Tuesday, February 27, 2007

ACE USA Launches Podcast to Address Risk Management Considerations for Managing Kidnapping, Extortion, and Other Global Security Risks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Media Contact:
Carla Ferrara
ACE INA Communications
215.640.4744
carla.ferrara@ace-ina.com

ACE USA Launches Podcast to Address Risk Management Considerations for Managing Kidnapping, Extortion, and Other Global Security Risks

PHILADELPHIA – February 27, 2007 – ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, today announced that it has launched an audio podcast, or Internet-distributed program, on “Managing Kidnapping, Extortion, and Other Global Security Risks,” a white paper written by Jean McDermott-Lucey, Vice President, ACE Professional Risk, that was recently published in The John Liner Review. The white paper provides corporate risk managers with insight into the nature of global security risks and the factors that drive it, and examines various types of risks, including the dynamics of kidnapping and extortion.

“Understanding an organization’s global security risk is the first step toward managing it. Risk does not occur in a vacuum. Event-driven, it evolves at the speed of change, and is affected by geo-political shifts, local customs and regulations, and countless other variables,” said Ms. McDermott-Lucey. “Understanding global risk means doing your homework: be aware of extortion, kidnapping and other security risks wherever employees live and conduct business, and where physical business assets exist.”

The podcast, the third in an occasional series of audio podcasts that ACE USA has launched on selected risk management topics, also provides an informative overview of the rise in kidnapping and extortion incidents and the resulting costly consequences to private sector and non-profit organizations. Considerations for assessing and managing global security risk are also discussed, including core essentials for selecting an expert crises control consultant, and key elements of a global security risk response plan.

Ms. McDermott-Lucey added, “Organizations that have identified and evaluated global security risks, and have designed an effective response plan, are able to manage crises rather than letting crises manage them. Tackling global security risk at the front-end, before liability occurs, is vital. Proactive planning and preparation can keep incidents from spiraling into crises. Selecting a true global carrier with the in-country presence, worldwide network, flexible products and services, underwriting and claims expertise, and financial strength to shoulder your organization’s global risk, is paramount.”

To access the ACE Professional Risk podcast audio program featuring Ms. McDermott-Lucey’s discussion of global security trends, issues and risk management issues, please visit www.ace-ina.com/podcasts. Please note, the program is approximately 26 minutes in length.

Staffed by a team of innovative underwriters, ACE Professional Risk is the operating unit within ACE USA, which distributes management liability, professional liability and surety products through retail brokers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ACE Professional Risk and its range of products and services, please visit: www.aceprofessionalrisk.com.

The material presented in the podcast is not intended to provide legal or other expert advice as to any of the subjects mentioned but is presented for general information only. Readers should consult knowledgeable legal counsel or other experts as to any legal or other questions they may have. The above is only a summary; please see actual policies for terms and conditions.

# # #

ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. ACE USA, through its underwriting companies, provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.ace-ina.com. The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world.

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Monday, February 26, 2007

News Release: Magic Software Returns to Profitability; Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2006

Magic Software Returns to Profitability

Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2006

OR YEHUDA, ISRAEL; February 26, 2007 - Magic Software Enterprises Ltd. (NASDAQ: MGIC), a leading provider of state-of-the-art business integration and development technology, reported today its results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

Fourth Quarter Results

Financial Highlights

  • Magic Software returns to profitability with net profit for the fourth quarter of 2006 amounting to $30,000 compared to net loss of $3.53 million in the third quarter of 2006 and net loss of $1.99 million in the comparable quarter of 2005.
  • Fourth quarter revenues have increased 8% over comparable quarter of 2005 and increased 7% compared to third quarter of 2006.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2006 net profit, excluding a one-time re-structuring charge, was positive and amounted to $299,000 compared to a net loss (excluding the restructuring charge) of $1.41 million in the third quarter of 2006 and net loss of $1.99 million in the comparable quarter of 2005.
  • During the fourth quarter, the company posted a one time gain of $278,000 due to the sale of the assets and intellectual property of one of its subsidiaries
  • During the fourth quarter the Company posted a one-time remaining restructuring charge of $269,000.

Operational Highlights

  • Magic Software sold more than US$2.5 million in licenses and services to Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan, Inc. (FMRP) of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
  • Magic Software completed the sale of its CarPro Systems’ assets and sold licenses for Magic Software’s products to CarPro Systems International B.V. their distributor in Benelux
  • Magic introduced new products, including: iBOLT JDE Connect™ targeted at users of Oracle J.D. Edwards, and two new editions of eDeveloper™ V10, aimed at different target markets.
  • Leading Industry analyst Forrester Research names Magic Software as a "Strong Performer".
  • SAP awarded Magic the SAP Quality Excellence Award.

Fourth Quarter Results

Fourth quarter revenue reached $16.2 million, a 7% increase over $15.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2006 and an 8% increase from $15.0 million recorded in the comparable quarter of 2005.

