Columbus started the year with revenue growth of 51% and growth in EBITDA* of 75%. The acquisition of iStone drives growth.
Copenhagen, 24 April 2018: With a revenue growth of 51% (DKK 469m), EBITDA*growth of 75% (DKK 51m) and a growth in the result before tax of 92% (DKK 32m) Columbus delivered a strong start to the year. The revenue growth was primarily driven by the acquisition of iStone, which Columbus announced 2 January 2018 and secondarily of the acquisition of HiGH Software 9 January 2018. The increase in EBITDA is also driven by the mentioned acquisitions.
”We are satisfied with the result for the first quarter, where we delivered great progress within a range of our strategic business areas such as cloud services and products, Columbus Care and Columbus Software while we made a strategic acquisition of iStone. iStone and HiGH Software come with a range of exciting solutions and competencies which will strengthen our market position and we look forward to creating even great value for our customers and reaching our strategic business goals”, says CEO and President in Columbus, Thomas Honoré.
The acquisition of iStone is a game-changer for Columbus
Columbus started 2018 by completing the acquisition of the Nordic IT services company iStone thus increasing the company with 50% in one stroke. With the acquisition of iStone, Columbus enters the Swedish market and at the same time becomes market leading within business applications and IT services in selected industries in the Nordic region. iStone has added Columbus more than 600 highly skilled employees in offices across 12 countries and Columbus hereby expands its global footprint.
“Successful integration of iStone is at the top of our agenda for 2018. Columbus and iStone is a perfect match both commercially and culturally, and together we will create even stronger value for our customers. At the same time, we will focus on continuing to develop our business with new innovative solutions and services that help our customers in the digital transformation”, says Thomas Honoré.
Columbus Care continues the growth
In the first quarter of the year the services revenue grew by 64%. Especially, Columbus’ solutions within Application Management and Infrastructure Management, Columbus Care, showed great progress in the first quarter with 52% growth. Columbus Care ensures high availability of the company’s critical applications and infrastructure, and is an area with strong increased demand from Columbus’ customers.
“As our customers invest in business applications in the cloud, we experience Columbus Care becoming a crucial element in ensuring high availability in a complex hybrid IT environment”, says Thomas Honoré.
Progress in the sale of Columbus Software
The sale of Columbus Software has come off to a good start with a total revenue growth of 38%. The sale of software maintenance services increased by 39% as a consequence of a satisfactory renewal rate. The sale of own cloud software products also shows great progress showing a market in strong growth.
Columbus2020 – aiming for growth
In March 2016, Columbus announced the five-year strategy Columbus2020 with the clear goal of being the preferred business partner helping our customers increasing the value of their business application investment and leading them in the digital transformation of their business. Columbus2020 focuses on four strategic elements; Customer Success, Digital Leadership, Process Excellence and Our People.
Press Contact
Communications Director
Tine Rasmussen
tra@columbusglobal.com
+45 29 69 06 77
*EBITDA before share-based payment
