ACI Worldwide, Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009

ACI Reaffirms Its Annual Guidance on Sales, Revenue and Operating Income


OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS



 * Achieved approximately $4 million savings in payroll expenses over
   prior-year first quarter
 * Net positive foreign exchange translation impact of approximately
   $2 million on the operating business
 * Completed senior level hires in product management and services
   globally

 --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Quarter Ended
                      -----------------------------------------------
                      March 31,   Better / (Worse)    Better / (Worse)
                         2009      March 31, 2008      March 31, 2008
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
   Sales                 $60.8          $(3.0)                (5)%
  Revenue                $88.2          $(2.5)                (3)%

 GAAP Operating
  Loss                   $(2.1)         $ 0.0                  --
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW YORK, May 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACI Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACIW), a leading international provider of electronic payments software and solutions, today announced financial results for the period ended March 31, 2009. We will hold a conference call on May 6, 2009, at 8.30 a.m. EDT to discuss this information. Interested persons may also access a real-time audio broadcast of the teleconference at www.aciworldwide.com/investors.

"As we anticipated, we achieved performance that was typical of the seasonality of the first quarter and in line with our expectations. Even while we successfully hired seasoned services, product and strategy leaders across our business geographies, we also achieved a quarterly run rate reduction of $4 million in payroll expenses which are reflected in our results. On the sales side, we are equally encouraged by visibility into a strong pipeline for the second quarter that, at present, appears to exceed last year's sales performance figures -that's part of the reason that we're comfortable re-affirming annual guidance," said Chief Executive Officer Philip Heasley.

Notable business during the quarter included:



 * US: Sales included a sizable ACI Enterprise Banker(tm) system, a
   large BASE24(r) retail renewal which also included an add-on system
   as well as two large ACI Retail Commerce Server(tm) systems.
 * EMEA: A Middle East services integrator purchased a new BASE24-
   eps(tm) system
 * Asia:  A Philippines bank renewal closed for a BASE24-atm(r) system.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Sales

Sales bookings in the quarter totaled $60.8 million which was a reduction of 5%, or $3.0 million, as compared to the March 2008 quarter. The similar, albeit slightly weaker, year-over-year sales figures reflect the typical seasonality of our business following the year-end quarter. Notable changes in the mix of sales included a rise in new sales accounts to $9.7 million from $1.3 million in the prior-year quarter and a reduction of $6.3 million in term extensions from $14.8 million to $8.5 million in the March 2009 quarter. This reduction in extensions is largely related to the timing of transactions based on contract expiration dates.

Revenues

Revenue was $88.2 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2009, a reduction of $2.5 million or 3% over the prior-year quarter revenue of $90.7 million. The decrease in revenue was largely attributable to negative foreign currency exchange impact of approximately $6 million as well as lower software license fee revenues of $6.6 million due to a one-time capacity event in the prior year quarter. This reduction in license fees was partially offset by a $4.1 million increase in services revenue. Our March 2009 GAAP revenue was derived principally from our backlog; 95% of the revenue derived from backlog whereas 5% of the revenue was provided by current-period sales. Our monthly recurring revenue figure in the quarter of $57.4 million, a rise of $1.1 million over the prior-year quarter, resulted largely from higher monthly software license fee revenues in the Americas.

Backlog

As of March 31, 2009, our estimated 60-month backlog was $1.410 billion, essentially flat as compared to $1.407 billion at December 31, 2008, and $1.408 billion as of March 31, 2008. As of March 31, 2009, our 12-month backlog was $335 million, as compared to $325 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, and $349 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The 12-month backlog was reduced by $14 million on a quarterly year-over-year basis as we recognized large transactions during 2008 such as MasterCard, Faster Payments for a number of UK-based customers, and the Middle East switch.

Liquidity

We had $109.5 million in cash on hand at March 31, 2009, a decrease of $3.5 million as compared to the December 2008 quarter. As of March 31, 2009, we also had $75.0 million in unused borrowings under our credit facility.

Operating Free Cash Flow

Operating free cash flow ("OFCF") for the quarter was $(2.6) million compared to $45.3 million for the March 2008 quarter. The reduction in our operating free cash flow reflects the prior year receipt of $36.1 million in payments under the terms of the alliance agreement with International Business Machines Corporation in the March 2008 quarter as well as production of organic OFCF of $9.2 million in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year negative variance in operating free cash flow of $11.8 million was largely due to lower trade cash receipts of $6 million and $3 million in higher capital expenditures. Receipt of $5.8 million in trade receivables due to be paid in the first quarter occurred instead in the first several weeks of the second quarter.

