· Net sales SEK 408 m (398) · Operating profit SEK 34 m (34) · Operating margin 8.4% (8.4 %) · Profit after tax SEK 24 m (23) · Earnings per share after dilution SEK 0.34 (0.30) · Cash and cash equivalents SEK 130 m (138) Statement by Carl-Magnus Månsson, CEO In general terms, the market continues to be healthy and we have noted no immediate slowdown or any additional concerns compared with the end of 2011. However, a certain degree of inertia continues to characterize decision processes and more well-informed, close dialogs are required to secure new projects. Our methodology based on the production of short iterative solutions in close dialog with multiple stakeholders at our customers has proved successful and we continue to secure projects encompassing business development and IT components. Our management consulting activities provide a unique competitive advantage in these customer dialogs. Sweden remains our most important market and continues to post a stable earnings trend. Our positioning initiative with our three areas, Management Consulting, Enterprise Solutions and IT Consulting have provided Acando with greater clarity vis-à-vis the market and generated opportunities for new customer dialogs, which, in turn, delivered new business opportunities. All three areas deliver satisfactory results. Our single greatest challenge is matching all the interesting and challenging assignments with even more of the markets’ best consultants. We continue to recruit and, in the spring, will hold a number of young professional academies to attract many new employees. Specifically, we currently have a substantial need in Strategic IT, Microsoft-based solutions and in Management Consulting. Demand remains stable in Germany, though at a lower level than in the first half of 2011. We are continuing to widen the customer base for the long-term improvement of margins and to increase the possibilities of achieving a consistently high degree of utilization. During the quarter, we have succeeded in securing a number of key new customer orders in the retail and energy sectors. In Norway, we have invested in a campaign to increase recruitment and enhance our market position. The aim is to strengthen private sector customers’ awareness of our strength in Microsoft-based solutions. In addition, we intend to continue growing to meet healthy public sector demand in our core areas of Strategic IT and System development. Yet again, Finland and the UK posted another excellent performance. It is gratifying to see that we are continuing to develop the customer base with several new customers in the UK and we have had great success with a major project in Finland where we implemented a mobile solution for YIT. Business system mobility is an area where we perceive a growing need and we have an excellent opportunity to take a prominent position, which we have secured through the acquisition of Bitec. This is information that Acando AB may be obligated to disclose according to the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. This information was submitted for publication on April 26, 2012. For further information, please contact: Carl-Magnus Månsson, President and CEO, +46 8 699 73 77 Anneli Lindblom, CFO, +46 8 699 73 09 Acando Acando is a consultancy company that in partnership with its clients identifies and implements sustainable business improvements through information enabled by technology. Acando provides a balance of high business value, short project times and low total cost. Acando’s annual turnover is about EUR 170 million and the Group employs approximately 1,000 professionals in five European countries. Acando is listed at NASDAQ OMX Nordic. Acando’s corporate culture is based on three core values: Team spirit, Passion and Results. www.acando.com
ACANDO INTERIM REPORT January 1 – March 31, 2012
| Source: Acando AB