Press Releases

Press Releases

Press Releases

The Board of Directors approved the quarterly report at 30th September 2017.

Quarter results

• Revenue up 8.2% to €151.4 million compared to €139.9 million in the third quarter of 2016.

EBITDA grew 20.3% to €26.1 million compared to €21.7 million in the third quarter of 2016; EBITDA margin increased from 15.5% to 17.2%.

Net profit up 7.3% to €15.8 million compared to €14.7 million in the third quarter of 2016.


Results of the nine-month period

• Revenue of €450.7 million, an increase of +6.9% over €421.8 million in the first nine months of 2016.

EBITDA of €77.9 million, up 16.9% over €66.6 million in the first nine months of 2016 (EBITDA margin at 17.3% compared to 15.8%).

Net profit improved by 10.2% to €45.1 million, compared to €40.9 million achieved in the first nine months of 2016.

Negative net financial position of €15.2 million, compared to negative €37.6 million as at 30 September 2016.

 

Bologna, 14th November 2017 - Datalogic S.p.A. (Borsa Italiana S.p.A.: DAL), a company listed in the STAR Segment of the Italian Stock Exchange managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. (“Datalogic”) and global leader in the automatic data capture and process automation markets, approved yesterday Quarterly Financial Report at 30th September 2017.

Datalogic’s CEO, Valentina Volta, commented: "We are very satisfied with the results of the quarter, which, despite the Euro/Dollar exchange rate reversing the trend of previous quarters and the seasonality typical for the period, reported both increased revenue and improved margins. Nine months since its launch, our new customer-centric organisation has generated double-digit growth, particularly in the Manufacturing and Healthcare sectors. Margins continued to improve due to the optimisation of production costs and in spite of significant investments in Research and Development, representing nearly nine percent of turnover and the basis of the Group's growth, which is also evidenced by the recent recruitment of 80 new professionals, who have graduated or are about to graduate in engineering and/or other scientific faculties around the world. Based on the results achieved and breakthrough, high-technology products launched at the end of the quarter, we expect the year to close in line with the trend of the first nine months.”

Note that the Group's results as at 30 September 2017 include the data for the third quarter of Soredi Touch Systems GmbH, acquired on 6 July 2017.

During the nine months, consolidated revenue is €450.7 million, an increase of 6.9% from €421.8 million in the first nine months of 2016 (+6.8% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate). The booking reached €464.8 million, up 9.2% compared to the same period in 2016.

The impact of new products on turnover for the nine months is 12.9% (25.6% in the same period of 2016), and does not yet include the benefits of the sale of new products announced at the end of the quarter.

Gross operating margin, equal to €212.5 million, represents an increase of 9.3% against €194.4 million reported in the same period of the previous year (+9.5% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate). Expressed as a proportion of revenues, gross operating margin increased by a percentage point, from 46.1% in the first nine months of 2016 to 47.1% (47.3% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate), principally due to sales volumes, improvements in the sales mix, as well as efficiencies in the main components of cost of goods sold.

Operating costs, equal to €147.5 million, grew by 5.1% (+4.9% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate) compared to €140.4 million during the same period in 2016, however, they improved from 33.3% to 32.7% as a percentage of sales. This performance reflects an increase in costs for Research and Development, which grew 8.9% to €39.9 million, or 8.9% of revenues compared with the 8.7% in the first nine months of 2016.

EBITDA reports significant growth of 16.9%, from €66.6 million to €77.9 million (+17.7% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate), and the EBITDA margin rose to 17.3% (17.4% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate) compared to 15.8%, due to gross profit, containment of general and administrative expenses, and different seasonal effect of distribution costs.

 

Operating profit (EBIT) increased 18.4% to €62.5 million from €52.8 million in the previous year (+19.5% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate).