Operating Loss

Operating loss was $2.1 million in the March 2009 quarter, flat as compared to an operating loss of $2.1 million in the March 2008 quarter.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $90.3 million in the March 2009 quarter compared to $92.7 million in the March 2008 quarter, an improvement of $2.4 million or 3%. Operating expenses decreased largely as a result of a reduction of $4 million in payroll expenses and a foreign currency exchange-related benefit of $8 million partially offset by a $6 million expenditure in professional fees, severance, the IBM IT Outsourcing and business reinvestment.

Other Income and Expense

Other expense for the quarter was $1.6 million, compared to other expense of $1.0 million in the March 2008 quarter. The increase in other expense versus the prior-year quarter resulted primarily from a negative variance of $4.4 million related to foreign currency exposure offset by $3.2 million improvement in the fair value interest rate swap. Interest expense improved by $0.6 million while we received approximately $0.3 million less than in interest income as compared to the prior-year quarter.

Taxes

Income tax expense in the quarter was $0.4 million due to losses in tax jurisdictions for which we received no tax benefit offset by income in tax jurisdictions in which we accrued tax expense. Furthermore, as mentioned in previous quarters, the company continues to incur a fixed amortization charge of $0.6 million per quarter related to the transfer of intellectual property outside the United States.

Net Loss and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Net loss for the quarter was $4.1 million, compared to net loss of $4.9 million during the same period last year.

Loss per share for the quarter ended March 2009 was $(0.12) per diluted share compared to $(0.14) per diluted share during the same period last year.

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

Total weighted average shares outstanding were 34.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 as compared to 35.2 million shares outstanding for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Re-affirmation of Guidance

We do not anticipate any changes to our annual guidance based upon what we are seeing in our business markets to date. Hence, guidance remains as indicated on February 26, 2009 with the calendar year guidance as follows: Sales of $450-460 million, GAAP revenue of $415-425 million and GAAP Operating Income of $35-40 million.

About ACI Worldwide, Inc.

ACI Worldwide is a leading provider of electronic payments software and services to major banks, retailers and processors around the world. The company enables online payment processing, online banking, fraud prevention and detection, and back-office services. ACI solutions provide market-leading levels of reliability, manageability and scale, to more than 800 customers in 88 countries. Visit ACI Worldwide at www.aciworldwide.com.

Non GAAP Financial Measures

ACI is presenting operating free cash flow, which is defined as net cash provided (used) by operating activities, excluding cash payments associated with one-time employee related actions, cash payments associated with early termination of leases, less capital expenditures and plus or minus net proceeds from IBM. Operating free cash flow is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by SEC Regulation G. We utilize this non-GAAP financial measure, and believe it is useful to investors, as an indicator of cash flow available for debt repayment and other investing activities, such as capital investments and acquisitions. We utilize operating free cash flow as a further indicator of operating performance and for planning investing activities. Operating free cash flow should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net cash provided (used) by operating activities. A limitation of operating free cash flow is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance for the period. This measure also does not exclude mandatory debt service obligations and, therefore, does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. We believe that operating free cash flow is useful to investors to provide disclosures of our operating results on the same basis as that used by our management. We also believe that this measure can assist investors in comparing our performance to that of other companies on a consistent basis without regard to certain items, which do not directly affect our ongoing cash flow.



                                                       Quarter Ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                       2009    2008
                                                      --------------

 Net cash provided by operating activities             $ 2.8  $ 46.5
   Adjustments:
     Net after tax cash payments associated
      with employee-related activities                   1.6     0.5
     Net after tax cash payments associated with
      early termination of Watford facility lease         --     0.6
     Less capital expenditures                          (5.3)   (2.6)
     Less alliance technical enablement expenditures    (1.7)   (0.9)
     Proceeds from alliance agreement                     --     1.2
                                                      --------------
 Operating Free Cash Flow                             $ (2.6) $ 45.3
                                                      ==============

Management generally compensates for limitations in the use of non-GAAP financial measures by relying on comparable GAAP financial measures and providing investors with a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures only in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business.

ACI also includes backlog estimates which are all software license fees, maintenance fees and services specified in executed contracts, as well as revenues from assumed contract renewals to the extent that we believe recognition of the related revenue will occur within the corresponding backlog period. We have historically included assumed renewals in backlog estimates based upon automatic renewal provisions in the executed contract and our historic experience with customer renewal rates.

