Earnings Release • Feb 27, 2024
Earnings Release
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La Hulpe, Belgium – 27 February, 2023, 7:00 a.m. CET – [INSIDE INFORMATION] Unifiedpost Group (Euronext: UPG), a leading provider of integrated business communications solutions, announces its 2023 results today. With a notable 13,2% organic growth y/y in recurring digital processing revenue, the Company demonstrates continued resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving market. In the transition towards comprehensive digital invoicing, Unifiedpost maintains its commitment to prioritising further cash flow improvements, while fully preparing for the future digital invoicing market.
Press release – Inside inforrmation
Commenting on the FY 2023 results, Hans Leybaert, CEO and founder, remarked: "We're pleased with our achievements in 2023, showcasing resilience and adaptability amidst external challenges. Our success is a testament to the dedication of our team, the trust of our clients, and the collaboration of our partners. Together, we've achieved remarkable growth in recurring digital processing revenue and expanded our customer base, highlighting our collective strength and unwavering commitment to excellence."
| Key revenue figures (EUR million) | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring digital processing revenue (core revenue) | 124,8 | 112,7 | +10,7% |
| Non-recurring digital processing revenue | 11,8 | 14,3 | -17,5% |
| Postage & Parcel Optimisation revenue | 54,8 | 64,0 | -14,4% |
| Group revenue | 191,4 | 191,0 | +0,2% |
| Key revenue growth figures FY 2023 vs. FY 2022 | Organic (local currency) |
Currency | Acquisitions/ divestments |
Total growth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring digital processing revenue (core revenue) | +13,2% | -2,5% | 0,0% | +10,7% | |
| Non-recurring digital processing revenue | -17,0% | -0,5% | 0,0% | -17,5% | |
| Postage & Parcel Optimisation revenue | -7,4% | -7,0% | 0,0% | -14,4% | |
| Key financial figures (EUR million) | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | Change (%) | ||
| Recurring revenue (in % of total revenue) | 93,8% | 92,5% | +1,3%pts | ||
| Gross margin digital processing | 43,2% | 41,9% | +1,3%pts | ||
| EBITDA margin | -0,1% | -3,4% | +3,3%pts | ||
| Loss for the period from operations excl. impairment | -26,9 | -29,9 | +10,0% | ||
| Impairment losses | -39,0 | - | - | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 26,3 | 40,0 | -34,2% |
Unifiedpost's recurring digital processing, its core revenue, in 2023 grew by 13,2% to €124,8 million based on constant exchange rates and by 10,7% based on current rates. The Company continues to experience consistent double-digit expansion. Strong growth was observed in key markets such as Benelux, the Baltics and the Balkans in 2023, with other countries also showing promising growth trends.
93,8% of Unifiedpost Group's total year-to-date revenue is recurring, highlighting the Company's strong and consistent revenue stream.
The non-recurring digital processing revenue decreased by 17,5% y/y. Projects for corporates in this segment performed well in 2023, achieving a growth rate of 7,9% compared to the previous year. The revenue from licenses was lower due to delayed decisions coming from postponed legislations. However, this revenue is anticipated to materialise in the future.
In 2023, the digital business segment showed an improvement in contribution, with a €6 million increase compared to 2022. This growth was achieved through a combination of revenue expansion and effective cost management practices. The contribution from the Postage & Parcel Optimisation segment remained relatively stable, experiencing only a marginal decrease of €0,1 million.
During 2022 and 2023, the Company diligently pursued cost reduction initiatives, yielding favourable results. These efforts were impacted by inflation and wage indexation. Additionally, two one-time elements influenced the outcome: firstly, the Company decided to put all non-core applications in maintenance and expense all Research and Development (R&D) of those, resulting in a negative impact on costs in 2023 without any cash implications. Secondly, there were one-time costs totalling €2 million, primarily attributed to lay-offs and consulting fees related to divestment activities.
