- Revenue for Q1 2024 came to €1,587.4 million,
equating to total growth of 13.8%
- Organic growth1 came to 0.3%, in line with the guidance
issued at the end of February: “Q1 relatively stable”
- Targets confirmed for organic growth, operating margin rate
and free cash flow for financial year 2024
Regulatory News:
Sopra Steria (Paris:SOP) generated revenue of
€1,587.4 million in the first quarter of 2024, representing growth
of 13.8%. At constant scope and exchange rates, revenue grew
0.3%.
Sopra Steria: Consolidated revenue – Q1 2024 €m / %
Q1 2024 Q1 2023 Organicgrowth
Totalgrowth Revenue
1,587.4
1,395.4
0.3%
13.8%
Cyril Malargé, Chief Executive Officer of Sopra Steria Group,
commented:
“In the first quarter of 2024, in a market that remained buoyant
for large-scale digital transformation projects but substantially
less dynamic for discretionary investments, Sopra Steria showed
solid resilience, achieving organic revenue growth in line with
forecasts.
Our priorities for 2024 are confirmed: successfully integrate
the companies we acquired in 2023; execute the plan to dispose of
our banking software activities by the end of Q2, or during Q3 at
the latest; make progress on our internal transformation
initiatives; and, finally, boost the Group’s financial
performance.
In Q1, we also stepped up our investments in the rAIse programme
to embrace generative artificial intelligence. Sopra Steria Next,
our consulting entity, forged two major strategic partnerships,
launching a collaboration with Microsoft to assist businesses in
their implementation of Microsoft 365 Copilot and joining the
NVIDIA AI Consulting Partner Network. These initiatives reinforce
Sopra Steria’s leadership position in artificial intelligence and
give our customers access to the very best these cutting-edge
technologies have to offer.”
Comments on Q1 2024 business activity
Revenue came to €1,587.4 million, equating to total growth of
13.8% relative to Q1 2023. This growth included the positive impact
of changes in scope of €184.1 million arising from the
consolidation of CS Group and Tobania since 1 March 2023, and of
Ordina since 1 October 2023. Currency fluctuations had a positive
impact of €3.1 million.
In an environment marked by a slowdown in discretionary
investments in technology, a high basis of comparison (9.1% growth
in Q1 2023) and an unfavourable calendar effect (1 fewer day),
organic growth held up well, equating to slight growth (0.3%). The
most resilient sectors were the public sector, financial services
and defence.
The France reporting unit (39% of the Group total)
generated revenue of €624.6 million, equating to negative organic
growth of 2.6%. Most verticals saw a contraction in their revenue,
including the aeronautics sector, which saw a business downturn of
around 4.5% in the first quarter of 2024. On the other hand, the
defence and transport verticals remained buoyant and growing.
The United Kingdom reporting unit (15% of the Group
total) posted revenue of €240.0 million, representing organic
growth of 7.4%. Growth was driven by a very robust public sector
and a private sector that started to feel the positive effects of
new contracts signed in the second half of 2023, which will
gradually ramp up over the course of 2024.
The Other Europe reporting unit (35% of the Group total)
posted €547.7 million in revenue, representing total growth of
33.5% following the consolidation of Ordina and Tobania. Organic
growth came to 1.7%. Germany was hampered by a weaker economic
backdrop than in the rest of Europe and a contraction in revenue.
Scandinavia, Spain and Italy enjoyed brisk business activity, with
growth of between 5% and 8%. Benelux, where the consolidation of
three companies is underway, achieved a similar level of revenue as
in Q1 2023 (€173.1 million on a pro forma basis).
Revenue for Sopra Banking Software (7% of the Group
total) came to €103.8 million, equating to an organic contraction
of 4.1%, as expected for the first quarter. This contraction mainly
arose from the 7.9% negative growth in services revenue.
Subscriptions remained well on track with 21.1% growth, driven in
particular by momentum in the digital solutions offered by Sopra
Banking Platform and Sopra Financing Platform.
The Other Solutions reporting unit (4% of the Group
total) posted revenue of €71.2 million, representing organic growth
of 0.8%. The Human Resources Solutions business (which generates
70% of the reporting unit’s revenue) grew by 3.7%. Property
Management Solutions contracted by 5.3%, in line with
forecasts.
Changes in scope
Sopra Steria recently clarified its strategy, stating its aim to
refocus on digital services and solutions, with the ambition of
becoming a compelling European alternative to global providers for
major European clients in its strategic markets.
Consequently, Sopra Steria announced (see press release of 21
February 2024) its plan to dispose of its banking software
activities. Preparatory work is underway. The objective is to
finalise this transaction by the end of Q2 2024, or during Q3 2024
at the latest.
Workforce
At end-March 2024, the Group’s net headcount stood at
56,273 people, compared with 53,724 people at 31 March 2023. The
consolidation of Ordina added 2,630 people. A total of 9,313 staff
were employed at international service centres.
The workforce attrition rate was 14.0% (compared with
16.0% in Q1 2023).
Recap of targets for 2024
- Organic revenue growth of between 2% and 4%
- Operating margin on business activity of between 9.5% and
10%
- Free cash flow of at least €350 million
Q1 2024 revenue presentation meeting
Revenue for the first quarter of 2024 will be presented to
financial analysts and investors via a bilingual (French and
English) conference call to be held on 26 April 2024 at 8:30 a.m.