Backlog is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by SEC Regulation G. Our 60-month backlog estimate represents expected revenues from existing customers using the following key assumptions:



 * Maintenance fees are assumed to exist for the duration of the
   license term for those contracts in which the committed maintenance
   term is less than the committed license term.
 * License and facilities management arrangements are assumed to renew
   at the end of their committed term at a rate consistent with our
   historical experiences.
 * Non-recurring license arrangements are assumed to renew as
   recurring revenue streams.
 * Foreign currency exchange rates are assumed to remain constant over
   the 60-month backlog period for those contracts stated in
   currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
 * Our pricing policies and practices are assumed to remain constant
   over the 60-month backlog period.

Estimates of future financial results are inherently unreliable. Our backlog estimates require substantial judgment and are based on a number of assumptions as described above. These assumptions may turn out to be inaccurate or wrong, including for reasons outside of management's control. For example, our customers may attempt to renegotiate or terminate their contracts for a number of reasons, including mergers, changes in their financial condition, or general changes in economic conditions in the customer's industry or geographic location, or we may experience delays in the development or delivery of products or services specified in customer contracts which may cause the actual renewal rates and amounts to differ from historical experiences. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates may also impact the amount of revenue actually recognized in future periods. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that contracts included in backlog estimates will actually generate the specified revenues or that the actual revenues will be generated within the corresponding 60-month period.

Backlog should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, reported revenue and deferred revenue.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to our GAAP results and is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Reclassification

The Company redefined its cost of software license fees in order to better conform to industry practice. The definition has been revised to be third-party software royalties as well as the amortization of purchased technology. Previously, cost of software license fees also included certain costs associated with maintaining software products that have already been developed and directing future product development efforts. These costs included human resource costs and other incidental costs related to product management, documentation, publications and education. These costs have now been reclassified to research and development and cost of maintenance and services.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Generally, forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may include words or phrases such as "believes," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," and words and phrases of similar impact. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this presentation include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the: (a) expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's sales pipeline for the second quarter and sales performance during 2009; (b) expectations and assumptions related to the Company's ability to maintain the run-rate reduction in its payroll expenses; and (c) expectations and assumptions regarding sales, revenues, and operating income.

Forward-looking statements can be affected by the judgments and estimates underlying such assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many of these factors will be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Actual future results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, except as required by law. All of the foregoing forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the risk factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. . Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the global financial crisis, restrictions and other financial covenants in our credit facility, volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, our restructuring efforts, the restatement of our financial statements, consolidation in the financial services industry, changes in the financial services industry, the accuracy of backlog estimates, material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, our tax positions, volatility in our stock price, risks from operating internationally, increased competition, our offshore software development activities, the performance of our strategic product, BASE24-eps, the maturity of certain legacy retail payment products, demand for our products, our alliance with IBM, our outsourcing agreement with IBM, the complexity of our products and the risk that they may contain hidden defects, governmental regulations and industry standards, our compliance with privacy regulations, system failures, the protection of our intellectual property, future acquisitions and investments and litigation. For a detailed discussion of these risk factors, parties that are relying on the forward-looking statements should review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-K.



                ACI WORLDWIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                    (unaudited and in thousands)

                                                  March 31,   Dec. 31,
                                                     2009       2008
                                                  ---------  ---------
 ASSETS
   Current assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                    $ 109,500  $ 112,966
     Billed receivables, net                         84,620     77,738
     Accrued receivables                             11,558     17,412
     Deferred income taxes, net                      13,166     17,005
     Recoverable income taxes                         3,596      3,140
     Prepaid expenses                                10,107      9,483
     Other current assets                             9,647      8,800
                                                  ---------  ---------
       Total current assets                         242,194    246,544
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Property, plant and equipment, net                  18,202     19,421
 Software, net                                       28,857     29,438
 Goodwill                                           197,012    199,986
 Other intangible assets, net                        28,469     30,347
 Deferred income taxes, net                          19,566     12,899
 Other assets                                        14,014     14,207
                                                  ---------  ---------
       TOTAL ASSETS                               $ 548,314  $ 552,842
                                                  =========  =========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Current liabilities
     Accounts payable                             $  13,728  $  16,047
     Accrued employee compensation                   14,959     19,955
     Deferred revenue                               111,505     99,921
     Income taxes payable                               934         78
     Alliance agreement liability                     7,384      6,195
     Accrued and other current liabilities           21,857     24,068
                                                  ---------  ---------
       Total current liabilities                    170,367    166,264
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Deferred revenue                                    25,718     24,296
 Note payable under credit facility                  75,000     75,000
 Deferred income taxes                                1,775      2,091
 Alliance agreement noncurrent liability             33,441     37,327
 Other noncurrent liabilities                        32,219     34,023
                                                  ---------  ---------
       Total liabilities                            338,520    339,001
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Commitments and contingencies

