Bechtle hits all-time high

Pan-European giant confirms its leaked FY2014 figures and hints at further growth through acquisition

European IT reseller behemoth Bechtle AG has confirmed its 2014 revenue increased 13.5 per cent to €2.58bn (£1.93bn), up from €2.27bn in 2013.

The firm had released a sneak preview of its results in early February. Pre-tax profit (EBT) also increased to €107m – a whopping 20 per cent increase on the previous year.

Founded in 1983 with its HQ in Neckarsulm, Germany, Bechtle operates 65 independent "systems houses" in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, along with a presence in 11 other countries outside the DACH region, including the UK and Ireland. It has about 75,000 customers.

Dr Thomas Olemotz, executive board chairman of Bechtle AG, said: “We are looking back at an outstanding fiscal year. Over the entire period, we experienced a remarkably dynamic development with two-digit growth rates, even in the final quarter. We have again gained market shares. The broad-based increase achieved in both segments is very encouraging. We are proud of this outstanding achievement, to which the entire Bechtle team contributed."

The firm revealed that e-commerce was the main driver of growth, with all its subsidiaries and brands contributing to overall growth. Headcount also grew by 5.7 per cent across the company, which now employs 6,219 people, through a combination of acquisition and recruitment.

It also hinted at further acquisitions in the future, thanks to a strong balance sheet, which gave it the power to "quickly and flexibly finance further growth".

However, Olemotz did sound a note of caution for the coming year, warning of a slightly weaker economic outlook in 2015.

“In the last two years, Bechtle grew at an impressive rate. However, we expect the growth dynamics in 2015 to be weaker than in the reporting period. Nevertheless, we intend to continue to increase our revenue and earnings and gain market share in the current year,” he said.