NECKARSULM (dpa-AFX) - IT service provider Bechtle was able to further expand its business in the first quarter despite the meager economic environment. Revenues rose by just under 12 percent to 1.54 billion euros, as the MDax-listed company announced in Neckarsulm on Thursday. Excluding exchange rate effects and acquisitions and divestments, growth would have been 8.5 percent. Profit before taxes increased by 7.6 percent to almost 80 million euros, while the corresponding margin was 5.2 percent, 0.2 percentage points below the previous year's figure. The net result increased by seven and a half percent to 57 million euros. Bechtle CEO Thomas Olemotz confirmed the outlook for the year, saying that supply chain problems had eased apart from individual product groups. However, the group warned that the overall economic situation remained very tense./men/zb