DGAP-News: Softing AG DGAP-News: Softing AG / Key

DGAP-News: Softing AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results Softing AG 16.07.2013 / 09:59 --------------------------------------------------------------------- With earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) that jumped nearly 30% to EUR 3.1 million (previous year: EUR 2.4 million), the Munich-based Softing AG has sent a clear signal in the first half of 2013 in terms of expanding its EBIT margin. Sales rose to EUR 25.5 million (previous year: EUR 24.2 million). The Automotive Electronics segment made a particularly substantial contribution to the growth in earnings. This segment's focus on products and projects with high margins, such as software licenses, is paying off. The Industrial Automation segment is feeling the effects of the stagnation of German engineering when it comes to factory automation, but it can benefit from the growing demand in the more internationally oriented process automation sector (e.g. with General Electric for gas turbine controls, customers in the oil and gas industry such as ABB and Baker Hughes, and new business with large customers in Asia). Since some Industrial Automation orders could not be fulfilled in the first half-year due to component-related delivery delays, Softing anticipates higher sales and earnings in this segment in the second half of the year. CEO and Softing shareholder Dr. Wolfgang Trier summarized the first six months as follows: 'Our successful growth in earnings is a clear affirmation of our efforts. We expect to be able to maintain this growth rate in the second half of the year. We are especially pleased to see such active interest in our products for longer-term projects with new customers since this will be the foundation for growth in the year 2014 and beyond.' Softing will publish the details for its second quarter on August 14, 2013, in accordance with the financial calendar. About Softing AG Softing AG 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. End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.07.2013 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: InvestorRelations@softing.com 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 221357 16.07.2013