Foreign market success sees Bechtle soar in Q3

Non-domestic revenue grows twice as fast as that in German unit

Strong performance in markets outside its native Germany helped Bechtle grow in the double digits in the third quarter.

For the three months to 30 September, group operating profit jumped annually 10.6 per cent to €30m (£23.47m) on group revenue which grew 10.6 per cent to €618.3m over the same period.

The lion's share of its business came from its home German market, where in Q3 sales grew 8.2 per cent year on year to €439m. But revenue growth in its non-domestic arm was more than double that, 17 per cent, which took sales to €179.2m over the same period.

In its IT systems house - or reseller - business, foreign markets were also important, the firm said.

"The performance of our foreign system houses, which were able to boost their revenue share by 19.9 per cent from €36.9m to €44.2m, was especially noteworthy," it said. "In Germany, the revenue amounted to €376.3m, an increase of 8.1 per cent [annually]."

The firm also welcomed 130 new trainees last quarter, taking its staff total past the 6,500 mark.

"The increase is the result of new recruitment as well as acquisitions," the firm said. "Training remains a major area of Bechtle's HR work. Thus, 130 young men and women embarked on their training at Bechtle on 1 September."

Bechtle's chief executive Thomas Olemotz said Q3 was a continuation of a successful fiscal year so far.

"In the third quarter, we successfully followed up on the first half of the year, which had already been excellent," he said. "We have reason to be more than satisfied with our double-digit revenue and earnings increase.

"Our growth continued to be broadly supported by both business segments."