ATOSS Software AG continues to report record figures for the sixth year in succession. Sales in the period from January to September 2011 were up 9 percent over the year before at EUR 23.3 million, while operating profits (EBIT) at EUR 5.5 million were 5 percent higher than in the first nine months of 2010. Thanks to strong financial earnings, pre-tax income (EBT) and earnings per share each rose by an outstanding 24 percent.

Business climate still benign
ATOSS Software AG, in common with the high-tech sector as a whole, remains undeterred by deteriorating business expectations in Germany. The Munich-based specialist in workforce management increased sales in its software segment by 6 percent to EUR 13.9 million in the first three quarters. Consulting services were up 9 percent at EUR 6.2 million. Once again ATOSS has recorded growth above the market average which industry association BITKOM estimates at around 4 percent for 2011.

Earnings power unchecked, strong financial earnings
The nine-months results presented by ATOSS once again demonstrate the company’s earnings power. Operating profits (EBIT) were 5 percent higher at EUR 5.5 million (previous year EUR 5.3 million). Thanks to strong financial earnings, pre-tax income (EBT), net profit and earnings per share for the period each rose by an outstanding 24 percent. EBT came in at EUR 6.6 million (previous year EUR 5.3 million), net profit at EUR 4.5 million (previous year EUR 3.6 million) and earnings per share at EUR 1.13 (previous year EUR 0.91).
Operating cash flow at EUR 7.1 million (previous year: EUR 7.0 million) continued to reflect the unvarying power of the ATOSS business model to generate liquidity. As of the end of September 2011 the company reported liquidity of EUR 26.3 million, equal to EUR 6.63 per share (previous year EUR 22.0 million and EUR 5.55) – representing growth of 20 percent.

Growth driven by research & development
The success achieved in the first nine months of the current financial year and the continuing outlook clearly underscore the fact that research & development remain central to the ATOSS growth strategy. R&D expenditure in the first nine months of 2011 amounted to EUR 4.9 million, or 21 percent of sales, some 14 percent higher than in the same period last year.

Acquiring customers in core sectors and developing new areas
In addition to expanding its presence in its core retail sector, the medical business is also becoming steadily more important to ATOSS. For example, in Q3 2011 the University Clinic operated by the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz joined the ranks of ATOSS customers. In future, the deployment of around 4,000 staff at the University Clinic will be planned and controlled using the ATOSS Medical Solution.
A number of rewarding developments in other sectors have been in evidence, which make it clear that the relevance of workforce management is not only appreciated in personnel-intensive and personnel-critical branches. Orders received in the first nine months of 2011 amounted to EUR 4.8 million (previous year EUR 4.3 million), while orders on hand on September 30 stood at EUR 2.9 million, up from EUR 2.7 million last year.

ATOSS is on course for a sixth record year in succession
Having just reported the company's strongest earnings and order book to date, the Management Board continues to anticipate moderate sales growth in 2011 as a whole with an EBIT margin in excess of 20 percent. ATOSS Software AG looks forward to a six record year in succession.