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asknet Solutions AG Vincenz-Prießnitz-Straße 3 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany https://asknet-solutions.com/de/
Contact Ms Madeleine Clark +49 721 964586116
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asknet Solutions AG

asknet publishes Annual Report for 2016

(PresseBox) (Karlsruhe, )
  • Consolidated earnings strongly influenced by Norway issue; compensation to be pushed ahead in 2017
  • One-time effect due to lack of large individual deals in asknet’s Academics Business Unit; realization of these transactions already being implemented for 2017
  • Good new customer trend in asknet’s eCommerce Solutions Business Unit
  • Company continues change process at detail level
  • Outlook: Notably improved operating result
asknet AG, a supplier of international e-business solutions, has published the figures for the financial year 2016. Gross profit, which is a key performance indicator of asknet Group, came to 8.92 million euros at Group level, down approx. 14 percent on the previous year’s 10.39 million euros. With sales revenues down by roughly 6 percent to 68.72 million euros (previous year: 73.32 million euros), the gross profit margin (gross profits as a percentage of sales revenues) declined from 14.2 percent to 13.0 percent. Transaction revenues fell by approx. 11 percent to 73.96 million euros (previous year: 83.20 million euros).

In asknet’s Academics Business Unit, the business trend was adversely affected by the fact that the business unit was unable to repeat the large-scale transactions, which usually made a major contribution to the company’s results in 2016. It is expected, however, that these transactions will be implemented successively in 2017, leading to a stabilization of sales revenues and gross profits at a higher level. The business unit’s sales revenues declined by 24 percent to 19.96 million euros and gross profits dropped by 32 percent to 2.91 million euros. In asknet’s Digital Goods Business Unit, strong business with existing customers and the launch of e-commerce solutions for new customers led to a 5 percent increase in sales revenues to 44.91 million euros. Gross profits climbed to 5.30 million euros. Business in asknet’s Physical Goods Business Unit declined moderately, with sales revenues falling at a low level from 4.08 million euros to 3.86 million euros. Gross profits dropped to 0.71 million euros. As of 1 November 2016, the Digital Goods unit and the Physical Goods unit were merged into asknet’s eCommerce Solutions Business Unit, which was newly set up in the context of the organizational reform.

asknet Group’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to -1.65 million euros in 2016 (previous year: 0.09 million euros), while earnings before taxes (EBT) came in at -1.83 million euros (previous year: 0.09 million euros). Consolidated earnings after taxes stood at 2.50 million euros (previous year: 0.08 million euros). Adjusted for all extraordinary expenses incurred to address the Norway issue, incl. consulting and restructuring expenses, EBT amounted to -1.09 million euros. Adjusted consolidated earnings after taxes (EAT) came to -1.10 million euros.

Good progress was made in the second half of 2016 with regard to the tax issue in Norway. A first advance payment was made to reduce the interest burden and part of the provision was released as of the end of the year, as the retrospective tax payment will probably be somewhat lower than previously projected. Moreover, the company continues to examine the possibility of enforcing liability claims in order to further minimize the damage. As this issue was addressed, the internal risk processes were revised from scratch and a new risk management system was installed.

The company also implemented a comprehensive change process in the fiscal year, whose measures will lead to significant annual savings as a result of increased operational and structural efficiency. These savings were felt already in the second half of the year and more than offset the extraordinary expenses associated with the program. A material change in this context was the organizational reform implemented as of 1 November, as part of which important back-office departments were implemented into the business units, giving the latter full customer and product responsibility along the value chain from sales to technical implementation to customer service. In addition, development and innovation tasks have been pooled in the Technical Product Management Department, which will push ahead with the identification and development of innovative products and processes independently of the operational business.

Says Tobias Kaulfuss, CEO of asknet AG: “The fiscal year 2016 was marked by great contrasts. But against the background of the setbacks experienced in the course of the year, we were all the more determined to implement fundamental changes. This strategy is vindicated primarily by the sales successes of asknet’s eCommerce Solutions Business Unit, which make us optimistic about the future. A total of 18 new customers make 2016 one of the most successful sales years in our history of over 20 years. There was great interest in our solutions and services especially in Asia.”

The Executive Board expects the Group’s gross profits to pick up in the fiscal year 2017. Given that extraordinary expenses will once again be incurred in the context of the change process the current fiscal year and investments in development will be increased, the Executive Board assumes that the operating result will be much better than in 2016 but will still be negative. In the medium term, however, earnings before taxes are expected to reach approx. 10 percent of gross profits on a sustained basis.

Sales revenues
2016: 68.72 million euros – 2015: 73.32 million euros

Gross profits
2016: 8.92 million euros – 2015: 10.39 million euros

Gross profit margin (gross profit in percent of sales revenues)
2016: 13.0 % – 2015: 14.2 %

EBT
2016: -1.83 million euros – 2015: 0.09 million euros

Result for the year
2016: -2.50 million euros – 2015: 0.08 million euros

The full Annual Report for 2016 is available on the company’s website at www.asknet.com.

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asknet Solutions AG

asknet Group is an innovative supplier of e-business technologies and solutions for the global distribution and management of digital and physical goods. Founded in 1995 as a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the company is a pioneer of modern e-commerce with over 20 years’ experience in the field.

asknet’s eCommerce Solutions Business Unit (previously Digital Goods and Physical Goods Business Unit) enables international manufacturers to successfully market their products in over 190 countries. The core product, asknet eCommerce Suite, covers the complete sales process and is suitable for manufacturers of both digital and physical goods. In addition, the company offers stand-alone services and solutions along the value chain. asknet’s Academics Business Unit assists customers from the research and education sector in purchasing and managing software and hardware. Thanks to its close relations with over 80% of Germany’s universities and research institutions, asknet is intimately familiar with their needs and requirements and can offer them specific solutions. For more information, visit www.asknet.com.

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The publisher indicated in each case (see company info by clicking on image/title or company info in the right-hand column) is solely responsible for the stories above, the event or job offer shown and for the image and audio material displayed. As a rule, the publisher is also the author of the texts and the attached image, audio and information material. The use of information published here is generally free of charge for personal information and editorial processing. Please clarify any copyright issues with the stated publisher before further use. In case of publication, please send a specimen copy to service@pressebox.de.