[INSIDE INFORMATION] It was determined that an impairment of €39 million is necessary, this is a non-cash event. This impairment test was influenced by two key factors. Firstly, there was a rise in the cost of capital due to increased interest rates, impacting our financial calculations. Secondly, the future business plans faced setbacks due to delays in the legal requirement for e-invoicing, which forced the Company to make changes to our anticipated plans and forecasts.
The Group's loss from operations excluding the impairment improved by €3 million, from a loss of €29,9 million in 2022 to €26,9 million in 2023. In total, with the impairment of €39 million, the total loss from operations for 2023 amounted to €65,9 million. The financial costs, income tax and loss on equity method of the Group, which amounted to €17,2 million in 2023, resulted in a total loss of €83,1 million. Within these financial costs lies a non-cash expense related to Francisco Partners amounting to €10,8 million.
Unifiedpost recognises the importance of staying ahead in our dynamic market. To ensure our solutions remain innovative and competitive, we continue to invest in the development of our offerings. With a dedicated R&D team of 380 full-time employees at YE, Unifiedpost remains at the forefront of technological advancements. These investments not only keep our solutions cutting-edge but also position the Company for future growth.
Our focus on cash flow has yielded significant improvement in 2023. In 2022, the combined operational and investing cash flow resulted in a negative balance of €43,7 million. This has improved substantially in 2023, with just a €2,1 million negative result. Our financing activities resulted in a negative cash flow of €11,6 million during 2023. Overall, the Group realised a negative cash flow of €13,7 million for the year, excluding any divestments.
Starting the year with €40 million in cash, after accounting for cash flow results, we ended the year with €26,3 million in cash.
The Group successfully met its cash objective in the fourth quarter of 2023. The overall result for H2 still revealed a modest negative balance of €1,7 million (adjusted for restructuring costs). Thanks to the cost-cutting measures implemented over the past two years, we have positioned ourselves with a cost base that provides a solid foundation for future cash flow generation.
Throughout 2023, we have successfully reduced our workforce by 189 full-time equivalents (FTEs) through careful evaluation and optimisation of our organisational structure. The R&D team remains at the core with 380 FTE's at YE, securing the future growth. Workforce reductions have been implemented without compromising the core development of our future-oriented services or the support we provide to our valued customers. Moving forward, we remain committed to optimising our workforce to better align with our strategic objectives.
The divestment of FitekIn/Onea, announced on August 1st, is still pending completion. However, we anticipate the closing to occur in the very near term. This transaction involves €7,2 million in cash. Additionally, we are actively exploring or working on other divestments to streamline the Group's operations and refocus on core business activities. This initiative aims to enhance ourstrategic focus and drive sustainable growth.
Mr. Joost Uwents resigned from all his mandates within the Company, effective December 31, 2023, due to commitments arising from his other professional activities. Mr. Uwents served as a director on the Board of Directors, and his resignation has resulted in the cessation of his mandate, which will not be replaced at this point in time.
Additionally, Mr. Uwents held the position of Chairman of the Audit Committee. In light of his departure, Unifiedpost Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Philippe De Backer as a member of the Audit Committee.
The European market is rapidly digitising due to stringent regulatory frameworks like ViDa, driving adoption of digital invoicing, payments, and reporting systems. Unifiedpost leveraged IPO proceeds to acquire key companies, expanding its market presence and product suite. Integration efforts culminated in a cohesive platform, addressing diverse regulatory requirements. Operational efficiencies were attained through centralised structures, reducing costs while prioritising core business areas. Unifiedpost is wellpositioned for growth, with a modular framework enabling integration of emerging technologies. Actively engaging with partners, Unifiedpost supports clients' digital transformation. Positioned as a leader in digital solutions, Unifiedpost aims for sustained growth, fully realising market potential in the coming years.
