25.01.2017
DATAGROUP SE DE000A0JC8S7
DGAP-News: DATAGROUP SE: DATAGROUP proposing higher dividend after record earnings in FY 2015/2016
DGAP-News: DATAGROUP SE / Key word(s): Final Results
DATAGROUP SE: DATAGROUP proposing higher dividend after record earnings in
FY 2015/2016
25.01.2017 / 07:40
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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DATAGROUP proposing higher dividend after record earnings in FY 2015/2016
Strong growth in revenue of 11 %, EBITDA up 25 %
Dividend to rise from 25 to 30 cents
DATAGROUP again at the top in customer satisfaction
Management expects strong increase in revenue and operating EBITDA
Pliezhausen, January 25, 2017. DATAGROUP SE (WKN A0JC8S) today publishes
audited figures for the fiscal year from October 1, 2015 to September 30,
2016. Revenue and EBITDA reached new all-time-highs at the upper end of the
guidance. Based on the outstanding business development, the dividend is to
rise from 25 to 30 cents per share. Management expects revenue of over EUR
200m and EBITDA of more than EUR 20m.
Revenue grew strongly by 11 % to EUR 174.9m in FY 2015/2016 (previous year
EUR 157.6m). At the same time, DATAGROUP achieved a record result. Earnings
before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose clearly
disproportionately by 25 % to EUR 19.1m (Vj. 15,3 Mio. Euro). The EBITDA
margin stood at 10.9 % (previous year 9.7 %) and climbed to double-digits
for the first time. DATAGROUP thus reached the upper end of the guidance
respectively (revenue EUR 167-175m, EBITDA EUR 15.5-20m) and again proved
its ability to deliver on its forecasts. Earnings before interest and taxes
(EBIT) jumped 32 % to EUR 12.7m (previous year EUR 9.6m). The EBIT margin
improved to 7.2 % (previous year 6.1 %).
"We are extremely satisfied with the past fiscal year", commented DATAGROUP
CEO Max H.-H. Schaber. "We have grown very strongly, particularly in the
high-margin core business with recurring Cloud services, where we increased
revenue by one third to EUR 76m. With the help of the 306 SAP and
application specialists we took over from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise in
September we will further expand this strategically important business as
well as our profitability. The combination of organic and inorganic growth
has proved to be successful. In line with the company's growing scale,
acquisitions abroad may also become interesting for us."
In addition to strongly improved operating earnings, the negative purchase
price of the deal with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) has also
contributed to the record result. Conversely, earnings were impacted by
one-time special effects: extraordinary tax and interest expenses as a
result of a tax audit, costs for the conversion to a European Company as
well as acquisition-related restructuring costs at DATAGROUP Vega. In spite
of these extraordinary expenses, net profit grew strongly to EUR 5.7m
(previous year EUR 4.9m, +16 %), which corresponds to earnings per share of
75 cents (previous year 65 cents). Without the negative one-time effects,
earnings per share would have amounted to 99 cents.
The strong operating cash flow of EUR 9.5m (previous year EUR 9.4m) was a
main contributor to the reduction in net debt from EUR 28.2m to EUR 24.7m
in the course of the year. A newly issued promissory note loan of EUR 30m
and the takeover of pension obligations in the amount of some EUR 30m as
part of the HPE transaction have significantly increased the balance sheet
to EUR 159.7m (previous year EUR 103.3m). Possible disadvantages from the
high pension obligations which may result from changes in the interest rate
are largely covered by an agreement with HPE.
In view of the very good annual result, management board and supervisory
board propose to raise the dividend from 25 to 30 cents per share. The
Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place on March 22, 2017 at the
company headquarters in Pliezhausen.
Strong growth expected for new fiscal year
The management was very pleased with the start to the new fiscal year.
Since October 2016, DATAGROUP has acquired 5 new major customers for its
full-outsourcing offer CORBOX. Accordingly, the IT service provider is well
on track to reach the 20 new customers targeted for FY 2016/2017.
High customer satisfaction is an important key to success. DATAGROUP ranked
second among the 22 leading medium-sized and international outsourcing
service providers in Germany in the recently published 2016 IT oursourcing
study by Whitelane Research and sourcing advisor Navisco. DATAGROUP thus
has improved its position one notch again compared to the previous year.
"We are very proud of this excellent result", commented DATAGROUP COO Dirk
Peters. "Alongside the high service quality, the proximity to our customers
and contact at eye-level are central sales arguments. This study again
proves that our consistent strive for highest customer satisfaction is
recognised and appreciated by the customers. This is the best basis to
convince new customers of our performance and tie in existing customers."
As a result of the good business development and the successful integration
of the employees taken over from HPE, the management anticipates strong
growth in revenue and operating earnings in the current FY 2016/2017.
Revenue is expected to grow to over EUR 200m and EBITDA to over EUR 20m.
The Consolidated Financial Statements for FY 2015/2016 are available at
www.datagroup.de.
Invitation to the balance sheet conference call
The management board of DATAGROUP SE invites all interested investors,
analysts, and journalists to participate in a conference call explaining
figures and outlook. It is scheduled to take place on Monday, January 30,
at 10:30 am CET (dial-in number: +49 30-232 531 469).
A replay will be available right after the conference call on our website
www.datagroup.de.
About DATAGROUP:
DATAGROUP is a leading German IT service company. Over 1,700 employees at
locations across Germany design, implement, and operate IT infrastructure
and business applications such as SAP. With CORBOX, DATAGROUP offers its
customers all the IT services they need for a stable IT operation.
DATAGROUP thus is a full-service provider, serving over 550,000 global IT
workplaces for medium and large enterprises as well as for public-sector
clients. In other words: "We manage IT." The company is growing organically
and through acquisitions. The acquisition strategy is particularly noted
for its optimal integration of the new companies. DATAGROUP is actively
participating in the IT service market's consolidation process with its
"buy and turn around" and its "buy and build" strategy
Contact:
DATAGROUP SE
Dr. Michael Klein
Investor Relations
Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 7
D-72124 Pliezhausen
T +49-7127-970-059
F +49-7127-970-033
[email protected]
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25.01.2017 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Language: English
Company: DATAGROUP SE
Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 7
72124 Pliezhausen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7127 970 000
Fax: +49 (0)7127 970 033
Internet: www.datagroup.de
ISIN: DE000A0JC8S7
WKN: A0JC8S
Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich,
Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Open Market (Entry
Standard) in Frankfurt
End of News DGAP News Service
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