ACXIOM CORP
S-3/A, 1999-12-03
COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION
Previous: BELLSOUTH CORP, 8-K, 1999-12-03
Next: IDS STRATEGY FUND INC, N-30D, 1999-12-03



       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1999

                                                      Registration No. 333-79501

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                               ACXIOM CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                 Delaware                                   71-0581897
       (State or other jurisdiction                      (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)

                                1 Information Way
                           Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
                                 (501) 342-1000
               (Address, including zip code and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)

                                Charles D. Morgan
                               Acxiom Corporation
                                1 Information Way
                           Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
                                 (501) 342-1000
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                               Paul B. Benham III
                          Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP
                       400 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 2000
                        Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3493
                                 (501) 370-1559


        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
               From time to time after the effective date of this
           registration statement as determined by market conditions.

<PAGE>

                           [S-3 Cover Page Continued]

If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933 other than securities  offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

If this Form is to be filed to register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. [ ]

If delivery  of the  prospectus  is  expected  to be made  pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]


         The Registrant  hereby amends this  Registration  Statement to withdraw
from registration 54,450 shares of its common stock originally included herein.

         The registrant hereby amends this  registration  statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its  effective  date until the  registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically  states that this registration
statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933 or until the  registration  statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.


<PAGE>


                                 165,546 SHARES
                              ACXIOM(R) CORPORATION
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ----------------

         The selling  stockholders,  as described on page 1, are selling 165,546
shares of Acxiom common stock.

         Acxiom's  common stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market System
under the symbol  "ACXM." On December 1, 1999, the  closing sale price of Acxiom
common stock on Nasdaq was $17 1/2 per share.

         Risk factors  associated  with this offering of Acxiom common stock are
discussed at page 1.

         Each of the selling  stockholders  may offer and sell from time to time
shares of Acxiom common stock directly or through broker-dealers or underwriters
who may act solely as agents, or who may acquire shares as principals. The price
to the public and the net  proceeds  to the selling  stockholders  from sales of
their  shares  will  depend on the nature and timing of the sales and  therefore
will not be known until the sales are actually made.

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or  disapproved  of these  securities or passed upon the
accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

         The information in this prospectus is not complete  and may be changed.
These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer
to  sell  these  securities  and it is not  soliciting  an  offer  to buy  these
securities   in  any  state   where   the  offer  or  sale  is  not   permitted.

                              -------------------

                  The date of this Prospectus is ______, 1999.





<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE


RISK FACTORS .................................................................1
ACXIOM........................................................................3
USE OF PROCEEDS BY ACXIOM.....................................................4
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS.....................................4
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS..........................................................5
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..........................................................5
LEGAL MATTERS.................................................................5
EXPERTS.......................................................................5
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACXIOM..............................6

         As used  in this  prospectus,  references  to  "we,"  "our,"  "us"  and
"Acxiom" refer to Acxiom  Corporation,  its  consolidated  subsidiaries  and its
predecessors and not to the selling stockholders.  The term "common stock" means
Acxiom's common stock, par value $0.10 per share.

         Our principal  executive office is located at 1 Information Way, Little
Rock,  Arkansas 72202 and our telephone  number is  501-342-1000.  We maintain a
World Wide Web site at  www.acxiom.com.  Information  contained  on our Web site
does not constitute part of this prospectus.

         This prospectus contains forward-looking  statements,  primarily in the
sections  captioned  "Risk  Factors," and "Acxiom."  Forward-looking  statements
represent  our  judgment  relating  to, among other  things,  future  results of
operations,  growth plans,  sales capital  requirements and general industry and
business   conditions   applicable   to  us.  They  are  based  on  our  current
expectations.  Our actual results could differ  materially  from the information
contained  in  the  forward-looking  statements  due  to a  number  of  factors,
including the risks described  below,  changes in the economy or the industry in
general,  and other  unanticipated  events  that may  prevent us from  competing
successfully  in existing or new  markets,  and hinder our ability to manage our
growth effectively.



