DGAP-News: CENIT AG / Key word(s): Final Results CENIT concludes successful 2016 business year: EBIT growth of approx. 12%; Management Board proposes dividend of EUR 1.00 per share 31.03.2017 / 08:13 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuttgart, March 31, 2017 - CENIT AG has concluded a successful 2016 business year. The software company achieved EBIT growth of approx. 12 percent. Sales increased by around 2 percent. In the proprietary software field, CENIT was able to boost sales by over 10 percent on-year. Based on the annual financial statement of CENIT Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart, the Management and Supervisory Boards will propose to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 12, 2017 that a dividend of EUR 1.00 be disbursed per share. During the 2016 business year, CENIT Group achieved total sales revenues of EUR 123,774 k (2015: EUR 121,479 k/+1.9%). Sales of CENIT's proprietary software amounted to EUR 17,572 k, an increase of 10.2% over the previous year EUR 15,949 k. Sales revenues from CENIT Consulting and Services totaled EUR 48,420 k and thus decreased by -4.8% on-year (EUR 50,862 k). Sales of third-party software increased by 5.9% to EUR 57,588 k (2015: EUR 54,391 k). In 2016, gross profits (operating performance less cost of materials) totaled EUR 77,038 k (2015: EUR 76,379 k), an increase of 0.9%. CENIT achieved EBITDA in the amount of EUR 14,064 k (2015: EUR 12,696 k/+10.8%) and EBIT of EUR 11,849 k (2015: EUR 10,601 k /+11.8%). Earnings per share were EUR 0.97 (2015: EUR 0.87 /+11.5%). Order Intake During the 2016 business year, orders received by CENIT Group totaled EUR 124,815 k (2015: EUR 124,901 k). Orders in hand on December 31, 2016 amounted to EUR 35,223 k (2015: EUR 37,914 k). Asset and Financial Situation CENIT has no liabilities in relation to credit institutions, whether short-term or long-term. On the balance-sheet date, the company's equity capital was EUR 40,578 k (2015: EUR 39,843 k), representing an equity ratio of 56.2% (2015: 59.6%). On the balance-sheet date, bank deposits and liquid assets totaled EUR 33,606 k (2015: EUR 33,941 k). Operative cash flow amounted to EUR 9,055 k (2015: EUR 9,465 k). In 2016, cash flow was influenced by a dividend payment to shareholders in the total amount of EUR 8,368 k and investments in the amount of EUR 1,221 k. Employees On December 31, 2016 CENIT Group employed 615 staff worldwide (2015: 628). Consolidated personnel expenditures during the reporting period were EUR 48,880 k (2015: EUR 48,554 k). CENIT currently provides training for 40 young professionals in a variety of occupations. Trainees include informatics and economics students from the Dual University of Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) and vocational trainees in the field of information technology. Dividend The Management and Supervisory Boards will propose to the General Meeting of Shareholders on May 12, 2017 that a dividend of EUR 0.50 per share, as well as the base dividend of EUR 0.50 per share, be disbursed from CENIT AG's unappropriated profit in the amount of EUR 8,393 k. Outlook An equity ratio of well over 50% places CENIT on very secure footing. This lets CENIT act as a strong and reliable partner to its customers. For the 2017 business year, CENIT Group anticipates sales growth of 2% and a consistent EBIT. The complete 2016 Annual Report is available in German and English on the CENIT homepage: www.cenit.com/reports. About CENIT: CENIT is your partner for successful digital transformation. With a broad solutions and services portfolio, CENIT enables clients to optimize their horizontal and vertical business processes. Our solutions are based on innovative technologies in: product lifecycle management, the digital factory and enterprise information management. With interdisciplinary knowledge of the processes involved and their considerable expertise in the field, CENIT consultants provide customers with end-to-end advice to ensure that solutions are implemented with an understanding of the entire value chain. With a holistic approach and based on trusted partnerships, CENIT takes responsibility for solutions on behalf of our clients. From the initial consultation to the introduction of innovative IT solutions, right through to ensuring a cost-effective operation. The CENIT team adapts to each client, taking a practical approach, which enables measurable operational optimizations. CENIT has been helping prestigious customers in key industries to gain competitive advantages for over 25 years. CENIT has over 700 employees worldwide who work with customers from: automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, tool and mold manufacturing, financial services, and trade and consumer products industries. www.cenit.com Please address queries to: CENIT AG Investor Relations Industriestrasse 52-54, D-70565 Stuttgart Tel.:+497117825-3320 Fax:+49711782544-4320 Email: [email protected] Additional Information: This press release/ad hoc report may contain future-oriented statements regarding the business, financial and earnings situation of, as well as profit projections for, CENIT. Such future-oriented statements are characterized by terms or statements such as "the company may" or "the company will", "expects", "assumes", "is considering", "intends to", "plans", "believes", "will continue to" and/or "estimates", as well as similar terms and statements. Such statements contain no guarantee that the projections will in fact be achieved. Rather, such statements involve risks, imponderables and assumptions that are difficult to predict and, in addition, are based on assumptions as to future events which may prove to be incorrect. For this reason, actual events may diverge significantly from the assumptions contained in the respective statement. In a future-oriented statement by which CENIT expresses expectations or assumptions with regard to future events, these expectations or assumptions are made in good faith, and it shall be assumed that they are made upon an appropriate basis; however, it cannot be guaranteed that the said statements, expectations or assumptions shall indeed occur, or be attained or fulfilled. The actual operative result may diverge significantly from such future-oriented statements and is subject to certain risks. In this regard, please refer to the Annual Report of CENIT AG. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31.03.2017 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: CENIT AG Industriestraße 52 - 54 70565 Stuttgart Germany Phone: +49 (0)711 78 25 - 30 Fax: +49 (0)711 78 25 - 4000 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.cenit.com ISIN: DE0005407100 WKN: 540710 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 560321 31.03.2017