Fiserv Reports Record Earnings for Fourth Quarter, Year-end 2003

January 27, 2004
Fiserv Reports Record Earnings for Fourth Quarter, Year-end 2003

BROOKFIELD, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2004--Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISV) announced today record earnings for 2003.

For the three-month period ended December 31, 2003, Fiserv processing and services revenues were $749.5 million, a 30% increase over the $575.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2002. Net income per share-diluted for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $0.42 per share, compared to $0.35 per share for the fourth quarter of 2002.

For the year ended December 31, 2003, Fiserv processing and services revenues were $2,699.6 million, a 22% increase over the $2,205.7 million in 2002. Net income per share-diluted for the year ended December 31, 2003, was $1.61 per share, compared to $1.37 per share for 2002.

"Fiserv finished 2003 with record earnings for the 19th consecutive year, excluding a one-time charge in 1995 which related to an acquisition. Our free cash flow for 2003 was $455 million, an increase of 22% versus 2002. We also closed an outstanding roster of 12 acquisitions," said Leslie M. Muma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv, Inc.

Muma added, "On the acquisition side, we continue to seek out companies that can help drive growth and enhance our portfolio of products and services. The 12 acquisitions closed in 2003 strengthened our position in several key areas and added combined annualized revenues of more than $610 million. As we begin 2004, we are seeing improved strength in our sales pipelines and continued acquisition opportunities across all of our major business lines.

"Our earnings per share target for 2004 is $1.86 to $1.93 per share," Muma concluded.

Significant client renewals and new relationships gained in the fourth quarter include the following: Sovereign Bank, a $40 billion bank headquartered in Philadelphia, signed a multi-year renewal agreement for account processing services; Chicago-based Northern Trust Company expanded its longtime relationship with Fiserv to include cash vault processing services; Associated Mortgage Company, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, will use mortgage servicing software and systems from Fiserv MortgageServ; Community First Bankshares of Fargo, North Dakota, extended its comprehensive relationship with Fiserv to include outsourced check processing for the bank's operations in 12 states; and Citizens Financial Services, a $1.6 billion banking company in Muncie, Indiana, will process its accounts through the Fiserv ITI service bureau network in an agreement that also includes Internet banking and cash management services. In addition, South Africa's Standard Bank will use software from Fiserv's IPS-Sendero unit to implement the first group-wide asset liability management system in Africa, and Bank of Ceylon, the largest bank in Sri Lanka, will implement the Fiserv International Comprehensive Banking System (ICBS) and other Fiserv products at its 300 branches to manage approximately 3 million accounts.

Also, Washington State Health Care Authority expanded its relationship with the Harrington Benefit Services unit of Fiserv Health through a multi-year contract to administer a preferred provider program for state employees and certain retirees.

The 12 acquisitions Fiserv closed in 2003 encompassed nearly all of its major lines of business. Four transactions that expanded the Fiserv portfolio of solutions for the insurance industry were ReliaQuote, Inc., Insurance Management Solutions Group, Inc., Unisure and MI-Assistant Software. The additions of Chase Credit Research/Chase Credit Systems and General American Corporation added capabilities in the lending systems and services area, and the acquisitions of Avidyn, Wausau Benefits and MedPay enhanced the growing presence of Fiserv in the health plan management business. Fiserv also acquired additional resources in the banking and credit union industry with the acquisitions of Precision Computer Services, EDS Credit Union Industry Group and the item processing operations of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis.

Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISV) provides information management systems and services to the financial industry, including transaction processing, business process outsourcing and software and systems solutions. The Company serves more than 15,000 clients, including banks, broker-dealers, credit unions, financial planners and investment advisers, insurance companies and agents, self-funded employers, lenders and savings institutions. Headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Fiserv also can be found on the Internet at www.fiserv.com.

