Bechtle feeling upbeat following stellar 2013

European channel heavyweight grows top and bottom line and plans for more growth

European channel titan Bechtle enjoyed a successful 2013, with sales and profitability seeing healthy increases.

The reseller saw total revenue for the year rise 8.4 per cent annually to €2.27bn (£1.9bn), while EBIT grew 13.4 per cent to €91.05m and EBT margins were up 10 basis points to 3.8 per cent. Sales in its German homeland were up 9.6 per cent to €1.57bn, while the growth of its overseas business was slightly slower at six per cent, with sales rising to €702.67m.

Operating cashflow for the year spiked 29 per cent to €73.1m, while shareholders' funds rose 6.8 per cent over the course of 2013, coming to rest at €156.1m at year end. Employee numbers increased from 5,970 to 6,219.

"This year, Bechtle will again do everything necessary to continue on its road to success," said chairman Thomas Olemotz. "Our goal for 2014 is to achieve further revenue and earnings growth and to gain market shares. As in the past, we want to make progress both organically and through acquisitions."

Bechtle's VAR and managed services business - which accounts for just over two thirds of its overall top line - was the star performer in 2013, with sales up 10.1 per cent to more than €1.53bn. The company's e-tail operation saw revenue grow 5.1 per cent to €738.17m. In its most recently available annual numbers - for the 2012 calendar year - the firm's UK arm grew almost a quarter and generated revenue of £24.3m.