asknet AG: strong year-end and a promising start of the eCommerce Solutions Business Unit into the new year

• High sales performance in the shops processed by asknet at the turn of the year 2017/18
• Several new customers and new partnership for US sales in the eCommerce Solutions Business Unit
• Group earnings forecast for 2017 increased

asknet AG, part of the Swiss-listed content marketing, technology and eCommerce services group The Native SA, announces a significantly better performance in its software online shops business segment at the turn of the year 2017/18, than initially forecast.

“Cyber-Monday and Black Friday already indicated a strong year-end performance. However, the Christmas business once again exceeded expectations," commented Jan Schöttelndreier, Vice President eCommerce Solutions. New software releases from several asknet customers contributed to this development.

In addition, the eCommerce Solutions Business Unit was able to win three more new customers from Asia at the turn of the year. Following the successful sales strategy in the APAC region, the company is now also stepping up its efforts to address software manufacturers in North America. A new distribution partnership in the USA, which was also concluded at the end of 2017, will contribute to this development.

Moreover, asknet is adjusting its earnings expectations for the year 2017 upwards (see ad hoc announcement dated January 19, 2018). On the basis of preliminary figures, and contrary to prior forecasts, the Company is now expecting a positive operating result. The main reason for this increase is the decision of the executive board and the supervisory board to start capitalizing software development costs in the fiscal year 2017. The good performance at the end of the year and the numerous new customers acquired in November and December led to additional earnings, thus adding further positive impact. The performance of asknet had also been enhanced with the positive effect from synergies with The Native SA following completion of the change of control transaction in early November.

“In a dynamic market with constantly shorter product cycles, it is of great importance to document the value of our software development efforts. By adapting to this industry standard, we can position ourselves more clearly in relation to other market participants and customers in terms of innovative strength and future viability,“ commented Tobias Kaulfuss, CEO of asknet AG.

Gross profit will initially be weaker than in the previous year due, among other things, to the marked decline in demand for a software release from a major customer over the course of the year.