OVHcloud - FY23 Results - A year of robust growth

PRESS RELEASE – FY2023 annual results

A YEAR OF ROBUST GROWTH IN FY2023, WITH A GOOD PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER

Unlevered free cash-flow of €25 million generated in the second half of FY2023

Sustained growth in FY2023 and unlevered free cash-flow of €25 million generated in the second half

-          Revenue of €897 million in FY2023, up 13.4% on FY2022 on a like-for-like basis

-          Revenue of €230 million in the fourth quarter, making it the highest-growth quarter of the year with a 14.5% like-for-like increase and benefiting from the full effect of price increases

-          Strong like-for-like full-year revenue growth of 21.0% for the Public Cloud segment and 15.1% for the Private Cloud segment

-          Adjusted EBITDA of €325 million, giving a margin of 36.3% in FY2023

-         
1.7-point improvement in the EBITDA margin between the first and second half, reaching 37.1% thanks to cost discipline and improved productivity

-          Unlevered free cash-flow of €25 million generated in the second half of FY2023

Implementation of the strategic plan across all products, geographies and customer segments

-          Almost 40 new PaaS solutions available in the fields of AI, data, storage, security, container technologies and virtualisation

-          Continued international expansion, with the opening of four new datacenters, including a new country with the opening of India

-          Continued investment in sales and marketing, with strong sales momentum confirmed in Europe, particularly in Central Europe

Further improvement in profitability and cash generation in FY2024

-          Organic revenue growth target of between 11% and 13%

-          Adjusted EBITDA margin target of over 37%

-          Recurring and growth capex representing around 16% and 24% of revenue

-          Generation of unlevered free cash-flow as soon as the second half of FY2024 and full-year unlevered free cash-flow generation as from FY2025

OVHcloud's strategy and outlook to be presented at an Investor Day in London on 17 January 2024

Roubaix, 25 October 2023 – OVHcloud announced today its annual results for the financial year ended 31 August 2023. This press release relates to the OVH Groupe annual consolidated financial statements.

OVHcloud CEO Michel Paulin said: 

“We delivered a strong set of results in FY2023, highlighting OVHcloud’s capacity to achieve robust and sustainable growth. This success is underpinned by the strong momentum in our cloud businesses, which now account for over 80% of our business, and OVHcloud’s distinctive, successful offerings. Our sustainable cloud solutions, which prioritise performance-price ratio and data sovereignty, are perfectly aligned with the evolving needs of our expanding and loyal customer base as well as the needs of new customers who wish to control their costs and ensure the protection of their data.

Notably, in FY2023, we achieved a significant milestone by generating positive unlevered free cash-flow in the second half of the year. This was made possible by the improved efficiency of growth-related capital expenditure – marking a shift away from two years of non-recurring capex tied to post-COVID supply chain disruptions and the development of PaaS solutions – all while maintaining a disciplined approach to operating costs. 

Our midterm objectives are rooted in the same overarching commitment: delivering positive unlevered free cash-flow as from 2025 while maintaining future growth prospects. We intend to achieve this by maintaining selectivity in our investments while capitalising on the dynamic cloud market's momentum, which will continue to thrive driven by the prevailing trend of cloud adoption and usage and the ongoing innovations in fields such as artificial intelligence and Data.” 

KEY FIGURES

                    €897m         €325m          €25m

                             in revenue                     in adjusted EBITDA               in unlevered FCF

                              in FY2023                              in FY2023                          in H2 FY2023

Revenue of €897 million in FY2023, up 13.9% year on year as reported and 13.4% like for like^[1]

OVHcloud’s consolidated revenue came to €897.3 million in FY2023, up 13.9% compared with FY2022 as reported and 13.4% like for like. In the fourth quarter, revenue totalled €230.1 million, representing 14.5% like-for-like growth.

Against a complex and uncertain macroeconomic backdrop, this fourth-quarter performance illustrates the resilience of OVHcloud's business model, and particularly its ability to increase revenue from its customer portfolio through double-digit growth in ARPAC and a net revenue retention rate of 110% for the year as a whole. The Group also

continued to attract new customers in FY2023, notching up more than 21,000 new private and public cloud customers during the year.

This robust growth was driven by ongoing revenue acceleration in Europe in the fourth quarter, and the ramp-up of PaaS and SecNumCloud offerings. In addition, OVHcloud increased its prices in FY2023 to reflect inflation, which contributed 2.7% to growth for the year.

