News
Unterföhring/Munich, 18th May 2021 – KPS Plc (WKN: A1A6V4 / ISIN: DE000A1A6V48), Europe’s leading digital transformation and process optimisation consultancy hereby publishes its figures for the first half year 2020/2021 and confirms the preliminary revenue (EUR 76.9m) and EBITDA (EUR 11.4m) figures published on 04.05.2021
In the first six months of the business year 2020/2021, revenue fell by 18.4% to EUR 76.9m. Especially in Germany, the longer than expected lockdown measures led to prolonged uncertainties with customers and potential customers alike. Accordingly, individual postponements and project pauses were agreed with clients. Business activities abroad continued to be robust. Sales generated in other European countries were virtually unchanged compared to the respective period the year before. The KPS Group‘s foreign share of sales grew from 42% in the first half year of 2019/2020 to 51% in the first six months of the current business year. Overall, a divided demand spread could be observed in the first half year of 2020/2021.
The demand for E-Commerce and digital solutions remained high. In contrast, customers in the German market in particular were reluctant to undertake large SAP transformation projects owing to the pandemic. When observing the sales development, it should be taken into account that the same period in the previous business year 30.09.2019 to 31.03.2020 was barely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the reporting period from 30.09.2020 to 31.03.2121 was more strongly affected by the pandemic than originally expected over the whole six months.
The EBITDA and EBIT development highlights the quality of the KPS business model which has a high “margin of safety”. Cost reductions, in particular those concerning freelancers and service providers, almost completely compensated for the decline in sales of EUR 17.3m. KPS achieved an EBITDA of EUR 11.4m in the reporting period which represents a decrease of only € 1.6m. EBIT fell compared to the same period in the last business year by EUR 1.7m to EUR 7.5m. Consequently, the EBIT margin of 9.8% was at the level of the previous business year. Earnings after taxes went down by EUR 0.5m to EUR 5.4m.
KPS confirmed the forecast made on 04.05.2021 that group sales would lie between 5 %-9 % and group EBITDA between 3%-6% and thereby respectively under the levels of the previous business year 2019/2020.
In the currently difficult environment, KPS has followed its strategy with discipline and continued to invest in its own technology and products. Today, KPS is in the position to deliver both turnkey and remote sector specific platforms i.e., to deliver via digital channels. At the same time, customer specific products and solutions can be developed. Overall KPS assumes that in time this will increase the proportion of recurring sales.
With its combination of advanced technological competence in digital transformation and solid capital and financial resources, the KPS Group views itself as brilliantly positioned to re-join a sustainable growth path once the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been overcome.
18. May 2021
KPS AG
The Executive Board
