Berlin, 30 October 2020 – Despite the effects of the corona crisis, the PSI Group has, with 178 million euros, almost reached in the first nine months of 2020 the record new orders of the same period in the previous year (30 September 2019: 182 million euros). The order book volume on 30 September 2020 was, at 159 million euros, slightly above the previous year's value (30 September 2019: 156 million euros). Group sales of 158.1 million euros also almost matched the previous year's figure (30 September 2019: 159.7 million euros) and, as in the first half of the year, was greatly influenced by the energy business. The EBIT of 8.9 million euros was 15.3% below the previous year's figure (30 September 2019: 10.5 million euros) and thus above the guidance from March 2020 (reduction of 20%). This includes negative currency effects and risk provisions, including for personnel matters and payment risks. Group net income decreased to 6.0 million euros (30 September 2019: 7.1 million euros).
- Sales just about at level of previous year at 158.1 million euros
- EBIT, at 8.9 million euros, remains in the range of the guidance
- Operating cash flow improves by 11.4 million to 13.2 million euros
| Performance indicators (KEUR) | 1 Jan. – 30 Sept. 2020 | 1 Jan. – 30 Sept. 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 158,139 | 159,718 | -1.0 % |
| EBIT | 8,874 | 10,479 | -15.3 % |
| Group net result | 5,961 | 7,147 | -16.6 % |
| Earnings per share (EUR) | 0.38 | 0.46 | -17.4 % |
Energy Management (energy grids, energy trading, public transport) achieved in the first nine months approximately 5% higher sales of 85.0 million euros (30 September 2019: 81.0 million euros) and a 10% lower EBIT of 4.0 million euros (30 September 2019: 4.4 million euros). Demand from energy exporting countries like Russia, the Gulf states and Malaysia continues to suffer from low energy prices due to the pandemic. The earnings contribution from the gas grids and energy trading businesses declined accordingly; in Southeast Asia, capacities were already adjusted in the first quarter. Following the integration of BTC Smart Grid, which was acquired in 2019, the software business for electricity grid operators in Central Europe and Russia grew significantly in terms of sales and earnings. Business with software for electric bus depots, railroads and workshops is also developing very well against the background of the ecological transportation transition.
Sales in Production Management (metals production, industry, logistics) in the first nine months were 7.1% below the previous year's value at 73.1 million euros (30 September 2019: 78.7 million euros). The segment's EBIT decreased by more than 11% to 6.2 million euros (30 September 2019: 7.0 million euros). The automotive segment is still suffering from the consequences of the diesel and corona crisis. Nevertheless, with the production control system based on the PSI platform, it has been possible to win orders from electric vehicle producers, automotive parts suppliers and caravan manufacturers. The metals production business is coping with the steel crisis and corona period with growing new orders from North America, China and Russia with stable earnings. The logistics software benefited from the boom in e-commerce logistics in Poland and Russia, although business in the German market was somewhat sluggish. In Poland, PSI continued to record very strong new orders and good results. Poland is particularly important as a test market for PSI's generic App Store and multi-cloud products. PSI multi-cloud products can be delivered in seconds to all common public clouds, the private clouds of corporate customers or even on premise. The software can also be provided in the PSI cloud. The adaptation to individual customer requirements, often tens of thousands of parameters for industrial customers, is carried out after delivery with easy-to-use software tools such as PSI-Click-Design and Business Process Management.
The group's headcount increased year-on-year to 2,042 (30 September 2019: 1,981), mainly due to new hirings in Poland. Cash flow from operating activities increased by 11.4 million euros to 13.2 million euros (30 September 2019: 1.8 million euros). Cash and cash equivalents increased by 10.6 million euros to 41.4 million euros (30 September 2019: 30.8 million euros) compared to the same period of the prior year. After the acquisition of Prognos Energy GmbH in the second quarter and NEPLAN AG at the beginning of the fourth quarter, PSI is examining further takeover targets in the core business. With the acquisition of the network planning software specialist NEPLAN, PSI will also better support the grid operators in network planning, equipment utilization and maintenance optimization and further improve the market-leading functions of grid control and field force management.
Against the background of the lockdown decided for November, the Management Board intends to stick to the guidance given in March (slight weakening of sales and an up to 20% lower operating result), although the current course of business indicates a better development.
The investment in rolling out App Store and multi-cloud technology through an initial set of cloud pilot products will be further accelerated. These cloud pilot products include in particular simulation and training packages such as the PSI Metals Virtual Factory or the gas network simulation PSIganesi, which are increasingly in demand in the home office environment. And they include generic platform products, including the cloud-based planning system for finite resources (PSIasm) and a cloud-based control system (PSIjscada).
Starting in 2021, PSI intends to continue the margin increases and growth of the previous years (until 2019). For 2021, the management expects a market recovery and in the course of the year even a slightly excessive demand due to the customers' catching up in 2020 on equipment investments that were not made. With advanced products and market-leading functions, PSI will continue to make an indispensable contribution to network utilization, network reinforcement, network stabilization, green power integration and transportation transition in Central Europe.
Based on its own software products, PSI Group develops and integrates complete solutions for optimizing the flow of energy and material for utilities (energy networks, energy trading, public transport) and industry (metals production, automotive, mechanical engineering, logistics). PSI was founded in 1969 and employs 2,000 persons worldwide.
