DGAP-News: KPS AG: KPS publishes report on the first half of 2017/2018

KPS publishes report on the first half of 2017/2018

Unterföhring/Munich, May 30, 2018 - KPS AG (WKN: A1A6V4 / ISIN: DE000A1A6V48), Europe's leading management consultancy for business transformation and process optimization in retail, increased its sales by 6.7% from EUR 82.8 million in the first half of 2016/2017 to EUR 88.4 million in the first half of 2017/2018. Earnings before interest and taxes fell to EUR 7.5 million compared with EUR 12.5 million in the previous year due to M&A-related write-downs, higher personnel costs and the fact that the first quarter fell short of expectations.

Besides acquisitions, the significant sales growth is due in large part to the acquisition of transformation projects with well-known customers from the retail and consumer goods industries. KPS is consistently pursuing its internationalization strategy with the strategic acquisitions of Saphira Consulting A/S in Denmark, ICE Consultants Europe SL in Spain, Infront Consulting & Management GmbH in Germany and Envoy Digital Limited in the UK in the year under review and the previous year. These were the main reasons for the 19.7% disproportionate increase in personnel expenses and depreciation and amortization of EUR 1.5 million, which had a significant negative impact on earnings. This has led to a change in the profit forecast for the full year 2017/2018. Earnings in the second quarter increased significantly compared to the first quarter, underlining the traditional upward trend throughout the year.

"Earnings in the first half of the year were significantly impacted by the consequences of the acquisitions. Through these investments, we have significantly improved our position for future growth and are consistently pursuing our internationalization strategy. For the current fiscal year, the effects of M&A-related write-downs and higher personnel costs mean that we have to adjust our earnings forecast. However, the increasing integration of our acquisitions promises significant growth potential, which will also have a positive effect on earnings in the future," explains Leonardo Musso, Member of the Executive Board of KPS AG.

The Executive Board and management of KPS AG confirm the sales forecast for fiscal year 2017/2018 of EUR 160-170 million and have adjusted the earnings forecast from originally EUR 23-26 million to EUR 16-20 million. This includes the sales contributions of ICE Consultants Europe SL, Barcelona, Spain, acquired on October 2, 2017, as well as Infront Consulting & Management GmbH, Hamburg, Germany, and Envoy Digital Limited, London, UK, acquired in early 2018. The Supervisory Board and Executive Board of KPS AG continue to pursue their strategy of internationalization.

The detailed report for the first half of 2017/2018 is now available for download at www.kps.com.

May 30, 2018

KPS AG
Executive Board

About KPS
KPS is the leading transportation partner in Europe for companies seeking to radically realign their business model towards customers rapidly and implement innovative, digital processes and technologies. KPS provides a full range of services from strategic consulting on industry-specific process chains to the implementation of state-of-the-art technologies. The KPS team provides companies with end-to-end consultancy, integrating enterprise resource planning, B2B and B2C e-commerce with marketing and sales processes. Particularly in a digital world which focuses on the customer, the ability to implement projects quickly is a significant competitive advantage. The KPS Rapid-Transformation(R) method accelerates projects by up to 50% and the experience and industry expertise of KPS's consultants ensures the success of every project. With around 1000 consultants in 12 countries, KPS is constantly expanding its market position globally through trailblazing projects aimed at achieving digital and technological transformation.

Reshape and transform rapidly. Your business in a digital world. www.kps.com

KPS AG
Beta-Straße 10H
85774 Unterföhring
Phone: +49 (0) 89 356 31-0
Fax: +49 (0) 89 356 31-3300
e-mail: isabel.hoyer@kps.com

cometis AG
Tim Großheimann
Unter den Eichen 7
65195 Wiesbaden
Phone: +49 (0) 611 20 5855-64
e-mail: grossheimann@cometis.de