• Group revenue grew organically by 9 percent to €272.6 million 
• Operating income (EBIT) climbed by 29 percent to €60.2 million
• Earnings per share (EPS) increased by 44 percent to €1.41
• Annual forecast for 2011 fully confirmed

Marco Gerazounis

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 9, 2011 – Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX: SOW) further increased revenue and earnings according to plan in the first quarter of 2011, reconfirming the company’s sustained growth path. Product revenue in the first three months climbed year-over-year by 12 percent, to €164.3 million, while Group revenue grew by 9 percent to €272.6. Operating income (EBIT) surged by 29 percent to €60.2 million. The cost synergies arising from the merger with IDS Scheer AG have had a particularly positive effect. Net income jumped by 43 percent to €40.0 million, and earnings per share were up to €1.41. The revived demand for IT, noted at the CeBIT trade show, was confirmed in the first quarter. During the year, the company expects an increase in process innovation projects and affirms the growth forecast for the full year 2011, published in January. 

“The successful integration of IDS Scheer AG is reflected in every aspect, not least in the Q1 2011 results. As a technology leader in IT-based business process optimization, we have established a sustainable position in the global market, which we will continue to expand through organic growth and targeted acquisitions,” stated Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO of Software AG.

“The excellent Q1 2011 performance portends a strong year for our company within a region that counts the transformation into digital societies among its key goals. The Middle East will play a bigger role in keeping Software AG on track to meet its annual revenue goals via strong demand for IT solutions, considerable funding power and ambitious development plans,” added Marco Gerazounis, Senior Vice President, Software AG Middle East.

Business lines see growth in product business

The Business Process Excellence (BPE) business line—which encompasses revenue from licenses, maintenance, and services for all integration and process software products (webMethods and ARIS) since the merger with IDS Scheer AG—achieved growth of 13 percent (10 percent at constant currency) in Q1 2011, with total revenue of €123.9 million. The pure product business revenue climbed 14 percent to €79.4 million, 11 percent at constant currency rates. This is a significantly above the 6 percent growth rate reported in the fourth quarter 2010. Customer interest in IT solutions for business process optimization rose substantially at this year’s CeBIT trade show, affirming Software AG’s strategy of positioning itself as an innovative market leader in the growth market of process software. Software AG maintained high growth rates in the innovation friendly U.S. market and could extend this above average sales performance to Brazil and Germany.

During the quarter under review, the Enterprise Transaction Systems (Adabas, Natural) business line showed a substantial increase in sales. In the product business, revenue of €79.1 million for licenses and maintenance exceeded that of the previous year by 10 percent. Licensing revenues achieved €30.4 million, an increase of 19 percent over Q1 2010 (€25.6 million). In the first quarter, the business line’s total revenue amounted to €96.8 million—9 percent (5 percent at constant currency) higher than the previous year’s total of €89.1 million. This has laid a solid foundation for the business line to achieve its objectives for the full year 2011.

Revenues for the IDS Scheer Consulting business stabilized at the previous year’s level with €51.9 million. Utilization of the consultants has improved over the previous year as has the business line’s contribution to earnings. More expert process consultants are being hired to handle the increased orders.

Operating results confirm successful acquisition strategy

The increased business volume in product sales and the greater contribution of products to total revenue in comparison to the previous year have positively influenced earnings. Above all, the cost synergies from the merger with IDS Scheer AG are becoming obvious in fiscal year 2011; in 2010, they were still affected by restructuring costs. Furthermore, Q1 2011 earnings, in comparison to the previous year, continued to benefit from a weaker Euro—an advantage that is not likely to repeat itself in the remaining quarters of 2011. This has led to a 29.2 percent increase in operating results (EBIT) to €60.2 million (2010: 46.6 million). Profit after tax jumped by 42.9 percent — an even more significant growth rate. Interest expenses decreased after rapid debt reduction, according to plan, and financial results improved by €3.1 million to €-1.5 million (2010: 4.6 million). A tax rate of 31.8 percent likewise was lower than that of the previous year (33.4 percent). Therefore, net income increased in the quarter under review to €40.0 million (2010: 28.0 million) and earnings per share climbed to €1.41 (2010: €0.98). 