Financial management was negative for €5.7 million compared to a negative €3.2 million in the same period of the previous year, principally as a result of the trend in exchange rates (losses of €2.3 million compared to losses of €0.5 million in the first nine months of 2016) associated with the effect on the Group’s net balances of the depreciation of the Dollar and the increase of financial expenses for the increase in gross debt.

The Group’s net profit is €45.1 million, an increase of 10.2% from €40.9 million in the first nine months of 2016.

The net financial position as at 30 September 2017 is negative for €15.2 million, compared to positive €3.5 million as at 31 December 2016 and negative €37.6 million as at 30 September 2016.

As at 30 September 2017, trade working capital amounts to €89.8 million compared to €53.2 million as at 31 December 2016, and €76.3 million compared to the same period of the previous year. The increase in this item, compared to 31 December 2016, is primarily attributable to the increase in customer trade receivables. Trade payables and inventories show improvement over the same period of the prior year, while the difference with respect to 31 December 2016 is instead purely due to seasonal effects.



QUARTER PERFORMANCE

Comparison between 3Q 2017 and 3Q 2016

CS

Total revenue in the third quarter of 2017 amounts to €151.4 million, up 8.2% compared to the third quarter of 2016 (+10.7% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate). Third quarter revenue continues to show a positive trend despite seasonal factors for the period, negative performance in the Euro/Dollar exchange rate, and the delay of certain significant new product launches to the fourth quarter. The booking for the quarter was €142.0 million, up 2.9% over the third quarter of 2016, which did not benefit from new product sales announced at the end of the quarter.

Operating margins reported strong growth compared to the third quarter of 2016.



PERFORMANCE BY DIVISION

CS

(*) The 2016 figures have been restated based on the new operating structure

In the third quarter of the year, theDatalogic Division recorded turnover of €138.6 million, up 5.9% (+8.1% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate) compared to the third quarter of 2016, with a very positive trend in EMEA and APAC, especially in China, which reported growth of more than 80%. During the quarter, the Division also benefited from the contribution provided by the acquisition of Soredi Touch Systems for €2 million. In the first nine months, turnover reached €417.7 million, up 6.9% (+6.7% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate) compared to the same period of 2016. EBITDA for the Division is up 9.1% to €75.2 million, or 18% expressed as a proportion of sales.

- The Retail sector showed a slight decline (-1.3%) compared to last year mainly due to a slowdown in sales in North America following the postponement of projects with major customers. EMEA and China confirmed the growth trend.

- The Manufacturing sector is expanding, with growth of 10.2% over the first nine months of last year. The increase was driven by China, where sales grew by over 70% compared to the previous year.

- After a difficult first quarter, the Transportation & Logistics sector posted double-digit growth in the subsequent quarters, driven mainly by North America and China. Over the first nine months, growth is 9.2% compared to the same period in 2016.

- The Healthcare sector continues to have the strongest growth in percentage terms, or 42.5% over last year. This is mainly due to North America, where revenue has more than doubled.

Finally, sales through the distribution channel, particularly to small and medium-sized customers (SMEs) not directly attributable to any of the 4 main sectors, reported extremely positive performance, with growth of 32.4% over the same period of 2016.

The Solution Net Systems Division posted excellent performance in the quarter, with turnover of €8.7 million, which was more than twice the figure of €3.8 million for the third quarter of 2016 (+128.1%, +138.1% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate), due to important orders as well as progress for the Royal Mail order. Over the first nine months of 2017, this Division reported turnover of €19.3 million, up 40.1% compared to the first half of 2016 (+41% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate). EBITDA for the Division is €2.8 million (negative €1.2 million in the same period of 2016), or 14.7% of sales.

In the third quarter, the Informatics Division recorded turnover of €5.1 million, down 11.7% (-7.5 % at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate) compared to the third quarter of 2016. Over the first nine months of 2017, this Division reported turnover of €16.4 million, down 11.8% compared to the first half of 2016 (-12.2% at constant Euro/Dollar exchange rate). EBITDA for the Division, while still negative for €0.1 million, shows substantial improvement over the same period of 2016 (negative €0.9 million).

