected to be paid out in fiscal 2013.

 

The lease accruals of $2.6 million 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 March 31, 2012, the Company ceased using certain leased office facilities.  The Company intends to attempt 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 July 2019.  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 June 30, 2012 is $2.2 million.

 

As part of its 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 June 30, 2012 is $8.2 million.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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 these 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.

 

In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of all of these 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 28 years of $122.4 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 a lease for the buyer 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, the Company would be required to perform under these guarantees.  A portion of the guaranteed amount is collateralized by real property.  At June 30, 2012 the Company’s maximum potential future payments under these guarantees were $3.5 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 2013 is approximately 39%.

 

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 June 30, 2012, 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.

 

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The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of June 30, 2012 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

13,126

 

$

 

$

 

$

13,126

 

Total assets

 

$

13,126

 

$

 

$

 

$

13,126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

13,126

 

$

 

$

 

$

13,126

 

Other liabilities

 

 

1,001

 

 

1,001

 

Total liabilities

 

$

13,126

 

$

1,001

 

$

 

$

14,127

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

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.

 

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the Company announced the sale of its background screening unit, Acxiom Information Security Systems (AISS).  The sale was completed in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  As a result, AISS results for the prior year are presented as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.  Revenue and expenses related to discontinued operations are netted and presented on one line, net of tax, in the statement of operations.

 

As we complete the first quarter of fiscal 2013, our Company is transitioning to a new executive leadership team.  During fiscal 2012 we named a new chief executive officer, a new chief financial officer, and a new chief revenue officer.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2013 we named a new chief product and engineering officer.  During fiscal 2012 we announced plans to significantly accelerate investment in product development in fiscal 2013, which management believes will help drive revenue growth in fiscal 2014 and beyond.

 

Highlights of the quarter ended June 30, 2012 are identified below.

 

·    Revenue of $271.7 million, a 1.6% decrease from $276.0 million in the same quarter a year ago.

·    Total operating expenses of $246.2 million, a 3.6% decrease from $255.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.

·    Income from operations of $25.4 million, representing a 9.4% operating margin, compared to $20.7 million, representing a 7.5% operating margin, in the same quarter a year ago.

·    Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations of $21.6 million, a 42.7% increase from $15.2 million in the same quarter a year ago.

·    Diluted earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders of $0.17 compared to $0.13 in the same quarter a year ago.

·    Operating cash flow was negative $1.9 million compared to $32.8 million in the same quarter a year ago.

·    The Company paid $33.1 million to acquire common shares as part of a common 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 fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012.  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.

 

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Results of Operations

 

A summary of selected financial information for each of the periods reported is presented below (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

For the quarter ended
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

% Change

 

Revenues

 

$

271,659

 

$

276,044

 

(2

)%

Total operating costs and expenses

 

246,235

 

255,340

 

4

%

Income from operations

 

$

25,424

 

$

20,704

 

23

%

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders

 

$

0.17

 

$

0.13

 

31

%

 

Revenues

The following table presents the Company’s revenue for each of the periods reported (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the quarter ended
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

% Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing and data services

 

$

185,676

 

$

184,996

 

0

%

IT Infrastructure management services

 

70,290

 

73,050

 

(4

)%

Other services

 

15,693

 

17,998

 

(13

)%

Total revenues

 

$

271,659

 

$

276,044

 

(2

)%

 

Total revenue decreased 1.6%, or $4.4 million, to $271.7 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2012 from $276.0 million in the same quarter a year ago.  Revenue in the prior-year quarter included $1.3 million related to the disposed MENA operations.  Excluding the impact of the MENA disposed operations revenue, and the impact of unfavorable foreign currency translation, revenue decreased 0.4%.

 

Marketing and data service (MDS) revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $185.7 million, which was flat when compared to $185.0 million in the same quarter a year ago.   On a geographic basis, International MDS revenue decreased $3.1 million and U.S. MDS revenue increased $3.8 million, or 2.4%.  Excluding the impact of unfavorable foreign currency translation, International MDS revenue decreased $1.4 million, primarily the result of lower revenue volume.  The increase in U.S. MDS revenue was primarily attributable to increases from new business revenue and one-time projects in Financial Services (up 4.6%), Retail (up 37.8%), and Technology (up 84.9%), offset by decreases in other industries.  By line of business, MDS revenue increases in Marketing Management ($4.5 million, or 6.0%) were offset by declines in CDI Services ($2.6 million, or 6.8%) and Consumer Insight Products ($1.2 million, or 2.4%).  The CDI Services and Consumer Insight Products revenue decreases resulted from lower project activity in certain U.S. industries and in Australia.

