DGAP-News: USU Software AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement USU Software AG's nine-month figures affirm steady, positive business performance 17.11.2016 / 09:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Revenue increase of 11.8% after nine months - Adjusted EBIT up 12.9% year-on-year (Q1-Q3) - Orders on hand 16.3% higher as of September 30, 2016 - Management Board confirms guidance for year as a whole and 2017 Möglingen, November 17, 2016 - USU Software AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU28) continued to record steady revenue and earnings growth above the industry average in the first nine months of the 2016 fiscal year. The company lifted its revenue (IFRS) by 11.8% to EUR 51,393 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 45,985 thousand). All divisions of the Group (hereinafter referred to as "USU" or the "USU Group") contributed to this result in equal measure. The Product Business segment contributed revenue of EUR 39,946 thousand to consolidated revenue in the first nine months of 2016 (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 35,924 thousand), an increase of 11.2% over the prior-year period. Here, USU benefited in particular from the considerable expansion of its maintenance and license business. At the same time, the Group augmented its consulting-related revenue from the Service Business segment by 13.2% to EUR 11,277 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 9,958 thousand). The USU Group's revenue generated outside Germany edged up 2.5% in the reporting period to EUR 14,369 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 14,012 thousand). Due to the strong growth in the domestic market, the share of consolidated revenue generated outside Germany narrowed from 30.5% in the first three quarters of the previous year to 28.0%. As a consequence of the substantial revenue growth and a disproportionately low rise in costs, the USU Group significantly increased its earnings in the first nine months of the 2016 fiscal year compared with the prior-year period. USU lifted earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by 12.9% year-on-year to EUR 6,305 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 5,585 thousand), while earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose in the same period to EUR 4,405 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 3,943 thousand), an increase of 11.7%. On account of a positive extraordinary effect in connection with the acquisition of BIG Social Media that was required to be reported under deferred taxes in 2015 in accordance with IFRSs, consolidated net profit decreased by 10.5% year-on-year, from EUR 4,377 thousand to EUR 3,919 thousand. Earnings per share thus amounted to EUR 0.37 (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 0.42). USU's earnings before interest and taxes adjusted for extraordinary effects relating to acquisitions (adjusted EBIT) climbed by 12.9% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2016 to EUR 5,342 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 4,731 thousand). At the same time, the Group generated adjusted consolidated net profit of EUR 4,748 thousand (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 4,405 thousand), an increase of 7.8%. USU's adjusted earnings per share accordingly increased from EUR 0.42 in the previous year to EUR 0.45 in the reporting period. As of September 30, 2016, the USU Group's orders on hand rose by 16.3% as against the previous year to EUR 40,893 thousand (September 30, 2015: EUR 35,174 thousand). A look at developments in the third quarter of 2016 shows that the USU Group successfully continued the positive trend witnessed in the preceding quarters. For example, the USU Group increased its consolidated revenue (IFRS) by 8.1% to EUR 17,362 thousand (Q3 2015: EUR 16,060 thousand). At the same time, EBITDA was up 17.9% to EUR 2,410 thousand (Q3 2015: EUR 2,044 thousand), while EBIT rose by as much as 21.9%, from EUR 1,486 thousand in the previous year to EUR 1,811 thousand. Consolidated net profit, on the other hand, was down 17.1% to EUR 1,661 thousand (Q3 2015: EUR 2,004 thousand) owing to the above-mentioned positive extraordinary taxation effect in 2015. Earnings per share therefore amounted to EUR 0.16 (Q2 2015: EUR 0.19). Adjusted EBIT developed encouragingly and stood at EUR 2,014 thousand for the third quarter of 2016 (Q3 2015: EUR 1,837 thousand), an increase of 9.6% over the prior-year period. USU lifted its adjusted consolidated net profit from EUR 1,634 thousand in Q3 2015 to EUR 1,778 thousand in the reporting period, an increase of 8.8%. Adjusted earnings per share showed a slight improvement, increasing to EUR 0.17 (Q3 2015: EUR 0.16). The USU Group had total cash and cash equivalents of EUR 19,417 thousand as of September 30, 2016 (Q1-Q3 2015: EUR 16,415 thousand). This represents a year-on-year increase in Group liquidity of EUR 3,002 thousand or 18.3%. Based on total assets of EUR 87,082 thousand (December 31, 2015: EUR 89,186 thousand), the equity ratio rose to 70.7% as of September 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015: 68.2%). This means that the USU Group continues to have a very sound financial base. For the current and final quarter, the Management Board is expecting sustained, strong business performance and is therefore confirming its guidance for the USU Group of an increase in revenue to between EUR 71 and EUR 75 million in 2016 (2015: EUR 66.1 million) with a strong rise in adjusted EBIT - the principal key performance indicator - to between EUR 9 and EUR 10.5 million (2015: EUR 8.79 million). In addition, revenue is expected to rise to over EUR 100 million, including around EUR 15 million in growth through acquisitions, by the end of 2017, with further expansion in the operating margin on the basis of adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (adjusted EBIT). The complete 9-month report 2016 is available for download on USU Software AG's homepage. The company's Management Board will present further information at the analyst and investor conference "German Equity Forum 2016" to be held at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and Conference Center (Hugo-Eckener-Ring 15, 60594 Frankfurt/Main), Madrid room, on November 21, 2016 at 5 p.m. This press release is available at http://www.usu.de USU Software AG The USU Group is Europe's largest provider of IT and knowledge management software. Market leaders from all sectors of the global economy use USU applications to create transparency, be more agile and reduce both their costs and risks. USU Software AG (ISIN DE 000A0BVU28), listed in the Prime Standard of the German stock exchange, incorporates USU AG - established in 1977 - as well as Aspera GmbH, Aspera Technologies Inc., BIG Social Media GmbH, LeuTek GmbH, and OMEGA Software GmbH. The IT Management division supports companies with extensive ITIL(R)- compatible solutions for strategic and operational IT and enterprise service management. With USU solutions, customers gain an overall view of their IT processes and IT infrastructure and are able to transparently plan, allocate, monitor and actively manage IT services. USU is one of the world's leading providers in the software license management sector. With intelligent solutions and expertise in digital interaction, USU is a prime mover in the digitization of business processes. Standard software and consulting services help to automate service processes and actively provide knowledge for all communication channels and customer contact points in sales, marketing and customer service. USU's range in this field is rounded off by system integration, individual applications and software for industrial big data. Further information: www.usu-software.de Contact USU Software AG Corporate Communications Dr. Thomas Gerick Tel.: +49 (0) 71 41 / 48 67 440 Fax: +49 (0) 71 41 / 48 67 108 e-mail: [email protected] USU Software AG Investor Relations Falk Sorge Tel.: +49 (0) 71 41 / 48 67 351 Fax: +49 (0) 71 41 / 48 67 108 e-mail: [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.11.2016 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. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: USU Software AG Spitalhof 71696 Möglingen Germany Phone: +49 (0)7141 4867-0 Fax: +49 (0)7141 4867-200 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.usu-software.de ISIN: DE000A0BVU28 WKN: A0BVU2 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 521561 17.11.2016