1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [No Fee Required, Effective October 7, 1996] For the fiscal year ended: September 30, 1999 OR [ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [No Fee Required] For transition period from __________ to ___________ Commission file number 0-20244 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: DATA RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. 401[K] PROFIT SHARING PLAN B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: DATA RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. 1276 North Warson Rd. St. Louis, Missouri 63132 2 Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Years ended September 30, 1999 and 1998 with Report of Independent Auditors 3 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules Years ended September 30, 1999 and 1998 CONTENTS Report of Independent Auditors............................................... 1 Financial Statements Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits......................... 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits.............. 3 Notes to Financial Statements................................................ 4 Supplemental Schedules Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes................... 9 Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions............................... 10 A schedule of nonexempt transactions for the period ended September 30, 1999 has not been presented because there were no nonexempt transactions which are prohibited by ERISA Section 406 and for which there is no statutory or administrative exemption. 4 Report of Independent Auditors Plan Administrator Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for plan benefits of Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) as of September 30, 1999 and 1998, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Plan as of September 30, 1999 and 1998, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes and reportable transactions are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. Ernst & Young LLP January 7, 2000 1 5 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits SEPTEMBER 30 1999 1998 ----------------------------- ASSETS Cash $ 24,314 $ -- Investments at fair value: Money market funds -- 142,916 Common/collective trusts 675,628 -- U.S. Treasury bills and notes -- 345,497 Mutual funds 4,493,388 1,311,135 Common stocks 101,892 2,052,101 Participant notes receivable 82,665 30,194 ---------- ---------- Total investments 5,353,573 3,881,843 Receivables: Employer's contribution 2,918 117,471 Participants' contribution 18,404 16,836 Interest receivable 1,606 -- ---------- ---------- 22,928 134,307 ========== ========== Net assets available for plan benefits $5,400,815 $4,016,150 ========== ========== See accompanying notes. 2 6 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 1999 1998 ---------------------------- Additions: Investment income $ 93,485 $ 232,262 Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 833,493 (92,565) Contributions: Participants 466,865 435,206 Employer 230,442 143,458 Rollover contributions 10,209 60,185 ----------- ----------- 707,516 638,849 ----------- ----------- Total additions 1,634,494 778,546 Deductions: Benefits paid to participants 249,829 329,549 ----------- ----------- Net increase in net assets available for plan benefits 1,384,665 448,997 Net assets available for plan benefits at beginning of year 4,016,150 3,567,153 =========== =========== Net assets available for plan benefits at end of year $ 5,400,815 $ 4,016,150 =========== =========== See accompanying notes. 3 7 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Notes to Financial Statements September 30, 1999 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN The following description of the Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all domestic employees of Data Research Associates, Inc. (the Company) who are 21 years of age or older. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Effective January 1, 1999, the Company adopted a replacement prototype plan document that is substantially similar in all respects to the former plan document. Also effective January 1, 1999, Merrill Lynch Trust was appointed as trustee of the Plan and related trust, replacing Michael J. Mellinger, the former trustee of the Plan and related trust. Administrative fees for the Plan are paid by the Company. CONTRIBUTIONS Participants may elect to contribute up to 15 percent of eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan. Participants may also roll over amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans. Effective January 1, 1999, the employer is permitted to make discretionary matching contributions not to exceed 100 percent of each participant's elected contribution up to 15 percent. During the plan year ended September 30, 1998, the Company made matching contributions of 100 percent of participants' contributions, up to the then maximum of $1,500 per participant. Effective October 1, 1998, the Company raised the maximum to $2,000 per participant. The Company may also make discretionary profit sharing contributions. There were no discretionary profit sharing contributions during 1999 or 1998. All contributions are subject to applicable limitations. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and allocations of (a) the Company's matching contributions and (b) plan earnings and is charged with an allocation of investment expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or 4 8 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONTINUED) PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) account balances. Forfeited balances of terminated participants' nonvested accounts are used to reduce future Company contributions. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account. VESTING Participants are immediately vested in their salary deferral contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company contribution portion of their accounts plus actual earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100 percent vested in increments over five years of continuous service. INVESTMENT OPTIONS Until January 1, 1999, participants could direct employer and employee contributions in 10 percent increments in any of the following eight options: Guaranteed Income Fund, Balanced Fund, Large Capital Growth Fund, Small Capital Growth Fund, Basic Value Fund, International Equity Fund, Data Research Associates, Inc. (DRA) Stock Fund, and Income Fund. Effective January 1, 1999, the previous investment options were replaced by the following investment options: Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust, Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Merrill Lynch S&P 500 Index Fund, Merrill Lynch Small Cap Index Fund, AIM International Equity Fund, Merrill Lynch Federal Securities Trust, MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund, and Data Research Associates, Inc. Stock Fund. Participants may change their investment options quarterly. PARTICIPANT NOTES RECEIVABLE Participants may borrow from their fund accounts up to a maximum of $50,000 or 50 percent of their vested account balance, excluding discretionary profit sharing contributions. Loan terms extend up to five years or in excess of five years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a reasonable rate determined by the administrator. 5 9 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONTINUED) PAYMENT OF BENEFITS On termination of service, death, disability, or retirement, the participant may elect to receive a distribution equal to the vested value of his or her account in the form of a lump sum, annual installments over a period not to exceed the participant's lifetime, or the joint lifetime of the participant and the participant's spouse, or single or joint life annuity. 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The financial statements of the Plan are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. INVESTMENT VALUATION AND INCOME RECOGNITION Investment securities held in the Plan's funds are stated at fair market value determined by Merrill Lynch Trust, the trustee of the Plan, from publicly quoted market prices. Participant notes receivable are valued at cost, which approximates fair market value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the plan administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. RECLASSIFICATION Certain reclassifications were made to the 1998 amounts in order to conform with the 1999 presentation. 6 10 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 3. INVESTMENTS The following table presents investments. Investments that represent 5 percent or more of the Plan's net assets available for benefits are separately identified: SEPTEMBER 30 1999 1998 -------------------------------- DRA Stock Fund $ 101,892 $ 56,757 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 675,628* -- Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Class D 1,287,486* -- Merrill Lynch S&P 500 Index Fund, Class A 114,129 -- Merrill Lynch Small Cap Index Fund 2,546 -- AIM International Equity Fund 241,991 -- Merrill Lynch Federal Securities Trust, Class D 156,251 -- MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Class A 586,919* -- Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund 2,104,066* -- Participant loans 82,665 30,194 Guaranteed Income Fund -- 433,445* Balanced Fund -- 1,249,727* Large Capital Growth Fund -- 1,216,497* Small Capital Growth Fund -- 382,686* Basic Value Fund -- 303,773* International Equity Fund -- 170,018 Income Fund -- 38,746 ---------- ---------- $5,353,573 $3,881,843 ========== ========== *Represents 5 percent of more of plan's net assets available for benefits. 4. PLAN TERMINATION Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants will become 100 percent vested in their accounts. 7 11 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 5. INCOME TAX STATUS The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated May 18, 1995 that the Plan and related trust were designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The Plan has been amended and a new replacement prototype plan adopted since receiving the determination letter. The plan administrator has applied for a new determination letter. The plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with applicable requirements of the IRC. 6. WITHDRAWN PARTICIPANTS Amounts allocated to participants who have elected to withdraw from the Plan but have not yet been paid were $0 and $80,131 at September 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively. 8 12 SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES 13 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan EIN: 43-1063230 Plan No. 001 Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes September 30, 1999 CURRENT IDENTITY OF ISSUER DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT COST VALUE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AIM International Equity Fund 11,997.569 shares of Registered Investment Company $ 230,352 $ 241,991 Data Research Associates, Inc.