Ekinops delivers EBITDA margin at 17.0% and 25% revenue growth in H1 2022

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Jul 28, 2022, 12:00 ET

Raises guidance for 2022 revenue

PARIS, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EKINOPS (Euronext Paris: EKI) (FR0011466069), a leading supplier of telecommunications solutions for telecom operators and enterprises, has published its H1 2022 financial statements (for the period ended June 30, 2022) as approved by the Board of Directors on July 27, 2022. The statutory auditors conducted an interim review of these half-year financial statements.

€m - IFRS	H1 2021	H1 2022	Change
Revenue	50.8	63.3	+25 %
Gross margin	27.8	33.5	+21 %
% of revenue	54.7 %	52.9 %
Operating expenses	25.9	29.3	+13 %
EBITDA¹	9.4	10.8	+15 %
*% of revenue*	18.4 %	17.0 %
Current operating income	1.9	4.1	+117 %
Operating income/(loss)	1.8	4.2	+129 %
Consolidated net income/(loss)	1.6	5.2	+225 %
% of revenue	3.2 %	8.2 %

¹EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) corresponds to current operating income restated for (i) amortization, depreciation and provisions, and (ii) income and expenses relating to share-based payments.

Record half-year revenue with 25% growth

At the end of the first half of 2022, Ekinops' consolidated revenue stood at €63.3 million versus €50.8 million in the previous year, representing robust growth of 25%. At constant scope and exchange rates, half-year growth was 20%.

This trend is the result of solid momentum in all the Group's activities: +31% for optical transport equipment, +21% for Access solutions and +47% for software and services, which now represent 15% of the group's revenue as a result of the success of SDN (Software Defined Networks) and virtualization solutions.

In geographic terms, half-year sales grew significantly by 48% in North America (33% in USD), reaching 20% of the group's business for the first time. Asia-Pacific continued on the growth trajectory that began in H2 2021 with a very sustained 80% increase in half-year sales. Sales in EMEA, in which 38% of the group's activity is generated, grew 6% compared with the same period in the previous year. After a first quarter in which activity in France remained virtually stable, the group's sales returned to steady growth of 29% in the semester.

Gross margin of 52.9%, within the target range, despite the components crisis

As a result of the very strong sales momentum over the semester and the increase in the share of software and services in the business mix, gross margin for the period was €33.5 million, up 21% from the same period a year earlier.

Gross margin thus represented 52.9% of consolidated revenue in H1 2022. This figure is in line with the group's targets and is within the long-term target range (52%-56%), despite the components crisis, which is continuing in 2022.

EBITDA margin of 17.0% in H1 2022, towards the top of the target range

As of June 30, 2022, H1 EBITDA was €10.8 million versus €9.4 million in H1 2021, with a contained increase in operating expenses (13%). At the same time, the Group made the investments needed to support its growth and development (24 net new hires in the period, and equipment purchases, mainly for R&D purposes).

The EBITDA margin stood at 17.0% in H1 2022, at the high end of FY 2022 target range (14%-18%), versus 16.9% for FY 2021.

After net depreciation, amortization and provisions (€5.3 million, of which €3.0 million in amortization related to technologies and purchase price allocation) and non-cash expenses relating to share-based payments (€0.9 million) and the associated employer contributions (€0.4 million), current operating income (EBIT) amounted to €4.1 million in H1 2022, representing significant growth of 117% from the previous year. The current operating margin was 6.5% of revenue, versus 3.7% in H1 2021. Excluding amortization related to the intangible assets identified post purchase price allocation, pro forma EBIT was 11.2%.

In the absence of other material operating income and expenses in H1 2022, operating income came to €4.2 million versus €1.8 million a year earlier, representing growth of 129%.

Record net margin of 8.2% in H1 2022

After accounting for €0.9 million in financial income from foreign exchange gains and the recognition of a positive tax result of €0.2 million, net income for the period leapt by +225% to €5.2 million, higher than that achieved in FY 2021 (€4.8 million).

The net margin for H1 2022 was 8.2%, a record level, versus 3.2% a year earlier and 4.6% for the whole of the FY 2021.

Net cash of €19.3 million at June 30, 2022

In H1 2022, Ekinops generated cash flow of €10.7 million versus €9.2 million in H1 2021, a 17% increase.

With working capital increased by €8.3 million, versus a change in working capital of €4.3 million a year earlier, as a result of very buoyant levels of activity, operating cash flow was €2.2 million versus €4.6 million in H1 2021.

Cash flow from investing activities amounted to a €2.8 million outflow (versus €2.1 million a year earlier), with CAPEX of €2.7 million, comprising €1.6 million of capitalized R&D expenditure and €1.1 million of expenditure on fixed assets.

Cash flow from financing activities was -€3.6 million, including -€3.1 of repayments under bank loans. No new loans were taken out during the semester.

As of June 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents stood at €41.4 million, for financial borrowings of €22.1 million. Ekinops' financial situation was particularly solid at the end of the period, with net cash of €19.3 million and shareholders' equity of more than €100 million.

ASSETS - €m IFRS	12/31 2021	6/30 2022	EQUITY & LIABILITIES - €m IFRS	12/31 2021	6/30 2022
Non-current assets	75.3	75.4	Shareholders' equity	98.8	105.8
o/w goodwill	29.4	29.6	Financial liabilities	23.8	22.1
o/w intangible assets	23.2	21.6	o/w bank loans	18.4	16.5
o/w right-of-use assets	4.6	3.9	o/w factoring	4.5	5.0
Current assets	49.7	60.0	French research tax credit pre-financing	4.8	3.9
o/w inventories	19.0	17.8	Trade payables	16.2	18.0
o/w trade receivables	24.2	34.0	Lease liabilities	4.7	4.0
Cash & cash equivalents	45.4	41.4	Other liabilities	22.0	23.0
TOTAL	170.3	176.8	TOTAL	170.3	176.8

Annual revenue guidance increased for 2022

2021 was a very dynamic year for the group and the results in H1 2022 reflect an acceleration in growth and continued high profitability, illustrating Ekinops' outperformance of its markets and its main competitors.

Beyond these very good results, which illustrate Ekinops' ability to capture investments from operators, as well as the relevance of its solutions for their needs in a more difficult economic environment, H1 2022 was marked by the strong traction generated by all the group's business lines, achieving very strong shipping and delivery levels despite the components crisis.

The Company nevertheless continues to pay close attention to this unprecedented crisis, which is likely to remain a key issue in the coming quarters. It has not, however, had any major impact on the group's activity thanks to its effective management of its supply chain and has demonstrated its agility in sourcing and managing its inventories since the start of the crisis.

As of June 30, 2022, Ekinops raises its organic growth guidance and reiterates its gross margin and EBITDA targets for 2022 fiscal year:

organic growth over +15%, versus more than 12% initially targeted;
gross margin of between 52% and 56%, in line with the long-term goal and factoring in the impact of the supply chain crisis on electronic components;
EBITDA margin between 14% and 18%, integrating human and technological investments to execute the new growth plan.

Given its sound financial position, Ekinops continues to very actively pursue external growth and explore all acquisition opportunities that could create value for the company.

EKINOPS Contacts
Didier Brédy
Chairman and CEO
[email protected]

Investors
Mathieu Omnes
Investor relation
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 92
[email protected]

SOURCE Ekinops