Results Review

Key figures

1)    In constant currency; Further information can be found under Alternative Performance Measures
2)   Further information can be found under Alternative Performance Measures

Performance during Covid-19 pandemic

SoftwareONE delivered an overall strong performance in H1 2020 during exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to lockdowns and restrictive measures of varying severity across its key markets globally. In response, SoftwareONE moved swiftly to implement remote working and other appropriate measures across the group’s locations, including its global shared service centers, to ensure the safety of its employees and customers. This seamless internal transition enabled SoftwareONE to focus on its customers’ needs, helping them utilize technology and cloud solutions to transition to a virtual environment.

In this environment, SoftwareONE generated total revenue of CHF 4,087.1 million in H1 2020, up 4.4% YoY in constant and down 1.5% YoY in reported currency.

Gross profit increased by 4.3% YoY in constant currency, totaling CHF 370.8 million in H1 2020, which corresponds to a decline of 2.2% in reported currency. The negative currency translation effect was due to the appreciation of the Swiss franc (CHF), SoftwareONE’s reporting currency, primarily against the EUR, USD, GBP and BRL.

Management considers gross profit to be a meaningful metric for the group’s earnings capacity as it excludes flow-through costs from revenue, specifically costs for software purchases on behalf of clients as well as third-party service delivery costs.

Performance by business

Gross profit from Software & Cloud increased 0.9% in constant currency to CHF 274.6 million in H1 2020. As the Covid-19 pandemic escalated in mid-March, there was heightened demand from customers for remote enablement, including unified communication and collaboration as well as cloud-based business solutions. Offsetting this positive impact was weakness in small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business purchasing, particularly with regards to discretionary or one-off transactions which are typically project-related.

SoftwareONE’s Microsoft business developed well during H1 2020, driven by strong renewals and growing demand for Microsoft’s software and cloud products for enterprises and SMEs. However, revenue and gross profit were negatively impacted by SoftwareONE’s relatively higher dependency on SME purchasing, which slowed down compared to H1 2019. Furthermore, the shift to ‘pay-as-you-go’ subscriptions (from multi-year enterprise agreements) for Microsoft 365 and Azure, implying less revenue recognized upfront, and incentive structures being linked to consumption/usage adversely affected results. Although impacting short-term business performance, these developments are positive in terms of promoting closer customer relationships and revenue upside as adoption of cloud products increases.

SoftwareONE’s multi-vendor (i.e. non-Microsoft) business has exposure to many market-leading software companies, including Adobe, AWS, Citrix, Oracle, Red Hat, VMware, Sophos, Symantec and Veeam. While purchasing behavior varied greatly depending on the type of software, SoftwareONE generally saw healthy growth in underlying mission-critical software, with some weakness related to discretionary or project-related software in H1 2020.

Solutions & Services achieved strong gross profit growth of 15.1% YoY in constant currency to CHF 96.2 million. As previously reported, key Comparex integration steps such as the implementation of a harmonized services portfolio and compensation structure across the combined group as well as the discontinuation of non-strategic activities were undertaken in late 2019. These measures positioned the business well for 2020 as it benefited from stronger demand for cloud-based solutions and digital transformation services compared to H2 2019. While professional services, which represent approximately 50% of Solutions & Services, experienced some deferments during the Covid-19 environment, managed services enjoyed strong renewals and growth as customers sought out trusted partners to help them with their immediate needs and long-term transformation journeys.

On a geographical basis, performance varied depending on the extent of lockdown measures, as well as other disruptive events during H1 2020. EMEA (66.3% of H1 2020 gross profit), APAC (11.1%) and LATAM (8.0%) delivered strong growth at gross profit level in constant currency, while NORAM’s (14.6%) development was weaker.

Overall, SoftwareONE benefited from its high degree of diversification across customers, sectors and geographies.

Increased EBITDA driven by operating model

Total adjusted operating expenses decreased by 1.2% YoY in constant currency to CHF 250.8 million in H1 2020, excluding certain share-based compensation, IPO, integration and M&A and earn-out expenses which amounted to CHF 17.7 million in total.

Development of SoftwareONE’s cost base reflected continued investments in the business and talent, offset by cost synergies and savings relating to travel, marketing events and variable compensation. The number of FTEs stood at 5,826 as at 30 June 2020, up 7.1% from 5,442 six months earlier. The group invested in talent across its strategic growth areas, particularly within Solutions & Services. New hires included professional and managed services delivery, sales and technical pre-sales personnel, as well as specialists in digital transformation services such as application modernization, critical workload migration and security.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 18.2% YoY at constant currency to CHF 120.0 million, implying a margin of 32.4% in H1 2020, demonstrating progression towards the group’s mid-term target of 35% by 2022.

