Bologna, 07 August 2019 - The Board of Directors of Datalogic S.p.A. (Borsa Italiana S.p.A.: DAL), a company listed in the STAR Segment of the Italian Stock Exchange organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. (“Datalogic”) and global leader in the automatic data capture and process automation markets, approved its Half-Year Financial Report at 30 June 2019 today.
Revenues in the first half of 2019 remained essentially stable compared to the first half of 2018, declining 0.8% to €304.5 million, EBITDA decreased 6.2% to €47.7 million, bringing the EBITDA margin to 15.7% (16.6% for the period ended 30 June 2018 but stable at constant exchange rate). Net profit amounted to €25.3 million (€29.0 million in the first half of 2018). As a percentage of turnover, it went from 9.4% to 8.3%.
Chief Executive Officer of the Datalogic Group Valentina Volta commented: " The double-digit growth recorded in North America and the positive acceptance of new products launched in the first half of the year, which is the result of increased investments in R&D, are the positive indicators of the semester that confirm the growth potential of the Group. The uncertain macroeconomic scenario and the slowdown in the main sectors in which we operate in Europe and China, also in the light of the recent events relating to North American tariffs, have however had an impact on the top line of the Group which decreased by 0.8%. Despite the decrease in turnover, we were able to improve, net of the exchange rate effect, the gross operating margin thanks to efficiencies in the cost of sales and to the increased investments in R&D and distribution network without a significant impact on profitability. In light of the continuing uncertainty in the macroeconomic scenario, we expect to close the year in line with the performance recorded in the first half."
Consolidated revenues amount to €304.5 million, down 0.8% from €307 million in the first half of 2018 (-3.8% at constant exchange rates).
Gross operating margin stood at €147.9 million, down 1.1% from €149.4 million in the same period of the previous year. It remained essentially unchanged as a percentage of turnover compared to the first half of 2018, going from 48.7% in 2018 to 48.5% in 2019. At constant exchange rates, the gross operating margin improved 0.9% due to greater industrial productivity and the favourable product mix.
Operating and other costs of €110.8 million were up 4.6% compared to €105.9 million recorded in the same period of 2018 and increased 1.9 percentage points as a percentage of turnover, from 34.5% to 36.4%. In particular, distribution costs increased 10.6% to €59.2 million, equivalent to 19.4% of turnover compared with the 17.4% recorded in the same period of 2018, attributable to the investments made in 2018 to strengthen the commercial organisations. Research and development expenses amounted to €31.4 million (€30.5 million in the first half of 2018), up 3.2% compared to the previous period. Total research and development spending, gross of capitalisations, aimed at the renewal of the product range, increased 13.7% in the first half of 2019 compared with the first half of 2018, amounting to approximately 11% of turnover, in line with the Group's strategy on innovation.
EBITDA decreased 6.2% from €50.8 million in the first half of 2018 to €47.7 million, amounting to 15.7% as a percentage of turnover (EBITDA margin) compared with 16.6% in 2018, due in part to the unfavourable exchange rate performance. At constant exchange rates, EBITDA remained unchanged compared to the first half of 2018, reflecting the increase in investments and research and development, partially offset by the effect of the adoption of the new accounting standard IFRS 16 Leases, which resulted in the recognition of higher depreciation and amortisation of €2.2 million and lower rent and lease payments of €2.3 million.
EBIT decreased 15.8% to €33.9 million from €40.3 million in the previous year, amounting to 11.1% of turnover from 13.1% in the first half of 2018. Net of the unfavourable foreign exchange effect, EBIT decreased 1.1%.
Net financial expenses amounted to €1.4 million, recording an improvement of €1.7 million compared to the net expenses of €3.1 million in the same period of 2018, mainly due to the favourable performance of foreign exchange differences, which amounted to a negative €0.7 million (compared with a negative €2.3 million in the first half of 2018).
The Group's net profit was €25.3 million, 8.3% of turnover, compared with €28.9 million, net of the foreign exchange effect it decreased 0.4% compared to the first half of 2018.
Net financial position at 30 June 2019 registered a net debt of €17.8 million, compared with net cash of €23.8 million at 31 December 2018 and net cash of €13.3 million at 30 June 2018, due to the payment of dividends and share buyback. Net of the share buyback, the dividend distribution and the adoption of IFRS 16, the cash generation from business activities during the period amounted to €0.3 million (compared with positive €22.7 million in the first half of 2018 and negative €11.1 million at 31 March 2019). This performance was due to the increase in net investments equal to €14.9 million (€7.2 million in the first half of 2018), aimed at rationalising the industrial footprint and at increasing investments in research and development, together with the accounting effects of the application of the new accounting standard IFRS 16 Leases, entailing the recognition of right-of-use assets of €10.9 million and lease financial liabilities of €10.7 million.
The change in net working capital, a negative €14.4 million (€10.6 million in the first half of 2018), was primarily due to the period of transition at the new European logistics hub. Similarly, the change in other assets and liabilities had a negative impact of €8.6 million (€0.1 million in the first half of 2018) due to the increase in VAT credits, attributable to the initial phase of the redefinition of distribution streams in EMEAI.
PERFORMANCE IN THE HALF-YEAR BY DIVISION
In the first half of the year the Datalogic division reported turnover of €282.6 million, essentially unchanged compared to the same period of 2018 (-0.6%), with a positive performance in the Americas, partially offsetting the decline in EMEAI and APAC.
