SAP AG, German provider of enterprise business software, has reported second-quarter pre-tax profits up 56% at $219.6m on revenue up 52% at $750.3m. Six-month pre-tax profits rose 56% to $318.7m on revenue up 51% at $1.31bn. In addition to strong software sales, the company benefited from favorable currency exchange rates which added $79.4m to first-half revenue and $33.4m to pre-tax profits for the period. SAP now says that 1997 sales will exceed the 25% to 35% increase projected at the beginning of the year. Sales in the Americas grew 85% for the half, while Asia-Pacific sales rose 55%, Europe 40% and Germany 15%. The company now generates 78% of its revenue outside Germany. Revenues from products, consulting and training all saw substantial growth, with product revenue accounting for 66% of the total, down from 70% a year ago. Between June 1996 and June 1997 the company increased its headcount 43% to 11,084. All figures were calculated at a rate of $1.826 German marks to the dollar. á