The disclosure set forth above contains forward-looking statements, specifically Mr. Muma's statements regarding earnings targets, sales pipelines and acquisition prospects. These statements are covered by the safe harbor included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in customers' demand for the Corporation's products, pricing and other actions by competitors, and general changes in economic conditions or U.S. financial markets. These factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

                     FISERV, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
               (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                              (Unaudited)

                           Three Months Ended       Years Ended
                              December 31,          December 31,
                             2003      2002       2003        2002
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------

Revenues
Processing and services
 (1)                       $749,503  $575,266  $2,699,609  $2,205,734
Customer reimbursements      87,822    77,738     334,061     291,245
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Total Revenues              837,325   653,004   3,033,670   2,496,979
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Cost of revenues
Salaries, commissions and
 payroll related costs      335,857   281,838   1,262,209   1,090,315
Customer reimbursement
 expenses                    87,822    77,738     334,061     291,245
Data processing costs and
 equipment rentals           57,669    45,235     217,201     165,283
Other operating expenses
 (1)                        166,221    96,115     516,440     363,563
Depreciation and
 amortization                50,740    37,729     171,791     141,114
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Total cost of revenues      698,309   538,655   2,501,702   2,051,520
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Operating income            139,016   114,349     531,968     445,459
Interest expense - net       (4,632)   (2,500)    (15,555)     (9,169)
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Income before income taxes  134,384   111,849     516,413     436,290
Income tax provision         52,410    43,621     201,401     170,153
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Net income                  $81,974   $68,228    $315,012    $266,137
                           ========= ========= =========== ===========

Net income per share:
   Basic                      $0.42     $0.36       $1.63       $1.39
   Diluted                    $0.42     $0.35       $1.61       $1.37

Shares used in computing
 net income per share:
   Basic                    193,902   191,408     193,240     191,386
   Diluted                  196,663   194,153     195,937     194,951


(1) See page 7,  "Historical Quarterly Financial Information by
    Segment" Note 1 for the description of a reclassification of
    revenues and operating expenses.



                     FISERV, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (In thousands)
                              (Unaudited)

                                                     December 31,
                                                  2003        2002
                                               ----------- -----------
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                        $202,768    $227,239
Accounts receivable                               417,521     339,737
Securities processing receivables               1,940,414   1,740,512
Prepaid expenses and other assets                 120,168     119,882
Investments                                     1,904,161   2,115,778
Property and equipment                            206,076     223,070
Intangible assets                                 557,822     342,614
Goodwill                                        1,865,245   1,329,873
                                               ----------- -----------
TOTAL                                          $7,214,175  $6,438,705
                                               =========== ===========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable                                 $179,184    $122,266
Securities processing payables                  1,786,763   1,666,863
Short-term borrowings                             139,000     100,000
Accrued expenses                                  303,765     280,614
Accrued income taxes                               23,313      23,711
Deferred revenues                                 208,996     181,173
Customer funds held and retirement account
 deposits                                       1,582,698   1,707,458
Deferred income taxes                              91,532      46,127
Long-term debt                                    699,116     482,824
                                               ----------- -----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES                               5,014,367   4,611,036

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock                                        1,943       1,924
Additional paid-in capital                        637,623     599,700
Accumulated other comprehensive income             17,345      23,882
Accumulated earnings                            1,542,897   1,227,885
Treasury stock                                         --     (25,722)
                                               ----------- -----------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                      2,199,808   1,827,669
                                               ----------- -----------
TOTAL                                          $7,214,175  $6,438,705
                                               =========== ===========



                     FISERV, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                            (In thousands)
                              (Unaudited)

