EANS-News: SAF AG
SAF continues its path to success also in the second quarter
and increases revenues by 63.2 percent
Tägerwilen (euro adhoc) -
Growing license business facilitates net profit margin of 23.9 percent for H1/09
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Company Information/Interim result Q2/09
- Revenues of EUR 4.5 million in Q2/09 (Q2/08: EUR 2.8 Mio.) - License revenues increased by 148.4 percent in Q2/09 - SAF wins Douglas Perfumery and US retailer as direct sales customer - OEM partner sells three licenses
Tägerwilen/Switzerland, August 25, 2009. SAF AG, which is listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN CH0024848738), has continued its operating business on its path to success. The Company had achieved a 61.5 percent revenue jump already in the first three months of this year. In the second quarter, the company was able to repeat this success with revenue up by 63.2 percent year-on-year. This resulted in revenue of EUR 9.0 million in the first half year compared to EUR 5.6 million in the first half of 2008. At the same time, SAF recorded an encouraging increase in its consolidated net profit from EUR - 0.3 million in the first half year of 2008 to EUR 2.2 million in the reporting period. This corresponds to a net profit margin of 23.9 percent.
"A significant development took place in the license business. We sold five software licenses in the second quarter - three of these were attributable to the OEM partner and two others to the direct business", illustrates Dr. Andreas von Beringe, CEO of SAF AG, the good start into the fiscal year 2009. "In our direct sales business we achieved an exceptional success. The Douglas Group, a leading European retail company in the cosmetics and perfume industry, will in the future use SAF's ordering and forecasting systems", comments von Beringe the latest developments. Douglas will replenish its over 1,000 stores with SAF technology. SAF concluded the second direct business transaction in the US, where, in cooperation with the partner SofTechnics, it signed a license agreement with a major grocery retail chain that operates a network of more than 150 stores.
Strong growth was also recorded in the maintenance business (including a non- recurring effect of EUR 0.4 million) during prior-year period representing an increase of 50.7 percent in the second quarter from EUR 1.5 million to EUR 2.3 million. Maintenance revenues increased - excluding the non-recurring effect - constantly from quarter to quarter in line with each additional license sold. Therefore it is foreseeable at this stage already that the total of ten licenses sold in the first half of 2009 will continue to spur the growth momentum of this key contributor to revenue.
SAF can thus look back on an encouraging first half year. Revenue and net profit highlight the stability of the SAF business, even in a difficult market environment. In light of this development the Company sees good prospects for continuing on its course of expansion for the whole of 2009.
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About SAF AG SAF Simulation, Analysis and Forecasting AG specializes in the development of automated ordering and forecasting software for retailers and industrial manufacturers. SAF deploys the demand chain management approach, which controls replenishment planning based on consumer demand patterns. SAF software assists users to realize substantial cost savings and optimizes general logistics conditions through its simulation capabilities. As a result, significant competitive advantages are achieved along the entire value chain: lower inventories, improved product availability, and last, but not least, a higher level of customer satisfaction.
SAF AG was established in 1996 by Dr. Andreas von Beringe and Prof. Dr. Gerhard Arminger. SAF shares are listed at the official market (Prime Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB). Today, the company employs approx. 100 people. Consolidated sales revenues for fiscal year 2008, were approx. 13.4 million EUR with consolidated profit of 2.1 million EUR according to IFRS statements. SAF's products are distributed in many European countries as well as in the United States. The company is headquartered in Tägerwilen, Switzerland. SAF also has a subsidiary in the United States: SAF Simulation, Analysis and Forecasting U.S.A., Inc., Grapevine, Texas and in Slovakia, Bratislava: SAF Simulation, Analysis and Forecasting Slovakia s.r.o. with the focus on Nearshore- Development.
Forward Looking Statements and Estimates This information contains forward looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of SAF's Management Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forward looking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual figures to differ considerably from the forward looking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among other things, risks that are mentioned in the annual report 2008. SAF does not plan to update the forward looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Astrid Strömer
+41 (0)71 666 79 48
astrid.stroemer@saf-ag.com
Branche: Software
ISIN: CH0024848738
WKN: A0JD78
Index: Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade