NECKARSULM (dpa-AFX) - The IT service provider Bechtle felt the effects of its customers' restraint in the first quarter. Revenues fell by 2.3 percent to 1.50 billion euros, as the MDax company announced in Neckarsulm on Wednesday. Analysts had previously expected an increase in revenue on average. "In Germany in particular, the delayed release of the budget has led to a postponement of government orders," said CEO Thomas Olemotz according to the statement. The manager expects this to ease as the year progresses. "In addition, there is still a noticeable reluctance to invest, especially among our SME customers," he said.

By contrast, the business volume, which also increasingly includes trading in software licenses, grew by 3.4 percent in the first quarter thanks to good business abroad. Pre-tax profit climbed by 2.8 percent to 82.0 million euros. Profit after tax also grew by 2.8 percent to 58.5 million euros. Olemotz confirmed the forecasts for the year./men/Stk