Interim Management Statement
Interim Management Statement
14th May 2010
Computacenter plc, the independent IT services provider, is today holding its
Annual General Meeting and publishes its Interim Management Statement based on
unaudited financial information, for the period from 1 January 2010 to date.
Financial Performance
Group revenue, for the first quarter, increased by 7%
currency movements. Â Excluding these effects, Group revenue for the first
quarter increased by 8% to £616.0m and has seen similar growth rates in Q2 to
date. Â Our Services revenue grew by 2% in Q1, and we have seen a small increase
in this growth in Q2 to date. Â Group product revenue grew by 9% in Q1, including
disposals, acquisitions and currency movements and by 12% excluding these
effects and the growth has been maintained in Q2.
We have managed to achieve these growth rates with further reductions compared
to Q1 2009, albeit small, to our cost base from last year's cost reduction
program without exceptional costs.
In the UK, we have seen a strong rebound in product sales, with growth of 20%
excluding the disposal of CCD. Â This growth was flattered by one large project,
which is not ongoing. Â However, excluding this project, the underlying growth
rate was still greater than 10%, which has been maintained in Q2. Â UK services
grew by 3% in Q1 and has increased further in Q2, due to new business gains.
As previously reported, we had a slow start to the year in Germany, but there
was a material pick up in March. Â In the first quarter as a whole, product
revenues grew 12% but only 1% if the acquisition of becom is excluded. Â Services
declined by 3%, which was not materially affected by the acquisition. Â The
improved trading in March has continued into Q2.
In France, the first quarter services revenue increased by 13% and product
revenue by 7%. Â However, gross margins are lower than in Q1 2009, which was an
artificially high position. Â Q2 to date has seen a similar trading performance
to Q1.
Financial Position
Despite the growth in our product business, our balance sheet continues to
strengthen. Â At the end of Q1, net cash, excluding Customer Specific Financing
(CSF), was approximately £89m (£86m at the end of Q4 2009).  Net Funds including
CSF was £53.3m (£37.3m at the end of Q4 2009).  This position is still
benefitting from an extended credit scheme with one of our major vendors, to the
extent of approximately £30 million.  There is no material change in this
position since the end of Q1, despite the cash cost of paying the additional
interim dividend totalling £11.8 million on 1 April 2010.
Outlook
After a challenging 2009 for our product business, we saw a strong rebound in Q1
2010, particularly in the UK. Â Whilst it is not certain that these growth rates
can be maintained throughout the year, the signs are encouraging. Â Our services
business has seen slower growth than we have become used to, but we are
expecting this to improve as the year progresses. Â After a slow start to the
year, our German business is showing some improvement. Â Trading this year to
date across the Group has increased our confidence of another year of progress
for Computacenter, in line with management expectations.
Our next scheduled trading update will be the pre-close briefing prior to our
Interim Results, which is scheduled for 13th July 2010.
Enquiries
Computacenter plc
Mike Norris, Chief Executive 01707 631601
Tony Conophy, Finance Director01707 631515
Tessa Freeman, PR Manager01707 631514
Tulchan Communications 020 7353 4200
Andrew Grant
Stephen Malthouse
[HUG#1415754]