Interim / Quarterly Report • May 10, 2022
Interim / Quarterly Report
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First quarter 2022
Guillaume Van Gaver, CEO Thomas Berge, CFO
2
Gross profit increased 30% to NOK 322 million
Revenue grew 24% to NOK 1,174 million
● 15% organic revenue growth in fixed currency supported by a larger contribution from Global Messaging
Adjusted EBITDA at NOK 142 million up 30% YoY
Business with global IT hyperscaler following the Tismi acquisition significantly expanded ● Large revenue potential in providing CPaaS messaging to worldwide IT player
● Securing significant new revenue and future growth potential
| A2P messaging progressively expanding to conversational CPaaS | communication | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Advanced CPaaS companies offer both chatbot and conversational flows for quick implementation of conversational solutions
| $120 -$ |
|---|
| $100 \cdot$ |
| 80 1 |
| 60 |
| 40 1 |
| 20 1 |
| $\mathbf{0}$ |
Omnichannel platform capable to automate conversations between companies / people across a wide range of different text / voice channels
LINK positioned as CPaaS enabler for large enterprises and CPaaS peers
Hyperscaler closer to mobile operators through LINK's direct connections
Large and growing customer base provides significant revenue upside ● S-curve adoption of CPaaS omnichannel solutions
Pro forma enterprise NRR of 108% in fixed currency ● Deviation to group due to higher Global Messaging wholesale volumes
Confidence in 14 -17% revenue growth for full year of 2022
● Growth rates may vary between quarters as 2021 was impacted by lockdowns, resulting in high and low comparables
Net retention rate expected to remain above 110% for the Enterprise segment for the full year 2022
Gross profits expected to trend upwards in H2 22 with a normal season for high margin critical events messaging in the US
Additional growth through M&A with strict transaction requirements
Significant deleveraging effect from organic growth expected by end of 2022 bringing leverage closer to financial policy target of <3.5x
Pro forma revenue NOK 10 billion ● 20% long-term organic growth in mature market ● S-curve adoption of omnichannel CPaaS solutions ● Pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin 15-17%
Reported revenue grew 24% to NOK 1,174 million ● Reported revenue growth includes effect from acquired entities
Reported organic revenue growth of 15% in fixed currency ● Organic revenue growth exclude the effect from consolidated acquired entities ● FX headwind of -3% year-over-year due to appreciation of NOK
Reported volume growth for Q1 22 at 26% including effect from acquired entities ● Volume growth higher than revenue growth reflecting a higher portion derived from the lower price/margin Global Messaging segment
Total pro forma revenue growth of 16% excl the U.S. in fixed currency ● Higher Global Messaging volume positively impacting total pro forma revenue growth ● The U.S. impacted total pro forma revenue growth rate by a negative 2%
Enterprise pro forma revenue growth of 12% excluding the U.S. in fixed currency ● Nordic at 15% revenue growth, negatively impacted by an unusual churn of a sizeable, but low margin simple use case client in the first quarter
● Central Europe at 7% revenue growth, less than seen in previous quarters
● Lower growth in Poland as the Ukrainian war has reduced economic activity
● Covid volumes in Austria flattening out compared to same period last year
● Western Europe revenue growth bounces back at 14% with a strong performance in Italy
● French retail market starting to normalize, however still behind pre Covid volumes
The U.S. impacted Enterprise pro forma revenue growth by a negative 2% ● High comparables same quarter last year as illustrated on next slide
● Stable revenue from messaging solutions - transactions, licenses, professional services ● Volatile revenue from weather related critical events messaging, historically driven by droughts in Western U.S. and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico
● Solutions revenue softer in Q1 22 due to delays in professional services projects ● Traction on new projects expected to support revenue growth throughout the year
Critical events messaging revenue declined 67% LTM Q1 22 ● Abnormal weather patterns in H2 21 resulted in unusually low revenue ● Reversion to normal weather patterns to drive strong revenue growth in H2 22
● Supporting revenue growth in both messaging solutions and critical events messaging from a larger and more geographically diverse customer base
Gross profit grew 30% to NOK 322 million
● Organic gross profit growth in fixed currency of 9% driven by the Enterprise segment ● Contribution from consolidated acquired entities amount to NOK 59 million
Gross profit margin
