DGAP-News

Bechtle Reports Excellent Start into the Year - Seite 2

laptops and tablets. EBIT climbed to EUR8.6 million, an increase of 44.8
per cent. This figure reflects the higher workforce productivity and the
further optimisation of the processes. The margin improved from 2.7 per
cent to 3.7 per cent.

Further Expansion of the International Alliance
In the reporting quarter, Bechtle extended the Global IT Alliance (GITA),
which had been established in 2014, to Latin America. With new partners in
Brazil and Mexico, the GITA now comprises 10 IT enterprises that cover a
total of 44 country markets. Thus, Bechtle is able to offer its customers
global supply at comparable quality standards. Moreover, via the alliance
partners, the GITA increases the opportunities of gaining international
enterprises as customers.

More Employees for Future Growth
As of the reporting date 31 March 2016, Bechtle had a total of 7,269
employees. This represents a year-on-year increase of 598 employees, i.e.
9.0 per cent. About two thirds of the new employees were newly recruited,
and a third joined Bechtle within the scope of acquisitions. Most of the
headcount increase took place in the IT system house & managed services
segment. As of 31 March 2016, Bechtle had 436 young trainees, 25 (+6.1%)
more than as of the corresponding prior-year date.

Annual Forecast Confirmed
In view of the excellent start into fiscal year 2016, the Executive Board
confirms its forecast for the year as a whole, which was published in March
2016 and according to which the revenue and earnings of the Bechtle Group
are to increase significantly in 2016 as well. Bechtle expects the EBT
margin to remain at the prior-year level. "The first quarter is an
outstanding basis for achieving our targets for the year as a whole.
However, we expect the earnings dynamics to approximate the revenue
performance in the course of the year," explains Dr. Thomas Olemotz.

Bechtle KPIs for the First Quarter of 2016

                                                  Q1/2016   Q1/2015     +/-
Revenue                                    EURk   704,905   622,450  +13.2%
 Domestic                                  EURk   482,842   410,227  +17.7%
 Abroad                                    EURk   222,063   212,223   +4.6%
 IT system house                           EURk   470,430   402,626  +16.8%
 IT e-commerce                             EURk   234,475   219,824   +6.7%
EBITDA                                     EURk    33,846    28,533  +18.6%
 IT system house                           EURk    23,885    21,023  +13.6%