| Key business KPI's | End Q4 2023 | End Q3 2023 | End Q2 2023 | End Q1 2023 | End Q4 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customers | 1.234.098 | 1.212.508 | 1.172.197 | 1.133.706 | 1.063.776 |
| Paying customers | 520.058 | 505.636 | 490.936 | 473.679 | 468.128 |
| Customers paid by 3rd parties | 714.040 | 706.872 | 681.261 | 660.027 | 595.648 |
| Companies in business network | 2.404.891 | 2.320.065 | 2.254.762 | 2.186.270 | 2.109.297 |
| Banqup customers | 161.936 | 156.450 | 151.931 | 143.902 | 124.333 |
| Billtobox customers Belgium | 53.257 | 50.528 | 48.651 | 45.359 | 40.363 |
| JeFacture customers France | 17.013 | 15.699 | 14.291 | 11.973 | 5.428 |
Unifiedpost Group closely monitors several key metrics to gauge its performance and market reach. The total number of companies utilising Unifiedpost's services reached 1.234.098 by the end of 2023, reflecting steady growth and market penetration. The count of businesses in the network even grew to 2.404.891, underscoring our efforts to interconnect with other digital networks. Banqup, Unifiedpost's premium solution, saw a significant increase in customers, also in France with the uptake of JeFacture.
The regulatory landscape in Europe is rapidly evolving, particularly with Belgium mandating e-invoicing from January 1, 2026. This development underscores the importance of preparing for upcoming changes in 2024 and 2025. Following Belgium'simplementation, France will implement e-invoicing requirements starting from 2026, with other countries like Germany and Spain to follow. These regulatory shifts are reshaping the business landscape, emphasising the need for digitalisation and compliance with evolving standards across European markets. The full EU-market had approximately 50 million SME's and self-employed people that need to adapt the new way of working.
We are currently finalising the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. Our independent auditor has confirmed that its audit procedures in relation to the financial information for the year ended 31 December 2023 as included in this press release are substantially completed and have not revealed any material corrections required to be made to the financial information included in this press release. Should any material changes arise during the audit's finalisation, an additional press release will be issued.
The issuance of our annual report is scheduled for April 19, 2024.

Management will host a live video webcast for analysts, investors and media today at 10:00 a.m. CET.
A recording will be available shortly after the event. To attend, please register with the link below. Participants can also join via telephone. They can obtain their personal dial-in details by registering with this link.
To register and attend the webcast, please click here:
https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=798552DF-257F-4554-B0C7-8D61CC1DB6B8
A full replay be available after the webcast at: https://investors.unifiedpostgroup.com/
| Apr 19, 2024 | Publication of the annual report for 2023 |
|---|---|
| May 20, 2024 | Publication of the Q1 2024 business update |
| May 21, 2024 | General Shareholder Meeting |
| Aug 27, 2024 | Publication of H1 2024 results |
| Nov 14, 2024 | Publication of the Q3 2024 business update |
Laurent Marcelis
+32 477 61 81 37
| Thousands of Euro, except per share data | For the period ended 31 December | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Digital processing revenues | 136.615 | 126.916 | |
| Digital processing cost of services | -77.572 | -73.770 | |
| Digital processing gross profit | 59.043 | 53.146 | |
| Postage & Parcel optimisation revenues | 54.770 | 64.047 | |
| Postage & Parcel optimisation cost of services | -47.851 | -57.040 | |
| Postage & Parcel optimisation gross profit | 6.919 | 7.007 | |
| Research and development expenses | -23.662 | -14.133 | |
