SAP, the world's biggest business software maker, today posted a second quarter net profit that fell by 9% but still managed to exceed analysts expectations.
SAP employs around 800 people directly in Ireland.
The German firm said it made a profit of €408m in the three months from April to June, or 34 cent a share. Analysts had forecast net profit of 31 cent a share.
The lower result was largely a result of SAP's acquisition last year of the French software firm Business Objects.
Software revenues, a benchmark of group growth, increased by 18% from the second quarter of 2007 to €2.86 billion. Total sales gained 18%to €2.86 billion, while operating profit was up by 2% at €593m, with both figures exceeding expectations.
Taking the market by surprise, SAP expressed cautious optimism for the full year, saying its operating profit margin should come out 'in the high end' of a forecast range of 28.5-29%.
