SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) reported Q4 EPS of EUR1.40, versus EUR1.31 reported last year. Revenue for the quarter came in at EUR6.35 million, versus EUR5.46 million reported last year.

SAP S/4HANA Adoption Soars, More Than Doubling in the Fourth Quarter

SAP S/4HANA is the next generation business suite and the "nucleus" around which businesses can operate all their processes in real time and seamlessly integrate their enterprise and their external ecosystem to enable successful business outcomes. Customer adoption of SAP S/4HANA continues to accelerate sharply, with more than 2,700 customers across all regions and industries at the end of 2015, more than doubling quarter over quarter. S/4HANA is also catalyzing broad customer adoption of our entire innovation portfolio. For example, Merck is turning to S/4HANA for fast data access, enhanced user experience, and productivity through simplified business processes.

Human Capital Management Shows Strong Momentum

Customers are increasingly turning to SAP to manage their global workforce, both permanent and flexible. The customer count for SuccessFactors Employee Central, which is the core of our Human Capital Management offerings, surpassed 1,000 for the first time in the fourth quarter. SAP is winning against its key HCM competitors, especially in markets outside of the United States. For example, Lufthansa selected SAP SuccessFactors. SAP's innovations in HCM will further increase SAP's differentiation and drive market share gains.

Customer Engagement and Commerce Drives Triple-Digit Bookings Growth

SAP saw excellent growth in its Customer Engagement and Commerce solutions. Customers build a new, more personalized relationship with their consumers, making it richer and more contextual across all channels. SAP is unique because it also enables businesses to connect the front and back office in real-time and fulfill ecommerce in one end-to-end value chain. New cloud bookings for Customer Engagement and Commerce saw triple-digit growth in full year 2015.

Strong Growth in Business Networks

SAP is leading the charge to a hyperconnected world. SAP Business Network Group comprises Ariba, Fieldglass and Concur – providing the common attributes of a rich open platform and a large ecosystem of customers, suppliers, partners and developers delivering ever expanding content and innovation. New cloud bookings for the business network increased 187% in the full year to €309 million.

Approximately 2 million connected companies trade over $740 billion of commerce3 on the Ariba network, more than 32 million end users process travel and expenses with Concur and customers managed over 1.9 million flexible workers in approximately 130 countries with the Fieldglass platform over the past 12 months.

Regional Performance – Double-Digit Growth Across All Regions in Cloud and Software Revenue

The EMEA region had an outstanding performance in the fourth quarter, with an 11% increase in non-IFRS cloud and software revenue including a strong double-digit software license performance in Germany and Russia. Non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue in EMEA grew by 53% with very strong double-digit growth in new cloud bookings.

The Americas region had strong double-digit growth, with non-IFRS cloud and software revenue rising 27% including a strong software revenue performance in the U.S.. Brazil rebounded with a strong double-digit software revenue performance amidst a macro environment that continued to be unstable. Non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue in the Americas region grew 89% with new cloud bookings growing in double-digits.

The APJ region was back to solid double-digit growth in the fourth quarter with non-IFRS cloud and software growth of 18% including strong double-digit software revenue growth in Australia and India. Non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue in APJ grew 55%. The Company saw exceptional momentum in new cloud bookings and grew in triple-digits.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK 2016

The Company is providing the following full year outlook:

• Based on the continued strong momentum in SAP's cloud business the Company expects full year 2016 non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue to be in a range of €2.95 - €3.05 billion at constant currencies (2015: €2.30 billion). The upper end of this range represents a growth rate of 33% at constant currencies.
• The Company expects full year 2016 non-IFRS cloud and software revenue to increase by 6% - 8% at constant currencies (2015: €17.23 billion).
• The Company expects full-year 2016 non-IFRS operating profit to be in a range of €6.4 billion - €6.7 billion at constant currencies (2015: €6.35 billion).

While the Company's full-year 2016 business outlook is at constant currencies, actual currency reported figures are expected to be impacted by currency exchange rate fluctuations as we progress through the year.

MID-TERM OUTLOOK

Looking beyond 2016, SAP is raising its 2017 ambition to reflect both the current exchange rate environment and excellent business momentum.

Assuming a stable exchange rate environment going forward SAP now expects non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue in a range of €3.8 - €4.0 billion in 2017. The upper end of this range represents a 2015 to 2017 CAGR of 32%. Non-IFRS total revenue is now expected to be in a range of €23.0 - €23.5 billion in 2017. The Company now expects its 2017 non-IFRS operating profit to be in a range of €6.7 - €7.0 billion.

SAP continues to anticipate that the fast-growing cloud business along with growth in support revenue will drive a higher share of more predictable revenue. Given the current software license revenue momentum the Company now expects the total of cloud subscriptions & support revenue and software support revenue to be in a range of 63% - 65% of total revenue in 2017.

By 2017 SAP continues to expect its rapidly growing cloud subscriptions and support revenue to be close to software license revenue and is expected to exceed software license revenue in 2018. At that time, SAP expects to reach a scale in its cloud business that will clear the way for accelerated operating profit expansion.

The Company is not adjusting its long term, high level 2020 ambition at this time. The Company's 2020 ambition communicated in 2015 was:

• €7.5 - €8.0 billion non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue
• €26 - €28 billion non-IFRS total revenue
• €8.0 - €9.0 billion non-IFRS operating profit
• 70% - 75% share of more predictable revenue (defined as the total of cloud subscriptions & support revenue and software support revenue).

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