 

IT Infrastructure management services (IM) revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $70.3 million, a $2.8 million, or 3.8%, decrease compared to $73.0 million in the same quarter a year ago.  The IM revenue decrease was attributable to the loss of a large contract during the third quarter of fiscal 2012, partially offset by revenue increases with existing clients.

 

Other services (OS) revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $15.7 million, a $2.3 million, or 12.8%, decrease compared to $18.0 million in the same quarter a year ago.  Excluding the impact of the MENA operations which were disposed of during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, OS revenue decreased approximately $1.0 million when compared to the prior-year quarter.  OS revenue from U.S. risk and U.K. fulfillment operations decreased $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in the quarter due to lower project volume from existing customers.  The risk and fulfillment revenue decreases were partially offset by increases in other operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

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

 

 

 

For the quarter ended
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

% Change

 

Cost of revenue

 

$

209,326

 

$

218,289

 

4

%

Selling, general and administrative

 

36,749

 

36,807

 

0

%

Gains, losses and other items, net

 

160

 

244

 

34

%

Total operating costs and expenses

 

$

246,235

 

$

255,340

 

4

%

 

Cost of revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $209.3 million, a $9.0 million, or 4.1%, decrease from $218.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.  Gross margins increased from 20.9% in the quarter ended June 30, 2011 to 22.9% in the quarter ended June 30, 2012.  Margins in the quarter benefitted from improving IM margins, the disposal of the MENA operations during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, and cost reduction actions taken in the international operations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.  U.S. gross margins increased from 23.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 to 24.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.  International gross margins increased from 2.6% in fiscal 2012 to 11.9% in fiscal 2013 primarily due to the disposal of the MENA operations and other cost reduction actions taken during fiscal 2012.

 

Selling, general and administrative expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $36.7 million, which was flat compared to the same quarter a year ago.   As a percent of total revenue, these expenses were 13.5% this year compared to 13.3% in the prior period.  Some items that impacted selling, general, and administrative expense during the current quarter were higher non-cash stock compensation costs resulting from executive changes and higher incentive compensation expense, offset by cost reductions in the international operations.

 

Gains, losses and other items, net was $0.2 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2011 and 2012.  The amount, in both periods, represents the adjustments to restructuring activity accruals established in prior periods.

 

Operating Profit and Profit Margins

The following table presents the Company’s operating profit margin by segment for each of the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the quarter ended
June 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating profit and profit margin:

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing and data services

 

$

18,366

 

$

17,260

 

 

 

9.9

%

9.3

%

IT Infrastructure management services

 

$

8,831

 

$

4,247

 

 

 

12.6

%

5.8

%

Other services

 

$

(1,613

)

$

(559

)

 

 

(10.3

)%

(3.1

)%

Corporate

 

$

(160

)

$

(244

)

Total operating profit

 

$

25,424

 

$

20,704

 

Total operating profit margin

 

9.4

%

7.5

%

 

MDS operating profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $18.4 million, a 9.9% margin, compared to $17.3 million, a 9.3% margin, in the same period a year ago.  Margins in the U.S. operations declined from 14.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 to 13.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 resulting primarily from additional delivery and data costs required to support new business implementations and product development as well as higher levels of incentive compensation in the current period.  Operating losses in the international operations decreased from $5.8 million in fiscal 2012 to $2.9 million in fiscal 2013.  International margin benefitted from the cost reduction actions taken in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 in both Europe and Brazil.

 

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Table of Contents

 

IM operating profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $8.8 million, a 12.6% margin, compared to $4.2 million, a 5.8% margin, in the same period a year ago.  IM margins benefitted primarily from ongoing efficiency improvements.