CET:
- French-language phone number: +33 (0)1 70 37 71 66
- English-language phone number: +44 (0)33 0551 0200
Practical information about this conference call can be found in
the ‘Investors’ section of the Group’s website:
https://www.soprasteria.com/investors
Upcoming financial releases
Tuesday, 21 May 2024 (2:30 p.m.): General Meeting of
Shareholders Wednesday, 24 July 2024 (after market close):
Publication of H1 2024 results Thursday, 31 October 2024 (before
market open): Publication of Q3 2024 revenue
Glossary
- Restated revenue: Revenue
for the prior year, expressed on the basis of the scope and
exchange rates for the current year.
- Organic revenue growth:
Increase in revenue between the period under review and restated
revenue for the same period in the prior financial year.
- EBITDA: This measure, as
defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to
consolidated operating profit on business activity after adding
back depreciation, amortisation and provisions included in
operating profit on business activity.
- Free cash flow: Net cash
from operating activities; less investments (net of disposals) in
property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets; less lease
payments; less net interest paid; and less additional contributions
to address any deficits in defined-benefit pension plans.
- Operating profit on business
activity: This measure, as defined in the Universal
Registration Document, is equal to profit from recurring operations
adjusted to exclude the share-based payment expense for stock
options and free shares and charges to amortisation of allocated
intangible assets.
- Profit from recurring
operations: Operating profit before other operating
income and expenses, which includes any particularly significant
items of operating income and expense that are unusual, abnormal,
infrequent or not foreseeable, presented separately in order to
give a clearer picture of performance based on ordinary
activities.
- Basic recurring earnings per
share: This measure is equal to basic earnings per share
before other operating income and expenses net of tax.
- Return on capital employed
(RoCE): (Profit from recurring operations after tax +
Profit from equity-accounted companies) / (Equity + Net financial
debt).
- Downtime: Number of days
between two contracts (excluding training, sick leave, other leave
and pre-sales) divided by the total number of business days.
Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking information subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that may affect the Group’s future
growth and financial results. Readers are reminded that licence
agreements, which often represent investments for clients, are
signed in greater numbers in the second half of the year, with
varying impacts on end-of-year performance. Actual outcomes and
results may differ from those described in this document due to
operational risks and uncertainties. More detailed information on
the potential risks that may affect the Group’s financial results
can be found in the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with
the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on 15 March 2024 (see
pages 40 to 46 in particular). Sopra Steria does not undertake any
obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in
this document beyond what is required by current laws and
regulations. The distribution of this document in certain countries
may be subject to the laws and regulations in force. Persons
physically present in countries where this document is released,
published or distributed should enquire as to any applicable
restrictions and should comply with those restrictions.
About Sopra Steria
Sopra Steria, a major player in the European tech sector with
56,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, is recognised for its
consulting, digital services and software development. It helps its
clients drive their digital transformation and obtain tangible and
sustainable benefits. The Group provides end-to-end solutions to
make large companies and organisations more competitive by
combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors
and innovative technologies with a fully collaborative approach.
Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and
is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to
build a positive future for all. In 2023, the Group generated
revenue of €5.8 billion. The world is how we shape it. Sopra
Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) – ISIN:
FR0000050809 For more information, visit us at
www.soprasteria.com
________________ 1 Alternative performance measures are defined
in the glossary at the end of this document.
Annexes
Sopra Steria: Impact on revenue of changes in scope and exchange
rates – Q1 2024 €m Q1 2024 Q1 2023
Growth Revenue
1,587.4
1,395.4
+13.8%
Changes in exchange rates
3.1
Revenue at constant exchange rates
1,587.4
1,398.5
+13.5%
Changes in scope
184.1
Revenue at constant scope and exchange rates
1,587.4
1,582.6
+0.3%
Sopra Steria: Changes in exchange rates
– Q1 2024
For €1 / %
Average rate Q1 2024
Average rate Q1 2023
Change
Pound sterling
0.8563
0.8831
+3.1%
Norwegian krone
11.4159
10.9901
-3.7%
Swedish krona
11.2792
11.2030
-0.7%
Danish krone
7.4563
7.4429
-0.2%
Swiss franc
0.9491
0.9925
+4.6%
Sopra Steria: Revenue by reporting unit
– Q1 2024
€m / % Q1 2024 Q1 2023Restated* Q1
2023 Organicgrowth Totalgrowth France
624.6
641.4
589.9
-2.6%
+5.9%
United Kingdom
240.0
223.5
216.7
+7.4%
+10.7%
Other Europe
547.7
538.8
410.4
+1.7%
+33.5%
Sopra Banking Software
103.8
108.3
107.7
-4.1%
-3.6%
Solutions
71.2
70.7
70.6
+0.8%
+0.9%
Sopra Steria Group
1,587.4
1,582.6
1,395.4
+0.30%
+13.8%
* Revenue at 2024 scope and exchange rates
Sopra Steria:
Workforce breakdown – 31/03/2024 3/31/2024
3/31/2023 France
22,020
22,102
United Kingdom
7,807
7,684
Other Europe
16,593
13,880
Rest of the World
540
580
X-Shore
9,313
9,478
Total
56,273
53,724
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240425033593/en/
Investor Relations Olivier Psaume
olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com +33 (0)1 40 67 68 16
Press Relations Caroline Simon (Image 7)
caroline.simon@image7.fr +33 (0)1 53 70 74 65
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