Adjusted profit for the period was CHF 67.9 million in H1 2020, representing an increase of 3.4% YoY in reported currency.

IFRS reported profit for the period decreased 0.8% YoY in reported currency to CHF 66.7 million in H1 2020. This result includes the above-mentioned adjustments as well as a non-taxable appreciation in SoftwareONE’s shareholding in Norwegian listed company Crayon of CHF 13.3 million (CHF 11.5 million in H1 2019).

Liquidity and balance sheet

Net cash flow from operations amounted to CHF 206.7 million in H1 2020. The positive development was mainly driven by vendors’ deferred payment programs which allowed for extended payment terms as a result of Covid-19. Even in absence of these programs, some underlying improvement in the net working capital level was achieved. Looking ahead to H2 2020, terms are expected to normalize and an outflow of up to CHF 250 million is anticipated as those payables with extended terms become due. Regardless of these impacts, SoftwareONE expects solid cash flow generation for the full year 2020.

Capital expenditure totaled CHF 10.8 million in H1 2020, mainly relating to investments in PyraCloud and purchases of IT equipment. Cash flow relating to acquisitions of businesses amounted to CHF 35.0 million, including earn-out payments relating to the acquisitions of Comparex and GorillaStack. Free cash flow was CHF 196.2 million during H1 2020.

SoftwareONE has closely monitored the credit situation among customers since the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic but has only seen a minor impact on ability to collect funds from customers during H1 2020. The bad debt provision as a percentage of trade receivables increased from 0.88% as at 31 December 2019 to 0.96% as at 30 June 2020. The proportion of insured receivables remained high at approximately 47%, with an additional 33% being from governments or highly creditworthy customers as at 30 June 2020.

Net cash position was CHF 333.4 million as at 30 June 2020 compared to CHF 190.7 million as at 31 December 2019.

Overall, SoftwareONE continues to be in a position of financial strength, with significant liquidity, unused credit lines and strong cash flow generation.

Update on Comparex integration 

The continued integration of Comparex was a key focus area during H1 2020 and primarily included remaining country-specific system migrations. By 30 June 2020, SoftwareONE had achieved run-rate cost synergies of CHF 31.9 million and is ahead of schedule to deliver approximately CHF 40 million of cost synergies per annum by the end of 2021. As a result, SoftwareONE now expects to deliver 80-85% (previously 60%) of the targeted cost synergies by end of 2020.

Outlook

The Covid-19 pandemic has created significant uncertainty and economic disruption, with varying levels of impact across geographies and sectors. Although less affected than many other sectors, global IT spend is expected to decline by approximately 4-6% in 2020 with software spend down approximately 0-3%, according to industry experts IDC and Gartner¹. SoftwareONE remains well-positioned to outperform the market given its unique operating model, global scale and offering.

On 31 March 2020, SoftwareONE withdrew its guidance at the gross profit level due to the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting uncertainty. Although future developments with regards to Covid-19 remain unpredictable, recent trends suggest a normalization in the customer operating environment. Improved purchasing levels as well as strong momentum in cloud-based services and backlog signal a gradual recovery during the second half of this year.

Assuming no material deterioration in the environment due to Covid-19, and based on the positive momentum seen since the beginning of the year, SoftwareONE expects to maintain the gross profit growth levels seen in Software & Cloud and Solutions & Services in H1 2020 versus H1 2019 for full year 2020 compared to 2019 (both at constant currency). The group’s full-year 2020 adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to remain at approximately the level reached in H1 2020 and its dividend policy of 30-50% is unchanged.

For 2021-2022, SoftwareONE re-affirms its mid-term guidance, based on the assumption of no material deterioration in the environment due to Covid-19, which includes:

• Double-digit gross profit growth resulting from Software & Cloud growth in the ‘high single digits’ and Solutions & Services growth in the ‘high teens’ at constant currency
• Adjusted EBITDA margin approaching 35%, with adjusted EBITDA growth in excess of gross profit growth
• Progressive dividend policy with pay-out ratio of 30-50% of the profit for the year

SoftwareONE is confident that digital transformation will remain a priority for customers seeking to build resilience and competitive advantage. As a global end-to-end provider of software and cloud-only solutions, SoftwareONE remains ideally positioned to digitally empower customers to achieve their goals. Supported by a solid balance sheet and high liquidity, SoftwareONE will continue to invest in its business to capture this long-term opportunity.

¹ Based on 'State of the Market: IDC Worldwide Black Book' (14 July 2020) and Gartner forecasts for Enterprise IT Spending (June 2020)