The Group performed well across all geographies including North America, with all business lines demonstrating excellent sales execution. Transformation momentum is building, with product innovation, cultural evolution, and subscription progress driving the business towards sustainable, profitable growth.
On a divisional basis, strong sales execution in the reported quarter saw Digital Business Platform (DBP, excl. Cloud & IoT) grow bookings 31 percent year-on-year, while DBP (Cloud & IoT) achieved bookings growth of 39 percent driven by strong cloud demand. Adabas & Natural (A&N) saw additional momentum from 2 large deals brought forward from H2 and resulting in quarterly bookings growth of 31 percent. As expected, stated product revenue showed slight declines reflecting the planned shift towards subscription and Software as a Service (SaaS), where a larger part of revenue is recurring and recognized over time rather than up front. This shift to subscription and SaaS contracts was accelerating in the quarter when their share of Software AG’s bookings reached 88 percent in the digital segment (DBP incl. Cloud & IoT). A balance of prudent cost control and targeted investment in areas of organic growth enabled the Group to hold its operating profit (EBITA non-IFRS) at €41.4 million, ahead of analyst consensus (€39.8 million).
“During Q2 we delivered strong performance despite the challenges of COVID-19. Our core digital business is growing strongly, subscription sales are advancing, we have a solid pipeline, a robust platform and high-quality people who have delivered strongly this quarter. While we cannot predict the trajectory of COVID-19 over the coming months, I believe we are in a strong position to navigate the current uncertainty, and continue supporting our clients in their digital transformation journeys which have taken on new relevance in recent months,” said Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of Software AG.
“I am delighted to have joined Software AG at such an important moment in the company’s development. Despite the macroeconomic downturn related to COVID-19, the team delivered strong Q2 performance with 32 percent bookings growth and stable product revenue. Given the environment, these figures are remarkably robust. Looking ahead, my goal is to ensure we stay resilient and focused in the pursuit of our bold ambitions for future growth. I look forward to the rest of the year and to building on the great work that has already been done by the team I am proud to join”, said Dr. Matthias Heiden, CFO of Software AG.
Second quarter 2020 total revenue and earnings performance broadly in line with consensus
Software AG reported €204.6 million (Q2 2019: €210 million) in total revenue for the second quarter of 2020, 0.9 percent above the company compiled analyst consensus at €202.8 million. The consensus is published on the Company’s website. Software AG's total Q2 product revenue (licenses + maintenance + SaaS) was €158.9 million (consensus: €158.1 million; Q2 2019: €163.1 million), reflecting foreign currency headwinds and a 1 percent decline in volume compared to Q2 2019.
The Company's EBIT of €31.9 million (consensus €31.0 million) was, as expected, below the previous year level, (Q2 2019: €47.7 million) as planned investments build momentum behind the Helix business transformation. Operating EBITA (non-IFRS) was at €41.4 million (consensus €39.8 million; Q2 2019: €56.1 million), showing an operating EBITA (non-IFRS) margin of 20.2 percent (Q2 2019: 26.7 percent).
Second quarter 2020 business line performance
DBP (excl. Cloud & IoT) showed significant momentum in the quarter with 31 percent growth in bookings while the share from subscription mounted to 82 percent. As expected, and in line with analyst consensus, this strong shift to subscription led to lower stated revenue in the quarter (€96.3 million compared to €97.5 million last year) and to higher future revenue indicated by 12 percent increase of Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), to €306.1 million.
DBP Cloud & IoT delivered strong bookings growth of 39 percent and reported revenues of €10.4 million (Q2 2019: €12.8 million). This is once again proof of the ongoing business transformation leading to accelerated future recurring revenue. The reported quarter showed SaaS revenue increasing 36 percent to €7.3 million (Q2 2019: €5.4 million) and maintenance revenue up by 10 percent to €2.0 million (Q2 2019: €1.8 million). Unlike the second quarter of 2019, there was no large up-front license revenue this quarter and license fell to €1.1 million (Q2 2019: €5.7million).
A&N continued its recent trend of strong performance supported by the unexpected early closing of 2 large deals, generating bookings growth of 31 percent whereas revenue recognized in the quarter equaled previous year level with €52.4 million (Q2 2019: €53.0 million; consensus: €48.0 million).
First half 2020 revenue and earnings performance
Software AG reported first half 2020 bookings growth of 30 percent and stable group revenue at €411.7 million (H1 2019: €411.4 million) and product revenue (licenses + maintenance + SaaS) at €319.9 million (H1 2019: €317.7million).
A&N business line performed very strongly, with bookings growth of 39 percent and revenue growth of 3 percent to €110 million. The two early deal closures led to more than half of A&N’s expected sales for the year being delivered in H1, which is reflected in a smaller H2 pipeline.
The DBP (excluding Cloud & IoT) recorded bookings growth of 18 percent, and the expected slower revenue recognition amounting to product revenue of €184.3 million (H1 2019: €187.9 million). The contribution from subscription bookings rose to 70 percent in H1 2020 from 36 percent in H1 2019, reflecting strong progress towards the targeted growth of recurring revenue.
Software AG's DBP Cloud & IoT business showed bookings growth of 50 percent and 15 percent revenue growth during H1 2020, delivering €25.8 million product revenue compared to €22.3 million in H1 2019.
In total, the combined digital business (DBP, including Cloud & IoT) showed a record H1 in bookings €139.7 million, up 27 percent from a year ago. The growing share of SaaS and subscription contracts translated into flat revenue of €210.2 million (H1 2019: €210.3 million) and increased the ARR by 14 percent to €355.2 million (H1 2019: €315.3 million).
The company's EBIT was €60.7 million (H1 2019: €89.9 million) in the half under review. At €81.1 million (H1 2019: €107.7 million), operating EBITA (non-IFRS) performed as expected in the half. Subsequently, the operating profit margin (non-IFRS) was 19.7 percent (H1 2019: 26.2 percent). Net income (non IFRS) accrued to €56.1 million (H1 2019: €75.6 million) or €0.76 per share (H1 2019: €1.02).
Balance sheet and cash flow show financial resilience
The balance sheet shows cash and cash equivalents €507.9 million as of June 30, 2020 compared to €513.6 million at the end of 2019. In the same period financial liabilities were reduced by €73.6 million to €223.0 million (December 31, 2019: €296.6 million). Shareholders’ equity increased to a share of 67.1 percent (December 31, 2019: 64.2 percent) of the balance sheet total which stands at €2.1 billion.
Operating cash flow for the first half was at €87.7 million, down 3 percent year-on-year. Free cash flow was at €71.4 million, down 7 percent year-on-year, mainly due to one-time higher CapEx in Q1 2020. Cash flow per share amounted to €0.96 (H1 2019: €1.04), and the company paid a dividend of €0.76 following its Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on June 26, 2020.
Employees
As of June 30, 2020, Software AG had 4,642 (June 30, 2019: 4,740) employees worldwide (full-time equivalents). The decline was caused by the sale of the Spanish Professional Services unit which reduced the workforce by approx. 440 full-time equivalents (FTE). The like for like increase of staff year-on-year is 340 FTE.
2020 Outlook
Having delivered the anticipated solid performance in the first half of the financial year, Software AG today reconfirms its current 2020 guidance for the financial year as a whole.
