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For release April 29, 2003
F-SECURE GROUP'S FINANCIAL RESULTS JANUARY 1 - MARCH 31, 2003
Moderate growth in anti-virus, continuing good growth in service
subscriptions through ISPs
For the first quarter of 2003, F-Secure reported revenues of 9.1 million
euros. The operating result was EUR 0.2 million negative for the first
quarter (0.7 m positive in 4Q02 and 0.7m negative in 1Q02).
The anti-virus revenues continued to increase at a steady rate, by 7% from
4Q02 and by 9% from 1Q02. The number of anti-virus service subscriptions grew
with an accelerating speed. The encryption business declined by 31% compared
to one year ago and by 31% compared to the previous quarter.
The Security as a Service business (service subscriptions through ISPs) grew
well, and the quarter was the eighth consecutive quarter of more than 20%
quarter-to-quarter growth of revenues. In the first quarter service
subscriptions accounted for 10% of anti-virus revenues. Growth was 146%
from1Q02 to 1Q03.
The Group has the two largest ISPs in Europe offering managed security based
on F-Secure solutions, Wanadoo in France and Deutsche Telekom in Germany.
Deutsche Telekom initiated the first phase launch of the service during the
quarter, full roll-out is expected towards the end of 2003.
Security software spending remained extremely cautious during the quarter.
New license sales were weak in all other areas than anti-virus for consumers
and small businesses. Especially encryption sales were affected by the
investment freeze in both corporate and governmental sector, in addition to
the traditional seasonal slowness of the first quarter. Maintenance and
support sales remained at a moderate level.
The F-Secure Anti-Virus 2003 and F-Secure Internet Security products for the
consumer/small user market were pilot launched in Scandinavia. The products
received wide acclaim in the press for their ease of installation and use.
For example, F-Secure Anti-Virus 2003 was nominated with the "Best in Test"
award in an antivirus test conducted by the Swedish Internetworld magazine in
March 2003. The same product technology is now applied with the Security as
a Service customers.
Key wins during the quarter included New York Metropolitan Transit Authority,
Elopak and BASF. During the last five years the Group has gained 90% of all
United States Government agencies as customers. After the reporting period,
the Group announced new customer relations with the world's largest oil
company, Saudi Aramco, and Microsoft MSN.
"We are happy that our efforts in the area of the Security as a Service
concept are bringing results. Some of the largest Internet Service Providers
in Europe are our customers. Furthermore, we have succeeded in developing an
easy-to-use consumer product. However, the fact that major corporations and
the public sector froze their investment activities affected our overall
result. Growth is still our focal challenge and most important goal," says
Risto Siilasmaa, President and CEO of F-Secure Corporation.
Financial reporting
For full stock exchange release, please visit:
http://www.Europe.F-Secure.com/investor-relations/news/
The next quarterly reports for 2003 will be published August 6 (Q2) and
October 30 (Q3).
A Stock Exchange bulletin will be sent at 9 am Finnish time to the Helsinki
Exchanges, a press and analyst conference will be arranged at 11 am Finnish
time in Helsinki, and an international conference call will be arranged in
the afternoon. Full details will be provided later on the Group's web site.
A press and analyst conference will be arranged today, April 29, at 11 am
Finnish time at the Group's Headquarters, Tammasaarenkatu 7, Helsinki. A
conference call for international investors and analysts will be arranged at
15.00 Finnish time (14.00 CET, 1.00 pm UK time). Instructions can be found at
http://www.europe.f-secure.com/investor-relations/

