UPODATE 1-Autonomy full-year revenues, profits rise
(Adds CEO comment, detail, shares)
LONDON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - British search software group Autonomy Corporation Plc (AUTN.L) said on Tuesday its full-year revenues rose 37 percent to $343.4 million, while adjusted pretax profits were up 60 percent at $108.8 million.
The company said in a statement that fourth-quarter revenues had come in at $115.1 million and profits at $41 million, slightly ahead of analyst forecasts.
The group's gross margins, which disappointed the market at the third-quarter results in October, improved to 88 percent from 85 percent quarter-on-quarter.
"2007 was another amazing year for Autonomy by every measure, driven by our strong organic growth and ... acquisition. Throughout (the year) we consolidated our industry leadership position," Chief Executive Mike Lynch said in a statement.
He added that Autonomy was benefiting from fallout from the sub-prime crisis in the United States, as companies make plans to improve how they search for and file internal information from mediums such as video and telephone calls in the event of any kind of investigation.
He was not available for further comment.
Autonomy's shares, down with the market in the year to date but up 60 percent over the past 12 months, closed on Monday at 845 pence, valuing the firm at 1.8 billion pounds.
The company bought U.S. group Zantaz Inc for $375 million last year, while its shares rose in hope of further consolidation when Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) bought Norwegian rival Fast Search & Transfer FASA.OL for $1.2 billion earlier this month. (Reporting by John Bowker; Editing by Quentin Bryar)
