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    24.04.2014

    SOLTEQ PLC’S INTERIM REPORT 1.1.-31.3.2014 (IFRS)

    Solteq Plc Stock Exchange Bulletin 24.4.2014 at 9.00 am.

    - Revenue totalled 9,9 million euros (10,0 million euros).

    - The operating result for the review period was 586 thousand euros (544 thousand euros).

    - The company’s operating margin was 5,9 % (5,5 %).

    - Solteq Group’s equity ratio was 42,3 per cent (35,9 %).

    - Earnings per share was 0,03 euros (0,03 euros).

     

    KEY FIGURES
    Turnover by operation:

    % 1-3/14 1-3/13 1-12/13
    Softwareservices 65 67 66
    Licences 26 27 27
    Hardware 9 6 7

     

    CEO Repe Harmanen:

    For Solteq, this year has started in a positive way despite the general market situation and some of the negative signs we predicted last autumn. Out turnover was at the same levels as in 2013, and we also improved our profitability. 

    In the first quarter, targeted growth of the turnover did not materialize as expected, but general demand improved from last year. Although we foresee the year to continue much the same, we expect that demand for our new solution assortment will pick up. We believe that we will reach the organic growth targets set for the turnover in the course of this year.

    As to the risk management of a large ongoing project that we reported on earlier, the measures we took during the first quarter were successful and the project will not burden the operating profit in the same way as it did in the previous financial year.  

    The turnover from the service sector lags slightly behind our expectations, but at the same time our new total solutions have reduced the gap in terms of the turnover and result. The implementation of our strategy has helped us maintain the positive development. We will continue cost monitoring and rationalization programs, and we will also search for new solutions to convert our fixed cost into variable costs for the years to come.

    Market demand picked up from the previous year and last autumn, but there are still delays and postponements in project launches. On the other hand, the radical changes in the market will speed up the schedules of certain new projects. We believe that there will be positive signs in demand in the second half of the year.

    Our strategy work has proceeded as planned, and the implementation of the strategy has started at all levels.  Our aim is that the first concrete steps will be taken by the end of the year and that we will be able to make use of the advantages from 2015 onwards.

    The first quarter did not bring any major surprises or developments. We will continue the steady development of our business operations.

    I wish all our stakeholders and interest groups a pleasant spring season.

     

    BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

    Solteq is a leading retail and service industry software service company. We offer long-term partnership and the markets’ widest range of retail and service industry software services, from the optimisation of the entire supply chain to the management of consumer-customer information. Our technology-independent solutions help our customers to guide their business operations as efficiently and profitably as possible.

    Solteq Plc’s reported segments are Gro­cery and special retail, HoReCa; Wholesale, Logistics and Services and Enterprise Asset & Service Business Management.

    The aim of the segmentation is to respond to customer demand as a field total supplier and therefore to improve the availability of services and ease for our customers.

    Solteq’s turnover totalled 9.865 thousand euros in which contains decrease of 1,2 per cent compared to corresponding period in 2013. Solteq’s operating result increased 7,7 per cent to 586 thousand euros from 544 thousand euros that was the operating result in the corresponding period 2013.

    The company’s operating margin was 5,9 % (5,5 % in 2013).

     

    Grocery and Special Retail, HoReCa

    Solteq’s Grocery and Special Retail Segment provides its clients with total solutions that they can utilise to improve efficiency in terms of logistics, store operations, customer service, point of sale operations, as well as loyal customer management.

    The grocery and special retail solutions help optimise the management of the product selection, space, deliveries, logistics and customer satisfaction while increasing sales and improving the result. The solutions speed up the basic operations, improve delivery reliability, reduce storage value, increase stock turnover and enhance predict­ability. The store always has the right products in the right place, at the right time, and at the right price.

    During the review period the revenue of the Grocery and Special Retail segment totalled 5,1 million euros and the operating result was 0,3 million euros.

