Ness Technologies 1Q profit rises on European sales

Information technology company Ness Technologies Inc. said Monday its first-quarter profit rose 17 percent on strong European sales.

Net income rose to $6.9 million or 18 cents per share compared with $5.7 million or 15 cents per share in the 2007 first quarter.

Excluding one-time costs and gains, the company made $8.8 million or 22 cents per share, compared with $6.8 million or 17 cents per share in 2007.

Sales rose 27 percent to $159.7 million from $125.8 million last year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profit of 18 cents per share on sales of $144.5 million.

The company said European sales rose to $50.2 million from $25 million, while European operating income rose to $4.7 million from $3.1 million. North American sales rose to $41.9 million from $34.4 million.

Hackensack, N.J.-based Ness provides software outsourcing, systems integration, network security and other information technology services.