Company growth picks up thanks to strong performance of cloud-based activities
Stable growth of cloud-based activities
Esker Q3 2020 consolidated sales revenue amounted to 27.1 million euros, a 10% increase over Q3 2019 based on constant exchange rates (7% based on current rates). For the first nine months of 2020, Esker’s sales growth increased 8% to reach 81.4 million euros (based on both current and constant exchange rates).
As expected, cloud-based activities gradually recovered over the summer and grew 21% in September and 14% for the quarter as a whole. The variable share of cloud-based activities (45% of sales revenue), which was slowed down by COVID-19-driven measures during Q2, returned to 95% of its pre-COVID trend in September. The fixed portion of cloud-based activities continued to grow at its usual rate.
The company’s strong Q3 performance was slightly hampered by a lack of traditional licence and maintenance-based activities, which tend to take a harder hit during volatile economic times.
The pace of signed projects remains strong
Despite the difficult economic situation, Esker recorded numerous signed projects in Q3 which will fuel the company’s future growth. The cumulative value of new contracts signed in the first nine months of 2020 increased by 11% compared to 2019, to reach 21.3 million euros. While the health pandemic has delayed
some projects, it has also accelerated decision-making for companies who view Esker’s solutions as essential to ensuring operational continuity, particularly when the majority of their administrative and financial staff are working from home.
Strengthened financial structure for future growth
As of September 30, 2020, company cash rests at 40 million euros. With 25.2 million euros in net cash (versus 19 million euros on September 30, 2019), Esker has the financial resources necessary to handle the macroeconomic consequences of the global health crisis while continuing to invest in future growth.
Outlook for 2020 remains positive
Despite the uncertainties of how the global health and economic crisis will evolve, Esker expects to maintain
close to 9% organic growth in 2020. In this hypothesis, profitability would remain close to what was recorded
in 2019, without calling into question investments aimed at further developing the company.