 

OS operating loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $1.6 million, a negative 10.3% margin, compared to $0.6 million, a negative 3.1% margin, in the same period a year ago.  The increase in operating loss in the current period resulted primarily from a $2.0 million decline in the U.S. risk business from revenue decreases, partially offset by a $1.0 million improvement due to the disposition of the MENA operations in fiscal 2012.

 

Other Expense, Income Taxes and Other Items

Interest expense was $3.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 compared to $5.5 million in the same period a year ago.  The decrease primarily relates to a reduction in outstanding borrowing under the Company’s term loan.  The average term loan balance declined approximately $120 million between the two periods presented.  The average interest rate decreased approximately 30 basis points.   Interest on other debt, such as capital leases, also decreased.

 

Other expense was $0.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 compared to $0.1 million in the same period a year ago.  Other expense is primarily due to foreign currency losses.

 

The effective tax rate for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was 39% compared to 40% for the same period a year ago.  Both fiscal period tax rates were impacted by losses in foreign jurisdictions.  The Company does not record the tax benefit of those losses due to uncertainty of future benefit.

 

Discontinued operations in the quarter ended June 30, 2011 are the results of operations of AISS, net of tax.  The AISS disposal was completed in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

 

Losses attributable to noncontrolling interest include the noncontrolling interest in the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary for both periods presented, and the noncontrolling interest in the MENA operation for the prior year.

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

Working Capital and Cash Flow

Working capital at June 30, 2012 totaled $203.6 million compared to $206.4 million at March 31, 2012.  Total current assets decreased $47.4 million.  The decrease primarily resulted from decreases in cash and cash equivalents of $50.4 million related to increases in incentive compensation payments, income tax payments, and the acquisition of Company stock pursuant to the board of directors’ approved stock repurchase plan.  Current liabilities decreased $44.6 million due primarily to decreases in trade accounts payable of $7.6 million, accrued payroll and related expenses of $23.3 million, deferred revenue of $7.4 million, and income taxes of $6.4 million.

 

Accounts receivable days sales outstanding was 58 days at June 30, 2012 compared to 54 days at March 31, 2012, and is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

June 30,
2012

 

March 31,
2012

 

Numerator – trade accounts receivable, net

 

$

172,549

 

$

169,446

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter revenue

 

271,659

 

287,255

 

Number of days in quarter

 

91

 

91

 

Average daily revenue

 

$

2,985

 

$

3,157

 

Days sales outstanding

 

58

 

54

 

 

Net cash used by operating activities was $1.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, compared to cash provided by operating activities of $32.8 million in the same period a year ago.  The decrease was primarily related to unfavorable working capital changes resulting from an increase in incentive compensation payments and income tax payments, primarily related to the sale of the background screening business.

 

Investing activities used $9.5 million in cash during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 compared to $16.1 million in the prior period.  The current year included capital expenditures of $3.5 million, capitalization of data acquisition costs of $2.3 million, and capitalization of software development costs of $3.7 million.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Financing activities used $38.5 million in cash during the quarter ended June 30, 2012.  Payments of debt of $6.9 million include capital lease and installment credit payments of $4.6 million, software and data license payments of $0.1 million and other debt payments of $2.2 million.  The current period also includes payments of $33.1 million for acquisition of the Company’s stock pursuant to the board of directors’ approved stock repurchase plan.  The Company purchased 2.3 million shares at a cost of $31.7 million, of which $30.5 million was paid during the current period.  The remaining $1.2 million is included in other accrued expenses as of June 30, 2012 and was paid when the trades settled in July 2012.  In addition $2.6 million was paid during the current period which was included in other accrued expenses as of March 31, 2012.

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities included acquisition of property and equipment under capital leases and installment payment arrangements of $2.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2012, compared to $3.7 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 $207.5 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 June 30, 2012 or March 31, 2012.  Term loan borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus a credit spread of 3.00%.  The weighted-average interest rate on term loan borrowings at June 30, 2012 was 3.8%.

 

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 June 30, 2012, 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).

 

On July 25, 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate 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 June 30, 2012 was 0.47%.  The swap was entered into as a cash flow hedge against LIBOR interest rate movements on the term loan.  As of June 30, 2012, the hedge relationship qualified as an effective hedge under applicable accounting standards.  Consequently, all changes in fair value of the derivative are 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 $1.0 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 June 30, 2012.