     

    Wholesale, Logistics and Services

    Solteq’s Wholesale, Logistics and Services Segment provides its clients with ERP and financial management systems, as well as optimisation, integration and reporting solutions that support these systems.

    Solteq’s solutions help clients manage their operations and enhance purchases, sales, stock management and reporting. The systems can be utilised to improve delivery reliability, reduce storage value, increase stock turnover and enhance predictability. Materials flow management ensures that the right goods reach the right customers at the right time, packed in an optimal manner.

    Solteq’s wholesale, logistics and services systems improve the effectiveness of operations and enable more flexible and versatile customer service. At the same time, automated data management enhances the company’s internal operations. Solteq’s solutions are used daily by a large number of clients representing various industries and sectors, such as wholesale, retail and public administration.

    During the review period the revenue of the Wholesale, Logistics and Services segment totalled 3,4 million euros and the operating result was 0,1 million euros.

     

    Enterprise Asset & Service Business Management

    Solteq’s Enterprise Asset & Service Business Management Segment provides its clients with ERP and master data management solutions.

    The enterprise resource planning solutions developed for the optimisation of service processes help clients manage their operations in many ways, for instance enhance production plant reliability, task and resources manage­ment, field work, sales and customer service, partner network management and materials management. The solutions are utilised by a large number of clients representing various industries and sectors, such as energy produc­tion, maintenance services, life cycle services, engineering and technical services of cities and municipalities, property management services, and home and care services.

    The Enterprise Asset & Service Business Management Segment also provides client companies with services and products related to business critical data (master data) in the form of master data improvement projects, data maintenance services outsourced to master data service centers, software technologies for master data management, and consultation services. The aim of these services is to ensure that the data in the systems that support the clients’ enterprise resource planning and decision making processes are of high quality, compatible and up-to-date. Solteq’s master data manage­ment solutions are used by clients across industries and sectors.

    During the review period the revenue of the Enterprise Asset & Service Business Manage­ment segment totalled 1,3 million euros and the operating result was 0,2 million euros.

     

    REVENUE AND RESULT

    Revenue totalled 9.865 thousand euros (9.987 thousand euros 2013).

    Revenue consists of several individual customerships. At the most, one client cor­responds to less than ten percentages of the revenue.

    The operating result for the review period was 586 thousand euros (544 thousand euros), result before taxes was 507 thousand euros (481 thousand euros) and result for the review period 411 thousand euros (360 thousand euros).

    Previously in the latest Financial Statements reported financial risks in a single major project in Wholesale, Trade and Logistics segment, were limited reasonable way in business operations during the first quarter of the year. According to Solteq’s view the project will no longer have negative impact on result during this financial year.

     

    BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCE

    The total assets amounted to 26.246 thou­sand euros (27.522 thousand euros). Liquid assets totalled 1.963 thousand euros (2.169 thousand euros). In addition to liquid assets, the company has unused bank account limits amounting to a total of 1.500 thousand euros in the end of the financial year.

    The Group’s interest-bearing liabilities were 5.101 thousand euros (6.333 thousand euros).

    Solteq Group’s equity ratio was 42,3 per cent (35,9 per cent).

     

    INVESTMENTS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

    Gross investment during the review period was 150 thousand euros (420 thousand euros). The investments of the review period and the corresponding period in 2013 are mainly replacement investments.

     

    Research and development

    Solteq’s research and development costs consist mainly of personnel costs. When developing basic products, it is Solteq’s strategy to cooperate with global actors such as SAP, Symphony EYC and Microsoft and utilize their resources and distribution chan­nels. Own development efforts are focused on added value products and developing tailored service concepts.

    During the review period product develop­ment costs were not amortized (none in the corresponding review period, either).

     

    PERSONNEL

    The number of permanent employees at the end of the review period was 279 (290). The average number of personnel during the review period was 284 (289). In the end of the review period the number of personnel could be divided as follows: Grocery and special retail, HoReCa segment: 119 people; Wholesale, Logistics and Services: 87 people; Enterprise Asset & Service Business Management; 39 people and 34 people in shared functions.

