Unifiedpost takes the lead in building a compliant network for
businesses
PRESS RELEASE - REGULATED INFORMATION
Steady progress towards cash flow positivity strengthens
commitment to financial sustainability
La Hulpe, Belgium
– May 22, 2023, 7:00 a.m. CET -
Unifiedpost Group (Euronext: UPG) (Unifiedpost, the Group, or the
Company) is pleased to report strong Q1 2023 performance, driven by
a double-digit increase in digital processing revenue. Positive
results were observed in Belgium, France, Serbia, and the Nordic
countries. The customer base surpassed 1,1 million, with 473.679
paying businesses and 660.027 customers paid by third parties. The
Banqup product experienced continued growth, with a surge in new
subscriptions. Unifiedpost Group reaffirms its target to achieve
cash flow positivity over H2 2023, following the planned trajectory
with diligent monitoring.
Highlights
- Unifiedpost Group's recurring digital processing revenue
reached €32,0 million, showing a growth of 14,7% y-o-y.
- The company effectively executes its program to reach the
target of being cash flow positive over H2 2023.
- The Group witnessed a significant rise in its customer base
surpassing 1,1 million customers.
- The Banqup platform experienced substantial customer growth,
with a total of 143.902 customers by the end of Q1 2023, showcasing
the platform's popularity and robust organic growth.
- Unifiedpost Group's Banqup customers in Belgium (Billtobox)
reached 45.359, while Banqup customers in France (JeFacture) rose
to 11.973, underscoring the company's success in expanding its
customer base.
Commenting on the business update, Hans
Leybaert, CEO and founder stated: "We are pleased to see continued
growth of our network, with increased adoption in Belgium and
France. As we expand throughout Europe, we are ideally placed to
build a compliant network for businesses of all sizes and types.
The VAT in the digital age (VIDA) initiative is driving more and
more markets towards compliance, and Unifiedpost is leading the way
in providing solutions for businesses to operate fully digitally,
be compliant, and handle reporting requirements seamlessly. Our
mission is to help all businesses in Europe achieve this goal so
they can focus on their core business while we take care of the
rest."
Key financial figures
(EUR million) |
Q1 2023 |
Q1 2022 |
Change (%) |
Digital processing
revenue |
33,4 |
29,6 |
+12,8% |
Recurring digital processing revenue |
32,0 |
27,9 |
+14,7% |
Non-recurring digital revenue |
1,4 |
1,7 |
-17,6% |
Postage &
parcel optimisation revenue |
14,8 |
16,5 |
-10,3% |
Group revenue |
48,2 |
46,1 |
+4,1% |
Key business KPI’s
(#) |
End Q1 2023 |
End Q4 2022 |
End Q3 2022 |
End Q2 2022 |
Customers |
1.133.706 |
1.063.776 |
986.971 |
910.845 |
Paying
customers |
473.679 |
468.128 |
453.417 |
430.524 |
Customers paid
by 3rd parties |
660.027 |
595.648 |
533.554 |
480.321 |
Companies in business network |
2.186.270 |
2.109.297 |
2.023.460 |
1.745.401 |
Banqup
customers |
143.902 |
124.333 |
80.420 |
68.546 |
Organic growth (new
subscriptions) |
19.569 |
18.255 |
3.928 |
5.529 |
Migrated |
0 |
70.582 |
7.847 |
7.116 |
Banqup customers
Belgium (Billtobox) |
45.359 |
40.363 |
37.459 |
35.382 |
Banqup customers
France (JeFacture) |
11.973 |
5.428 |
4.087 |
3.591 |
Robust revenue growth and strategic
focus drive success
Unifiedpost Group demonstrated robust growth in
the first quarter of 2023, with revenue reaching €48,2 million,
fuelled by a 14,7% y-o-y increase in recurring digital processing
revenue. The Company is pleased to report a strong performance in
digital revenue across Belgium, Serbia, and the Nordic countries,
despite the negative impact of the SEK-EUR exchange rate on revenue
in Sweden. These regions have consistently delivered positive
results. In terms of geographical distribution, the top five
countries for digital processing revenue remain consistent. Belgium
leads the way with 22%, followed by Sweden with 19%, The
Netherlands with 13%, Serbia with 8%, and Lithuania with 7%.
Importantly, there were no substantial deviations from the budget
for the countries where we are active, indicating stable and
aligned performance across operations.
The revenue from postage & parcel
optimisation, linked to the acquired business in the Scandinavian
countries, showed a decline of 10,3% in revenue. This is largely
attributed to the impact of the SEK-EURO exchange rate change.
During the first three months of the year, the
project-based business is typically limited, a pattern observed in
the previous years and also in 2023. The absolute differences
compared to the previous year remained minimal.
Notably, 97% of the Group’s revenue was
recurring, highlighting the strong foundation of its business and
the stability provided by the Group’s loyal customer base.
Unifiedpost Group continues to navigate the business landscape with
resilience and adaptability, focusing on sustained growth and the
development of innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of
the customers.