 

Based on our current expectations, we believe our liquidity and capital resources will be sufficient to operate our business.  However, we may take advantage of opportunities to generate additional liquidity or refinance existing debt through capital market transactions.  The amount, nature and timing of any capital market transactions will depend on: our operating performance and other circumstances; our then-current commitments and obligations; the amount, nature and timing of our capital requirements; any limitations imposed by our current credit arrangements; and overall market conditions.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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 a lease for the buyer 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, the Company would be required to perform under these guarantees.  A portion of the guaranteed amount is collateralized by real property.  At June 30, 2012 the Company’s maximum potential future payments under these guarantees were $3.5 million.

 

Contractual Commitments

The following table presents Acxiom’s contractual cash obligations, exclusive of interest, and purchase commitments at June 30, 2012.   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 $1.0 million as the Company is not able to predict the periods in which these payments will be made. The column for 2013 represents the nine months ending March 31, 2013.  All other columns represent fiscal years ending March 31 (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

For the years ending March 31

 

 

 

2013

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Term loan

 

$

4,500

 

$

6,000

 

$

212,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

222,500

 

Capital lease and installment payment obligations

 

11,949

 

8,405

 

3,944

 

925

 

1,001

 

7,092

 

33,316

 

Other long-term debt

 

3,661

 

1,608

 

1,663

 

7,319

 

582

 

2,869

 

17,702

 

Total long-term obligations

 

20,110

 

16,013

 

217,607

 

8,244

 

1,583

 

9,961

 

273,518

 

Operating lease payments

 

16,783

 

21,391

 

15,685

 

12,987

 

12,339

 

43,244

 

122,429

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

36,893

 

$

37,404

 

$

233,292

 

$

21,231

 

$

13,922

 

$

53,205

 

$

395,947

 

 

 

 

For the years ending March 31

 

 

 

2013

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Total purchase commitments

 

$

65,238

 

$

45,156

 

$

35,739

 

$

25,012

 

$

15,761

 

$

2,314

 

$

189,220

 

 

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 2013 of $10.3 million.

 

The following are contingencies or guarantees under which the Company could be required, in certain circumstances, to make cash payments as of June 30, 2012 (dollars in thousands):

 

Loan guarantee

 

$

1,165

 

Lease guarantee

 

2,374

 

Outstanding letters of credit

 

2,512

 

Surety bonds

 

388

 

 

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.

 

To help accelerate the pace of product development, the Company plans to significantly increase the level of product investment over the next two years.  The incremental investment for fiscal 2013 could be as much as $30 million with most of that amount being research and development. This investment is expected to ramp up during the fiscal year.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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 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, such asset is written down by an amount equal to such 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, 2012 indicated no potential impairment of its goodwill balances.

 

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

 

The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow valuation model include discount rates, growth rates, cash flow projections and terminal value rates. Discount rates, growth rates and cash flow projections are the most sensitive and susceptible to change as they require significant management judgment. Discount rates are determined by using a weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”). The WACC considers market and industry data as well as company-specific risk factors for each reporting unit in determining the appropriate discount rate to be used. The discount rate utilized for each reporting unit is indicative of the return an investor would expect to receive for investing in such a business. Management, considering industry and company-specific historical and projected data, develops growth rates and cash flow projections for each reporting unit. Terminal value rate determination follows common methodology of capturing the present value of perpetual cash flow estimates beyond the last projected period assuming a constant WACC and low long-term growth rates.

 

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

 

27



Table of Contents

 

comparable multiples for the individual component being tested.  These multiples were then used to develop an estimated value for each respective 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 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.

 

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 segments are the Marketing and Data Services segment, the IT Infrastructure Management segment, and the Other Services segment.  Because the Marketing and Data Services segment and the Other Services segment contained both U.S. and International components, and there were differences in economic characteristics between the components in the different geographic regions, management tested a total of eight components at the beginning of the year.  The goodwill amounts as of April 1, 2012 included in each component tested were:  U.S. Marketing and Data Services, $264.6 million; Europe Marketing and Data Services, $19.5 million; Australia Marketing and Data Services, $14.9 million; China Marketing and Data Services, $6.0 million; Brazil Marketing and Data Services, $1.1 million; U.S. Infrastructure Management, $71.5 million; U.S. Other Services, $1.8 million; and Europe Other Services, $2.9 million.

