EANS-News: Software AG
Software AG's first quarter financial results confirm
expectations
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3-month report
Darmstadt (euro adhoc) - Software AG's first quarter financial results confirm
expectations
- Business Process Excellence (BPE) total revenue of EUR124.3 million sets
new record high for a first quarter
- BPE growth was driven by a continued strong performance in Europe
- Enterprise Transaction Systems (ETS) with total revenue of EUR94.4
million performed better than anticipated
- Maintenance revenue at all-time quarterly high of EUR96.3 million
- Free cash flow up by 20 percent
- Full-year guidance for 2012 unchanged
Darmstadt, Germany, April 27, 2012 - Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX: SOW)
reported record first quarter Business Process Excellence (BPE) revenue of
EUR124.3 million (EUR123.9 million in 2011). This growth was primarily driven by
very strong performances in Europe and the introduction of new products.
Enterprise Transaction Systems (ETS), performed better than expected, with
total revenue of EUR94.4 million. The company's software product business
(license and maintenance) reported total revenue of EUR161.5 million close to
the
outstanding performance of Q1, 2011. Total maintenance revenue reached an all
time high for a quarter of EUR96.3 million. Despite higher spending on R&D,
Sales
and Marketing, the EBIT margin reached 21.5% and free cash flow was increased
by 20%. The company confirmed its guidance for the full year 2012, published in
January of this year.
"The sustained success of the Business Process Excellence division in Europe
once again demonstrates the strength of both our product portfolio and our new
go-to-market strategy, a strategy that we are now rolling-out globally", said
Software AG CEO, Karl-Heinz Streibich.
The first quarter has laid the basis for the full fiscal year
The Business Process Excellence division showed the same development as in the
second half of 2011 with strong growth in DACH and EMEA. It is expected that
this positive development will also be seen in the USA in the second half of
the year. The first quarter 2012 showed a 1.5 percent increase in BPE product
revenue to EUR80.6 million exceeding the extraordinary first quarter of 2011 by
EUR1.2 million. Total business division revenue of EUR124.3 million is a record
high for a first quarter.
During the quarter under review, the Enterprise Transaction Systems performed
better than anticipated. Product revenue of EUR76.3 million, services of EUR17.8
million and total revenue of EUR94.4 million have laid the basis for a full-year
performance within the guided corridor.
The IDS Scheer Consulting division reported sales of EUR35.8 million. The
withdrawal from unprofitable markets such as China and Russia and the general
focus on profitable projects resulted in a reduction of revenue. As previously
announced, Software AG has conducted a review of strategic options for the
further development of the global IDS Scheer Consulting business. The company
has decided to develop the IDS Scheer Consulting business as an independent
operating company with an innovative partner management structure. Software AG
is therefore focusing on continuity and the stability of customer relationships
to generate growth.
Operating results
Software AG significantly increased BPE business line investment (+EUR7 million)
in R&D, Marketing and Sales in the first quarter of 2012 laying the basis for
accelerated global growth with new products. The company also further optimized
administrative costs and therefore achieved an EBIT margin of 21.5 percent and
an EBIT of EUR54.8 million (EUR60.2 in Q1, 2011).
Net income in the quarter under review was EUR35.9 million (2011: 40.0 million)
and earnings per share EUR0.41 (2011: EUR0.47).
Free cash flow increased by 20 percent to EUR59.1 million and net debt was
significantly reduced by over EUR100 million over the past twelve months to
almost zero.
"We have invested substantially in R&D, Sales and Marketing laying the basis
for accelerated growth of our BPE business in the second half of this year; but
we have also maintained a high EBIT margin and increased the free cash flow
significantly", said Software AG CFO, Arnd Zinnhardt.
Annual Shareholders' Meeting, May 4, 2011
A total dividend payout of EUR39.9 million or EUR0.46 per share (2011: EUR0.43)
for
fiscal year 2011 will be proposed by Software AG's Executive and Supervisory
Boards at the shareholders' meeting on May 4, 2011.
Outlook
The financial results of Q1, 2012 have laid the basis for the successful
development of the core business and for achieving the full year targets for
fiscal 2012. Therefore the company affirms the forecast for the full year 2012,
published in January, with growth of 5 to 15 percent in the BPE division and
corresponding group revenue in the range of +/- 3 percent, both in comparison
to 2011 (at constant currency). Software AG expects an EBIT margin of 23.0 to
24.5 percent for the current fiscal year.
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About Software AG
Software AG is the global leader in Business Process Excellence. Our 40 years
of innovation include the invention of the first high-performance transactional
database, Adabas; the first business process analysis platform, ARIS; and the
first B2B server and SOA-based integration platform, webMethods.
We offer our customers end-to-end business process management (BPM) solutions
delivering low Total-Cost-of-Ownership and high ease of use. Our industry-
leading brands, ARIS, webMethods, Adabas, Natural, CentraSite and IDS Scheer
Consulting, represent a unique portfolio encompassing: process strategy,
design, integration and control; SOA-based integration and data management;
process-driven SAP implementation; and strategic process consulting and
services.
Software AG had revenues of EUR1.1 billion in 2011 (IFRS, unaudited) and has
more
than 5,500 employees serving about 10,000 enterprise and public institution
customers across 70 countries. Our comprehensive software and services
solutions allow companies to continuously achieve their business results
faster. The company is headquartered in Germany and listed on the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE 0003304002 / SOW).
Software AG - Get There Faster
Software AG | Uhlandstraße 12 | 64297 Darmstadt | Germany
Detailed press information about Software AG including a picture and multimedia
database are available under: www.softwareag.com/press
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Software AG Germany | Software AG USA
Further inquiry note:
Barbara Kögler
Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
E-Mail: barbara.koegler@softwareag.com
Tel: +49 (0) 6151 92 1574
Fax: +49 (0) 6151 92 34 1243
Paul Hughes
Director Media Relations
E-Mail: paul.hughes@softwareag.com
Tel: +49 (0) 6151 92 1787
Fax: +49(0) 6151 92 1191
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: Software AG
Uhlandstr. 12
D-64297 Darmstadt
phone: +49 (0)6151 92 1899
FAX: +49 (0) 6151 92 1933
mail: investor.relations@softwareag.com
WWW: http://www.softwareag.com
sector: Software
ISIN: DE0003304002
indexes: TecDAX, CDAX, HDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share
stockmarkets: free trade: Hannover, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart,
regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt
language: English
Original content of: Software AG, transmitted by news aktuell