The division’s EBITDA amounted to €45.2 million, down 7.1%, amounting to 16.0% of turnover (17.1% in the first half of 2018). At constant exchange rates, EBITDA remained unchanged compared to the first half of 2018.
RETAIL
The Retail segment was down 3.7% compared to the previous year, with a slowdown across all geographical areas except for North America.
MANUFACTURING
The Manufacturing segment decreased by 8.7% compared to the previous year. The slowdown in the automotive and consumer electronics markets in EMEAI and China was partially offset by extensive growth on the US market.
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS
The Transportation & Logistics segment recorded strong growth of 13.2% compared to the same period of 2018, driven by a very positive performance in North America.
HEALTHCARE
The Healthcare segment recorded 13.7% growth compared to the first half of 2018, driven by sales in EMEAI and North America.
Sales in the distribution channel increased driven by small and medium-sized customers.
NET SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS DIVISION
The Net Systems Solutions Division recorded revenues of €14.5 million, up 2.2% compared to the first half of 2018, mainly due to the progress of various projects. The division’s EBITDA was €1.9 million, amounting to 12.8% of turnover, compared with 13.6% in the first half of 2018.
INFORMATICS DIVISION
In the first half of the year, the Informatics Division recorded revenues of €9.3 million, down 4.6% compared to the first half of 2018. The division’s EBITDA was positive for €0.5 million (positive for €0.3 million in the same period of 2018).
PERFORMANCE BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA
The table below shows Group revenues by geographic area, as achieved in the first half of 2019 versus the same period of 2018:
During the first half of 2019 growth reached 13.7% in North America, due in part to the favourable trend in exchange rates, while there was a slowdown in the APAC area, down 22.5%. The performance in the EMEAI area, down 3.7%.
QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE
In the second quarter of 2019, revenues decreased 2.5% to €159.9 million and EBITDA fell 9.9% to €26.0 million, reducing the EBITDA margin to 16.3%, compared with the same period in the previous year (17.6%).
The net profit for the quarter was down 28.7% to €12.7 million (€17.8 million in the second quarter of 2018). As a percentage of turnover, it went from 10.8% to 7.9%.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS DURING THE HALF-YEAR
On 30 April 2019, the Shareholders’ Meeting of Datalogic S.p.A. approved the distribution of an ordinary dividend, gross of legal withholdings, of €0.50 per share, with ex-dividend date of 27 May 2019 (record date 28 May 2019) and payment from 29 May 2019, for a total maximum amount of €29,223,245. The above Shareholders’ Meeting also resolved:
EVENTS AFTER PERIOD-END
On 1 July 2019 Datalogic S.p.A. appointed Laura Bernardelli as the Group Chief Financial Officer.
OUTLOOK
We expect that the slowdown in our main sectors of operation in Europe and China (also in the light of the recent events involving North American tariffs) seen in the first half of the year will continue into the second half. The Group thus expects to end the year in line with the performance reported in the first six months.
However, robust growth was seen in North America, and the new products launched during the half-year, as a result of increased investments in R&D, were positively received – indicators that confirm the Group's growth potential in a less uncertain and more uniform macroeconomic scenario across its various markets of operation.
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The Board of Directors of Datalogic S.p.A. has also approved:
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The Half-Year Financial Report of Datalogic S.p.A. at 30 June 2019 will be available to anyone who requests it from the company headquarters, Borsa Italiana S.p.A. (www.borsaitaliana.it) and the “eMarket STORAGE” authorised storage facility, managed by Spafid Connect S.p.A., and may also be consulted on the company’s website, www.datalogic.com (Investor Relations section), in accordance with the terms set out by law.
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The manager responsible for preparing the company’s financial reports – Marco Carnovale – declares, pursuant to paragraph 2 of Art. 154-bis of the Consolidated Finance Act, that the accounting information contained in this press release corresponds to the document results, books and accounting records.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Group’s intentions, beliefs and current expectations with regard to its financial results and other aspects of the Group's operations and strategies. Readers of the present press release should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, as final results may differ significantly from those contained in the above-mentioned forecasts owing to a number of factors, the majority of which are beyond the Group’s control.
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RECLASSIFIED INCOME STATEMENT AT 30 JUNE 2019 (1)
(1) EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization): this is an economic indicator that is not defined in the IFRSs, but used by the company’s management to monitor and assess its operating performance, as this indicator is not influenced by the volatility deriving from the effects of the different criteria for determining taxable income, the amount and characteristics of capital employed, as well as the related amortisation and depreciation policies. This indicator is defined by Datalogic as Profit/Loss for the period before depreciation/amortisation of tangible and intangible assets, non-recurring costs, financial income and expense and income taxes.
RECLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET AT 30 JUNE 2019 (2)
(2) The reclassified balance sheet and financial analysis shows aggregations used by management to assess the Group's financial performance. These measures are generally adopted in the practice of financial communication, they are immediately referable to the accounting data of the primary financial statements, however they are not identified as accounting measures under the IFRS.
NET FINANCIAL POSITION AT 30 JUNE 2019 (3)
(3) The NFP (Net Financial Position) or Net Financial Debt (NFD): this indicator is calculated in accordance with Consob Communication No. 15519 of July 28, 2006, also including "Other financial assets" represented by temporary investments of liquidity and financial liabilities for emerging operating leases following the application of the new accounting standard IFRS 16.
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.”
