euro adhoc: S&T System Integration&Technology Distribution AG
S&T:
Record Q4 and Positive Result in 2003 (E)
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
Q4 earnings above expectation 4th quarter growth approximately 38 % Total sales in 2003: EUR 204 million - up 21% Total EBIT positive despite extraordinary write-offs Highest sales and EBITDA in the companys history
27 January 2004, Vienna, Austria - S&T System Integration & Technology Distribution AG (Vienna Stock Exchange: SNT, OTC: STSQY), a leading IT service provider in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe today announced its preliminary 4th quarter results and the preliminary figures for 2003.
Total sales of approximately EUR 74 million were generated in the 4th quarter 2003, an increase of approximately 38 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Marketing initiatives, the strengthening of sales teams and the announced postponements of projects from previous quarters, particularly in Romania, Russia and Ukraine contributed to a very pleasing 4th quarter result.
Total annual sales for 2003 run to approx. EUR 204 million, up 20% compared to the previous year. S&Ts solutions business posted strong growth, further increasing the percentage of total sales attributable to services. Together with the increase in overall sales, this made a positive contribution to the results for the year.
The excellent operating result (Q4 EBITDA rose by over 25 percent compared to Q4/02) resulted in a positive EBIT of approximately EUR 0.2 million for the year 2003 despite the extraordinary write-off on the Turkish subsidiary (to a residual value of EUR 0.1 million). EBIT for 2003 before these extraordinary charges would have amounted to EUR 2 million.
Karl Tantscher, CEO: "I see this record quarter as an indication that our markets are on the upturn again following two years of stalling IT investments, and that the investment in focusing our sales force on the services business is beginning to bear fruit. S&T was able to win valuable orders in most of its markets, for infrastructure projects as well as in the service and consulting segments. Both external indicators and our own most recent market experiences point to a continued upturn in all the markets in which we are present, not least of all due to EU enlargement."
The audited results for the year will be published on 30 March 2004.
Conference Call S&T's management is available for a conference call on January 27 2004 at 4.00 p.m. Central European time, UK: 3.00 p.m., US: 10.00 a.m. Eastern time. To take part in the conference call, please dial 0049 69 50 957 8439 a few minutes prior to the start time. For your convenience, an instant replay will be available from January 27 at 6.00 p.m. Central European time until February 3rd at 6.00 p.m. Central European time. The replay telephone number is: 0049 69 50 957 9999 and the conference reference number is 253314. If you have any questions please call 0049 69 50500600 for assistance.
end of announcement euro adhoc 27.01.2004
Further inquiry note:
Karl Tantscher
Chief Executive Officer
mailto:karl.tantscher@snt.at
Henriette Lininger
Investor and Public Relations
mailto:henriette.lininger@snt.at
S&T System Integration & Technology Distribution AG
Gunoldstrasse 16, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 367 80 88 0
Fax: +43 1 367 80 88 99
mailto:snt@snt.at
http://www.snt.at/
Branche: Computing & Information Technology
ISIN: AT0000905351
WKN:
Index: ATX Prime, WBI
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official dealing