DARMSTADT (dpa-AFX) - Software AG has been able to generate unexpectedly strong business in its final quarter. Group revenue climbed 30 percent to 303.8 million euros, thanks in part to an acquisition, the MDax-listed company announced after the close of the stock market on Tuesday. This was significantly more than analysts had previously estimated. Adjusted for currency effects, the increase was 24 percent. Once again, however, the main driver of this development was not the declared growth division Digital Business, but the database business Adabas & Natural. This business also recorded above-average growth in software bookings.

Earnings before interest, taxes and goodwill amortization adjusted for special effects increased by 29 percent to 58.3 million euros and thus fell short of market expectations - especially when looking at profitability. Compared to the same period of the previous year, the corresponding margin fell slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 19.2 percent - analysts had on average expected a figure of over 21 percent. The acquisition of the Streamsets company had a negative impact, they said. In terms of net income, the Darmstadt-based company posted an adjusted loss of 14.3 million euros in the quarter, compared with 34.8 million euros a year earlier./men/jha/