SAP's 2nd-quarter profit up 15 per cent

BERLIN: Business software maker SAP AG is reporting a 15 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit thanks to growth in the United States and emerging markets.

SAP said in a preliminary earnings statement Tuesday that it earned euro491 million ($636 million) in the April-June period _ up from euro426 million in the same period a year earlier.

The company says total revenue increased 12 per cent to nearly euro2.9 billion from euro2.6 billion a year ago.

Co-CEO Bill McDermott says it had ``outstanding growth in strategic markets like the US and we saw continued double-digit growth in key emerging markets in Latin America and Asia.''

SAP also says it has completed its cash tender offer for US database software maker Sybase Inc., a $5.8 billion takeover that won clearance from the European Commission last week.