DGAP-Adhoc: Bechtle AG: 2009 results eclipse market expectation by wide margin

Bechtle AG / Preliminary Results

28.01.2010 

Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Bechtle AG: 2009 results eclipse market expectation by wide margin

Neckarsulm, 28 January 2010 - Preliminary figures for FY 2009 suggest that
Bechtle AG's earnings could easily outstrip the general market
expectations. The group's earnings before taxes (EBT) amounting to EUR 43.5
million (previous year: EUR 61.5 million) are more than 10 per cent above
the analysts' expectations of around EUR 39.2 million. The estimated EUR
1.38 th. million in revenue (previous year: EUR 1.43 th. million), too,
lies above the approximation of the analysts, who predicted an average of
EUR 1.33 th. million. Thus, the 2009 EBT-margin is 3.1 per cent (previous
year: 4.3 per cent).

A considerable pickup in demand in the fourth quarter of 2009 was the main
influence on this positive development. The group's consolidated revenues
of approximately EUR 415.2 million in this final quarter are a new all-time
high, a climb of some 2.6 per cent compared to the previous year's EUR
404.8 million. The Q4 EBT lies at EUR 18.7 million (previous year: EUR 20.2
million), the margin is approximately 4.5 per cent.


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Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News:

Bechtle's business development in the fiscal year 2009 was dominated by
persistent, difficult economic parameters, especially outside Germany,
where the economic crisis had a stronger effect on IT spending than in
Bechtle's domestic market. On the other hand, business within the German
borders was relatively balanced. Also, the crisis did not hit the two
business segments, IT System House & Managed Services and IT e-commerce,
with equal strength. While hardware and software sales were shrinking over
the course of the year, the demand for IT services, which often involve
long-term investments, has proved rather stable.

The early implementation of cost-cutting measures was instrumental in
avoiding any lasting negative effects on the profit situation, which also
helped to gain lost ground (in a year on year comparison 2008-2009) over
the course of FY 2009. Besides the traditionally stronger fourth quarter,
an increase in the public-sector business had a positive effect on
Bechtle's development in 2009.

Bechtle will publish its final figures for 2009 on 19 March 2010.

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Language:     English
Company:      Bechtle AG
              Bechtle Platz 1
              74172 Neckarsulm
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)71 32/ 9 81-0
Fax:          +49 (0)7132/ 9 81 - 8000
E-mail:       ir@bechtle.com
Internet:     www.bechtle.com
ISIN:         DE0005158703
WKN:          515870
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hannover, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart
 
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
 
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