P&I continues on growth path
Wiesbaden (euro adhoc) -
Sales and results boosted 6.7 percent rise in EBIT Proposed dividend of 0.60 euro
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finances
In fiscal 2007/2008 (April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008) the P&I group achieved earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of 13.1 million euros (previous year: 12.3 million euros). This represents an EBIT margin of 22 percent (previous year: 22.5 percent). Group sales rose from 54.5 million euros to 59.4 million euros. For the German Association of Financial Analysts and Investment Consultants /Schmalenbach Society, DVFA/SG) earnings after tax (EAT), the P&I group can announce an improvement in its result, rising from 7.4 million euros to 8.8 million euros. Earnings per share rose from 1.14 euros (2006/2007) to 1.25 euros in the year under review. The P&I Group employed an average of 286 personnel (FTE).
For the third year running, P&I AG is to propose a dividend payout to the AGM. The dividend proposed would be 0.60 euros per share, representing approximately 51 per cent of the 2007/2008 annual profit for P&I AG of 9,088,000 euros.
Total sales rose by 8.9 percent from 54.5 million euros to 59.4 million euros, which means that the P&I Group has fulfilled its target. The demand for P&I solutions has led to increases in all sales categories. Above-average growth rates were generated by the P&I Group in Licensing, where sales grew by 20.6 percent, or 3 million euros, in comparison to the previous year, rising to 17.4 million euros.
Development of P&I's maintenance service income in the main follows the licensing sales of previous years. In this fiscal year, sales of 22.2 million euros were posted (previous year: 20.7 million euros). Included here are the final revenues from LOGA/400 business for the 12-month period (April 2007 to March 2008), of 3.5 million euros. This business has been sold to Infoniqa Holding GmbH, Vienna.
Service business showed a moderate positive development in comparison to the previous year. P&I improved on the previous year's result by 0.5 million euros, rising to 18.5 million euros, with 31.1 percent of revenues coming from the Consulting/SI business area.
A number of medium and smaller-sized projects were also realised in the current fiscal year. The unusually strong increase in licensing sales is attributable to the completion of the second instalment of a long-term BPO project abroad, and an extensive bulk order settled on in connection with the sale of the LOGA/400 business. The conclusion of contracts for two P&I PLUS projects are also positive highlights. A further contribution to the higher licensing sales comes from migrating customers, switching over from one of the legacy products acquired to P&I's integrated solution.
P&I realised sales of 47.2 million euros (previous year: 43.2 million euros), or 79.4 percent of total sales, domestically, with international sales of 12.2 million euros (previous year: 11.4 million euros). Of particular note are the ascending sales P&I has achieved in the German market, traditionally a strongly competitive market (+ 4.0 million euros).
The operating result rose by around 6.7 percent to 13.1 million euros, representing an EBIT margin of 22.0 percent. The margin has dipped only slightly below the previous year's level, but still reflects the negative one-off effect resulting from the change in control.
For fiscal 2008/2009, the Board of Directors expects a double-digit increase in sales through organic growth in the product segment (Licensing and Maintenance sales). This should establish the EBIT margin at above the 22 percent level.
"Our commitment to performance and innovation is the key precondition for our leading position in the market: it means that we not only achieve a better company result, but also we provide security for our customers in their investment in our software," states P&I 's CEO, Vasilios Triadis, pledging that: "We will continue to pursue our goals consistently and steadily".
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Andreas Granderath
+49 (0)611 7147-267
agranderath@pi-ag.de
Branche: Software
ISIN: DE0006913403
WKN: 691340
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
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