                                              Years ended December 31,
                                                 2003         2002
                                              -----------  -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income                                      $315,012     $266,137
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
 cash provided by operating activities:
  Deferred income taxes                           36,225       30,805
  Depreciation and amortization (a)              171,791      141,114
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of
 effects from acquisitions of businesses:
  Accounts receivable                             17,268        6,022
  Prepaid expenses and other assets                7,540       (7,899)
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses           19,298       30,302
  Deferred revenues                                9,420       10,072
  Accrued income taxes                            21,549       38,762
  Securities processing receivables and
   payables - net                                (80,002)      63,923
                                              -----------  -----------
Net cash provided by operating activities        518,101      579,238
                                              -----------  -----------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures, including
 capitalization of software costs
 for external customers (a)                     (143,242)    (141,880)
Payment for acquisitions of businesses,
 net of cash acquired                           (735,917)    (406,578)
Investments                                      187,968     (305,642)
                                              -----------  -----------
Net cash used in investing activities           (691,191)    (854,100)
                                              -----------  -----------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term
 borrowings - net                                 39,000      (12,286)
Proceeds from long-term debt-net                 215,794      139,573
Issuance of common stock and treasury stock       18,585       11,420
Purchases of treasury stock                           --      (33,578)
Customer funds held and retirement account
 deposits                                       (124,760)     260,884
                                              -----------  -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities        148,619      366,013
                                              -----------  -----------
Change in cash and cash equivalents              (24,471)      91,151
Beginning balance                                227,239      136,088
                                              -----------  -----------
Ending balance                                  $202,768     $227,239
                                              ===========  ===========

(a) Gross software development costs for external customers
    capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 were
    $52.4 million and $44.9 million, respectively, offset by
    amortization of previously capitalized development costs of $47.8
    million and $38.3 million, respectively.



                     FISERV, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
         HISTORICAL QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
                       (In thousands, unaudited)

                                     Quarters
                       ------------------------------------
2003                    First    Second   Third    Fourth    Total
Processing and         -----------------------------------------------
 services revenues:
Financial institution
 outsourcing, systems
 and services (1)      $457,021 $472,302 $510,115 $534,968 $1,974,406
Health plan management
 services (1)            69,140   93,157  111,875  124,894    399,066
Securities processing
 and trust services      55,050   55,135   55,728   58,492    224,405
All other and corporate  23,051   23,294   24,238   31,149    101,732
                       -----------------------------------------------
TOTAL                  $604,262 $643,888 $701,956 $749,503 $2,699,609
                       ===============================================
Operating income:
Financial institution
 outsourcing, systems
 and services          $107,456 $117,397 $119,360 $114,670   $458,883
Health plan management
 services                12,101   10,898   13,120   13,555     49,674
Securities processing
 and trust services       7,240    6,519    5,926    8,093     27,778
All other and corporate  (2,200)  (2,754)  (2,111)   2,698     (4,367)
                       -----------------------------------------------
TOTAL                  $124,597 $132,060 $136,295 $139,016   $531,968
                       ===============================================
2002
Processing and services
 revenues:
Financial institution
 outsourcing, systems
 and services (1)      $412,423 $415,125 $408,088 $430,340 $1,665,976
Health plan management
 services                51,745   52,195   53,374   58,831    216,145
Securities processing
 and trust services      55,678   55,080   59,199   60,664    230,621
All other and corporate  23,358   21,458   22,745   25,431     92,992
                       -----------------------------------------------
TOTAL                  $543,204 $543,858 $543,406 $575,266 $2,205,734
                       ===============================================
Operating income:
Financial institution
 outsourcing, systems
 and services           $93,428  $99,187  $95,139  $97,006   $384,760
Health plan management
 services                 8,361    8,480    8,811    8,412     34,064
Securities processing
 and trust services       8,481    6,491    8,348    7,939     31,259
All other and corporate    (841)  (2,726)  (2,049)     992     (4,624)
                       -----------------------------------------------
TOTAL                  $109,429 $111,432 $110,249 $114,349   $445,459
                       ===============================================
2001
Processing and services
 revenues:
Financial institution
 outsourcing, systems
 and services (1)      $354,225 $367,830 $383,218 $393,430 $1,498,703
Health plan management
 services                10,688   10,440   11,301   23,181     55,610
Securities processing
 and trust services      74,215   79,555   54,421   56,650    264,841
All other and corporate  21,046   19,845   20,003   25,483     86,377
                       -----------------------------------------------
TOTAL                  $460,174 $477,670 $468,943 $498,744 $1,905,531
                       -----------------------------------------------
Operating income:
Financial institution
 outsourcing, systems
 and services           $77,011  $76,650  $81,133  $76,575   $311,369
Health plan management
 services                 2,851    2,198    2,667    2,988     10,704
Securities processing
 and trust services       9,943   13,309    8,370    8,575     40,197
All other and corporate  (1,379)  (2,272)  (1,955)   2,437     (3,169)
                       -----------------------------------------------
TOTAL                   $88,426  $89,885  $90,215  $90,575   $359,101
                       ===============================================

