total operating expenses increased 20%. Operating expenses were unfavorably affected as a result of the weakening of the United States dollar relative to other major international currencies. Operating margins as a percentage of total revenues decreased from 38% to 34%. The decline in operating margins is primarily due to incremental costs incurred as a result of the acquisition of PeopleSoft such as amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related costs, restructuring costs and stock-based compensation resulting from the assumption of unvested PeopleSoft stock options.

 

International operations will continue to provide a significant portion of total revenues. As a result, total revenues and expenses will be affected by changes in the relative strength of the United States dollar against certain major international currencies.

 

Fiscal 2004 Compared to Fiscal 2003:   Total revenues increased in fiscal 2004 due to an increase in both new software license revenues and software license updates and product support revenues, partially offset by lower services revenues, most notably consulting revenues. In addition, total revenues were favorably affected by foreign currency rate fluctuations due to a weakening of the United States dollar against certain major international currencies, primarily the Euro, British Pound and Japanese Yen.

 

Improved sales execution, a strengthening of our competitive position and improvements in the economy resulted in a 3% increase in new software license revenues, excluding foreign currency rate fluctuations. The increase in software license updates and product support revenues is a result of the renewal of substantially all of the prior year period subscription base, the addition of software license updates and product support revenues associated with new software license revenues in the current fiscal year and more timely renewals.

 

Weak economic conditions in the United States in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, as well as weak economic conditions internationally, particularly in EMEA, in the first half of fiscal 2004 have affected our services growth rates. Historically, services revenue growth rates have lagged new software license revenue growth rates by several quarters, as implementation services and education services are typically provided after our customers purchase software licenses. In addition, consulting revenues have declined due to a soft demand for consulting implementation services, the increased use of partners, competitive pricing pressures that have led to higher discounts, and the increased use of offshore resources that are billed at lower rates. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 60% to the increase in total revenues in fiscal 2004, EMEA contributed 28% and Asia Pacific contributed 12%.

 

Operating expenses were unfavorably affected as a result of the weakening of the United States dollar relative to other major international currencies, resulting in a 4% increase in operating expenses. Excluding currency rate fluctuations, total operating expenses remained flat due to lower salary expenses related to a shift in the personnel mix