Unifiedpost Group achieved an average revenue
per user (ARPU) of €23,5 in the first quarter, reflecting the
ongoing growth and diversification of the digital processing
business. The ARPU level is lower compared to the previous quarter
(€27,3) primarily due to the absence of license revenue in the
first quarter of this year, which was included in Q4 2022 with the
closure of a large deal with ECMA (the French accountants
federation). An increasing revenue contribution from Unifiedpost's
SME business has also influenced the overall ARPU. This segment of
the business typically exhibits a structurally lower ARPU, which
results from its focus on serving a broader customer base and
offering competitive pricing tailored to the needs of small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Customer growth and network expansion
fuelling Europe's digital transformation
Unifiedpost continues to witness remarkable
growth in its customer base, reaching new heights in the first
quarter of 2023. The number of customers surged to 1.133.706,
reflecting a significant increase compared to the end of the
previous year. Paying customers also showed a positive trajectory,
with 473.679 businesses choosing Unifiedpost's services,
highlighting the value and trust placed in the Unifiedpost
solutions. Moreover, the company experienced a notable expansion in
the number of customers paid by third parties, reaching 660.027,
further solidifying Unifiedpost's position as a preferred partner
for businesses across various industries.
Unifiedpost's commitment to building a robust
business network remains unwavering, as the total number of
companies in the network surpassed 2 million. This extensive
network represents a substantial portion of businesses in Europe,
estimated to encompass approximately 8% of the market.
Within the core SME product, Banqup, the growth
trajectory continues. The number of Banqup customers grew strongly
to 143.902, indicating a continued surge in adoption and showcasing
the platform's appeal among SMEs. Notably, organic growth in new
subscriptions contributed significantly to this achievement, with
19.569 new subscriptions added during the first quarter alone.
Unifiedpost's presence in key markets is
thriving, as evidenced by the increasing number of Banqup customers
in Belgium (Billtobox) and France (JeFacture). In Belgium, the
Banqup customer base reached an impressive 45.359, while in France,
the number rose to
11.973 at the end of the first quarter. These
figures demonstrate the growing recognition and adoption of
Unifiedpost's services, setting the stage for accelerated growth in
the coming periods, particularly in the French market where
e-invoicing will be mandatory as from 07/2024.
Unifiedpost remains dedicated to empowering
businesses throughout Europe to embrace digitalisation, compliance,
and streamlined reporting. With the comprehensive solutions, we
enable businesses to focus on their core operations while relying
on Unifiedpost for their essential financial and administrative
needs.
Catalysing growth: Unifiedpost empowers
businesses in the digital financial revolution
The market landscape is experiencing significant
growth and transformation driven by the implementation of VIDA (VAT
in the digital age) across various countries, revolutionising
digital invoicing and reporting practices. This regulatory shift is
prompting businesses to seek comprehensive solutions that encompass
not only payments but also validation services, including tax
compliance.
Unifiedpost has been diligently preparing its
platform and solutions to meet these evolving market needs and is
now well-positioned to capitalise on the emerging opportunities.
The Group’s extensive experience and expertise enable us to offer
robust and tailored solutions that seamlessly integrate invoicing,
payments, and tax validation services. By providing a holistic
approach to digital financial processes, we empower businesses to
streamline their operations, enhance efficiency, and ensure
compliance with tax regulations.
As the market continues to evolve, the demand
for comprehensive invoicing solutions coupled with tax compliance
is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
Unifiedpost's forward-thinking approach and innovative solutions
place the Company at the forefront of this market expansion. With
its proven track record and established presence in numerous
countries, Unifiedpost is strategically positioned to capture
market share and forge strong partnerships with businesses seeking
to optimise their financial processes.
Unifiedpost remains committed to driving growth,
delivering exceptional value to its customers, and continuously
innovating its solutions to stay ahead of market demands. By
leveraging its extensive network, advanced technologies, and deep
industry knowledge, Unifiedpost is poised to seize the exciting
opportunities arising from the expanding market landscape and
further strengthen its position as a leading provider of digital
financial solutions across multiple countries.
Unifiedpost Group advances towards cash
flow positivity
Unifiedpost Group remains committed to achieving
cash flow positivity as its primary objective, considering the
evolving economic landscape and business conditions. The company
has implemented strategies to increase business contribution
through sustained growth and diligent management of direct costs.
Additionally, efforts have been made to reduce indirect costs,
ensuring optimal efficiency throughout the organization.
The first-quarter results align with the planned
trajectory, providing reassurance of the company's progress. The
management team and board closely monitor the cash flow evolution
on a monthly basis, promptly addressing any deviations from the
plan. This proactive approach allows for swift interventions and
adjustments to maintain the goal of becoming cash flow
positive.
Based on the Q1 performance and the diligent
monitoring and control measures in place, Unifiedpost Group
confidently reconfirms its target to achieve cash flow positivity
over the second half of 2023. The company's unwavering focus on
financial sustainability and continuous improvement positions it
well to realise this objective.
<End>
Financial Calendar 2023
- 29 August 2023
Publication H1 2023 Financial
Results
- 16 November
2023
Publication Q3 2023 Business Update
Contact
Laurent Marcelis
+32 477 61 81 37
laurent.marcelis@unifiedpost.com
About Unifiedpost Group
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
32 countries, with more than 500 million documents processed in
2021, reaching over 1.600.000 SMEs and more than 2.500 Corporates
across its platform today.
Noteworthy facts and figures:
- Established in 2001, with a proven track record
- 2022 turnover €191 million
- 1400+ employees
- Diverse portfolio of clients across a wide variety of
industries (banking, leasing, utilities, media, telecommunications,
travel, social security service providers, public organisations,
etc.) ranging from large internationals to SMEs
- Unifiedpost Payments, a fully owned subsidiary, is recognised
as a payment institution by the National Bank of Belgium
- Certified Swift partner
- International M&A track record
- Listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels, symbol:
UPG
(*) 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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