 

As of April 1, 2012, each of the components had an estimated fair value in excess of its carrying value, indicating no impairment.  All of the components had a substantial excess carrying value, except for the Brazil component, for which the excess was 11%.

 

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 next annual impairment test will be performed during the first quarter of fiscal 2014.  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 continues to monitor potential triggering events including changes in the business climate in which it operates, attrition of key personnel, the 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 impairment charges.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued a new accounting standard, which eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of stockholders’ equity. Instead, an entity is 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 adopted this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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.

 

Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to the following:

 

·    management’s expectations about the macro economy;

·    statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations;

·    statements of future economic performance, including, but not limited to, those statements contained in Managements’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations;

·    statements containing any assumptions underlying or relating to any of the above statements; and

·    statements containing a projection or estimate.

 

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 2012 Annual Report and elsewhere in this report and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the SEC;

·    the possibility that certain contracts may not generate the anticipated revenue or profitability or may not be closed within the anticipated time frames;

·    the possibility that significant customers may experience extreme, severe economic difficulty or otherwise reduce the amount of business they do 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 data suppliers might withdraw data from us, leading to our inability to provide certain products and services to our clients, which could lead to decreases in our operating results;

·    the possibility that we may not be able to attract, retain or motivate qualified technical, sales and leadership associates, or that we may lose key associates;

·    the possibility that we may not be able to adequately adapt to rapidly changing computing environments, technologies and marketing practices;

·    the possibility that we may be unable to quickly and seamlessly integrate our new executive officers;

·    the possibility that we will not be able to continue to receive credit upon satisfactory terms and conditions;

·    the possibility that negative changes in economic conditions in general or other conditions might lead to a reduction in demand for our products and services;

·    the possibility that there will be changes in consumer or business information industries and markets that negatively impact the company;

·    the possibility that the historical seasonality of our business may change;

·    the possibility that we will not be able to achieve cost reductions and avoid unanticipated costs;

·    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 changes in accounting pronouncements may occur and may impact these forward-looking statements;

·    the possibility that we may encounter difficulties when entering new markets or industries;

·    the possibility that we could experience loss of data center capacity or interruption of telecommunication links; 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 SEC. 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 Disclosures 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 June 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, 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 our U.S. operations to our 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.

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and President (our principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (our principal financial and accounting officer), 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 principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2012, 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 June 30, 2012 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.

 

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

 

4/1/12 – 4/30/12

 

0

 

n/a

 

0

 

$

81,830,556

 

5/1/12 – 5/31/12

 

492,003

 

13.68

 

492,003

 

75,098,849

 

6/1/12 – 6/30/12

 

1,829,200

 

13.62

 

1,829,200

 

50,177,130

 

Total

 

2,321,203

 

13.64

 

2,321,203

 

$

50,177,130

 

 

The repurchases listed above were made pursuant to a repurchase program adopted by the Board of Directors on August 29, 2011.  That program was subsequently modified and expanded on December 5, 2011, and again on May 24, 2012.  Under the modified common stock repurchase program, the Company may purchase up to $150.0 million worth of its common stock through the period ending May 24, 2013.  Through June 30, 2012, the Company had repurchased 8.1 million shares of its stock for $99.8 million, leaving remaining capacity of $50.2 million under the stock repurchase program.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

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

 

31.1                           Certification of Chief Executive Officer and President (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

 

31.2                           Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (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

 

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

 

32.2                           Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (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 June 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012, and March 31, 2012, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011,  (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011,  (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended June 30, 2012, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in detail.

 

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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:  August 8, 2012

 

 

 

By:

/s/Warren C. Jenson

 

(Signature)

 

Warren C. Jenson

 

Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President

 

(principal financial and accounting officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and President (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

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (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

 

 

 

32.1

 

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

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (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 June 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012, and March 31, 2012, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended June 30, 2012, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in detail.

 

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