CREALOGIX Group — SaaS switch depresses margins

CREALOGIX (SW: CLXN)

Last close As at 18/04/2024

124.50

0.00 (0.00%)

Market capitalisation

174m

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Research: TMT

CREALOGIX Group — SaaS switch depresses margins

FY18 revenues grew by 13.1% at constant currencies (guidance was 10–15%), to CHF87.1m (we forecast CHF88.1m). EBITDA eased by 4.2% to CHF7.0m (we forecast CHF11.8m), mainly driven by the switch to SaaS. We have updated our forecasts for the trading news along with the acquisition of 80% of Elaxy Business Solution & Services (Elaxy BS&S) that was announced early last month. We have cut our EPS forecasts by 50% in FY18, 46% in FY19 and by 31% in FY20, with the trading news outweighing the earnings enhancement from Elaxy BS&S. The stable, cash-generative nature of Elaxy BS&S balances the higher-risk, stronger growth profile of Innofis, which was acquired at the beginning of 2018.

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Written by

TMT

CREALOGIX Group

SaaS switch depresses margins

Trading update and acquisition

Software & comp services

28 August 2018

Price

CHF152

Market cap

CHF211m

CHF1.14/€

Net cash (CHFm) at 31 December 2017

16.3

Shares in issue

1.39m

Free float

42%

Code

CLXN

Primary exchange

Switzerland

Secondary exchange

N/A

Share price performance

%

1m

3m

12m

Abs

4.1

(9.6)

26.4

Rel (local)

(0.9)

(11.4)

26.9

52-week high/low

CHF100

CHF81.0

Business description

CREALOGIX Group provides digital banking technology solutions to banks, wealth managers and other financial services companies. The company’s suite of solutions includes online and mobile banking, digital payments, digital learning and security.

Next event

Final results

18 September 2018

Analysts

Richard Jeans

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Katherine Thompson

+44 (0)20 3077 5730

CREALOGIX Group is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

FY18 revenues grew by 13.1% at constant currencies (guidance was 10–15%), to CHF87.1m (we forecast CHF88.1m). EBITDA eased by 4.2% to CHF7.0m (we forecast CHF11.8m), mainly driven by the switch to SaaS. We have updated our forecasts for the trading news along with the acquisition of 80% of Elaxy Business Solution & Services (Elaxy BS&S) that was announced early last month. We have cut our EPS forecasts by 50% in FY18, 46% in FY19 and by 31% in FY20, with the trading news outweighing the earnings enhancement from Elaxy BS&S. The stable, cash-generative nature of Elaxy BS&S balances the higher-risk, stronger growth profile of Innofis, which was acquired at the beginning of 2018.

Year
end

Revenue (CHFm)

PBT*
(CHFm)

EPS*
(CHF)

DPS
(CHF)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

06/16

63.3

2.2

1.65

0.00

92.3

N/A

06/17

74.9

5.0

2.67

0.50

57.0

0.3

06/18e

87.1

5.1

2.88

1.00

52.8

0.7

06/19e

110.2

8.1

4.09

1.50

37.1

1.0

Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.

Trading update: Local currency growth was 13.1%

All new business in Germany has been on a recurring basis; had it been on a traditional licence basis, revenues would have been CHF3.8m higher. This was due to a greater than anticipated switch to the SaaS, which meant that the 8.1% EBITDA margin was below the >10% management guidance.

Acquisition of Elaxy Business Solution & Services

CREALOGIX has exercised a call option to acquire the remaining 80% of Elaxy BS&S at an undisclosed price. Elaxy BS&S offers solutions in the areas of digital brokerage, external asset management and hosting services. CREALOGIX purchased its original 20% as part of a long-term commercial agreement with Fiducia & GAD that was announced in October 2015.