 Stockholders' equity
   Preferred Stock                                       --         --
   Common stock                                         204        204
   Common stock warrants                             24,003     24,003
   Treasury stock                                  (145,247)  (147,808)
   Additional paid-in capital                       303,021    302,237
   Retained earnings                                 54,336     58,468
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss             (26,523)   (23,263)
                                                  ---------  ---------
       Total stockholders' equity                   209,794    213,841
                                                  ---------  ---------
       TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 548,314  $ 552,842
                                                  =========  =========


                ACI WORLDWIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
       (unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                  --------------------
                                                     2009       2008
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Revenues:
 Software license fees                            $  31,178  $  37,739
 Maintenance fees                                    31,440     31,437
 Services                                            25,595     21,487
                                                  ---------  ---------
   Total revenues                                    88,213     90,663
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Expenses:
 Cost of software license fees                        3,167      2,596
 Cost of maintenance and services                    27,222     27,619
 Research and development                            18,973     20,577
 Selling and marketing                               15,108     16,664
 General and administrative                          21,504     21,211
 Depreciation and amortization                        4,346      4,072
                                                  ---------  ---------
   Total expenses                                    90,320     92,739
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Operating loss                                      (2,107)    (2,076)

 Other income (expense):
 Interest income                                        301        593
 Interest expense                                      (769)    (1,366)
 Other, net                                          (1,120)      (190)
                                                  ---------  ---------
   Total other income (expense)                      (1,588)      (963)
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Loss before income taxes                            (3,695)    (3,039)
 Income tax expense                                     437      1,862
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Net Loss                                         $  (4,132) $  (4,901)
                                                  =========  =========

 Loss per share information
   Weighted average shares outstanding
     Basic                                           34,522     35,165
     Diluted                                         34,522     35,165

 Loss per share
     Basic                                        $   (0.12) $   (0.14)
     Diluted                                      $   (0.12) $   (0.14)



               ACI WORLDWIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                   (unaudited and in thousands)

                                                        For the
                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                  --------------------
                                                     2009       2008
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net loss                                       $  (4,132) $  (4,901)
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
     cash flows from operating activities
     Depreciation                                     1,566      1,576
     Amortization                                     4,175      3,809
     Tax expense of intellectual property shift         550        590
     Amortization of debt financing costs                84         84
     Gain on reversal of asset retirement
      obligation                                         --       (949)
     Gain on transfer of assets under contractual
      obligations                                       (56)        --
     Loss on disposal of assets                           8        218
     Change in fair value of interest rate swaps        440      3,689
     Deferred income taxes                           (3,934)    (3,003)
     Stock-based compensation expense                 2,616      2,552
     Tax benefit of stock options exercised              27         40
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
       Billed and accrued receivables, net           (2,621)     3,215
       Other current assets                          (1,124)    (3,064)
       Other assets                                    (573)       668
       Accounts payable                                 (53)    (3,793)
       Accrued employee compensation                 (4,451)    (1,825)
       Proceeds from alliance agreement                  --     36,087
       Accrued liabilities                           (4,151)    (4,264)
       Current income taxes                             355      1,413
       Deferred revenue                              14,576     14,328
       Other current and noncurrent liabilities        (453)        54
                                                  ---------  ---------
         Net cash flows from operating activities     2,849     46,524
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Cash flows from investing activities:
     Purchases of property and equipment               (930)    (1,465)
     Purchases of software and distribution rights   (4,358)    (1,127)
     Alliance technical enablement expenditures      (1,733)      (943)
     Proceeds from alliance agreement                    --      1,246
     Other                                               50        (13)
                                                  ---------  ---------
         Net cash flows from investing activities    (6,971)    (2,302)
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Cash flows from financing activities:
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock             330        639
     Proceeds from exercises of stock options         1,362        382
     Excess tax benefit of stock options exercised       48         28
     Purchases of common stock                           --    (30,064)
     Common stock withheld from vested restricted
      share awards for payroll tax withholdings        (345)        --
     Payments on debt and capital leases               (530)      (791)
                                                  ---------  ---------
         Net cash flows from financing activities       865    (29,806)
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash          (209)    (2,760)
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents                                        (3,466)    11,656
 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     112,966     97,011
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period         $ 109,500  $ 108,667
                                                  =========  =========


            

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