<PAGE>


         No one has been  authorized  to give  you any  information  about  this
offering that is not contained in this  prospectus.  You should rely only on the
information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy in any  jurisdiction in which
it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

                                  RISK FACTORS

         You should carefully consider the risks described below before deciding
to invest in our common stock. These risks could materially and adversely affect
our business, financial condition and results of future operations. If that were
to happen,  the trading price of our common stock could  decline,  and you could
lose all or part of your investment.

         The risks  described  below are not the only ones we face. Our business
operations could also be impaired by additional risks and uncertainties that are
not presently known to us, or which we currently consider immaterial.

Legislation relating to consumer privacy may affect our ability to collect data

         There could be a material  adverse  impact on our direct  marketing and
data sales business due to the enactment of legislation or industry  regulations
arising from public concern over consumer privacy issues.  Restrictions could be
placed upon the  collection  and use of  information  that is currently  legally
available,  in which  case our cost of  collecting  some  kinds of data might be
increased  materially.  It is also  possible  that we could be  prohibited  from
collecting  or  disseminating  certain  types  of  data,  which  could  in  turn
materially adversely affect our ability to meet our clients' requirements.

Data suppliers  might withdraw data from us, leading to our inability to provide
products and services

         We could suffer a material  adverse effect if owners of the data we use
were to withdraw the data from us. Data providers could withdraw their data from
us if  there  is a  competitive  reason  to do so or if  legislation  is  passed
restricting the use of the data. If a substantial  number of data providers were
to withdraw  their data,  our ability to provide  products  and  services to our
clients could be materially  adversely  impacted which could result in decreased
revenues, net income and earnings per share.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>

Failure to attract and retain  qualified  technical  personnel  could  adversely
affect our business

         Competition for qualified technical and other personnel is intense, and
we  periodically  are  required  to pay  premium  wages to  attract  and  retain
personnel.  There can be no  assurance  that we will be able to continue to hire
and retain sufficient qualified management, technical, sales and other personnel
necessary to conduct our operations  successfully,  particularly  if the planned
growth continues.

Short-term contracts affect predictability of revenues

         While approximately 51% of our total revenues is currently derived from
long-term  client  contracts  (defined as contracts  with initial terms of three
years or longer),  the  remainder  is not.  With  respect to that portion of our
business which is not under long-term  contract,  revenues are less predictable,
and we must  consequently  engage in continual sales efforts to maintain revenue
stability and future growth.

We must  continue to improve and gain market  acceptance  of our  technology  to
remain competitive and grow

         Maintaining   technological   competitiveness  in  our  data  products,
processing functionality,  software systems and services is key to our continued
success. Our ability to continually improve our current processes and to develop
and introduce new products and services, such as the Acxiom Data Network(SM) and
the AbiliTec(SM) technology, is essential  in order to maintain our  competitive
position and meet the increasingly sophisticated requirements of our clients. If
we fail to do so, we could lose clients to current or future  competitors  which
could  result in  decreased  revenues,  net income and  earnings  per share.  In
addition,  failure to gain market  acceptance  of our new products and services,
including  the Acxiom Data Network and AbiliTec,  or the  acceptance of these or
other  products on a less rapid basis than expected could  adversely  affect our
growth.

Year 2000 problems could affect our ability to deliver products and services

         Many computer  systems and equipment and  instruments  were designed to
only recognize the last two digits of the calendar year. With the arrival of the
Year 2000, these systems may encounter operating problems due to their inability
to correctly distinguish years after 1999. We believe that with modifications to
existing  software  and  conversions  of new software the Year 2000 issue can be
mitigated.  However, the systems of vendors on whom we rely may not be converted

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

in a timely  fashion or a vendor or customer  may fail to convert its systems to
be Year  2000-ready  which  could  materially  adversely  impact our  ability to
deliver products and services to our clients.