| General and administrative expenses | -41.895 | -45.788 | |
| Selling and marketing expenses | -26.705 | -29.190 | |
| Other income / expenses (-) | -607 | -942 | |
| Impairment gains / losses (-) | -39.000 | - | |
| Profit / loss (-) from operations | -65.907 | -29.900 | |
| Financial income | 175 | 308 | |
| Financial expenses | -15.910 | -9.367 | |
| Change in fair value of financial liabilities | - | -4.295 | |
| Share of profit / loss (-) of associates | -573 | -1.875 | |
| Profit / loss (-) before tax | -82.215 | -45.129 | |
| Current income tax | -2.318 | -1.178 | |
| Deferred tax | 1.387 | 2.763 | |
| PROFIT / LOSS (-) FOR THE YEAR | -83.146 | -43.544 | |
| Other comprehensive income / loss (-): | -15 | -3.286 | |
| Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss (-), net of tax: | |||
| Remeasurements of defined benefit pension obligations | 123 | 50 | |
| Items that will or may be reclassified to profit or loss (-), net of tax: | |||
| Exchange gains / losses (-) arising on translation of foreign operations | -138 | -3.336 | |
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME / LOSS (-) FOR THE YEAR | -83.161 | -46.830 | |
| Profit / loss (-) is attributable to: | |||
| Owners of the parent | -83.899 | -43.550 | |
| Non-controlling interests | 753 | 6 | |
| Total comprehensive income / loss (-) is attributable to: | |||
| Owners of the parent | -83.914 | -46.836 | |
| Non-controlling interests | 753 | 6 | |
| Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the parent: | |||
| Basic | -2,32 | -1,26 | |
| Diluted | -2,32 | -1,26 |
| 2023 2022 ASSETS Goodwill 113.069 153.429 Other intangible assets 82.856 85.516 Property and equipment 7.420 8.231 Right-of-use assets 9.734 10.214 Investments in associates 1.493 1.875 Non-current contract costs 475 872 Deferred tax assets 776 462 Other non-current assets 2.086 1.728 Non-current assets 217.909 262.327 Inventories 612 822 Trade and other receivables 23.420 29.629 () Contract assets 617 426 Contract costs 1.281 1.859 Current tax assets 770 705 Prepaid expenses 1.901 2.275 Cash and cash equivalents 26.323 40.033 Current assets from continuing operations 54.924 75.749 Assets classified as held for sale 5.145 - Current assets 60.069 75.749 TOTAL ASSETS 277.978 338.076 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Share capital 326.806 326.806 Costs related to equity issuance -16.029 -16.029 Share premium reserve 492 492 Accumulated deficit -232.257 -148.497 Reserve for share-based payments 1.831 1.813 Other reserve -1.581 -2.863 Cumulative translation adjustment reserve -3.851 -3.713 Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 75.411 158.009 Non-controlling interests 499 281 Total shareholders' equity 75.910 158.290 Non-current loans and borrowings 110.517 97.408 Liabilities associated with puttable non-controlling interests 200 840 Non-current lease liabilities 6.193 6.438 Non-current contract liabilities 4.430 4.039 Retirement benefit obligations - 83 Deferred tax liabilities 4.636 5.720 Non-current liabilities 125.976 114.528 Current loans and borrowings 5.059 4.706 () Current liabilities associated with puttable non-controlling 7.560 7.670 interests Current lease liabilities 3.547 3.800 Trade and other payables 43.930 34.853 Contract liabilities 13.487 12.701 Current income tax liabilities 1.845 1.528 Current liabilities from continuing operations 75.428 65.258 Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for 664 - sale Current liabilities 76.092 65.258 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 277.978 338.076 |
Thousands of Euro | As at 31 December | As at 31 December |
|---|---|---|---|
(*) The comparative figures 2022 have been restated following IAS 8 regarding the factoring debt. The factoring agreement with Belfius/BNP is a non-recourse agreement, hence the debt may be matched with the outstanding trade receivables.