* 11,900.467 shares of common stock 135,109 101,892 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust* 675,627.68 shares of common/collective trust 675,628 675,628 Merrill Lynch Federal Securities Trust, Class D* 16,534.534 shares of Registered Investment Company 160,455 156,251 Merrill Lynch Small Cap Index Fund* 243.163 shares of Registered Investment Company 2,592 2,546 Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund 122,187.32 shares of Registered Investment Company 1,971,386 2,104,066 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Class D* 38,791.387 shares of Registered Investment Company 1,346,175 1,287,486 MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Class A 30,648.521 shares of Registered Investment Company 521,441 586,919 Merrill Lynch S&P 500 Index Fund, Class A* 7,106.383 shares of Registered Investment Company 117,478 114,129 ------------------------- 5,160,616 5,270,908 Various plan participants Loans to participants, bearing interest at 6.25% to 9.5%, maturity dates through 2006 - 82,665 ========================= $5,160,616 $5,353,573 ========================= * Represents party-in-interest to the Plan. 14 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan EIN: 43-1063230 Plan No. 001 Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions Year ended September 30, 1999 PURCHASE SELLING IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED DESCRIPTION OF ASSET PRICE PRICE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category (i) - A transaction in excess of 5 percent of beginning net assets Merrill Lynch ML Retirement Preservation Trust $ 166,882 $ - Fidelity Fidelity Advisor Growth Fund - 343,673 Merrill Lynch International Equity Fund - 203,235 Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 468,614 - The Nicholas Applegate Family of Funds Nicholas Applegate Mid Cap Growth Fund - 465,024 Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund - 430,351 Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 370,960 - Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 618,928 - Merrill Lynch Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund 1,962,257 - The AIM Family of Funds AIM International Equity Fund 220,372 - Massachusetts Financial Services Group MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Class A 515,614 - Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Class D 1,389,245 - Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 340,500 - Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 202,272 - CURRENT VALUE OF ASSET ON COST TRANSACTION NET GAIN IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED DESCRIPTION OF ASSET OF ASSET DATE (LOSS) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category (i) - A transaction in excess of 5 percent of beginning net assets Merrill Lynch ML Retirement Preservation Trust $ 166,882 $ 166,882 $ - Fidelity Fidelity Advisor Growth Fund 259,152 343,673 84,521 Merrill Lynch International Equity Fund 232,806 203,235 (29,571) Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 468,614 468,614 - The Nicholas Applegate Family of Funds Nicholas Applegate Mid Cap Growth Fund 489,603 465,024 (24,579) Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 430,351 430,351 - Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 370,960 370,960 - Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 618,928 618,928 - Merrill Lynch Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund 1,962,257 1,962,257 - The AIM Family of Funds AIM International Equity Fund 220,372 220,372 - Massachusetts Financial Services Group MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Class A 515,614 515,614 - Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Class D 1,389,245 1,389,245 - Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 340,500 340,500 - Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 202,272 202,272 - 15 Data Research Associates, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan EIN: 43-1063230 Plan No. 001 Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions (continued) Year ended September 30, 1999 NUMBER OF PURCHASE SELLING IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED DESCRIPTION OF ASSET TRANSACTIONS PRICE PRICE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Category (iii) - A series of transactions in excess of 5 percent of beginning net assets Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 93 1,749,742 - 40 - 815,193 Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 86 751,699 - 16 - 76,082 Merrill Lynch Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund 71 2,178,986 - 32 - 217,578 Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Class D 68 1,553,232 - 29 - 213,288 The AIM Family of Funds AIM International Equity Fund 59 246,838 - 9 - 16,416 Massachusetts Financial Services Group MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Class A 65 595,144 - 17 - 78,770 Fidelity Fidelity Advisor Growth Fund 2 7,764 - 2 - 360,218 Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch International Equity Fund 3 7,163 - 2 - 204,767 The Nicholas Applegate Family of Funds Nicholas Applegate Mid Cap Growth Fund 3 18,631 - 1 - 465,024 CURRENT VALUE OF ASSET ON COST TRANSACTION NET GAIN IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED DESCRIPTION OF ASSET OF ASSET DATE (LOSS) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Category (iii) - A series of transactions in excess of 5 percent of beginning net assets Merrill Lynch CMA Money Fund 1,749,742 1,749,742 - 815,193 815,193 - Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 751,699 751,699 - 76,082 76,082 - Merrill Lynch Massachusetts Investors Growth Fund 2,178,986 2,178,986 - 207,628 217,578 9,950 Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Class D 1,553,232 1,553,232 - 207,056 213,288 6,232 The AIM Family of Funds AIM International Equity Fund 246,838 246,838 - 16,516 16,416 (100) Massachusetts Financial Services Group MFS Capital Opportunities Fund, Class A 595,144 595,144 - 73,731 78,770 5,039 Fidelity Fidelity Advisor Growth Fund 7,764 7,764 - 268,381 360,218 91,837 Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch International Equity Fund 7,163 7,163 - 234,338 204,767 (29,571) The Nicholas Applegate Family of Funds Nicholas Applegate Mid Cap Growth Fund 18,631 18,631 - 489,603 465,024 (24,579) There were no category (ii) or (iv) transactions. 11 16 The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the plan sponsor has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. DATA RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN By: Data Research Associates, Inc., as Plan Sponsor 3/14/00 By: /s/ Michael J. Mellinger, President - ------- ----------------------------------- Date Michael J. Mellinger, President 17 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description - ----------- ----------- 23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP