Columbus A/S
Columbus delivers record high earnings

DGAP-News: Columbus A/S

2015-03-17 / 12:46

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Columbus increases earnings by 13% to 81.6m and delivers the best result in the
company's 25-years history. 

Ballerup, 2015-03-17 12:46 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbus continues the
growth of recent years in earnings and announces record high earnings for the
second year in a row. Columbus increases earnings in both the consultancy and
the software business and sells more industry solutions, which gives the global
consultancy a great result with bottom line growth. 

Earnings (EBITDA*) amounted to DKK 81.6m, which is a growth of 13% compared to
2013. The net result for the year amounted to DKK 52.7m and constitutes a
growth of 142%. Revenue amounted to DKK 878.3m and are on the same level as
2013. 

'2014 was a satisfying year for Columbus. We delivered progress for 13
successive quarters and 2014 was another record year for Columbus. We follow a
strategic plan and the result shows that it is a profitable business,' says
Thomas Honoré, CEO in Columbus. 

Continuous progress in earnings in the consultancy business
Columbus' consultancy business achieved an increase in revenue by 5%. At the
same time, the company has improved efficiency. Overall, this resulted in a
considerably progress in earnings in the consulting business. 

Increased earnings in Columbus' software business
In 2014, Columbus increased the sale of own software by 3%. Earnings (EBITDA)
in Columbus' software business improved by 26%, primarily because of the
increased sales. Columbus' software business constituted 44% of EBITDA* in 2014
(2013: 39%) 

Growth in revenue from industry solutions
Revenues from our industry solutions: food, retail and manufacturing continued
the progress and now constitutes 77% of the total revenue. This is in line with
expectations and the company has hereby achieved an important target for the
year. 

New acquisitions strengthen Columbus' market position
In 2014, Columbus strengthened its market position by the acquisitions of the
companies Omnica - a retail and e-commerce consultancy, and Dynamics Anywhere -
a mobility software company. 

Columbus strives to grow organically as well as through acquisitions of
companies with a profile similar to Columbus within the company's key
industries and in selected geographical areas. 

Expectations of growth and increased earnings in 2015
2015 is the last year of Columbus' strategy Columbus15, with the goal of
transforming the company into a global consultancy with industry knowledge and
own software while improving earnings. 

'The results of recent years shows that Columbus' strategy is right. Today, we
are a strong global consultancy with industry knowledge and own developed
software. 2015 is about maintaining focus on running a healthy business, while
we prepare our strategic plan beyond 2015', says Thomas Honoré. 

In 2015, Columbus expects continued growth in sale of industry solutions and in
sale of own software, and maintains focus on improving earnings in the
consultancy. Columbus expects revenues in the level of DKK 1bn and EBITDA* in
the level of DKK 90m, corresponding to a growth of 14% and 10% respectively
compared to the 2014 results. 



* EBITDA before share-based payment
News Source: NASDAQ OMX



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2015-03-17 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
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Language:    English       
Company:     Columbus A/S  
 
 
             Denmark       
ISIN:        DK0010268366  
 
 
End of News    DGAP News-Service  
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