(1) Processing and services revenues and other operating expenses were
    reclassified for the first nine months of 2003, for the full year
    2002 and 2001 to reflect the preferred industry methods of
    reporting flood insurance processing and prescription benefit
    management revenues.  The reclassifications attributable to flood
    insurance processing reduced processing and services revenues and
    other operating expenses in the Financial institution outsourcing,
    systems and services segment by $78 million in the first nine
    months of 2003, $74 million in 2002 and $27 million in 2001.  The
    reclassification attributable to prescription benefit management
    services increased processing and services revenues and other
    operating expenses in the Health plan management services segment
    by $32 million in the first nine months of 2003.  These
    reclassifications did not impact the Company's financial position,
    operating income or net income.



                     FISERV, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                              (Unaudited)

Free Cash Flow

                                           Years Ended December 31,
                                        ------------------------------
                                           2003      2002      2001
(in thousands)                          ------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating
 activities                              $518,101  $579,238  $447,539
Changes in securities processing
 receivables and payables-net              80,002   (63,923)  (78,396)
                                        ------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating
 activities before changes in
 securities processing receivables
 and payables-net                         598,103   515,315   369,143
Capital expenditures, including
 capitalization of software
 costs for external customers            (143,242) (141,880) (104,609)
                                        ------------------------------
Free cash flow                           $454,861  $373,435  $264,534
                                        ==============================

Free cash flow is measured as net cash provided by operating
activities before changes in securities processing receivables and
payables less capital expenditures including capitalization of
software costs for external customers, as reported in the Company's
consolidated statements of cash flows. As the changes in securities
processing receivables and payables are generally offset by changes in
short-term borrowings and investments, which are included in financing
and investing activities, management believes it is more meaningful to
analyze changes in operating cash flows before the changes in
securities processing receivables and payables. Free cash flow is a
non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to
investors because it provides another measure of available cash flow
after the Company has satisfied the capital requirements of its
operations.

Internal Revenue Growth Percentages by Segment

                                          2003 Quarters
                                   ----------------------------
                                      First Second Third Fourth  Total
                                   -----------------------------------
Financial institution outsourcing,
 systems and services ("FIS")           1%     2%     4%     0%     2%
Health plan management services        18%    27%    37%    37%    31%
Securities processing and trust
 services                              -9%    -8%   -12%    -4%    -8%
All other and corporate                -1%     9%     7%    23%     9%
                                   -----------------------------------
TOTAL                                   2%     5%     7%     5%     5%
                                   ===================================

Internal revenue growth percentages are measured as the increase or
decrease in total processing and services revenue for the current
period less "acquired revenue from acquisitions" divided by total
processing and services revenues from the prior year period plus
"acquired revenue from acquisitions." "Acquired revenue from
acquisitions" was $374 million ($271 million in the FIS segment, $89
million in the Health segment and $14 million in the Securities &
Trust segment) for the full year and represents pre-acquisition
normalized revenue of acquired companies for the comparable prior year
period. All internal revenue growth percentages have been adjusted to
reflect the reclassification of revenues noted on page 7 (Note 1). The
internal growth rate for 2003 in the Health plan management services
segment was 31% (18% related to the prescription benefit management
business that generates operating margins in the low single digits and
13% related to the remaining businesses in the segment). Internal
revenue growth percentage is a non-GAAP financial measure that the
Company believes is useful to investors because it provides an
alternative to measure revenue growth excluding the impact of acquired
revenues.
Contact:
     Fiserv, Inc.
     Leslie M. Muma, 262-879-5000
     www.fiserv.com
Source:
Fiserv, Inc.