Software AG shows strong growth in fiscal 2009
Published: 2/4/2010
- Revenue up 18 percent to €847.4 million
- EBIT up 21 percent to €218.2 million
- EBIT margin of 25.8 percent
- Net income up 22 percent to €140.8 million
- Free Cash Flow rose by 41 percent to €188.4 million
- Fourth quarter 2009: webMethods license up 21 percent
- 2010 outlook: revenue growth of 25-30 percent
- 2010 net income up 8-12 percent
Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX: SOW) reported a significant increase in revenue and net income for fiscal year 2009. In doing so, Germany’s second largest software company beat market expectations. Group revenues amounted to €847.4 million, up 18 percent in 2009 (2008: €720.6 million). EBIT increased by 21 percent to €218,2 million for the same period, delivering an EBIT margin of 25.8 percent. License revenues were at €269.9 million reflecting the difficult market conditions in 2009 (2008: €272.0 million). Maintenance was up by 16 percent to €310.6 million (2008: €267.1 million). The acquisition of IDS Scheer drove Services & Consulting revenues up by 48 percent to €262.5 million (€177.8 million). Net income rose by 22 percent to €140.8 million from €115.9 million in 2008. Earnings per share rose 21 percent to €4.92 (€4.05 in 2008). For 2010, Software AG forecasts revenue growth of 25 to 30 percent at constant currency rates and net income up 8 to 12 percent.
Record results in 2009
Most importantly for a software company, total product revenue (license & maintenance) rose by 8 percent to €580.5 million (€539.1 million in 2008). Services & Consulting revenue rose by 48 percent to €262.5 million (€177.8 million in 2008).
Against a backdrop of continuing economic recession, the webMethods business line (integration software) product revenue was up 5 percent to €219.9 million compared to 2008 (€208.0 million) and total revenue by 3 percent to €324.9 million (€315.7 million in 2008). Through an improved sales mix and increased sales efficiency the webMethods business line increased its contribution to earnings by 15 percent to €70.1 million (2008 €60.8 million). webMethods contributed more in 2009 than ever before to Group results.
“We reported record numbers again in 2009. The acquisition of IDS Scheer will help us build a leadership position for Business Process Excellence software”, said Software AG CEO, Karl-Heinz Streibich. “In the fourth quarter we closed an increased number of large deals. We are seeing the first signs of an economic recovery. Software AG is an excellent position to benefit from this development.”
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter 2009 returned total revenue of €292.1 million, 38 percent up on €212.4 million in 2008. Product revenue was up 11 percent to €181.1 million (2008: 163.2 million) and Services & Consulting up 130 percent to €109.0 million (2008: €47.3 million). The significant rise in Services & Consulting revenue is due to the contribution of IDS Scheer whose results are being consolidated for a full quarter for the first time.
Forecast for 2010
Software AG is forecasting for fiscal year 2010, at constant currency rates, total revenue growth of 25 to 30 percent with product revenue growth of 12 to 15 percent. The company also forecasts growth in net income of 8 to 12 percent.
IDS Scheer Acquisition
Software AG now holds 91 percent of IDS Scheer shares. A domination agreement was approved at an extraordinary general meeting of IDS Scheer on January 8, 2010. Software AG therefore expects to realize cost synergies of €25 to €30 million. To accelerate the organizational integration a merger of the two companies is planned. The minority shareholders of IDS Scheer AG would then become shareholders of Software AG. The company plans to buy the required shares on the open market within the next few months.