Forecasts: EPS falls by 46% in FY19 and 31% in FY20

We have cut our revenue and profit forecasts for the trading update and also incorporated Elaxy BS&S. We have assumed a cost of CHF8.5m for the 80% stake of Elaxy BS&S, based on the original Elaxy transaction, which was incorporated into the balance sheet in January 2016. Consequently, our revenues rise by 8% in FY19 and 9% in FY20, while EPS falls by 46% in FY19 and 31% in FY20. We now forecast the group to end FY19 with net cash of CHF15.2m (previously CHF27.8m).

Valuation: 10% growth with 15% operating margins would imply significant upside

A DCF scenario incorporating 10% organic revenue CAGR over 2019–29e falling thereafter to 2%, operating margins tapering up to a level of 15% from FY22e, along with a 9% WACC, would suggest a valuation of CHF217, 43% above the current share price. Increasing the margin target to 20% lifts the valuation to CHF284, while reducing the margin to 10% cuts it to CHF150. These valuations are after the dilution impact from the outstanding convertible bonds.

Trading update: New customers sign up with SaaS

Revenues grew by 16.4%, or 13.1% at constant currencies, to CHF87.1m (we forecast CHF88.1m). This compared with management guidance of 10–15% growth. All new licence wins in Germany were in SaaS form; had these been traditional licences, revenues would have been CHF3.8m higher. SaaS rental revenue model means much lower upfront payments, but the model is more lucrative over the long term with break-even after four years. However, we had already been expecting strong SaaS growth, and we understand the level of new licence wins was below our expectations.

EBITDA eased by 4.2% to CHF7.0m (we forecast CHF11.8m). The 8.1% EBITDA margin was below the >10% management target. Management puts this down to a greater-than-anticipated switch to the SaaS rental model, which provides stronger visibility to future revenues.

The net profit was CHF0.9m (FY17: CHF1.4m). Internationalisation has continued as the share of sales generated outside of Switzerland increased to 57% (FY17: 50%).

Management has affirmed its medium-term growth and profitability targets with annual sales growth of more than 20% and an EBITDA margin of more than 15%.

Further awards highlight the value of CREALOGIX’s technology

CREALOGIX’s technology continues to win awards. Recent awards include Best of Show at FinovateEurope 2018, which follows the same prize in 2017, and Best Web Front End Solution at the Systems in the City Awards 2018 in London.

Acquisition of Elaxy Business Solution & Services

CREALOGIX has exercised a call option to acquire the remaining 80% of Elaxy BS&S at an undisclosed price. Elaxy BS&S has hosting assets as well as software solutions for brokerage and asset management industries. The acquisition adds well-known names such as Sparkassen Broker and DAB BNP Paribas to the customer base. Elaxy BS&S operates its own data centre in Coburg, Germany, which is particularly helpful for German customers, who typically do not want their data to be outside Germany. In addition, it boosts the group’s know-how in areas including regulation and data security. Elaxy BS&S generates more than €10m in revenues, of which around half are recurring, and employs around 100 people. In the year to June 2017, CREALOGIX’s 20% stake contributed net profit of CHF407k, indicating that the entire business generated net income of CHF2,035k (or €1,884k). This was up from CHF269m in FY16 (CHF1,345k for a 100% interest).

The deal is earnings-enhancing since the acquired business is profitable and it is being financed by zero-yielding cash. However, as this is part of an existing deal announced in October 2015, it was largely discounted by the market, in our view.

CREALOGIX initially acquired a 20% stake in Elaxy BS&S in January 2016 as part of a broader co-operation agreement with the vendor, Fiducia & GAD, a provider of core banking solutions. As part of the deal, CREALOGIX also acquired 80% of Elaxy Financial Software & Solutions (Elaxy FS&S), and CREALOGIX retains a call option to acquire the remaining 20%. The transaction enabled CREALOGIX to accelerate its plan of penetrating the German market. Following the acquisition of the remaining 80% of Elaxy BS&S, the two Elaxy businesses are being rebranded as CREALOGIX.

CREALOGIX retains a healthy balance sheet position, with cash of CHF30.4m as at 31 December 2017, along with CHF14.1m of convertible bonds and CHF0.9m of other financial liabilities (which is matched with a long-term asset of the same size). That resulted in a net cash position of CHF16.3m at that date. However, the convertible bonds continue to trade well above their conversion price and have been actively converting, and consequently the outstanding financial liabilities have been declining. The group acquired Innofis early this year for an effective CHF11.1m.

Forecasts: Core business cut, Elaxy BS&S added

We have conservatively cut our hosting & SaaS forecasts, as our forecasts have been slightly aggressive. We have moved up our services revenue forecasts, noting these have been 1.9–2.3x licensing revenues over the past four years, and our current forecast implies 1.6x services revenue. Prior to incorporating Elaxy BS&S, this leaves revenues down 1% in FY18, down 2% in FY19 and flat in FY20.

We conservatively forecast that Elaxy BS&S will generate revenues of CHF10.0m in the year to June 2019, rising by 5% to CHF10.5m in FY20. We estimate that Elaxy BS&S has an EBITDA margin in the 10–15% range and hence we forecast an operating margin of 11.5% in FY19, rising to 12% in FY20. We have increased our group depreciated forecast, given the hardware assets of Elaxy BS&S.

We have assumed that the acquisition of the remaining 80% of Elaxy BS&S cost CHF8.5m, based on a valuation in line with the original deal, but assuming a lower level of cash on the balance sheet of the acquired business.

In all, we forecast group revenues to rise 16% in FY18 to CHF87.1m, 26% in FY19 to CHF110.2m and by 10% in FY20 to CHF121.0m. EBITDA comes back by 41% in FY18 to CHF7.0m (8.0% EBITDA margin), by 32% in FY19 to CHF11.1m (10.1% EBITDA margin) and by 21% in FY20 to CHF14.7m (12.1% EBITDA margin). The rising margin trend is driven by the scaling up of the business, including the SaaS revenues from a low base. We now forecast the group to end FY18 with net cash of CHF15.2m, which falls to CHF12.9m at end-FY19 (after the payment for Elaxy BS&S) and increases to CHF30.1m at end-FY20 as the outstanding convertible bonds convert.

Exhibit 1: Elaxy BS&S forecasts

CHF000s

2019

2020

Revenues

10,000

10,500

Gross profit

8,500

8,925

Gross margin (%)

85

85

Operating expenses

(7,350)

(7,665)

Operating profit

1,150

1,260

Operating margin (%)

11.5

12.0

Source: Edison Investment Research

We have removed the 20% of Elaxy BS&S from associates, and we assume the Qontis investment generates zero going forward. Hence, we forecast no income from associates. We have maintained our net interest forecasts, as the transaction is financed by existing cash resources. The resulting forecast changes for CREALOGIX are shown in the table below.

Exhibit 2: Forecast changes

Previous

New

Change

Previous

New

Change

Previous

New

Change

 

2018e

2018e

(%)

2019e

2019e

(%)

2020e

2020e

(%)

Revenues (CHF'000s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Licensing fees

17,920

17,920

0

21,382

20,382

(5)

23,146

22,910

(1)

Maintenance

25,200

25,200

0

26,670

26,670

0

28,560

28,350

(1)

Hosting and SaaS services

7,560

5,940

(21)

10,800

7,020

(35)

14,580

8,640

(41)

Services

28,200

28,807

2

27,737

30,283

9

27,998

33,861

21

Goods

3,465

3,465

0

3,119

3,119

0

2,807

2,807

0

Innofis

5,768

5,768

0

12,691

12,691

0

13,960

13,960

0

Elaxy BS&S

 

 

 

 

10,000

N/A

 

10,500

N/A

Total Group revenues

88,113

87,100

(1)

102,398

110,164

8

111,050

121,027

9

Growth (%)

17.7

16.4

 

16.2

26.5

 