| Thousands of Euro | Share capital | Costs related to equity issuance |
Share premium reserve |
Accumulated deficit |
Share based payments |
Other reserves | Cumulative translation adjustment reserve |
Non controlling interests |
Total equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance as at 1 | 309.220 | -15.926 | 492 | -101.332 | 1.545 | 2.529 | -376 | 277 | 196.429 |
| January 2022 | |||||||||
| Result for the | |||||||||
| period | - | - | - | -43.550 | - | - | - | 6 | -43.544 |
| Other | |||||||||
| comprehensive | |||||||||
| income / loss (-) | - | - | - | 50 | - | - | -3.336 | - | -3.286 |
| Total | |||||||||
| comprehensive | |||||||||
| income / loss (-) | |||||||||
| for the period | - | - | - | -43.500 | - | - | -3.336 | 6 | -46.830 |
| Issuance of new | |||||||||
| shares | 17.586 | -103 | - | - | - | -3.801 | - | - | 13.682 |
| Share-based | |||||||||
| payments | - | - | - | - | 74 | - | - | - | 74 |
| Own shares | - | - | - | - | 194 | - | - | - | 194 |
| Current year | |||||||||
| profit AND OCI of | |||||||||
| NCI with put | |||||||||
| option | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | -3 | - |
| Changes in | |||||||||
| carrying value of | |||||||||
| liabilities | |||||||||
| associated with | |||||||||
| puttable NCI | - | - | - | - | - | -5.230 | - | - | -5.230 |
| True up of | |||||||||
| liabilities | |||||||||
| associated with | |||||||||
| puttable NCI and | |||||||||
| unwind of other | |||||||||
| reserve due to | |||||||||
| exercise of linked | |||||||||
| call option (JV UP | |||||||||
| Balkan) | - | - | - | -3.637 | - | 3.637 | - | - | - |
| Other | - | - | - | -28 | - | -1 | -1 | 1 | -29 |
| Balance as at 31 | 326.806 | -16.029 | 492 | -148.497 | 1.813 | -2.863 | -3.713 | 281 | 158.290 |
| December 2022 |
| Thousands of Euro |
Share capital | Costs related to equity issuance |
Share premium reserve |
Accumulated deficit |
Share based payments |
Other reserves | Cumulative translation adjustment reserve |
Non controlling interests |
Total equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance as at 1 January 2023 |
326.806 | -16.029 | 492 | -148.497 | 1.813 | -2.863 | -3.713 | 281 | 158.290 |
| Result for the | |||||||||
| period | - | - | - | -83.899 | - | - | - | 753 | -83.146 |
| Other | |||||||||
| comprehensive | |||||||||
| income / loss (-) | - | - | - | 123 | - | - | -138 | - | -15 |
| Total | |||||||||
| comprehensive | |||||||||
| income / loss (-) | |||||||||
| for the period | - | - | - | -83.776 | - | - | -138 | 753 | -83.161 |
| Share-based | |||||||||
| payments | - | - | - | - | 18 | - | - | - | 18 |
| Current year | |||||||||
| profit AND OCI of | |||||||||
| NCI with put | |||||||||
| option | - | - | - | - | - | 535 | - | -535 | - |
| Changes in | |||||||||
| carrying value of | |||||||||
| liabilities | |||||||||
| associated with | |||||||||
| puttable NCI | - | - | - | - | - | 750 | - | - | 750 |
| Other | - | - | - | 16 | - | -3 | - | - | 13 |
| Balance as at 31 | |||||||||
| December 2023 | 326.806 | -16.029 | 492 | -232.257 | 1.831 | -1.581 | -3.851 | 499 | 75.910 |

| Thousands of Euro | For the year ended 31 December | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Profit / loss (-) for the year | -83.146 | -43.544 |
| Adjustments for: | ||
| § Amortisation and impairment of intangible fixed assets |
59.907 | 17.891 |
| § Depreciation and impairment of property, plant & equipment |
1.489 | 1.452 |
| § Depreciation of right-of-use assets |
4.429 | 4.168 |
| § Impairment of trade receivables |
335 | 35 |
| § Gain on disposal of fixed assets |
-33 | -18 |
| § Financial income |
-174 | -308 |
| § Financial expenses |
15.910 | 9.367 |
| § Change fair value contingent consideration |
- | 4.830 |
| § Change fair value of derivative |
- | -535 |
| § Share of profit / loss (-) of associate |
573 | 1.875 |
| § Income tax expense / income (-) |
931 | -1.585 |
| § Share-based payment expense / own shares |
18 | 269 |
| Subtotal | 239 | -6.103 |
| Changes in Working Capital | ||
| § Increase (-) / decrease in trade receivables and contract assets & costs |
6.145 | 4.410 (*) |
| § Increase (-) / decrease in other current and non-current receivables |
-61 | -616 |
| § Increase (-) / decrease in inventories |
209 | -261 |
| § Increase / decrease (-) in trade and other liabilities |
