Data^#3 delivers another record interim profit and increases dividend by 27% to 14 cps

Outstanding revenue growth in Software Licensing and Recruitment Solutions underpins expected improvement in performance for the full year

BRISBANE, Monday 26th February 2007. Data^#3 Limited (ASX:DTL) today declared another record interim profit with the announcement of results for the half year ending December 2006. Following an increase of 17% in the after tax earnings for the first half over the previous corresponding period, the Board of Directors of Data^#3 Limited declared a fully franked interim dividend of 14.0 cents per share to be paid on 30 March 2007.

“We are delighted to continue the run of ‘best ever’ performances we have delivered over the past four years. The interim dividend of 14 cents per share is a 27% increase on the previous corresponding period and, in a market where the balance between skills and costs continues to remain delicate, we are well placed for another strong year,” commented Richard Anderson, Chairman of Data^#3. “The company’s share price has performed strongly supported by a yield that remains one of the highest of ASX-listed IT companies,” he said.

Commentary on Performance

For the company overall:

• Total revenue grew by 20% to $135.8 million, with service revenue increasing 35% and product revenue increasing 16%
• The total gross margin percentage decreased by approximately 0.4% due to the strong increase in the relatively low margin software licensing and recruitment areas
• Staff and operating expenses as a percentage of gross margin contribution remained unchanged from the previous corresponding period
• Interest bearing debt remained minimal
• Net profit after tax increased by 17% to $3.0 million
• Basic earnings per share increased 15.5% to 19.46 cents; dividends per share increased 27% to 14.0 cents, representing a 72% payout

For our areas of Specialisation:

• Software Licensing and Asset Management maintained market leadership to deliver revenue growth of 24% over the previous corresponding period to $49.6M
• ICT Services’ revenue grew 13% over the previous corresponding period to $15.3M. Higher staff and administration expenses reduced contribution to group profit
• Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions’ revenue was down on the previous corresponding period. However the outlook is improving and progress has been made in introducing annuity oriented support offerings utilising our ICT Services Managed Services Centre
• ICT Products grew revenue 22% over the previous corresponding period to $39.9M with increases across all product sets
• Recruitment Solutions grew revenue 61% over the previous corresponding period to $17.6M

“Our performance in this first half has been nothing short of excellent, particularly when compared to the previous corresponding period which was enhanced by one-off licensing revenues,” said Data^#3’s Managing Director John Grant. “However, while the business environment across many sectors in Australia remains as strong as it is, we will increasingly have to deal with the challenge of turning strong revenue growth into equally strong profit growth as both people and operating costs increase in a highly competitive resource
market,” he said. “In terms of the full year, the strong first half underpins the outlook put forward in the 2006 Annual Report that we are well positioned to improve financial performance for the full year over the record 2006 result and to continue to deliver dividends
near the top of the sector.”

Media Release 26 Feb 2007 PDF

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