License revenues for the quarter reached $3.6 million, a 6% increase from $3.4 million recorded in the third quarter of 2006 and a 3% decrease from $3.7 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2005. Revenue from maintenance and support, at $3.7 million, decreased 5% from the $3.9 million achieved in the third quarter of 2006 and increased 9% from $3.4 million achieved in the fourth quarter of 2005. Revenue from consulting and other services, at $7.0 million, grew 11% from $6.3 million achieved in the third quarter of 2006 and increased 19% from $5.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2005.

In the reported quarter, sales in Europe accounted for 36% of total revenue, while North America, Japan and the rest of the world accounted for 42%, 14% and 8% of total revenue, respectively. Compared to the third quarter of 2006, sales in Europe grew by 5%, while sales in North America grew by 18% and sales in the rest of the world decreased by 19%. Sales in Japan increased by 2%.

Gross profit in the reported quarter, at $8.9 million, increased 14% from $7.8 million reported in both the third quarter of 2006 and the comparable quarter in 2005.

Net profit for the fourth quarter of 2006 amounted to $30,000, or $0.00 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.5 million, or ($0.11) per share, reported in the third quarter of 2006 and to net loss of $2 million, or ($0.06) per share, reported in the comparable quarter in 2005.

Excluding a one-time restructuring charge of $269,000, net profit for the fourth quarter of 2006 amounted to $299,000, compared to a net loss of $1.41 million (excluding restructuring charge) in the previous quarter and $1.99 million in the comparable 2005 quarter.

Fiscal Year 2006 results
Total revenue in fiscal year 2006 reached $61.7 million, an increase of 1% from the $61.0 million achieved in 2005.

License revenues in fiscal year 2006 reached $15.9 million, a decrease of 5% from the $16.8 million achieved in 2005. Maintenance and support revenue was $14.9 million, a 3% increase over the $14.4 million reported in the previous year, while revenue from consulting and other services totaled $24.4 million, a 13% increase from the $21.5 million reported in fiscal year 2005.

Gross profit in 2006 reached $33.2 million, a 3% decrease from the $34.3 million achieved last year.

Net loss totaled $5 million, or ($0.16) per share in fiscal 2006, compared to a net loss of $4.6 million, or ($0.15) per share, in fiscal 2005.

Excluding one-time restructuring charges of $2.4 million, net loss for 2006 amounted to $2.6 million compared to $4.6 million in 2005.

In fiscal 2006, sales in Europe accounted for 35% of total revenue, while North America, Japan and the rest of the world accounted for 38%, 17% and 10% of total revenue respectively. Compared to fiscal 2005, sales in Europe and rest of the world decreased 5% and 13%, respectively while Japan and North America grew by 1% and 14%, respectively.

"Overall, we are pleased with the results of the fourth quarter," said David Assia, Chairman and acting CEO of Magic Software Enterprises. "During Q4, Magic has returned to operational profitability, excluding the one-time restructuring costs. This return to operating profitability demonstrates that the restructuring implemented in the last quarter has put us on track to align our overhead costs with our operating revenues. We are optimistic for 2007 and believe that we will be able to show a gradual growth in revenue and profitability during the year. ”


Assia added “Magic Software’s new structure will allow the company to focus more effectively on its core technology, specifically its eDeveloper™ and iBOLT™ products and their convergence to a unified suite.” He noted that “Magic has already demonstrated its leadership and excellence by delivering state of the art development, deployment and integration technology. Now we will prove that further, by becoming leaders in specific target markets—including the SAP community and the IBM System i market. This will be done through improved marketing activities, strengthening our strategic alliances and partnerships, and of course by continuing to work hand-in-hand with our loyal users’ community to enhance their growth and profitability."

Accomplishments:
Below are some key accomplishments since Magic Software Enterprises' last earnings report:

  • Leading industry analyst Forrester Research named Magic Software as a "Strong Performer" in Forrester's recently published report, "Integration-Centric Business Process Management Suites." In all, 35 vendors were interviewed for the report, 13 qualified for review, and only five, including Magic, were rated as "Strong Performers."
  • Magic Software released JDE Connect™, a fully functional version of its iBOLT integration technology targeted to users of Oracle J.D. Edwards ERP software running on the IBM System i platform.
  • Magic strategic partner SAP awarded Magic the SAP Quality Excellence Award.
  • Magic's partnership with SAP continues to grow, with more than 180 SAP Business Partners now aligned with Magic.
  • Magic's release of eDeveloper version 10, with three editions designed for different audiences with different development needs, now allows developers of applications at every point on the complexity spectrum to obtain a version of the product that will meet their needs.
  • Magic completed the sale of its CarPro System’s assets, including the intellectual property of the RentPro and LeasePro software and its customer base, to CarPro Systems International B.V., its distributor in the Benelux Additionally Magic Software Enterprises sold to CarPro Systems International B.V. a substantial number of licenses for Magic Software's products for continued use in the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the CarPro software products.
  • Magic Software has sold more than US$2.5 million in eDeveloper and iBOLT licenses and services to Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan, Inc. (FMRP) of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, for the implementation phase of a custom reinsurance system that includes integration of Oracle J.D. Edwards World software on the IBM System i platform.

