QAD (ticker: QADI, exchange: NASDAQ Global Market (.O))
News Release -
14-Jan-2004
QAD Expands Presence in South Korea; CompanySet to Capitalize on Increase in Manufacturing, Exports Driving theNation's EconomySEOUL, South Korea, Jan 14, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Responding to
customer demand and to local manufacturing growth in sectors such as
the automotive industry, QAD Inc. (Nasdaq:QADI), a leading provider of
enterprise applications for global manufacturers, today announced
expansion of its operations in South Korea. Today, QAD already has
more than 60 customer sites in South Korea including Avery Dennison
Korea Co., Black & Decker Korea Co., Ltd., EATON Automotive Controls,
Ford Motor Company, Johnson Controls Ltd., Rexall Sundown Inc.,
Rockwell Automation Korea, and divisions of TRW.
QAD Korea Ltd. will serve as a regional resource for manufacturers
in the country, and for South Korean companies using QAD solutions in
facilities abroad. Brand-name automotive, consumer products,
electronics, food and beverage, industrial, and medical manufacturers
use QAD as their enterprise platform at thousands of sites in 80
countries worldwide.
"QAD's expansion in South Korea will address demand for our
solutions, and provide the leadership and support to ensure our
customers' success," said Tony Yip, QAD Asia managing director. "South
Korea is an important market for us, as we continue to enjoy growth in
Asia -- where our license revenue increased more than 30 percent in
the past year -- and as we continue to benefit from Asian
manufacturers' use of QAD solutions at sites they operate in other
countries."
Platform for Korean Manufacturers' Expansion
According to the Bank of Korea, Korea's manufacturing sector is
expected to drive exports, which in turn will fuel national economic
growth in 2004(a). South Korean automotive manufacturers saw export
sales surge 30 percent -- to 2.3 million units -- in 2003, and expect
this growth to continue in 2004(b). Korea Development Bank reported
Korean manufacturers surveyed plan to increase capital spending --
including facilities expansion -- by 12 percent in 2004, with
information technology and automotive industries expected to increase
investment by 16 percent and by 14 percent, respectively(c).
"From experience, manufacturers find expansion requires upgrading
ERP systems to perform at a level consistent with global partners,"
said KD Kim, QAD Korea country manager. "In addition to enterprise
applications built for global manufacturers, QAD has deep expertise in
local and global business and regulatory issues. QAD Korea's dedicated
consultants can help local manufacturers and multinationals achieve
speed and flexibility in facilities and supply chains, here and
abroad."
Unlike one-size-fits-all ERP offerings, QAD applications are
developed through close work with manufacturers and industry groups in
the six markets that QAD serves exclusively. QAD software provides
manufacturers in Korea an end-to-end solution for automating
enterprise functions, supply chain execution and e-commerce, with a
simple dashboard-style interface for managing and controlling
operations. In addition to MFG/PRO, applications such as QAD Supply
Visualization and QAD Customer Self Service facilitate activities such
as vendor-managed inventory (VMI) and distributed order management to
improve global supply chain execution.
"Companies based in South Korea have tremendous opportunity to use
the latest technology for more efficient operations, and as a
foundation for extending their enterprise -- and supply chain," said
Pamela Lopker, QAD president and chairman of the board. "QAD has
focused on the manufacturing sector for more than two decades, and is
committed to its growth in South Korea. We pair the best thinking in
manufacturing theory and an understanding of real-world manufacturing
conditions, to help customers compete effectively in the global
marketplace."
About QAD
QAD enterprise applications leverage advances in Internet and
enabling technologies to provide critical functionality for managing
manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the
enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their
customers, suppliers and partners to make and deliver the right
product, at the right cost and at the right time. Manufacturers of
automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage,
industrial and medical products use QAD applications at approximately
5,200 licensed sites in more than 80 countries and in as many as 26
languages. For more information about QAD, telephone +1-805-684-6614,
or visit the QAD Web site at: www.qad.com. To receive any of QAD's
press releases via facsimile, contact +1-800-356-0747, or outside the
U.S. contact +1-213-253-5647.
"QAD" and "MFG/PRO" are registered trademarks of QAD Inc. All
other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
Note to Investors: This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of
risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks
include, but are not limited to, evolving demand for the company's
software products and products that operate with the company's
products; the company's ability to sustain strong licensing demand;
the ability to sustain customer renewal rates at current levels; the
publication of opinions by industry analysts about the company, its
products and technology; the reliability of estimates of transaction
and integration costs and benefits; difficulties relating to
integration of a new business; the entry of new competitors and their
technological advances; delays in localizing the company's products
for new markets; delays in sales as a result of lengthy sales cycles;
changes in operating expenses, pricing, timing of new product
releases, the method of product distribution or product mix; general
economic conditions, exchange rate fluctuations and the global
political environment. In addition, revenue and earnings in the
enterprise resource planning (ERP), e-business and distributed order
management software industries are subject to fluctuations. Software
license revenue, in particular, is subject to variability with a
significant proportion of revenue earned in the last month of each
quarter. Given the high margins associated with license revenue,
modest fluctuations can have a substantial impact on net income.
Investors should not use any one quarter's results as a benchmark for
future growth. For a more detailed description of the risk factors
associated with the company and the industries in which it operates,
please refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 2003.
(a) "Korea Sees 5.2% Growth on Strength of Exports," The Wall
Street Journal, December 11, 2003.
(b) "South Korean Car Sales Set Record on Strong Exports," The
Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2004.
(c) "Capital Spending to Rise by 11%," Korea Times, November 27,
2003.
SOURCE: QAD Inc.
QAD
Wendy L. Allen, 805-566-6161
wla@qad.com
or
Fleishman-Hillard
Andrew Miller, 415-318-4166
millera@fleishman.com
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