IBS Group Reports its Operating Results for the 9 Months Ending December 31, 2010

MOSCOW, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IBS Group Holding Limited (IBSG.DE, IBSG.F) announces today its preliminary unaudited operating results for the nine months of FY'2010 (1 April 2010 - 31 December 2010).

    Consolidated Revenues, Net of Intercompany Sales*

    US$ million                              9M      9M    Change,   H1
                                           FY'2010 FY'2009    %    FY'2010

    Consolidated revenues                   505.2   406.8   +24%    285.8
    Revenues in the IT Services segment     307.3   263.1   +17%    164.0
    Revenues in the Software Development
      segment                               150.6   111.2   +35%     92.1
    Revenues in the Online Software
     Delivery segment                        48.0    33.1   +45%     29.7

    * Based on the preliminary unaudited management accounts for
      the 9M of FY'2010 and for the 9M of FY'2009, revenues for both periods
      are exclusive of DEPO Computers (divested in September 2009)

    - Consolidated revenues for the 9M of FY'2010 totalled US$505.2 million,
      a 24% increase from the 9M of FY'2009 driven by continued sales
      growth in all business segments.

    - The IT Services segment (IBS IT Services) demonstrated a 17% revenue
      growth on the back of a rapid recovery in the system integration
      services and infrastructure projects market. The Group expects to
      reach a 30% year on year revenue growth in the segment for full
      FY'2010.

    - The Software Development segment (Luxoft) demonstrated a 35% revenue
      growth as a result of its geographic expansion and an increasing global
      demand for software engineers.

    - The Online Software Delivery segment (Softkey) demonstrated a 45%
      revenue growth, reflecting a growing popularity of licensed software
      as well as an increasing brand recognition by customers.

    Consolidated Revenues by Geographies*

                                             9M FY'2010    9M     Change
                                                         FY'2009

    Revenues generated in Russia and the CIS   76.6%      77.7%    -1.1%
    Revenues generated in Europe                8.4%       4.0%    +4.4%
    Revenues generated in North America        14.9%      18.3%    -3.4%
    Revenues generated in Asia                  0.1%         -      n/a

    * Based on the unaudited management accounts for the 9M of
      FY'2010 and for the 9M of FY'2009

    - The growth of the Software Development segment resulted in a further
      increase in the share of international operations as a percentage of
      total revenues at IBS Group. International operations now account for
      23.4% of the Group's revenues compared with 22.2% a year before.

    - The share of revenues generated in Europe more than doubled from 4% to
      8.4%, driven by an increase of 164% in absolute terms due to a rapid
      expansion in the European market.

    - The share of revenues generated in North America declined from 18.3%
      to 14.9%, following an increase of 1.4% in absolute terms.

    - The Software Development segment expanded its presence in Asia through
      its newly launched development centre in Singapore. The share of
      revenues generated in Asia amounted to 0.1%.

    - Revenues generated in Russia and the CIS increased 22.3% in absolute
      terms, but their share in consolidated revenues declined a marginal
      1.1%.

    Group Headcount

    Number of employees 31.12.2010 31.12.2009  Change   30.09.2010   Change
                                                from                  from
                                              previous              previous
                                                year                 quarter

    Group headcount       7,272      5,757      +26%      6,771        +7%

As of 31 December 2010, the headcount of the Group reached 7,272 employees, an increase of 26% compared to the 9 M of FY'2009 and a 7% gain over the third quarter of FY'2010. Most of the personnel growth was due to an expansion of the Software Development segment, where the number of employees increased by 47.3%, from 2,800 as of 31 December 2009 to 4,124 as of 31 December 2010. Such personnel growth is warranted by aggressive growth within the Software Development segment and its increasing EBITDA margins.

Debt Position

Debt financing is used to cover short term cash requirements and acquisitions. Due to the business seasonality in the IT Services segment the Group periodically borrows funds to finance its working and operating capital and uses borrowings and overdrafts to finance any short-term liquidity needs.

    US$ million                          31.12.2010   30.09.2010     Change
    Total debt, including                    69.8       79.6      -9.8  -12%
    Short-term debt                          31.3       38.7      -7.4  -19%
    Long-term debt, including                37.6       40.5      -2.9   -7%
    Current portion of long-term debt        10.8       12.9      -2.1  -16%
    Non-current portion of long-term debt    26.8       27.6      -0.8   -3%

    US$ million                          31.12.2010  30.09.2010     Change
    Capital lease obligation                  0.9        0.3      +0.6 +200%
    Current portion of capital lease
      obligation                              0.4        0.1      +0.3 +300%
    Non-current portion of capital lease
      obligation                              0.5        0.2      +0.3 +114%
    Cash and cash equivalents                36.1       27.2      +8.9  +33%
    Net debt                                 33.7       52.4     -18.7  -36%

    * Based on the unaudited management accounts for the 9M of
      FY'2010 and for H1 of FY'2010

    - Total borrowings decreased by 12% during the third quarter of the
      FY'2010 mainly due to the repayment of short-term loans used to
      finance working capital requirements over the first half of the fiscal
      year.

    - Cash and cash equivalents reached US$36.1 million as of 31 December
      2010, an increase of 33%, reflecting the seasonality effect in the IT
      Services segment.

    - Net debt stood at US$33.7 million as of 31 December 2010, a 36%
      decrease from US$52.4 million as of 30 September 2010.

    - The Group expects further reduction in its short-term debt by the end
      of FY'2010.

Full Year Revenue Forecast

IBS Group increases its guidance on the consolidated revenue expectations to US$675 million (vs. previous US$650 million) for the financial year ending 31 March 2011 (FY'2010), based on a higher than expected growth of its IT Services segment.

IBS Group is the leading emerging European IT company. Through its two principal subsidiaries, IBS IT Services and Luxoft, it provides a wide variety of information technology services, such as business and IT consulting, business applications implementation, IT outsourcing and software development. IBS Group is headquartered in Russia and has business operations in Russia, Canada, Germany, Romania, Poland, Switzerland, the UK, Ukraine, the USA, Vietnam and Singapore. IBS Group employs more than 7,200 people worldwide. In 2009 financial year, IBS Group reported US GAAP revenues of US$505m.

IBS Group's Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) are listed on the Regulated Market (General Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Bloomberg: IBSG:GR; Reuters: IBSGq.DE). IBS Group is majority-owned by management with portfolio investors holding 31% of the Group's share capital.

The information contained in this press release is not intended for distribution, publication or disclosure in or within the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan.

Disclaimer

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For more information about IBS Group please visit http://www.ibsgr.com or contact Investor Relations:

    Dmitry Ivanov

    Investor Relations Director
    tel: +7(495)967-8000
    fax: +7(495)967-8099
    mob: +7(916)618-4034

SOURCE IBS Group Holding Limited