Revenue by product segment

Faster increase in the proportion of high-growth cloud offerings in the OVHcloud portfolio, with their revenue weighting reaching 80% 

The Private Cloud segment, which includes the Bare Metal Cloud and Hosted Private Cloud businesses, posted revenue of €560.1 million in FY2023, representing growth of 15.5% as reported and 15.1% like for like. In the fourth quarter, growth came to 14.1% as reported and 16.4% like for like. This strong sales momentum allowed OVHcloud to win market share, in the fourth quarter in particular. The segment’s strong fourth-quarter performance particularly reflects robust growth for the Bare Metal Cloud business in Europe and France, the effect of past price increases during the year, and double-digit growth for Hosted Private Cloud at Group level – a business driven by sovereign offerings such as SecNumCloud. These good performances offset more modest growth in the USA and Canada, with certain industries, particularly technology, continuing to optimise their cloud spending in recent months.

The Public Cloud segment continued its strong growth throughout FY2023, achieving revenue of €154.6 million, representing year-on-year increases of 22.4% as reported and 21.0% like for like. This segment delivered significant revenue rises in all of the Group's geographies, with a very good fourth quarter for the Digital channel and the Enterprise channel performing as well as in previous quarters. PaaS services – whose offering was expanded in FY2023 – are going from strength to strength, with customer adoption rising steadily and the number of PaaS customers reaching over 10,000 at the end of the financial year. At end-September 2023, the annual revenue rate (ARR) for PaaS offerings was €16 million, a figure that has doubled in the space of a year. OVHcloud is also continuing to develop new offerings around artificial intelligence, with new cutting-edge GPUs and CPUs available in the first quarter of FY2024, while the catalogue of partners is being expanded for the AI Deploy solution. More broadly, the Group's PaaS offerings now include an identity access management (IAM) solution for enhanced security.

The Web Cloud & Other segment delivered year-on-year revenue increases of 3.4% as reported and 3.1% like for like. In the fourth quarter of FY2023, growth came in at 2.9% as reported and 2.7% like for like. The Enterprise channel continued to outperform the Digital channel, which is implementing an overhaul project. As part of this project, more competitive and high-performance web hosting offerings were announced in September 2023 in order to revitalise demand. Connectivity and Telephony sub-segment activity continued to decline, which weighed on the segment’s overall growth during the year. New Connectivity offerings have recently been launched to help boost sales in the segment.

Revenue by region

Revenue in France came to €442,5 million in FY2023, accounting for 49% of the Group’s overall revenue, with almost 20% growth for the Private Cloud and Public Cloud segments in the fourth quarter. The Enterprise channel confirmed its positive momentum, delivering sustained growth throughout the year.

In other European countries, revenue growth for the cloud businesses remained strong throughout FY2023, with Germany and Eastern Europe once again the main drivers.

In the Rest of the World, the fourth quarter saw growth pick up pace compared with the previous quarters, despite an economic context which continued to hamper performance in North America. The opening of a new datacenter in India in the second half of FY2023 contributed positively to the rest of the world overall performance. 

Adjusted EBITDA of €325 million, giving a margin of 36.3%

Adjusted EBITDA reached €325 million, giving a margin of 36.3%. 

Adjusted EBITDA rose by €17.9 million compared to FY2022, coming in at €325.5 million in FY2023. The year-on-year increase reflects the positive effects of the €109.3 million revenue rise and a €22.4 million reduction in retention plan costs and earn-outs, less the negative impacts of increases in direct costs (€53.3 million), S&M costs (€11.4 million) and G&A costs (€4.3 million). 

This EBITDA growth is in line with the forecasts made by the Group in the first half of the financial year, particularly as regards electricity costs, thanks to its active price hedging strategy. In FY2023, electricity costs represented almost 7% of Group revenue, of which 2% was due to the increase in the price per MWh.

For FY2024, 94% of OVHcloud’s electricity consumption is hedged at a price per MWh comparable to the average price for FY2023. The 6% not hedged mainly relates to consumption in Germany. 

The Group will maintain its strict operating cost discipline in FY2024, including in relation to personnel expenses, with a selective hiring strategy that will enable OVHcloud to continue its business development.

Net operating income (loss)

The Group posted a net operating loss of €12.0 million for FY2023, compared with a €20.5 million net operating loss in FY2022. The FY2023 figure includes non-recurring items representing a net expense of €10.3 million, primarily made up of a €3.8 million temporary insurance surcharge due to the Strasbourg incident.