     

    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

    Solteq’s related parties include the board of directors, managing director, the manage­ment team and the companies owned by the management.

     

    SHARES, SHAREHOLDERS AND TREASURY SHARES

    Solteq Plc’s equity on 31.3.2014 was 1.009.154,17 euros which was represented by 14.998.061 shares. The shares have no nominal value.

    At the end of the review period, the amount of treasury shares in Solteq Plc and the group companies Solteq Management Oy’s and Solteq Management Team Oy’s possessions were 790.794 shares. The amount of treasury shares represented 5,3 % of the total amount of shares and votes at the end of the review period. The equivalent value of acquired shares was 53.209 euros.

    No flagging announcements were made during the review period.

     

    Exchange and rate

    During the review period, the exchange of Solteq’s shares in the Helsinki Stock Exchange was 0,3 million shares (0,3 million shares ) and 0,4 million euros (0,5 million euros). Highest rate during the review period was 1,59 euros and lowest rate 1,35 euros. Weighted average rate of the share was 1,44 euros and end rate 1,41 euros. The market value of the company’s shares in the end of the review period totalled 21,1 million euros (21,9 million euros).

     

    Ownership

    In the end of the review period, Solteq had a total of 1.780 shareholders (1.795 sharehold­ers). Solteq’s 10 largest shareholders owned 11.234 thousand shares i.e. they owned 74,9 per cent of the company’s shares and votes. Solteq Plc’s members of the board owned a total of 5.538 thousand shares which equals 36,9 per cent of the company’s shares and votes.

     

    ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

    At Solteq Plc’s Annual General Meeting on 17 March 2014 the 2013 financial statements were adopted and the members of the board and the managing director were discharged from liability for the 2013 review period.

    In the meeting was accepted the proposal by the board that for the financial year 2013, there will be paid a dividend of 0.03 euros per each share on the market. In addition to this, the annual general meeting authorized the board to decide on a distribution of dividend, or other distribution of funds from the equity trust, for an amount of maximum 0.05 euros. The board is also allowed to decide on the timing and other details of this. The authorization is valid until the beginning of the next Annual General Meeting.

    The Annual General Meeting authorized the board to acquire or pledge the company’s own shares in such a way that the amount of own shares can be at any time maximum 10 per cent of the whole amount of company shares. With this authorization, shares can be acquired or pledged in order to develop the equity structure; or to be used as part of the personnel incentive system; or as a funding or for the realization of acquisitions of another company; or for other business arrangements; or they can be disclosed or invalidated. These shares can be acquired also in other ratios than the shareowners ownership ratio. The shares should be acquired from the public stock exchange. The board can decide on the other conditions for this procedure. This authorization is valid until next annual general meeting.

    The Annual General Meeting authorized the board to decide on an issue of shares for a maximum amount of 3 000 000 new or existing shares, owned by the company, in one or several lots. The issue of shares should be implemented as a directed issue, on the contrary to shareowners subscription rights. With this authorization the board decides on all other conditions for the share issue. This authorization is valid until next Annual General Meeting.

     

    BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND AUDITORS

    Seven members were elected to the Board of Directors. Ali Saadetdin, Seppo Aalto, Markku Pietilä, Sirpa Sara-aho, Jukka Sonninen and Matti Roininen continued as members of the board. Olli Välimäki was elected as a new member of the board. The Board elected Ali Saadetdin to act as the Chairman of the Board.

    KPMG Oy Ab, Authorized Public Account­ants, was re-elected as Solteq’s auditors. Lotta Nurminen, APA, acted as the chief auditor.

     

    EVENTS AFTER THE REVIEW PERIOD

    No events requiring reporting have taken place after the review period.