“One year after the merger with IDS Scheer AG, the new corporate structure’s impact on profit is becoming fully apparent. Economies of scale and internal process optimization are reflected in much improved cost ratios,” declared Arnd Zinnhardt, Software AG’s CFO. “The EBIT margin is much higher than last year, supporting our goal of continual improvement toward a margin of 30 percent. “

In the first quarter of 2011, the company generated free cash flow of €49.1 million (2010: €59.8 million). Net debt was reduced in the quarter under review by €45.6 million to €121.6 million; a year ago this figure stood at €247.7 million. As of March 31, 2011, the equity ratio amounted to 49.5 percent (previous year: 39.6 percent).

Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, May 5, 2011

A total dividend payout of €37.0 million or €1.30 per share (2010: €1.15) for fiscal year 2010 will be proposed at the shareholders’ meeting on May 5, 2011. Moreover, a motion has been proposed recommending a 3-for-1 stock split (each existing share will be converted to three new ones). The share price has continued to increase since 2003 and is now well over the €100 mark and the stock split is intended to achieve a more convenient trading level for the retail investor.

Outlook

The operating business demonstrated a good start to the new fiscal year with sales increases in both product areas underpinning the full year growth targets. The increase in profit in the first quarter of 2011 was due largely to the cost synergies resulting from the merger with IDS Scheer and the continuing weakness of the euro (compared to the previous year). On this basis, the company affirms the forecast for the full year 2011 that was published in January, according to which total revenue will grow by 5 to 7 percent, at constant currency, and net income will climb by 10 to 15 percent.

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HTC Touch Pro2 and HD2 among phones that subscribers can choose as part of highly attractive package    

HTC HD2

UAE – August 8, 2010 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, has announced that it has tied up with telecommunications service provider du for the new Smart Business Plan that du has introduced for subscribers in the UAE.

According to the terms of the new plan, business customers under the Smart Business Plan will enjoy features such as unlimited internet and email bundles, national and international minutes and more, starting from as low as AED 350 per month. Also, business customers can now enjoy one unified and attractive rate of AED 1 per 50KB for data usage outside the UAE, anytime, anywhere.

Subscribers opting for the Smart Business Plan at AED 350 can avail of the Touch Pro2 handset with a one-time upfront payment of just AED 999 and the HD2 for just AED 1,399.

“This latest plan introduced by du leverages the distinct advantages of Windows 6.5 phones which offer features such as HSDPA, WiFi and Bluetooth, among others. Evidently the plan is designed to deliver maximum value for money to the subscribers and HTC is enthusiastic about teaming up with du for this attractive promotion. The two HTC phones that are part of the Smart Business Plan have already made its mark in the regional markets and are among our most popular phones,” said Nikitas Glykas, Regional Director of HTC South Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Integrating innovative simplicity with unique style and an intuitive interface, the HTC Touch Pro2 balances function, form and cutting-edge technology to personalise the communication and mobile Internet experience. The device leverages voice in a new way to create one of the most sophisticated communication experiences found on a mobile phone, with the incorporation of HTC’s Straight Talk technology that delivers an integrated email, voice and speakerphone experience. Users can transition seamlessly from email to single or multi-party conference calls and turn any location into a conference room.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with HTC, which is a highly respected smart phone provider, and we look forward to a successful partnership with them.  The HTC smart phones are already hugely popular in the region, and by coupling all the benefits of du’s excellent value Smart Business Plan with these cutting edge handsets, we are able to provide our business customers with one of the most unique and competitive business mobile offerings in the market,” commented Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du.

Other features of the Touch Pro2 include HTC’s latest TouchFLO 3D interface, Push Internet technology, and HTC’s people-centric communication approach that provides a single contact view that displays the individual conversation history of contacts regardless of whether voice, text or email were used.   
 
The HTC HD2 on the other hand is the first Windows phone with HTC Sense, a customer experience focused on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way. With its industry-leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, the ultra thin HTC HD2 delivers more visible content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.

As a new Windows phone, the HTC HD2 showcases the powerful messaging, browsing and productivity capabilities delivered by Windows Mobile® 6.5. Offering a best-in-class email experience complete with the ability to synchronise with Microsoft Exchange, users will have the ability to check and manage multiple email accounts. Microsoft’s new My Phone service enables users to automatically back up and sync photos, music, contacts and text messages for free from the HD2 to the web.

For more information about the Smart Business Plan, customers may call 800 188, visit any du or axiom shop or log on to www.du.ae.

The Federal National Council (FNC) is set to discuss the possibility of holding a single shopping festival in the UAE to run concurrently with the celebrations marking the National Day of UAE. The FNC will hold its concluding session in the current legislative season tomorrow.