8.4

9.9

 

Gross profit

72,101

67,273

(7)

85,601

86,619

1

94,294

95,708

1

Gross margin(%)

81.8

77.2

 

83.6

78.6

 

84.9

79.1

 

Opex before depn & amortisation

(60,273)

(60,273)

0

(69,157)

(75,507)

9

(75,624)

(81,011)

7

EBITDA

11,829

7,000

(41)

16,444

11,111

(32)

18,670

14,696

(21)

EBITDA margin (%)

13.4

8.0

 

16.1

10.1

 

16.8

12.1

 

Normal depreciation

(1,375)

(1,375)

0

(1,400)

(2,400)

71

(1,350)

(2,350)

74

Adjusted operating profit

10,454

5,625

(46)

15,044

8,711

(42)

17,320

12,346

(29)

Operating margin (%)

11.9

6.5

 

14.7

7.9

 

15.6

10.2

 

Growth (%)

76.7

(4.9)

 

43.9

54.9

 

15.1

41.7

 

Associates

250

250

0

263

0

(100)

276

0

(100)

Net interest

(750)

(750)

0

(650)

(650)

0

(100)

(100)

0

Profit before tax norm

9,954

5,125

(49)

14,657

8,061

(45)

17,495

12,246

(30)

Amortisation of acq’d intangibles

(1,799)

(3,100)

195

(1,799)

(5,300)

195

(1,799)

(5,300)

195

Exceptional items (net of tax)

(500)

(500)

 

0

0

 

0

0

 

Profit before tax

7,655

(1,525)

(109)

12,858

2,761

(79)

15,696

6,946

(56)

Taxation

(2,717)

(1,365)

(50)

(4,030)

(2,257)

(44)

(4,822)

(3,429)

(29)

Minority interest

(212)

(212)

0

(123)

(123)

0

(67)

(67)

0

Net income

4,726

(52)

(148)

8,704

381

(96)

10,808

3,451

(68)

Statutory EPS (CHF)

3.85

(0.04)

(147)

6.32

0.27

(96)

7.57

2.41

(68)

Adjusted EPS (CHF)

5.72

2.88

(50)

7.62

4.09

(46)

8.83

6.10

(31)

P/E - Adjusted EPS

 

52.8

 

37.1

 

24.9

Source: Edison Investment Research

Exhibit 3: Financial summary

CHF'000s

2015

2016

2017

2018e

2019e

2020e

Year end 30 June

Swiss GAAP

Swiss GAAP

Swiss GAAP

Swiss GAAP

Swiss GAAP

Swiss GAAP

PROFIT & LOSS

Revenue

 

49,307

63,317

74,858

87,100

110,164

121,027

Gross Profit

37,017

51,693

59,695

67,273

86,619

95,708

EBITDA

 

(10,555)

3,696

7,304

7,000

11,111

14,696

Adjusted Operating Profit

 

(11,815)

2,264

5,916

5,625

8,711

12,346

Amortisation of acquired intangibles

(1,616)

(2,634)

(1,799)

(3,100)

(5,300)

(5,300)

Exceptionals

0

0

0

(500)

0

0

Operating Profit

(13,431)

(370)

4,117

2,025

3,411

7,046

Associates

(837)

517

(21)

250

0

0

Net Interest

95

(630)

(936)

(750)

(650)

(100)

Profit Before Tax (norm)

 

(12,557)

2,151

4,959

5,125

8,061

12,246

Profit Before Tax (Statutory)

 

(14,173)

(483)

3,160

1,525

2,761

6,946

Tax

3,899

(130)

(1,751)

(1,365)

(2,257)

(3,429)

Profit After Tax (norm)

(8,658)

2,021

3,208

3,760

5,804

8,817

Profit After Tax (Statutory)

(10,274)

(613)

1,409

160

504

3,517

Minority interest

0

(270)

(360)

(212)

(123)

(67)

Net income (norm)

(8,658)