11.753 | -7.416 |
| Cash generated from / used in (-) operations | 18.285 | -9.986 |
| Income taxes paid | -3.222 | -1.563 |
| Net cash provided by / used in (-) operating activities | 15.063 | -11.550 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Payments made for purchase of associate | - | -3.750 |
| Exercise of the JV UP Balkan put option | - | -5.000 |
| Payments made for purchase of intangibles and development expenses | -16.439 | -22.242 |
| Proceeds from the disposals of intangibles and development expenses | 81 | 316 |
| Payments made for purchase of property, plant & equipment | -974 | -1.778 |
| Proceeds from the disposals of property, plant & equipment | 17 | 119 |
| Interest received | 175 | 136 |
| Net cash provided by / used in (-) investing activities | -17.140 | -32.199 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Issue of ordinary shares | - | 12.756 |
| Costs related to equity issuance | - | -103 |
| Proceeds from loans and borrowings | 3.913 | 83.981 (*) |
| Repayments of loans and borrowings | -6.367 | -22.538 (*) |
| Repayment of lease liabilities | -4.524 | -4.326 |
| Interest paid on loans, borrowings and leasings | -4.581 | -2.958 |
| Net cash provided by / used in (-) financing activities | -11.559 | 66.812 |
| FX impact cash | - | - |
| Net increase / decrease (-) in cash & cash equivalents | -13.636 | 23.063 |
| Cash classified within current assets held for sale | -74 | - |
| Net increase / decrease (-) in cash & cash equivalents, including cash classified | -13.710 | 23.063 |
| within current assets held for sale | ||
| (*) The comparative figures 2022 have been restated following IAS 8 regarding | ||
| the factoring debt. | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 40.033 | 16.970 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 26.323 40.033
In the past quarter Q4 2023, significant regulatory developments have unfolded across key European markets, including:
These regulatory updates underscore the dynamic nature of the European market and highlight the importance of staying informed about changes to ensure compliance and strategic alignment. Unifiedpost remains committed to leveraging these developments to drive growth and innovation, while simultaneously prioritising short-term objectives such as further improving its cash flow and optimising business operations.

Unifiedpost is a leading cloud-based platform for SME business services built on "Documents", "Identity" and "Payments". Unifiedpost operates and develops a 100% cloud-based platform for administrative and financial services that allows real-time and seamless connections between Unifiedpost's customers, their suppliers, their customers, and other parties along the financial value chain. With its one-stop-shop solutions, Unifiedpost's mission is to make administrative and financial processes simple and smart for its customers. Since its founding in 2001, Unifiedpost has grown significantly, expanding to offices in 33countries, with more than 500 million documents processed in 2021, reaching over 2.100.000 SMEs and more than 2.500 Corporates across its platform today. Noteworthy facts and figures:
Warning about future statements: The statements contained herein may contain forecasts, future expectations, opinions and other future-oriented statements concerning the expected further performance of Unifiedpost Group on the markets in which it is active. Such future-oriented statements are based on the current insights and assumptions of management concerning future events. They naturally include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which seem justified at the time that the statements are made but may possibly turn out to be inaccurate. The actual results, performance or events may differ essentially from the results, performance or events which are expressed or implied in such future-oriented statements. Except where required by the applicable legislation, Unifiedpost Group shall assume no obligation to update, elucidate or improve future-oriented statements in this press release in the light of new information, future events or other elements and shall not be held liable on that account. The reader is warned not to rely unduly on future-oriented statements.
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