     

    RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

    The key uncertainties and risks in short term are related to the timing and pricing of business deals that are the basis for revenue, changes in the level of costs and the com­pany’s ability to manage extensive contract agreements and deliveries.

    The key business risks and uncertainties of the company are monitored constantly as a part of the board of directors’ and manage­ment team’s duties. The company has not organized a separate internal audit organiza­tion or committee.

     

    PROSPECTS

    Both revenue and operating result are expected to grow compared to financial year 2013.

     

    Financial reporting

    This Interim Report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting –standard and using the same accounting policies as the financial statements 2013.

    The financial result is reported through three business areas. Grocery and special retail, HoReCa segment, Wholesale, Logistics and Services and Enterprise Asset & Service Business Management. The most essential product and service types of the Solteq group of companies are software services, licenses and hardware sales.

    All forecasts and estimates presented in the bulletin are based on the current views of management on the economic environment and outlook. Because of this, the results can differ as a result of, among other factors, changes in economy, markets and competitive conditions, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions.

    The interim report is unaudited.

    FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
               
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME    
    (TEUR)          
      1.1.- 1.1.- 1.1.-    
      31.3.2014 31.3.2013 31.12.2013    
               
               
    REVENUE 9 865 9 987 38 124    
               
    Other income 0 4 50    
               
    Materials and          
    services -2 437 -2 185 -9 151    
               
    Employee benefit          
    expenses -4 861 -5 042 -19 386    
               
    Depreciation and impairments -317 -299 -1 228    
               
    Other expenses -1 664 -1 921 -6 268    
               
    OPERATING RESULT 586 544 2 141    
               
    Financial income and          
    expenses -79 -63 -214    
               
    RESULT BEFORE TAXES 507 481 1 927    
               
    Income tax expences -96 -121 -306    
               
    RESULT FOR THE PERIOD
      411 360 1 621    
               
    OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME TO BE RECLASSIFIED TO PROFIT OR LOSS IN SUBSEQUENT PERIODS          
    Cash flow hedges 6 20 27    
               
    Taxes related to cash flow hedge -1 -5 -6    
               
    Other comprehensive income,          
    net of tax 5 15 21    
               
    TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME          
      416 375 1 642    
               
    Total profit for the period attributable to          
    owners of the parent 411 360 1 621    
               
    Total comprehensive income attributable to          
    owners of the parent 416 375 1 642    
               
    Earnings/share,          
    e(undiluted) 0,03 0,03 0,11    
    Earnings/share,          
    e(diluted) 0,03 0,03 0,11    
               
    Taxes corresponding to the result have been presented as taxes for the period.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE 31.3.2014 31.3.2013 31.12.2013
    SHEET (TEUR)      
           
    ASSETS      
           
    NON-CURRENT ASSETS      
           
    Tangible assets 1 380 1 276 1 399
           
    Intangible assets      
       Goodwill 12 730 12 730 12 730
       Other intangible rights 2 702 3 408 2 853
           
    Available-for-sale      
    financial assets 548 546 546
           
    Trade and other receivables 32 63 32
           
    Total      
    non-current assets 17 393 18 023 17 560
           
    CURRENT ASSETS      
           
    Inventories 144 101 156
           
    Trade and other receivables 6 746 7 229 5 303
           
    Cash and cash equivalents 1 963 2 169 2 367
           
    Total      
    current assets 8 853 9 499 7 826
           
    TOTAL ASSETS 26 246 27 522 25 386
           
           
    EQUITY AND LIABILITIES      
           
    EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE    
    PARENT    
      Share capital 1 009 1 009 1 009
      Share premium reserve 75 75 75
      Hedging reserve -23 -34 -28
      Reserve for own shares -958 -933 -933
      Distributable equity      
      reserve 6 392 6 392 6 392
      Retained earnings 4 294 3 364 4 331
           
    Total equity 10 789 9 873 10 846
           
    Non-current liabilities      
    Deferred tax liabilities 570 1 196 593
    Financial liabilities 3 180 4 562 3 695
           
