DGAP-News: Bechtle AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Dividend Bechtle AG Presents Record Figures for 2014 13.03.2015 / 10:15 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bechtle AG Presents Record Figures for 2014 - Revenue in 2014 up 13.5 per cent to EUR2,580 million - EBIT reaches EUR108.5 million, 19.2 per cent above prior year - Proposed dividend rises to EUR1.20 Neckarsulm, 13 March 2015 - In the fiscal year 2014, Bechtle AG generated revenue of EUR2,580.4 million, 13.5 per cent more than in the prior year (EUR2,273.5 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved 19.2 per cent to EUR108.5 million, significantly surpassing the EUR100-million mark for the first time. EBT amounted to EUR107.4 million, 20.2 per cent above the prior year. The EBT margin climbed from 3.9 per cent to 4.2 per cent. Earnings per share amounted to EUR3.63, compared to EUR3.02 in the prior year. The dividend is to be increased to EUR1.20 (prior year: EUR1.10). "We are looking back at an outstanding fiscal year. Over the entire period, we experienced a remarkably dynamic development with two-digit growth rates, even in the final quarter. We have again gained market shares. The broad-based increase achieved in both segments is very encouraging. We are proud of this outstanding achievement, to which the entire Bechtle team contributed," explains Dr. Thomas Olemotz, Chairman of the Executive Board of Bechtle AG. EBIT Margin in System House Business at Record Level In the IT system house & managed services segment, the group generated revenue amounting to EUR1,727.1 million, 12.5 per cent more than in 2013 (EUR1,535.3 million). The segment recorded growth in all fields of activity - from managed services to the conventional project business. At 13.2 per cent, the growth was particularly strong in Germany. In the previous years, Bechtle had systematically invested in employees and in the portfolio, enabling optimum exploitation of the high and broadly based customer demand in the reporting period. In 2014, EBIT in the system house business climbed 22.6 per cent to EUR68.9 million (prior year: EUR56.2 million). This was also due to the fact that the increase in personnel expenses was only below average. Accordingly, the EBIT margin increased and reached the mark of 4.0 per cent for the first time (prior year: 3.7 per cent). IT E-Commerce Invests in the Future The IT e-commerce segment was the growth driver in 2014. Revenue increased 15.6 per cent to EUR853.4 million (prior year: EUR738.2 million). Abroad, Bechtle recorded an excellent growth of 17.2 per cent to EUR611.7 million (prior year: EUR522.0 million). All national subsidiaries and all brands contributed to the growth. The domestic trading companies also achieved a two-digit growth rate of 11.8 per cent to EUR241.7 million (prior year: EUR216.2 million). EBIT rose 13.6 per cent to EUR39.6 million (prior year: EUR34.9 million). Due to growth-induced recruitment especially in the final quarter, the EBIT margin receded slightly, but nevertheless reached an excellent level of 4.6 per cent (prior year: 4.7 per cent). Sound Balance Sheet as the Basis for Further Growth The balance sheet KPIs of Bechtle AG indicate a sound, strong asset and financial structure. On this basis, it will be possible to quickly and flexibly finance further growth, both organically and through acquisitions. Cash and cash equivalents including time deposits and securities totalled EUR156.0 million, almost the same as in the prior year. The equity ratio amounted to a comfortable 54.5 per cent. The net debt of Bechtle AG is minus EUR95.8 million, i.e. Bechtle is free of debt. The return on equity reached an excellent value of 15.6 per cent. The cash flow from operating activities and the free cash flow are also clearly positive and underline the fact that Bechtle has managed to generate the funds needed for growth under its own steam. Employee Base Expanded As of 31 December 2014, Bechtle had 6,572 employees. Compared to the prior year with 6,219 employees, the total workforce grew by 353, an increase of 5.7 per cent. The headcount increase is the result of two smaller acquisitions and, most importantly, new recruitment. At 11.2 per cent, the IT e-commerce segment grew faster than system house & managed services, which went up 4.3 per cent. Bechtle continues to invest consistently in training. As of the end of the year, the group had a total of 455 young trainees. The training ratio in Germany amounted to a good 8.2 per cent. Slackening Dynamics Expected in 2015 In view of the optimistic forecasts for the economic situation in Germany and the EU, the Executive Board expects the performance as a whole to be good in 2015. However, the impulses from the IT market will be weaker than in the reporting period. Especially the situation on the hardware market is challenging. Nevertheless, the company expects the business performance to remain positive and significantly above the industry average. "In the last two years, Bechtle grew at an impressive rate. However, we expect the growth dynamics in 2015 to be weaker than in the reporting period. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to increase our revenue and earnings and gain market shares in the current year," says Dr. Thomas Olemotz. Bechtle KPIs 2014

                                              2014         2013       +/-
Revenue                          EURk    2,580,448    2,273,485    +13.5%
  Domestic                       EURk    1,775,409    1,570,816    +13.0%
  Abroad                         EURk      805,039      702,669    +14.6%
  IT system house                EURk    1,727,073    1,535,316    +12.5%
  IT e-commerce                  EURk      853,375      738,169    +15.6%
EBIT                             EURk      108,498       91,048    +19.2%
  IT system house                EURk       68,907       56,185    +22.6%
  IT e-commerce                  EURk       39,591       34,863    +13.6%
EBIT margin                         %          4.2          4.0
EBT                              EURk      107,385       89,308    +20.2%
EBT margin                          %          4.2          3.9
Earnings after taxes             EURk       76,194       63,397    +20.2%
Earnings per share                EUR         3.63         3.02    +20.2%
Number of employees (average)                6,421        6,072     +5.7%

                                           31.12.2014  31.12.2013     +/-
Cash flow from operating activities  EURk      55,965      73,098  -23.4%
Liquidity*                           EURk     156,000     156,105   -0.1%
Equity ratio                            %        54.5        55.1
Employees                                       6,572       6,219   +5.7%

* including time deposits and securities *** The Annual Report 2014 is available for download at bechtle.com/reports. About Bechtle As a one-stop IT provider, Bechtle AG is active with over 65 system houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is one of Europe's leading online dealers for information technology, with subsidiaries in 14 countries. This combination forms the basis of Bechtle's trend-setting business model, which links IT services to the conventional marketing of IT products. Established in 1983 and headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany, the company offers a one-stop, vendor-independent, comprehensive IT portfolio to its more than 75,000 customers from the fields of industry and trade, the public sector and the financial industry. Bechtle has been quoted on the stock exchange since 2000 and has been listed in the TecDAX technology index since 2004. In the fiscal year 2014, the group generated revenue of approximately EUR2.6 billion. Contact Bechtle AG Bechtle Platz 1 D-74172 Neckarsulm, Germany Investor Relations Corporate Communications/Press Martin Link Sabine Brand [email protected] [email protected] Phone: +49 7132 981-4149 Phone: +49 7132 981-4115 Fax: +49 7132 981-4116 Fax: +49 7132 981-4116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.03.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP 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: Bechtle AG Bechtle Platz 1 74172 Neckarsulm Germany Phone: +49 7132 981-0 Fax: +49 7132 981-8000 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.bechtle.com ISIN: DE0005158703 WKN: 515870 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 332583 13.03.2015