EQS-News

DATAGROUP SE: DATAGROUP with record revenues and earnings – Guidance again exceeded - Seite 3

 

BALANCE SHEET DEVELOPMENT REFLECTS SOLID GROUP FINANCING

Some balance sheet items of the previous year were adjusted because of the final purchase price allocation of a company acquired in the previous year. From the restated prior-year figure of EUR 463.0m, the balance sheet total rose to EUR 483.6m in FY 2021/2022. The increase in the balance sheet total is primarily due to the initial consolidation of newly acquired companies in the fiscal year just ended.

The equity ratio improved significantly from 20.3 % in the previous year to 26.4 %. This positive development was mainly driven by the strong results per se and the revaluation of pension provisions, which are recognized directly in equity. Based on investments of roughly EUR 35.9m into the company transactions above, net debt decreased from EUR 116.6m to EUR 109.3m. Liabilities to banks remained unchanged at EUR 78.2m. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 47.0m in comparison to EUR 44.1m on the balance sheet date of the previous year. “The Group’s financing is guaranteed in the long term and provides sufficient scope for further investments in acquisitions”, Oliver Thome, CFO, comments the solid development of the balance sheet. “Our long-term financing with promissory note loans with a total volume of EUR 69m and maturities of up to seven years secure a low interest rate for us”, Oliver Thome continues.

For the fiscal year ended 30 September 2022 the management intends to propose to the Annual General Meeting a dividend which is in line with the historic dividend policy with a payout ratio of some 40 % of the net profit. The Annual General Meeting for FY 2021/2022 is scheduled for 9 March 2023. 

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING RISES TO HISTORIC HIGH

The development of cash flow from operating activities was particularly satisfying. This increased by EUR 20.3m or 40.5 % from EUR 50.0m to EUR 70.3m, primarily driven by the substantial increase in operating income. At the same time, CAPEX decreased compared with the prior year: Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets amounted to EUR 8.8m compared to EUR 11.0m in the previous year. The investment ratio fell from 2.5 % of revenue in the previous year to 1.8 % in the fiscal year just ended.