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To: keithcray who wrote (13764)	9/5/2001 3:06:34 AM
From: 2MAR$	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 208838

SAPG.DE CEO says IT stagnation may be lengthy FRANKFURT, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The information technology industry may already be in recession and there is no sign of a turnaround, the chief executive of Europe's biggest software maker SAP <SAPG.DE> said in an interview published on Wednesday. Hasso Plattner told German business newspaper Handelsblatt that he would not hazard a guess at when the upturn may come. "There is stagnation, perhaps even a recession," he said. "There is a lot of discussion about whether the current downturn is V-shaped or U-shaped. I don't believe in miracles -- it could be a pretty wide U." Plattner also said his company was sticking to its business targets despite the downturn and that SAP was gaining market share as clients switch to more established players. SAP has beaten analysts' earnings forecasts for three consecutive quarters, and saw second-quarter net profit rise 78 percent to 206 million euros ($183.6 million). But it was forced to revise down its first-half net profit figure by around 90 million euros, to take into account losses at Commerce One <CMRC.O>, in which SAP owns a 20 percent stake. Plattner said a complete takeover of its U.S. affiliate was "always a theoretical possibility" but he added that SAP had no plans at present to buy the company, which makes software that powers online market places. ((Mark Thompson, Frankfurt Newsroom +49 69 7565 1272, frankfurt.newsroom@reuters.com)) ($1=1.122 Euro) REUTERS * end of story *