    Current liabilities 11 707 11 891 10 252
           
    Total liabilities 15 457 17 649 14 540
           
    TOTAL EQUITY      
    AND LIABILITIES 26 246 27 522 25 386

    CASH FLOW STATEMENT (MEUR)

         
      1-3/2014 1-3/2013 1-12/2013
           
    Cash flow from      
    business operations 0,60 2,00 3,83
    Cash flow from capital      
    expenditure -0,15 -0,46 -0,96
    Cash flow from financing activities      
       Own shares -0,02 0,00 0,00
       Dividend distribution -0,38 -0,52 -0,90
       Loan agreements -0,45 -0,09 -0,85
    Cash flow from financing      
    activities -0,85 -0,61 -1,75
           
    Change in cash and cash equivalents -0,40 0,93 1,12

    STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN GROUP EQUITY (TEUR)

     
    A=Share capital
    B=Reserve for own shares
    C=Share premium account
    D=Hedging reserve
    E=Distributable equity reserve
    F=Retained earnings
    G=Total
      A B C D E F G
                   
    EQUITY 1.1.2013 1 009  -933  75  -49  6 368  3 607  10 077
                   
    Total comprehensive income       15   360 375
                   
    Directed issue         24   24
    Dividend distribution           -599 -599
                   
    EQUITY 31.3.2013 1 009 -933 75 -34 6 392 3 364 9 873
                   
                   
    EQUITY 1.1.2014 1 009 -933 75 -28 6 392 4 331 10 846
                   
    Total comprehensive income       5   411 416
                   
    Acquiring of own shares   -25         -25
    Dividend distribution           -449 -449
                   
    EQUITY 31.3.2014 1 009 -958 75 -23 6 392 4 294 10 789

    SEGMENT INFORMATION

           
             
    Turnover by segment:      
             
    Me   1-3/14 1-3/13 Change
             
    Grocery and special retail, HoReCa 5,1 4,7 0,4
    Wholesale, Logistics and Services   3,4 3,9 -0,5
    Enterprise Asset & Service Business        
    Management   1,3 1,4 -0,1
    Total   9,9 10,0 -0,1
             
    Operating result by segment:      
             
    Me   1-3/14 1-3/13 Change
             
    Grocery and special retail, HoReCa 0,3 0,6 -0,3
    Wholesale, Logistics and Services   0,1 -0,2 0,3
    Enterprise Asset & Service Business        
    Management   0,2 0,2 0,0
    Total   0,6 0,5 0,1
             
             

    QUARTERLY KEY INDICATORS (MEUR)

           
      2Q/12 3Q/12 4Q/12 1Q/13
    Net turnover 10,40 8,52 11,21 9,99
    Operating result 0,39 0,51 0,88 0,54
    Result before taxes 0,32 0,44 0,84 0,48
             
      2Q/13 3Q/13 4Q/13 1Q/14
    Net turnover 9,73 8,59 9,82 9,87
    Operating result 0,54 0,63 0,43 0,59
    Result before taxes 0,49 0,60 0,36 0,51
             
             
             

    TOTAL INVESTMENTS (TEUR)

     
      1-3/2014 1-3/2013 1-12/2013  
    Continuing operations,        
    group total 150 420 957  
             
             

    LIABILITIES (MEUR)

    31.3.2014 31.3.2013 31.12.2013  
             
    Business mortages 10,00 10,00 10,00  
    Other lease liabilities 3,32 3,97 3,53  
             
             

    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (TEUR)

    31.3.2014 31.3.2013 31.12.2013  
    Renting arrangements 21 21 83  
    Outsourcing expenses 0 0 2  
             
             
    Transactions with the insiders have been done at market price and are  
    part of the company’s normal software service business.      
             
             

    FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

         
             
    The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are mainly  
    the same as the book values. Hence they are not presented in table form in the bulletin.    

    MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS 31.3.2014

         
           
          Shares and votes
        Number %
    1.  Saadetdin Ali   3 481 383 23,2
    2.  Keskinäinen Työeläkevakuutusyhtiö Elo 2 000 000 13,3
    3.  Profiz Business Solution Oyj   1 756 180 11,7
    4.  Aalto Seppo   1 662 206 11,1
    5.  Keskinäinen Työeläkevakuutusyhtiö Varma 644 917 4,3
    6.  Pirhonen Jalo   408 480 2,7
    7.  Solteq Management Oy   400 000 2,7
    8.  Roininen Matti   374 000 2,5
    9.  Solteq Management Team Oy   350 000 2,3
    10. Saadetdin Katiye   156 600 1,0
    10 largest shareholders total   11 233 766 74,9 %
    Total of nominee-registered   125 887 0,8 %
    Others   3 638 408 24,3 %
    Total   14 998 061 100,0 %

    FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

         
    INDICATORS (IFRS) 1-3/2014 1-3/2013 1-12/2013
           
    Net turnover MEUR 9,9 10,0 38,1
    Change in net turnover -1,2 % 12,9 % -2,3 %
    Operating result MEUR 0,6 0,5 2,1
    % of turnover 5,9 % 5,5 % 5,6 %
    Result      
    before taxes MEUR 0,5 0,5 1,9
    % of turnover 5,1 % 4,8 % 5,1 %
    Equity ratio, % 42,3 35,9 43,5
    Gearing, % 29,1 % 42,2 % 29,4 %
    Gross investments in      
    non current assets MEUR 0,2 0,4 1,0
    Return on equity, % 16,2 % 15,1 % 15,5 %
    Return on investment, % 15,0 % 13,8 % 13,2 %
    Personnel at the end of      
    period 279 290 277
    Personnel average      
    for period 284 289 287
           

    KEY INDICATORS PER SHARE

           
    Earnings/share, e 0,03 0,03 0,11
    Earnings/share,      
    e(diluted) 0,03 0,03 0,11
    Equity/share, e 0,72 0,66 0,72

    CALCULATION OF FINANCIAL RATIOS

             
               
    Solvency ratio, in percentage:          
      equity        
      ----------------------------------   x 100
      balance sheet total - advances received    
               
    Gearing:          
      interest bearing liabilities – cash, bank balancies and securities      
      -------------------------------------------   X 100
      equity        
               
    Return on equity (ROE) in percentage:          
      profit or loss before taxation – taxes        
      ----------------------------------------   x 100
      equity    
               
    Profit from invested equity in percentage:          
      profit or loss before taxation +    
      interest expenses and other financing expenses        
      ----------------------------------------   x 100
      balance sheet total- non-interest bearing liabilities    
             
    Earnings per share:          
      pre-tax result – taxes +/- minority interest
      ------------------------------------    
      diluted average share issue corrected number of shares    
               
    Diluted earnings per share:          
      diluted profit before taxation - taxes -/+ minority interest
      -----------------------------------------------  
      diluted average share issue  
      corrected number of shares      
               
    Equity per share :          
      equity      
      -----------------------      
      number of shares      
                   

     

    Financial reporting

    Solteq Plc’s financial information bulletins in 2014 have been scheduled as follows:

    - Interim Report 1-6/2014 on Thursday July 17, 2014 at 9 am

    - Interim Report 1-9/2014 on Friday October 17, 2014 at 9 am

    More investor information is available from Solteq’s website at www.solteq.com

    Additional information:

    CEO Repe Harmanen,

    Tel +358 400 467 717,

    E-mail repe.harmanen@solteq.com

    CFO Antti Kärkkäinen

    Tel +358 40 8444 393,

    E-mail antti.karkkainen@solteq.com

    Distribution:

    NASDAQ OMX Helsinki

    Key media

    www.solteq.com

    2014