 

PERFORMANCE BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA

In the first nine months of 2017, EMEA showed positive performance, with growth of 7.4% to €237.7 million, as well as a significant growth in APAC, driven by China. Moderately positive performance in North America, with 1.5% growth mainly due to the results for Solution Net Systems in the third quarter and the T&L sector. Latin America continues to improve, showing double-digit growth (+16.1%) in the third quarter, although the 9-month figures still reflect the negative performance in the first quarter of the year.

CS


EVENTS IN THE QUARTER


On 6 June 2016, the acquisition of 100% share capital of the German company Soredi Touch Systems GmbH was concluded, a leader in technologies for terminals, especially forklift terminals. This transaction envisaged a total maximum financial commitment for Datalogic of €10 million, of which €8 million cash and €2 million treasury shares.


BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE CURRENT YEAR


The third quarter confirmed the trend of revenue growth compared to the previous year, which had already been noted in the first two quarters. The Group expects to continue investing in Research and Development and in commercial structures, consistent with the customer-oriented business model.

The positive feedback from customers on new products launched during the quarter, including the new Joya Touch A6 Android terminal with wireless charging, the new Magellan fixed retail scanner, and the new Quickscan Lite handheld reader for the Retail sector, as well as the new Powerscan 9100 industrial reader with the innovative "scan engine" developed in-house, indicate positive performance for the remainder of the year.

For the last part of the year, in a substantially stable global macroeconomic scenario, the Group expects that the growth trend in revenues recorded in the first nine months will be confirmed and it will continue to streamline production processes in order to achieve improved profitability over the prior year.

 

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Please note that the Quarterly Report at 30th September 2017 will be available to anyone who requests it at the company headquarters, at the offices of Borsa Italiana S.p.A. (www.borsaitaliana.it), on the “eMarket STORAGE” instrument, managed by Spafid Connect S.p.A. and may also available on the company’s website www.datalogic.com (Investor Relations section).

The manager responsible for preparing the company’s financial reports – Alessandro D’Aniello – declares, pursuant to paragraph 2 of Art. 154-bis of the “Testo Unico della Finanza”, that the accounting information contained in this press release corresponds to the document results, books and accounting records.

 

Reclassified income statement at 30th September 2017 – Euro/1.000

CS

Please note that certain costs starting from 2017 have been reclassified into different P&L line items, therefore comparative data as at 30th June 2016 have been restated accordingly.


[1] EBITDA - Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA as defined is an alternative performance indicator that Management used to monitor and assess its economic performance and it is not defined under IFRS, consequently it is not subject to Auditors review.

 

Reclassified Balance Sheet at 30th September 2017 ( ) – Euro/1.000

CS

[2]The reclassified Balance Sheet shows measures used by the Management to monitor and assess the financial performances of the Group. Given that the composition of these measures is not regulated by the reference accounting standards, even if they are directly reconcilable to the IFRS statements, they are not subject to any audit procedure by the Independent Auditors.

Net Financial Position at 30th September 2017 – Euro/1.000

CS

 

 

Il Presidente e Amministratore Delegato del Gruppo Datalogic, Romano Volta, ha così commentato: “I risultati positivi del semestre rafforzano la validità delle scelte strategiche avviate sia a livello gestionale che di prodotto che hanno permesso una crescita a doppia cifra in Europa e nei Paesi Asiatici. Il retail si conferma essere il motore della crescita ma nel semestre si è assistito anche ad una ripresa nel segmento industriale grazie all’introduzione sul mercato di nuovi prodotti basati su tecnologia imaging per la logistica ed il mondo del factory automation in crescita in Europa. Il contratto acquisito con Royal Mail costituisce inoltre un’interessante premessa per il rilancio della business unit Systems in coerenza con le altre attività del Gruppo.”