German software maker SAP has announced that better-than-expected
fourth quarter software sales should enable it to beat its
full-year 2001 revenue forecast.
Software licence sales in the fourth quarter should come in at more
than €1bn (£617m), SAP said. Analysts had forecasted average
licence sales of €790m for the quarter, an SAP spokesman said.
Full-year 2001 revenue growth should be over 16% with the strong
sales, SAP said, slightly ahead of the revised growth forecast of
15% it made in October 2001.
SAP also said it expects operating margins of around 20%, excluding
costs for stock-related compensation and acquisitions, matching the
margins for 2000. The company will present its preliminary 2001
results on 23 January.
Shares in SAP rose by over 5% at €155.5 (£95) in late morning
trading on the Frankfurt stock exchange.