Conference Call
Magic Software’s management will also host a conference call on February 26, 2007 to discuss the Company's fourth quarter and full year financial results. The conference call will begin at 11:00am EST / 16:00 GMT / 18:00 in Israel.

To participate in the conference call, please call the appropriate number listed below at least five to ten minutes prior to the start of the call:

From the US: 1 888 642 5032

From Canada: 1 888 604 5839

From Israel: 03 918 0687

All others: +972 3 918 0687


Callers should reference the Magic Software fourth quarter 2006 Earnings Conference Call.

A replay of the conference call will be available approximately 48 hours after the call ends, and will be available for three months, at http://www.magicsoftware.com/investors.

About Magic Software Enterprises

Magic Software Enterprises (NASDAQ: MGIC) has been a leader in enterprise application development, deployment and integration technology for more than two decades. The company's service-oriented platform is used by companies worldwide to develop, maintain, and deploy both legacy and new business solutions, while integrating these applications across both internal and external, heterogeneous environments. Magic Software’s platform-independent methodology lets companies achieve agility by quickly assembling composite applications, allowing programmers to create services and architects and business analysts to orchestrate and reuse these services to enable business processes. Through partnerships with industry leaders such as IBM and SAP and more than 2500 ISVs worldwide, Magic Software technology is used by more than 1.5 million customers around the globe.

For more information on Magic Software Enterprises and its products and services, visit www.magicsoftware.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary significantly based upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, risks in product and technology development, market acceptance of new products and continuing product conditions, both here and abroad, release and sales of new products by strategic resellers and customers, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's most recent annual report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #

Company Contact:
Ziv Zviel
VP Finance
Magic Software Enterprises Ltd.
+972-3-538 9219
Ziv_Zviel@magicsoftware.com

Consolidated Balance Sheets (US Dollars in Thousands)



December 31, 2006

December 31, 2005

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$8,162

$9,116

Short term deposits

69

368

Short term marketable securities

4,649

4,381

12,880

13,865

Accounts receivables

Trade receivables

12,231

14,572

Other receivables and prepaid expenses

2,853

2,832

Inventory

328

400

Total current assets

28,292

31,669

Severance pay fund

2,176

2,135

Long term deposits

566

805

Investments in affiliated companies

223

198

Fixed assets, net

6,554

6,955

Goodwill

21,624

20,762

Other assets, net

10,863

11,199

Total assets

$70,298

$73,723

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Short-term bank debt

$4,514

$4,183

Trade payables

3,491

3,319

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

11,671

10,696

Total current liabilities

19,676

18,198

Long-term loans

233

165

Accrued severance pay

2,499

2,527

Minority interests

131

528

Shareholders' equity

Share capital

832

829

Capital surplus

105,016

104,558

Treasury stock

(6,773)

(6,772)

Accumulated deficit

(51,316)

(46,310)

Total shareholders' equity

$47,759

$52,305

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$70,298

$73,723


Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations

(US Dollars in Thousands)

Three Months ended

Dec 31,

Twelve Months ended

Dec 31,

2006

2005

2006

2005

Revenues

Software sales

$3,627

$3,727

$15,853

$16,803

Applications

1,817

2,003

6,483

8,300

Maintenance and support

3,731

3,365

14,935

14,376

Consultancy & other services

7,014

5,921

24,454

21,511

Total Revenues

$16,189

$15,016

$61,725

$60,990

Cost of Revenues

Software sales

$707

$1,336

$3,777

$4,881

Applications

569

1,268

3,002

3,602

Maintenance and support

898

481

3,615

2,679

Consultancy & other services

5,129

4,167

18,087

15,514

Total Cost of Revenues

$7,303

$7,252

$28,481

$26,676

Gross Profit

$8,886

$7,764

$33,244

$34,314

Research & development, net

828

900

3,942

3,733

Sales, marketing, and general

& administrative expenses

7,617

8,106

30,569

33,135

Depreciation

419

402

1,780

1,707

Restructuring expenses

269

-

2,394

-

Operating loss

($247)

($1,644)

($5,441)

($4,621)

Financial income (expenses), net

124

(192)

410

(811)

One time gain (loss)

278

-

278

1,169

Income (loss) before taxes

155

(1,836)

(4,753)

(3,903)

Taxes on income

84

63

325

491

Income (loss) before minority interests

71

(1,899)

(5,078)

(4,394)

Minority interests in

income of subsidiaries

37

39

(57)

232

Equity gain (loss)

4

(53)

(15)

19

Net Profit (loss)

$30

($1,991)

($5,006)

($4,607)

Basic and Diluted loss per Share

$0.00

($0.06)

($0.16)

($0.15)

Basic Weighted Avg. Shares Outstanding (000)

31,285

31,054

31,184

31,124

Diluted Weighted Avg. Shares Outstanding (000)

31,793

31,054

31,184

31,124


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