12/12/2013

QSC presents current development projects

Cologne, December 12, 2013. At an analyst roundtable today, QSC AG offered insight into the company's in-house software innovations that relate to the fields of the workplace of the future, Cloud services and machine-to-machine communication. "Our in-house software developments are a key element of our growth and earnings strategy," explained QSC AG Chief Executive Officer Jürgen Hermann.

One of the first developments to be made ready for market is "QSC-tengo," a highly flexible Cloud workplace that QSC recently began marketing. QSC-WiFi is another - entirely new - service: Based on WiFi technology, it turns a smartphone into an intelligent advertising platform that enterprises can utilize for personalized, secure and interactive marketing activities.

Moreover, QSC has developed a scalable Cloud platform for machine-to-machine applications that can measure, control, regulate, monitor and coordinate a wide range of data in realtime from any location. This kind of service can be deployed in a wide variety of industries; at the present point in time, especially attractive potential applications can be seen in home automation. Medium-term, this kind of secure data capture and distribution capability, in particular, will be indispensable in implementing Germany's energy transition. And today, QSC was already able to showcase a solution for a virtual power plant that will soon be entering the pilot phase.

Development budget € 6 million in 2013

At the roundtable, QSC Chief Financial Officer Barbara Stolz provided an overview of the company's development budget. In 2013, she noted, a total of some € 6 million have gone into the development of new products and services; the company will likely be capitalizing € 4 million of this total. The lion's share of the remainder is attributable to the some 50 employees who develop the innovations. Stolz went on to announce that innovation activities would be broadened in 2014: While development work on existing projects will continue, new projects are going to be initiated.

QSC Chief Executive Officer Jürgen Hermann had this to say about the company's full innovation pipeline: "The sooner innovations can be readied for market, the sooner we'll be able to achieve our highly ambitious goals for profitable growth." In presenting its Vision 2016, QSC had also formulated financial target parameters - revenues of € 800 million to € 1 billion, an EBITDA margin of 25 percent and a free cash flow of between € 120 and € 150 million. Hermann reiterated: "Innovations are playing a crucial role in achieving our Vision." The target date of 2016, he added, would also hinge upon the progress being made in the individual innovation projects. Hermann stressed: "Our strategy is working. We have evolved from a TC provider into an integrated ICT and Cloud provider, and are increasingly playing the role of an innovation driver in this market."

QSC - ICT solutions for small and mid-size enterprises

QSC AG offers small and mid-size enterprises one-stop shopping for an extensive range of ICT services: from telephony, data transfer, Housing and Hosting right through to IT Outsourcing and IT Consulting. As an SAP Gold Partner and a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, QSC AG additionally possesses special expertise in the field of SAP and Microsoft implementation. Cloud services developed in house for a wide range of applications round out the portfolio. With its own cutting-edge network infrastructure, as well as TÜV- and ISO-certified data centers in Germany, QSC numbers among the leading SME providers of ICT services in Germany. The company offers both custom-tailored solutions for individual ICT needs as well as a modular product portfolio for smaller business customers and marketing partners. QSC employs a workforce of some 1,600 people and is included in the TecDAX index.

Queries to:
QSC AG
Arne Thull
Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +49 221 669-8724
Fax: +49 221 669-8009
E-mail: invest@qsc.de
Internet: www.qsc.de