VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRSN), the leading provider of digital trust services, reported its third quarter results for the quarter ending September 30, 2001.

Announced revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2001 were $255.2 million, compared to $173.1 million for the same period last year, a 47% increase.

Pro forma net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, excluding the amortization of goodwill and intangible assets related to acquisitions, stock-based compensation charges related to acquisitions, and benefit for income taxes, was $59.7 million, or $0.28 diluted earnings per share compared to pro forma net income in the quarter ended September 30, 2000 of $36.0 million, or $0.17 diluted earnings per share.

Pro forma operating income for the third quarter, excluding stock-based compensation charges and the amortization of goodwill and intangible assets, was $43.5 million, or a 17.1% operating margin, as compared to $16.8 million, or a 9.7% operating margin, in the quarter ended September 30, 2000.

"Continued demand by our customers to utilize our digital trust services as the foundation for online commerce and communications drove our strong third quarter results," said Stratton Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign. "As we look ahead into 2002, we remain convinced that our broad portfolio of services, highly scalable global infrastructure and unique distribution model position us for continued growth and execution."

For the third quarter of fiscal 2001, deferred revenue balances increased 3% sequentially to $585 million, and cash and investments totaled $1.2 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2001. Including the amortization of goodwill and intangible assets related to acquisitions, stock-based compensation charges, and benefit for income taxes, the net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 was $386.7 million.