1,751

2,848

3,548

5,681

8,751

Net income (Statutory)

(10,274)

(883)

1,049

(52)

381

3,451

Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m)

1.06

1.06

1.07

1.23

1.39

1.43

EPS - normalised (CHF)

 

(8.13)

1.65

2.67

2.88

4.09

6.10

EPS - Statutory (CHF)

 

(9.65)

(0.83)

0.98

(0.04)

0.27

2.41

Dividend per share (CHF)

2.00

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

Gross Margin (%)

75.1

81.6

79.7

77.2

78.6

79.1

EBITDA Margin (%)

(21.4)

5.8

9.8

8.0

10.1

12.1

Op Margin (before GW and except.) (%)

(24.0)

3.6

7.9

6.5

7.9

10.2

BALANCE SHEET

Fixed Assets

 

20,371

28,910

26,430

60,087

63,091

57,740

Intangible assets and deferred tax

14,115

21,004

18,119

52,019

55,219

49,919

Tangible Assets

1,869

1,595

1,385

1,142

946

895

Investments & pensions

4,387

6,311

6,926

6,926

6,926

6,926

Current Assets

 

28,217

48,275

52,495

46,264

49,724

60,384

Stocks

3,447

3,661

3,419

3,978

5,032

5,528

Debtors

11,633

17,119

15,301

17,803

22,517

24,738

Cash

10,815

27,495

33,775

24,482

22,175

30,118

Current Liabilities

 

(19,183)

(24,752)

(24,219)

(27,787)

(43,538)

(37,623)

Creditors

(19,183)

(24,752)

(24,219)

(27,787)

(34,238)

(37,623)

Short term borrowings

0

0

0

0

(9,300)

0

Long Term Liabilities

 

(2,723)

(27,331)

(25,191)

(10,357)

(1,057)

(1,057)

Long term borrowings

0

(24,141)

(23,154)

(9,300)

0

0

Other long term liabilities

(2,723)

(3,190)

(2,037)

(1,057)

(1,057)

(1,057)

Net Assets

 

26,682

25,102

29,515

68,207

68,219

79,444

CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow

 

(4,503)

1,281

9,735

7,435

11,662

15,301

Net Interest

91

5

(616)

(750)

(650)

(100)

Tax

(269)

(144)

(1,273)

(1,178)

(1,384)

(2,177)

Capex

(1,018)

(486)

(862)

(1,132)

(2,203)

(2,300)

Acquisitions/disposals

(4,158)

(9,350)

(346)

(38,788)

(8,500)

(700)

Financing

925

1,504

(215)

27,387

0

0

Dividends

(2,126)

0

0

(954)

(1,232)

(2,082)

Net Cash Flow

(11,058)

(7,190)

6,423

(7,980)

(2,307)

7,943

Opening net debt/(cash)

 

(21,724)

(10,815)

(3,354)

(10,621)

(15,182)

(12,875)

Other

149

(271)

844

12,541

0

9,300

Closing net debt/(cash)

 

(10,815)

(3,354)

(10,621)

(15,182)

(12,875)

(30,118)

Source: CREALOGIX Group (historics), Edison Investment Research (forecasts). Note: The FY19 and FY20 acquisition outflows represents the final payments for Elaxy BS&S and MBA respectively with a final payment for Elaxy FS&S expected in FY21. We have treated the convertible bond conversions in FY18 and FY20 in the Other category.

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London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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Lookers — Looking to the future

Along with its peers, in H118 Lookers continued to be challenged by market conditions, which returned to a more normal sequential development but meant that Q1 profitability was lower than in the prior year. With new and used car markets now appearing to have stabilised, management appears confident that the impact of the new vehicle testing regime is likely to be neutral across H218. With a continued focus on operating cost control, H2 profitability should recover strongly to provide a more normal H1:H2 seasonal split than was seen in 2017. As a result, we maintain our PBT and EPS forecasts.

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