● -0.4 percentage points as pass through COGS increases in Nordics diluted margins ● -0.3 percentage points as region and country mix effect reduces margins
Global Messaging growth diluted organic gross margin by 0.6 percentage points ● Higher wholesale revenue with lower profitability dilutes margins compared to Q1 21 ● Global messaging margins higher than previous three quarters, and comparable to
Gross profit margin expanded YoY from 26.1% to 27.4% in the quarter ● Margin positively impacted by consolidation of Message Broadcast
Adjusted EBITDA margin improved YoY from 11.5% to 12.1% in the quarter ● Seasonally low contribution from high margin U.S. business diluted total adjusted EBITDA margin compared to the last two quarters
Adjusted EBITDA of NOK 142 million in Q1 22, a growth of 30% YoY ● Organic adjusted EBITDA growth of 8% in fixed currency ● Negative FX effect of NOK 3 million YoY due to appreciation of the NOK ● Contribution from consolidated acquired entities NOK 28 million
Revenue of NOK 1.174 million, an increased of 24% YoY Gross profit of NOK 322 million, an increased of 30% YoY Adjusted EBITDA of NOK 142 million, an increase of 30% YoY
Non-recurring costs of NOK 28 million ● Share option cost NOK 14 million ● M&A related costs NOK 6 million ● Restructuring costs NOK 7 million
Depreciation and amortization of NOK 100 million ● Depreciation of intangible assets of NOK 18 million from internal R&D ● Depreciation of acquired excess values of NOK 75 million deriving from PPA's ● Remaining related to depreciation of leasing arrangements and fixed assets
Net financial items negative NOK 6 million ● Net currency exchange gain of NOK 26 million with no cash effect ● Net interest expenses of NOK 35 million related to outstanding EUR bond ● Net other financial expenses positive NOK 2 million
| NOK in millions | Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 | Year 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total operating revenues | 1174 | 946 | 4410 |
| Direct cost of services rendered | $-852$ | $-699$ | $-3210$ |
| Gross profit | 322 | 247 | 1200 |
| Operating expenses | $-179$ | $-138$ | $-644$ |
| Adjusted EBITDA | 142 | 109 | 557 |
| Non-recurring costs | $-28$ | $-56$ | $-252$ |
| EBITDA | 115 | 53 | 305 |
| Depreciation and amortization | $-100$ | $-68$ | $-338$ |
| Operating profit (loss) | 15 | $-14$ | $-33$ |
| Net financials | $-6$ | $-52$ | $-14$ |
| Profit (loss) before income tax | $\boldsymbol{9}$ | $-66$ | $-48$ |
| Income tax | $-8$ | 17 | $-30$ |
| Profit (loss) for the period | 1 | $-50$ | $-78$ |
| NOK in millions | Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 | Year 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-current assets | 8 5 8 9 | 5966 | 8792 |
| Trade and other receivables | 865 | 674 | 905 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 802 | 807 | 844 |
| Total assets | 10 256 | 7 4 4 7 | 10 540 |
| Equity | 5 0 2 1 | 4 2 4 5 | 5 0 9 0 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 543 | 306 | 557 |
| Long-term borrowings | 3597 | 2 0 5 2 | 3696 |
| Other long-term liabilities | 62 | 31 | 64 |
| Total non-current liabilities | 4 203 | 2 3 8 9 | 4 3 1 7 |
| Trade and other payables | 936 | 751 | 1 0 6 3 |
| Other short-term liabilities | 96 | 62 | 71 |
| Total current liabilities | 1 0 3 2 | 813 | 1 1 3 4 |
| Total Liabilities | 5 2 3 5 | 3 2 0 2 | 5 4 5 1 |
| Total liabilities and equity | 10 256 | 7 4 4 7 | 10 540 |
Non current assets increased due to acquisitions ● Purchase Price Allocations (PPA) of acquisitions closed in the period
Equity NOK 5,021 million and equity percentage 49%
Receivables and payables increased ● Reflecting acquired entities and organic growth ● Negative working capital as Payables > Receivables
Net interest bearing debt reported of NOK 2,916 million
| Reported free cash flow | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adjusted LTM cash flow from operations NOK 486 million ● Reported cash flow from operations include M&A related expenses ● Free cash flow generated after capex and interest of NOK 207 million
a Cash generation high with LTM cash conversions at ● 82% at adjusted cash flow from operations over adjusted EBITDA ● 35% at free cash flow after interest and capex over adjusted EBITDA
Working capital (WC) varies significantly between quarters ● Stable change WC on LTM basis despite significant revenue growth ● WC is net negative, clients and vendor are funding the organic growth
Full year effect from acquisitions to increase cash generation in 2022
Reported LTM Q1 22 leverage at 4.7x
● Significant deleveraging expected from organic growth and high cash conversion ● Bringing leverage closer to the financial policy target of <3.5x by end of 2022
LINK's EUR 370 million fixed coupon bond matures in December 2025 ● Fixed interest rate at 3.375% secured for more than 3.5 years
Revenue (NOKm)
Revenue (NOKm)
Revenue (NOKm)
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