Earnings Surge At Certegy

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - (01/27/05) -- Cards processor Certegy Inc.Reported a 20% rise in fourth-quarter earnings to $37.1 million, or60 cents a share, compared to last year's fourth quarter, based onstrong growth in the company's card and check services operations.Fourth-quarter revenue rose 13% to $281.8 million, based on a 13%increase in card services revenues and a 14% increase in checkservices revenues. For the year, Certegy said revenues rose 13% to$1 billion, while net income climbed 21% to $111.8 million, or$1.75 a share. During the fourth quarter Certegy moved itscorporate headquarters from the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga.,to St. Petersburg, Fla., where it already had a substantialpresence.