SAP shares were up more than four per cent yesterday as the software company released prelimary figures showing a 10 per cent growth in revenues.

For the three months ended 31 December, 2007, SAP brought in €3.25bn compared to €2.95bn for the same period of 2006 - an increase of about 10 per cent or 14 per cent using constant currencies. Total revenues for the year are expected to be around €10.26bn, compared to €9.4bn in 2006 - up nine per cent or 13 per cent using constant currencies.

SAP expects operating margin for the year of around 26.5 per cent compared to 27.3 per cent in 2006. Margins were hit by investment in SAP's Business ByDesign - aimed at the mid-market.

SAP remains strongest in Europe but showed reasonable growth elsewhere. In the US, software and software related service revenues grew by nine per cent to €2.5bn in the year while in Asia Pacific and Japan software related revenues grew 19 per cent to €0.96bn in the year.

The software company will provide full figures and predictions for next year on 30 January. ®