Loss of data center capacity or interruption  of  telecommunication  links could
adversely affect our business

         Our ability to protect our data centers against damage from fire, power
loss,  telecommunications  failure or other disasters is critical to our future.
The  on-line  services we provide are  dependent  on links to  telecommunication
providers.  We believe we have taken reasonable  precautions to protect our data
centers  and  telecommunication  links  from  events  that could  interrupt  our
operations.   Any   damage  to  our  data   centers   or  any   failure  of  our
telecommunication  links  that  causes  interruptions  in our  operations  could
materially adversely affect our ability to meet our clients' requirements, which
could result in decreased revenues, net income and earnings per share.

The failure to favorably negotiate or effectively  integrate  acquisitions could
adversely affect our business

         Our growth strategy  currently  includes  growth through  acquisitions.
While we believe we have been  successful in  implementing  this strategy during
the past three years,  there is no certainty  that future  acquisitions  will be
consummated on acceptable terms or that any acquired assets,  data or businesses
will be successfully  integrated  into our  operations.  Our failure to identify
appropriate  acquisition  candidates,  to negotiate  favorable  terms for future
acquisitions,  or to integrate them in our operations  could result in decreased
revenues, net income and earnings per share.

Postal rate increases could lead to reduced volume of business

         The direct marketing industry has been negatively impacted from time to
time during past years by postal rate increases.  Any future  increases will, in
our  opinion,  force  direct  mailers to mail fewer  pieces and to target  their
prospects more  carefully.  This sort of response by direct mailers could affect
us by decreasing  the amount of  processing  services  purchased  from us, which
could result in lower revenues, net income and earnings per share.

                                     ACXIOM

         We  are  a  global  leader  in  providing   comprehensive   information
management  solutions using  customer,  consumer and business data. Our products
and  services  enable  our  clients  to  use  information  to  improve  business
decision-making  and  effectively  manage  existing  and  prospective   customer

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

relationships.  We believe  that we offer our clients  the most  technologically
advanced,  accurate and timely solutions available. Our solutions are customized
to the specific needs of our clients and the industries in which they operate.

         We  target  organizations  that view  data as a  strategic  competitive
advantage and an integral component of business  decision-making.  Historically,
our client base has  primarily  been  Fortune 1000  companies  in the  financial
services,    insurance,    information   services,    publishing,   retail   and
telecommunications  industries.  Current  clients  include  AT&T,  ADP,  Advance
Publications,  Allstate, Bank of America,  Citibank, General Electric, GTE, IBM,
Prudential,  Sears, Trans Union and Wal-Mart.  More recently, our industry focus
has expanded to include the  pharmaceuticals/healthcare,  e-commerce,  Internet,
utilities,  automotive,   technology,  packaged  goods  and  media/entertainment
industries.  Representative  clients  in  these  new  industries  include  3Com,
DaimlerChrysler,  Procter & Gamble,  Searle,  Bristol-Myers  Squibb,  Novell and
Netscape.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>


         Our primary development initiative over the past two years has been the
Acxiom Data Acxiom Data Network and AbiliTec,  its related  linking  technology.
The Acxiom  Data  Network is a  web-enabled  technology  that  allows us to cost
effectively  provide our clients with  real-time  desktop  access to  actionable
information  over the Internet and via private  networks.  We expect the ease of
use and low cost delivery of the Acxiom Data Network will allow us to extend our
scope of services in the existing markets we serve and expand our client base to
include  the  middle  market  and small  office/home  office  companies  seeking
customer relationship management solutions.

         In  a  press  release  dated  October  26,  1999,  the  Company,  in  a
forward-looking statement,  disclosed plans to increase investment in technology
to support the Acxiom Data Network_ and AbiliTec_  products.  Management expects
this required additional investment to be offset by opportunities and savings in
other  areas  for  the  current  fiscal  year.  However,  as the  investment  is
increased,  earnings  growth may be impacted and may be in the 15%-20% range for
approximately  2 to 2 1/2  years.  After this  investment  period,  margins  are
expected to increase above current levels as a result of efficiencies  generated
by these products.

