asknet publishes half-yearly figures for 2007
Karlsruhe (euro adhoc) -
- Strong sales increase of 31% to EUR 26.2 million - Operating results up but still negative - Forecast for the entire year confirmed
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companies/half-yearly figures
Karlsruhe , 14 August 2007 - asknet AG, one of the leading providers of outsourcing solutions for global software distribution via the Internet (Electronic Software Distribution - ESD) announced its business figures for the first half of 2007.
In the first six months of 2007, the asknet Group generated sales of EUR 26.2 million representing an increase of approximately 31% against the same period last year. This marked increase is due to an extension of the customer base and to an increase in online sales to existing customers. Especially the outsourcing business for software provider F-Secure, as well as for Nero whose shops have only been serviced by the asknet platform since March , had a positive effect on sales. The Group´s gross earnings reached EUR 3.8 million, up 23%. The main motor for the growth in earnings was the eDistribution network segment, with a 31% increase to EUR 2.5 million. The ePortals segment with the download platform softwarehouse.de as its most important component, posted a 10% increase in gross earnings which rose to EUR 1.3 million. The Group´s gross earnings margin was 14,4%. Operating results (EBIT) improved and stood at EUR -1.7 million, compared to EUR -1.9 million for the same period last year. The loss for the period was EUR 1,5 million, compared to EUR 2.0 million in the first half of 2006.
For the entire year 2007, the Management Team continues to expect an increase in sales of at least 40% and a marked drop in operating losses. In the second half of the year, due to positive effects from the customer Nero and from the traditionally lively end-of-year trade in software, pressure on earnings is expected to be lower than in the first six months of the year.
"Business development in the first half of 2007 came up to our expectations," said Gerhard Rumpff, CEO of asknet AG, going on to explain: "In the outsourcing solutions segment for software providers, we acquired a large number of new customers. Growth here is primarily generated by our shops abroad. In the first half of 2007, at 57.2% sales processed abroad were higher than proceeds from sales to end customers in Germany for the first time."
In total, asknet processed some 527,000 online transactions in the first half of 2007, representing a plus of 188,000 or 55%. Approximately 94% of these were in the eDistribution network segment. In the ePortals segment which is primarily characterised by large-volume transactions with universities, development was slightly less dynamic. For the entire year of 2007, an accelerated growth in sales and profits is expected in this segment as well, due to significant new customer contracts in the last few weeks, including a contract for designing the software portal for a major German electronics distributor.
As of today, the Half Year Report 2007 of asknet AG is available on the company´ s website at www.asknet.de.
About asknet AG: asknet offers its clients customised outsourcing solutions for global software distribution via the Internet. Established in 1995 as a spin-off from Karlsruhe University, the company grew to be the Number Two of the independent global suppliers in electronic software distribution. In addition to integrated shop solutions for software producers, the company also develops and operates software distribution portals, among others softwarehouse.de, Europe´s biggest download platform for standard software. In 2006, asknet achieved revenue from sales of almost 42 million euros and completed more than 700,000 transactions. Among the customers of the Karlsruhe company are well-known suppliers of specialised software such as F-Secure, Nero, InterVideo, DivX and WebsitePros. In addition, asknet supplies about 70 per cent of the German universities with software products. asknet AG has been listed at the stock exchange in Frankfurt at the entry standard since November 2006. For further information please visit: www.asknet.de
end of announcement euro adhoc 14.08.2007 08:48:57
Further inquiry note:
asknet AG
Daniela Simon
Phone: +49/721/96458-6112
E-Mail: daniela.simon@asknet.de
IR.on AG
Fabian Kirchmann
Phone: +49/221/9140-970
E-Mail: fabian.kirchmann@ir-on.com
Branche: Electronic Commerce
ISIN: DE0005173306
WKN: 517330
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / free trade/entry standard