In This Article:
Digitalist Group Plc’s Business Review, 1 January – 31 March 2024
January–March 2024 (comparable figures for 2023 in parentheses):
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Turnover: EUR 3.9 million (EUR 4.6 million), decrease of 16.0%.
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EBITDA: EUR -0.4 million (EUR -0.3 million), -10.4% of turnover (-7.2%).
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EBIT: EUR -0.6 million (EUR -0.6 million), -15.8% of turnover (-12.1%).
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Net income: EUR -1.0 million (EUR -0.9 million), -25.4% of turnover (-18.6%).
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Earnings per share (diluted and undiluted): EUR -0.00 (EUR -0.00).
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Number of employees at the end of the review period: 125 (143), reduction of 13%.
CEO’s review
The first quarter of 2024 has presented its challenges, as all of our business areas felt the impact of sluggish markets in Sweden and Finland. Both turnover (EUR 3.9 million) and EBITDA (-0.4 million) have declined compared to the same period last year, with January being particularly weak. Despite these results, we maintain our confidence in the guidance we have provided to the market regarding future prospects.
We've taken strategic steps this quarter to restructure our financing. We have strengthened the group's equity by converting convertible bonds partly into capital loans, and are in the process of rearranging the short-term convertible bonds to support our balance sheet and solvency. More details on this are available below.
The challenging market conditions have not hindered our sales efforts. From this quarter, we are pleased to announce new partnerships and new projects with VR (Finnish Railroads), Posti and Pixieray in Finland, and with Barilla and Stockholm Skavsta Airport in Sweden.
Our Open Cloud SaaS offerings have transitioned to our new subsidiary, Digitalist Open Cloud AB. We are excited about this move, as it allows us to offer our clients secure, locally hosted open source software solutions like Matomo, Rebel Metrics, and Directus.
While the pace of improvement in our operations has not met our expectations, we are confident that the strategic measures we've implemented, combined with our ongoing restructuring and cost-saving initiatives, will position us well for future success.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all our employees, whose relentless dedication and commitment continue to drive value for our clients.
CEO Magnus Leijonborg
FUTURE PROSPECTS
In 2024, it is expected that turnover will maintain its current level and EBITDA will improve in comparison with 2023.
OTHER EVENTS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER
Strengthening Digital Group Plc's equity, conversion of convertible bonds partly into capital loans
In order to strengthen the Company's equity, Digital Group decided on 22 March 2024 to utilize the right provided by Turret Oy Ab ("Turret") and Holdix Oy Ab ("Holdix") to convert a total of 1,907,175.40+interest 334,513.29 euros of the principal and interest of the convertible bonds 2021/3 and 2021/4 subscribed by Turret and Holdix into a capital loan in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Limited Liability Companies Act.