                            USE OF PROCEEDS BY ACXIOM

         We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling
stockholders.

                    PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS

         The  following  table shows for the periods  indicated the high and low
closing sales prices of Acxiom  common stock as reported on the Nasdaq  National
Market System.

         Fiscal Year Ended                           High         Low

March 31, 1998:
         First Quarter                               $20-1/2    $12-1/8
         Second Quarter                               21-1/8     17-5/16
         Third Quarter                                19-1/4     15-1/8
         Fourth Quarter                               25-5/8     17

March 31, 1999:
         First Quarter                               $25-5/8    $20-1/8
         Second Quarter                               28-1/8     20
         Third Quarter                                31         16-5/8
         Fourth Quarter                               29-5/8     21-15/16

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

March 31, 2000:
         First Quarter                               $25 5/16   $23
         Second Quarter                               29 3/8     16 3/8
         Third Quarter                                23 1/8     14 3/4
         (Through December 1, 1999)

        Acxiom  has never  paid cash  dividends  on its  common  stock.  Acxiom
presently  intends  to  retain  earnings  to  provide  funds  for  its  business
operations  and for the expansion of its business.  Thus, it does not anticipate
paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         Three selling stockholders,  Messrs.  Jeffrey Lund, Eric S. Gewirtz and
Mark R.  Sullivan,  all of whom we employ,  are offering an aggregate of 165,546
shares of our common stock. Each of these selling stockholders own 55,182 shares
of our  common  stock.  Following  the sale of  their  shares  being  registered
pursuant  to this  offering,  they will not own any shares of our common  stock.
Messrs.  Lund,  Gewirtz and Sullivan received their shares as partial payment of
the purchase price for our April 1999  acquisition of assets of Horizon Systems,
Inc.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The selling  stockholders  may effect the distribution of the shares in
one or more  transactions  that may take place  through the Nasdaq Stock Market,
including  block trades or ordinary  broker's  transactions,  through  privately
negotiated transactions,  an underwritten offering, or a combination of any such
methods of sale. Sales of the shares will be made at market prices prevailing at
the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Selling stockholders may pay usual and
customary or specifically negotiated brokerage fees or commissions in connection
with such sales, as well as the fees of their attorneys and accountants. We have
agreed to pay all expenses,  including  filing fees,  relating to preparation of
the registration statement, and the fees of our attorneys and accountants.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The  validity  of the shares of common  stock  offered  hereby  will be
passed upon for Acxiom by Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP, Little Rock, Arkansas.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements and related  financial  statement
schedule of Acxiom as of March 31,  1999 and 1998,  and for each of the years in
the  three-year  period  ended March 31,  1999,  which are  included in Acxiom's
Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 1, 1999, and incorporated by reference
in the prospectus and the registration statement,  except as to the consolidated



                                      -7-
<PAGE>

financial  statements  as they  relate to May & Speh,  Inc.  for the year  ended
September 30, 1996, have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent accountants,  and
as they relate to May & Speh,  Inc. for the year ended  September  30, 1996 (not
presented  separately  therein),  by  PricewaterhouseCoopers   LLP,  independent
accountants, whose reports have been incorporated by reference in the prospectus
and  registration  statement  upon the  authority  of said  firms as  experts in
accounting and auditing.

         The consolidated  financial  statements and related financial statement
schedule of Acxiom as of March 31,  1999 and 1998,  and for each of the years in
the three year period ended March 31, 1999, which are incorporated in the Acxiom
Annual  Report  on Form  10-K  for the year  ended  March  31,  1999  have  been
superseded  by the  consolidated  financial   statements  and related  financial
statement  schedule included in the Company's Form 8-K filed on December 1, 1999
and incorporated herein by reference.

