Europe's largest independent distributor ALSO Group improved sales compared to the previous year by 7.9% to €3.28bn in the first half of 2014. Earnings before taxes (EBT) rose from €25.2m to €30.5m (+21.1%) and net income of €16.3m to €21.0m (+28.7%).
"It is gratifying that all ALSO companies contributed to the sales growth, while our profitability rose to above average and the EBT margin rose from 0.8% to 0.9%,"says Gustavo Möller-Hergt (below), CEO of ALSO Holding AG.
ALSO Group increased its consolidated sales by 7.9% in the first half of 2014. seeing an increase in market share in the desktop computing sector from 35.0% to 37.2% and in software from 16.5% to 17.1%.
The Central European market segment recorded a revenue increase over the previous year by 7.8% to €2.54bn, but earnings before taxes (EBT) fell from €27.9m to €25.7m – a fall of -8.0%. The EBT margin fell from 1.2% to 1.0% and ALSO says this was due to the increased pressure on prices in France and in Switzerland.
Sales also increased in the Nordic & East market – up on the previous year by 6.2% to €806.8m. Norway and Sweden have contributed most to the growth and earnings before taxes (EBT) improved from €-1.4m to €5.5m and the EBT margin of -0.2% to 0.7%. This is mainly due to the successful restructuring in Finland.
With the acquisition of ALSO cloud Oy in March 2014, ALSO says it is in an excellent position in growth markets and to meet demands for cloud solutions.
In May 2014 the acquisition of Alpha International BV helped strengthen expertise in the supply business. Additionally, ALSO will use this to expand the existing activities in the Benelux countries. "With the purchase of ALSO cloud Oy and Alpha International BV we reaffirmed our MORE strategy. Our team can be proud of the results and the acquisitions. This has again again demonstrated how attractive our business model is, "said Gustavo Möller-Hergt.
ALSO expects the second half to continue to offer demanding conditions and a continued price pressure in the traditional product categories. It expects the full 2014 financial year to generate a net profit of €50m to €55m.
"It is gratifying that all ALSO companies contributed to the sales growth, while our profitability rose to above average and the EBT margin rose from 0.8% to 0.9%,"says Gustavo Möller-Hergt (below), CEO of ALSO Holding AG. ALSO Group increased its consolidated sales by 7.9% in the first half of 2014. seeing an increase in market share in the desktop computing sector from 35.0% to 37.2% and in software from 16.5% to 17.1%.
The Central European market segment recorded a revenue increase over the previous year by 7.8% to €2.54bn, but earnings before taxes (EBT) fell from €27.9m to €25.7m – a fall of -8.0%. The EBT margin fell from 1.2% to 1.0% and ALSO says this was due to the increased pressure on prices in France and in Switzerland.
Sales also increased in the Nordic & East market – up on the previous year by 6.2% to €806.8m. Norway and Sweden have contributed most to the growth and earnings before taxes (EBT) improved from €-1.4m to €5.5m and the EBT margin of -0.2% to 0.7%. This is mainly due to the successful restructuring in Finland.
With the acquisition of ALSO cloud Oy in March 2014, ALSO says it is in an excellent position in growth markets and to meet demands for cloud solutions.
In May 2014 the acquisition of Alpha International BV helped strengthen expertise in the supply business. Additionally, ALSO will use this to expand the existing activities in the Benelux countries. "With the purchase of ALSO cloud Oy and Alpha International BV we reaffirmed our MORE strategy. Our team can be proud of the results and the acquisitions. This has again again demonstrated how attractive our business model is, "said Gustavo Möller-Hergt.
ALSO expects the second half to continue to offer demanding conditions and a continued price pressure in the traditional product categories. It expects the full 2014 financial year to generate a net profit of €50m to €55m.
