ots Ad hoc-Service: SOFTING AG <DE0005178008> Release for 3rd Quarter 2000
Haar/Munich (ots Ad hoc-Service) -
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Softing AG achieved a provisional sales volume of DM 25.3 million in the first 9 months of 2000. The sales thus fall short of the original target figures by approx. 20%. The managing board expects that, instead of the projected total annual sales of DM 42.1 million for the year 2000, approx. DM 36 million will be attained. The sales shortfall leads to a provisional operative result (EBIT) of minus DM 2.0 million in the first 9 months of the year. For the total year, the managing board is now anticipating a balanced result instead of the target EBIT of DM 3.2 million for the total year 2000.
The deviations from target mainly arise from a backup of orders caused by the difficult job market situation for software developers. To process the projects on order, the company urgently requires additional skilled personnel. The Automotive Electronics Division, which deals with data communication in and for the automobile, is the most affected by this development. Only in the next fiscal year will the cooperation agreement between Softing and a third company, which will provide Softing with 10 development engineers, bring about a relaxation of the personnel situation.
In the Industrial Automation Division, which develops complex software and hardware for industrial communication and control engineering, a strong rise in cost prices has also contributed to the deviating result. The cancellation of an order by a major customer made itself felt in the sales.
With regard to the future sales development of the innovative product 4CONTROL for the PC-based control of industrial installations and machinery and its operation via the Internet, the managing board is optimistic. The market acceptance of Internet-oriented system solutions by the industry, which has still been restrained this year, however, has a damping effect, resulting in delays of 4CONTROL sales in the current year.
Softing has meanwhile further advanced the product 4CONTROL, thus increasing its technological lead in this area. In newly released Version 2.0, 4CONTROL can also be used on the customers' individual software and hardware platforms. In addition, the 4CONTROL product range was completed by FieldPC and PanelPC.
The managing board considers the quick expansion of the marketing network abroad the central task in order to speed up the sales of projects and products and especially the worldwide distribution of 4CONTROL. The success of the Italian subsidiary, which was founded in August 2000, shows that Softing is on the right path: In September a trendsetting agreement was concluded with the Italian control manufacturer OSAI on the joint implementation of 4CONTROL.
Kontakt:
Softing AG Dr. Rainer Mittmann CEO
Richard-Reitzner-Allee 6 D-85540 Haar
Phone: +49-(0) 89-45656-0 Fax: +49-(0) 89-45656-492 E-mail:
Rainer.Mittmann@softing.com
Dr. Stephan Fickel Investor Relations Phone: +49-(0) 89-45656-333
Fax: +49-(0) 89-45656-492 E-mail: InvestorRelations@softing.com
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Original content of: Softing AG, transmitted by news aktuell