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
                                  ABOUT ACXIOM

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference"  information filed with
them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you directly to those  documents.  The information  incorporated by reference is
considered to be a part of this  prospectus.  In addition,  information  we file
with the SEC in the future will automatically  update and supersede  information
contained in this  prospectus and any  accompanying  prospectus  supplement.  We
incorporate by reference the documents  listed below and any future filings made
with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 until all of the shares of common stock described in this prospectus
are sold:

               (i)  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended March
                    31, 1999;

               (ii) Form 8-K filed on June 21, 1999 and Form 8-K/A filed on June
                    25, 1999;

               (iii) Form 8-K filed on July 23, 1999;

               (iv) Form 8-K filed on December 1, 1999;

               (v)  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended
                    June 30, 1999 and September 30, 1999;

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

               (vi) The  description  of  our  capital  stock  contained  in the
                    registration  statement  on Form 8-A of CCX  Network,  Inc.,
                    which is now known as Acxiom Corporation,  dated February 4,
                    1985, and any amendments or updates to that form; and

               (vii)The  description  of our  preferred  stock  purchase  rights
                    contained in the registration  statement on Form 8-A/A dated
                    June 4, 1998.

         Acxiom will  provide  you with free  copies of any of these  documents,
without  exhibits,  unless an  exhibit  is  incorporated  into the  document  by
reference, if you write us or call us at: Acxiom Corporation, 1 Information Way,
Little Rock,  Arkansas 72202,  Attention:  Catherine L. Hughes,  telephone (501)
252-1320.

         Acxiom is subject to the  information  requirements  of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934  and,  pursuant  to such  act,  files  reports  and  other
information with the SEC. Acxiom has also filed a registration statement on Form
S-3 with the SEC relating to this offering of Acxiom common stock by the selling
stockholders.  Such reports, proxy statements,  registration statement and other
information can be inspected and copied at the public  reference room of the SEC
at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549.  You may obtain
information on the operation of the public  reference room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.  Acxiom's  filings with the SEC also are available to the public
at the SEC's web site: "http://www.sec.gov."

                                      -9-
<PAGE>


                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

         The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by Acxiom
in connection with the offering described in this registration statement.

Securities and Exchange
 Commission registration
 fee                                                  $ 1,526
Legal fees                                             10,000
Accountants' fees                                      10,000
Miscellaneous expenses                                  3,474
                                                     --------
         TOTAL                                        $25,000


Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Exculpation.  Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law
permits a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision
eliminating or limiting the personal  liability of a director to the corporation
or its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a
director,  provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability
of a  director  for  any  breach  of  the  director's  duty  of  loyalty  to the
corporation  or its  stockholders,  for acts or  omissions  not in good faith or
which  involve  intentional  misconduct  or a knowing  violation of law, for any
unlawful  payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchase or redemption,  or for
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

         The Acxiom Charter  provides  that, to the fullest extent  permitted by
Delaware  corporate  law,  a  director  shall not be  liable  to Acxiom  and its
stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

         Indemnification.  Section  145 of  Delaware  corporate  law  permits  a
corporation  to indemnify any of its directors or officers who was or is a party
or is threatened  to be made a party to any third party  proceeding by reason of
the fact that such  person is or was a director  or officer of the  corporation,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with
such  action,  suit or  proceeding,  if such person acted in good faith and in a
manner  such  person  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed to the best

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

interests  of the  corporation,  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe that such person's  conduct was
unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of a corporation,
the  corporation  is  permitted to  indemnify  any of its  directors or officers
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection  with the defense or settlement of such action or suit
if such person shall have been adjudged  liable to the  corporation,  unless and
only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine upon application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

         The Acxiom  Charter  provides  for  indemnification  of  directors  and
officers of Acxiom against  liability they may incur in their  capacities as and
to the extent authorized by Delaware corporate law.

         Insurance.  Acxiom has in effect  directors'  and  officers'  liability
insurance and fiduciary liability  insurance.  The fiduciary liability insurance
covers  actions  of  directors  and  officers  as well as other  employees  with
fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA.

Item 16. Exhibits.

     Number                                 Description

*     3.1           Amended and Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the
                    Registrant  (previously  filed as Exhibit  3(i) to  Acxiom's
                    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
                    June 30, 1996, Commission File No. 0-13163, and incorporated
                    herein by reference).

*     3.2           Amended and Restated  Bylaws of the  Registrant  (previously
                    filed as Exhibit 3(b) to Acxiom's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                    for the fiscal year ended March 31,  1991,  Commission  File
                    No. 0-13163, and incorporated herein by reference).

*     4.1           Specimen  Common  Stock  Certificate  (previously  filed  as
                    Exhibit 4.1 to the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on
                    Form  S-4  (No.   333-61639)   filed  August  17,  1998  and
                    incorporated herein by reference).

*     4.2           Rights Agreement,  dated January 28, 1998 between Acxiom and
                    First  Chicago  Trust  Company of New York,  as Rights Agent
                    (the  "Rights  Agreement"),  including  the  forms of Rights
                    Certificate and of Election to Exercise, included in Exhibit
                    A to the Rights  Agreement,  and the form of  Certificate of
                    Designation  and Terms of  Participating  Preferred Stock of
                    the  Registrant,   included  in  Exhibit  B  to  the  Rights
                    Agreement   (previously   filed  as   Exhibit   4.1  to  the
                    Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated February 10,
                    1998,  Commission File No. 0-13163,  and incorporated herein
                    by reference).

                                      II-2

<PAGE>


*     4.3           Amendment  Number  One,  dated  as of May 26,  1998,  to the
                    Rights  Agreement  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  4 to the
                    Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 1998,
                    Commission  File No.  0-13163,  and  incorporated  herein by
                    reference).

**    5             Opinion of  Friday,  Eldredge & Clark,  LLP,  regarding  the
                    validity of the securities being registered.

     23.1           Consent of KPMG LLP.

**   23.2           Consent of Friday,  Eldredge & Clark,  LLP  (included in the
                    opinion  filed as Exhibit 5 to this  Registration  Statement
                    and incorporated herein by reference).

     23.3           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

**   24             Powers of Attorney.

- ----------------
*        incorporated herein by reference as indicated
**       previously filed herein


Item 17. Undertakings.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         1. To file,  during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                  (a) To include any prospectus  required by Section 10(a)(3) of
         the  Securities  Act of 1933,  unless the  information  required  to be
         included in such  post-effective  amendment  is contained in a periodic
         report filed by  registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
         the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  and  incorporated  herein  by
         reference;

                  (b) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events arising
         after the  effective  date of the  registration  statement (or the most
         recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the
         aggregate,  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

         in the registration  statement,  unless the information  required to be
         included in such  post-effective  amendment  is contained in a periodic
         report filed by  registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
         the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  and  incorporated  herein  by
         reference.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  any increase or decrease in
         volume of  securities  offered (if the total dollar value of securities
         offered would not exceed that which was  registered)  and any deviation
         from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
         reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission  pursuant
         to Rule  424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price
         represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum  aggregate  offering
         price set forth in the  "Calculation of Registration  Fee" table in the
         effective registration statement; and

                  (c) To include any  material  information  with respect to the
         plan of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration
         statement  or  any  material   change  to  such   information   in  the
         registration statement.

         2.  That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         3. To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         4. That, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)
or Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

         5. That, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act
of 1933:

                  (a) the information  omitted from the form of prospectus filed
as part of this registration  statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained
in a form of prospectus  filed by the registrant  pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or
(4) or  497(h)  under  the  Securities  Act  shall be  deemed to be part of this
registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

                  (b) each  post-effective  amendment  that  contains  a form of
prospectus  shall be deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating to the
securities  offered  therein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the  registrant  pursuant  to the  foregoing  provisions  referred to in Item 15
above, or otherwise,  the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-5
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  Acxiom
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds  to  believe  that it meets  all the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Little Rock,  State of Arkansas,  on the 2nd  day of
December, 1999.

                                            ACXIOM CORPORATION

                                            /s/ Catherine L. Hughes
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            (Catherine L. Hughes,
                                             Secretary and Corporate Counsel)

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities indicated, on the 2nd day of December, 1999.


           *           , Financial Leader
- ----------------------- (principal financial
(Robert S. Bloom)        officer and principal
                         accounting officer)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(Dr. Ann H. Die)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(William T. Dillard II)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(Harry C. Gambill)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(Roger S. Kline)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(Thomas F. (Mack) McLarty, III)

                                      II-7
<PAGE>


           *           , Chairman of the Board and
- -----------------------  Company Leader (principal
(Charles D. Morgan)      executive officer)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(Robert A. Pritzker)


           *           , Director
- -----------------------
(James T. Womble)


*By: /s/ Catherine L. Hughes
    ----------------------------
     Catherine L. Hughes
    (Attorney-in-Fact)

         Catherine  L.  Hughes,  by  signing  her name  hereto,  does  sign this
document on behalf of each of the persons  indicated above pursuant to powers of
attorney duly executed by such persons, filed or to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as supplemental information.

                                      II-7
<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


    Exhibit
    Number                             Exhibit

*    3.1            Amended and Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the
                    Registrant  (previously  filed as Exhibit  3(i) to  Acxiom's
                    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
                    June 30, 1996, Commission File No. 0-13163, and incorporated
                    herein by reference).

*    3.2            Amended and Restated  Bylaws of the  Registrant  (previously
                    filed as Exhibit 3(b) to Acxiom's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                    for the fiscal year ended March 31,  1991,  Commission  File
                    No. 0-13163, and incorporated herein by reference).

*    4.1            Specimen  Common  Stock  Certificate  (previously  filed  as
                    Exhibit 4.1 to the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on
                    Form  S-4  (No.   333-61639)   filed  August  17,  1998  and
                    incorporated herein by reference).

*    4.2            Rights Agreement,  dated January 28, 1998 between Acxiom and
                    First  Chicago  Trust  Company of New York,  as Rights Agent
                    (the  "Rights  Agreement"),  including  the  forms of Rights
                    Certificate and of Election to Exercise, included in Exhibit
                    A to the Rights  Agreement,  and the form of  Certificate of
                    Designation  and Terms of  Participating  Preferred Stock of
                    the  Registrant,   included  in  Exhibit  B  to  the  Rights
                    Agreement   (previously   filed  as   Exhibit   4.1  to  the
                    Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated February 10,
                    1998,  Commission File No. 0-13163,  and incorporated herein
                    by reference).

*    4.3            Amendment  Number  One,  dated  as of May 26,  1998,  to the
                    Rights  Agreement  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  4 to the
                    Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 1998,
                    Commission  File No.  0-13163,  and  incorporated  herein by
                    reference).

**   5              Opinion of  Friday,  Eldredge & Clark,  LLP,  regarding  the
                    validity of the securities being registered.

     23.1           Consent of KPMG LLP.

**   23.2           Consent of Friday,  Eldredge & Clark,  LLP  (included in the
                    opinion  filed as Exhibit 5 to this  Registration  Statement
                    and incorporated herein by reference).

     23.3           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

**   24             Powers of Attorney.

- ----------------------
*        incorporated herein by reference as indicated
**       previously filed herein


                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

To the Board of Directors
Acxiom Corporation:


We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Registration Statement.


/s/ KPMG LLP

Little Rock, Arkansas
November 29, 1999





                                                                    Exhibit 23.3


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement  on Form S-3 of Acxiom  Corporation  of our report  dated  November 1,
1996,  appearing in Acxiom's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated December 1, 1999
and  Acxiom's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year  ended  March 31,  1999,
relating to the consolidated  statements of operations,  of stockholders' equity
and of cash flows of May & Speh, Inc. for the year ended September 30, 1996 (not
presented separately therein).  We also consent to the reference to us under the
heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois
November 29, 1999



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission