DGAP-News: Softing AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results Softing AG: Continued strong growth and earnings in the first 9 months 05.11.2013 / 13:37 --------------------------------------------------------------------- - EBIT up by approx. 24%, EPS up by 21% - Sales grow by approx. 9% - Earnings guidance confirmed for 2013 Softing is publishing preliminary figures for the first three quarters of 2013 in advance of upcoming capital market conferences and road shows. In the first nine months of the year, sales rose by approx. 9% to EUR 38.3 million (previous year: EUR 35.2 million). EBIT grew by 24% to EUR 4.2 million (previous year: EUR 3.4 million). EPS for the first three quarters is EUR 0.46 (previous year: EUR 0.38). At EUR 40 million, incoming orders are also up year on year (previous year: EUR 38 million). In the third quarter, sales rose by 16% to EUR 12.8 million (previous year: EUR 11.0 million). EBIT increased to EUR 1.1 million (previous year: EUR 0.98 million) and incoming orders grew by 6.1% to EUR 12.6 million (previous year: EUR 11.9 million). The incoming orders do not include existing calls for products under blanket orders with a volume of more than EUR 4 million. These products, which have already been scheduled in the production plan, are very likely to be converted into sales in 2014. The Automotive Electronics segment was the main growth driver in the period under review. Softing reported especially high demand here for products and services which have a particularly good contribution margin thanks to their unique selling points. The figures from the Industrial Automation segment were also EUR 1.2 million higher than in the same period last year, although customer expectations for the next months are considerably more mixed than in the automotive industry. In both segments, delivery bottlenecks due to a sudden dramatic rise in demand from large customers for the month of December have impacted sales growth. This means that despite increased demand and the traditionally strong fourth quarter, the company's sales and earnings guidance cannot be raised. Earnings between EUR 5.8 and 6.2 million and sales between EUR 53 and 56 million are anticipated for the year 2013 as a whole. CEO and Softing shareholder Dr. Trier summarized the Q3 figures as follows: 'Once again, the results show that our products enjoy a high degree of customer acceptance. It is especially pleasing that we are already in a position to count on clear double-digit sales growth with improved EBIT margins in 2014 thanks to strong demand from key customers and orders that could not be delivered in 2013.' The complete Quarterly Report 3/2013 with the final figures can be downloaded from the investor relations section at www.softing.com from November 15, 2013. About Softing AG Softing is a global management holding company. The companies of the Softing Group produce and market hardware and software for in the industrial automation and automotive electronics segments. They develop high-quality standard technology products and customized solutions in close cooperation with their customers. Both of Softing's business segments operate in growth markets. Softing aims at achieving sustainable profitability with double-digit sales growth annually. End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 05.11.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Softing AG Richard-Reitzner-Allee 6 85540 Haar Germany Phone: +49 (0)89 456 56-333 Fax: +49 (0)89 456 56-399 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.softing.com ISIN: DE0005178008 WKN: 517800 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 237940 05.11.2013