Consolidated net income (loss)

OVHcloud ended FY2023 with a net loss of €40.3 million, compared with a €28.6 million net loss for FY2022. The FY2023 figure notably includes €17.0 million in interest expenses and a €6.3 million net foreign exchange loss due to the depreciation of the euro during the period. 

Cash flow – Unlevered free cash-flow of €25 million generated in the second half of FY2023

Gross cash flow from operating activities rose to €309.5 million in FY2023 from €262.2 million one year earlier.

Capex (without acquisition) was contained in FY2023, coming in at €358 million versus €453 million in FY2022. The FY2023 capex figure includes:

- €146 million in recurring capex, representing 16% of annual revenue; - €211 million in growth capex, representing 24% of annual revenue. 

The decrease in growth capex in FY2023 notably reflects the use of inventories of components built up as a preventive measure in FY2022, the improved efficiency of industrial processes, and the ongoing optimisation of capex levels to maximise profitability.

Net debt

Consolidated net debt (excluding lease liabilities) amounted to €608 million at 31 August 2023, versus €601 million at 28 February 2023 and €525 million at 31 August 2022.  

The Group's development and the efforts it has made to improve the efficiency of its capex are paying off, with unlevered free cash-flow of €25 million generated in the second half of FY2023.

On 8 November 2022, the Group was granted a €200 million credit facility by the EIB at an attractive interest rate. The facility can be drawn down several times (with a maximum of five drawdowns), with each drawdown repayable within a maximum of nine years. 

At end-August 2023, almost three-quarters of the Group's debt was hedged at a fixed rate. Overall, the Group has very favourable financing conditions, with an average interest rate of 3.7%, margin included. The Group's leverage ratio at 31 August 2023 remained unchanged from the first half of the financial year, at 2.0x.

The Group's solid financial structure, which is fully financed until the end of FY2026, with more than €519 million in available cash and cash equivalents, and its cash flow trajectory going forward, mean that OVHcloud can continue to invest responsibly in order to deliver on its development plan.

OUTLOOK

Outlook for FY2024

For FY2024, OVHcloud is targeting organic revenue growth of between 11% and 13%, an adjusted EBITDA margin of over 37% and recurring and growth capex representing approximately 16% and 24% of revenue respectively.

OVHcloud is also aiming to generate unlevered free cash-flow in the second half of FY2024, with a view to generating full-year unlevered free cash-flow as from FY2025.

The outlook for FY2024 is based on assumptions of an ongoing upward trend in ARPAC, prudent new customer acquisitions, a price effect of between 1% and 2% over the year, mainly in the first quarter, and strict operating cost discipline.

Outlook for FY2025

As part of its ongoing strategic review, OVHcloud has noted certain trends it expects to see in FY2025:

-          Organic revenue growth should improve versus FY2024

-          Adjusted EBITDA margin should be improve versus FY2024

-          Capex as a percentage of revenue should be slightly lower than in FY2024

-          The Group should generate unlevered free cash-flow for the full year

*********

OVHcloud’s Board of Directors reviewed and approved the Group's consolidated financial statements for the financial year ended 31 August 2023 at its meeting on 24 October 2023. The audit procedures are in the process of finalisation.

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

Acquisition of gridscale

On 4 September 2023, OVHcloud completed the acquisition of 100% of the German company gridscale for a share purchase price of €28 million. gridscale is specialised in hyperconverged infrastructure and generated revenue of €5.6 million for the year ended 31 August 2023. OVHcloud does not expect gridscale to contribute to the Group's EBITDA in FY2024.

This acquisition is a strategic milestone in accelerating the Group's geographical expansion, with gridscale's unique technology enabling it to rapidly deploy a public cloud environment in new geographies with limited capex. 

CALENDAR

11 January 2024: First-quarter FY2024 revenue

17 January 2024: Investor Day in London

ABOUT OVHCLOUD

OVHcloud is a global player and the leading European cloud provider operating over 450,000 servers within 37 data centers across 4 continents to reach 1,6 million customers in over 140 countries. Spearheading a trusted cloud and pioneering a sustainable cloud with the best price-performance ratio, the Group has been leveraging for over 20 years an integrated model that guarantees total control of its value chain: from the design of its servers to the construction and management of its data centers, including the orchestration of its fiber-optic network. This unique approach enables OVHcloud to independently cover all the uses of its customers so they can seize the benefits of an environmentally conscious model with a frugal use of resources and a carbon footprint reaching the best ratios in the industry. OVHcloud now offers customers the latest-generation solutions combining performance, predictable pricing, and complete data sovereignty to support their unfettered growth.

CONTACTS

                    Media relations                                                     Investor relations

                     Julien Jay                                                                                    Benjamin Mennesson

                    Communications & Public Relations Manager                     Head of Investor Relations and Financing

                    media@ovhcloud.com                                                               investor.relations@ovhcloud.com

                  +33 (0)7 61 24 46 67                                                                 + 33 (0)6 99 72 73 17

DISCLAIMERS

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including references, concerning the Group's expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or competitors’ behaviors. Any forward-looking statements made in this document are statements about OVHcloud’s beliefs and expectations as of the date of this presentation and should be evaluated as such.

Forward-looking statements include statements that may relate to OVHcloud’s plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or performance, and other information that is not historical information. Actual events or results may differ from those presented in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in the 2022 Universal Registration Document, filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des marchés financiers - AMF) on December 20, 2022 under the number R.22-040 and/or in any future updates, amendments thereof or future Universal Registration Document.

All amounts are presented in € million. This may in certain circumstances lead to non-material differences between the sum of the figures and the subtotals that appear in the tables. 

OVHcloud does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any of the information above except as otherwise required by law. 

This document is disseminated for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction.

APPENDICES

Glossary

Like-for-like is calculated at constant exchange rates, constant perimeter and excluding Strasbourg direct impacts. Perimeter adjustments correspond to M&A.

The net revenue retention rate for any period is equal to the percentage calculated by dividing (i) the revenue generated in such period from customers that were present during the same period of the previous year, by (ii) the revenue generated from all customers in that previous year period. When the revenue retention rate exceeds 100%, it means that revenues from the relevant customers increased from the relevant period in the previous year to the same period in the current year, in excess of the revenue lost due to churn. 

ARPAC (Average revenues per active customer) represents the revenunones recorded in a given period from a given customer group, divided by the average number of customers from that group in that period (the average number of customers is determined on the same basis as in determining net customer acquisitions). ARPAC increases as customers in a given group spend more on OVHcloud services. It can also increase due to a change in mix, as an increase (or decrease) in the proportion of high-spending customers would increase (or decrease) ARPAC, irrespective of whether total revenues from the relevant customer group increase. 

Recurring EBITDA is equal to revenues less the sum of personnel costs and other operating expenses (and excluding depreciation and amortisation charges, as well as items that are classified as “other non-recurring operating income and expenses”).

Adjusted EBITDA is equal to recurring EBITDA excluding share-based compensation and expenses resulting from the payment of earn-outs from its adjusted EBITDA.

Recurring Capital Expenditures (Capex) reflects the capital expenditures needed to maintain the revenues generated during a given period for the following period.

Growth Capital Expenditures (Capex) represents all capital expenditures other than recurring capital expenditures.

Unlevered free cash-flow represents cash flows from operating activities minus cash flows used in investing activities.

Revenue by segment and geography

                                     Q1 FY2022 Q2 FY2022 Q3 FY2022 Q4 FY2022           FY2022        

In € million

                                  Reported      Reported      Reported      Reported      Reported

                                     Q1 FY2022 Q2 FY2022 Q3 FY2022 Q4 FY2022           FY2022        

In € million

                                  Reported      Reported      Reported      Reported      Reported

Reconciliation of like-for-like and reported growth

Consolidated statement of income

⁽¹⁾ The recurring EBITDA indicator corresponds to operating income before depreciation, amortisation and other nonrecurring operating income and expenses.

Reconciliation between Recurring EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

Consolidated statement of financial position

(1) Interest rate swaps are recognised as non-current derivative financial assets at 31 August 2023.

Consolidated statement of cash flows

ESG – Key performance indicators 

                                                                                                           FY 2021                          FY 2022

                  Environment                                                                                                                                                                          

                   PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)                                   1.1-1.3                                 1.28

WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness) 

                                                                                                        0.17-0.20                                 0.26

in L/kWh IT

CUE (Carbon Usage Effectiveness)

                                                                                                       0.15-0.18                                  0.20

in tCO2e/MWh IT REF 

                                                                                                                78%                                77%

(Renewable Energy Factor)

                   Reused components ratio                                                   34%                                25%

                  Business conduct                                                                                                                                                                   

Success rate of cyberattack

                                                                                                                89%                                89%

simulations campaigns

Rate of signing of the supplier code

                                                                                                                      -                                65%

of conduct

                  Social/Societal                                                                                                                                                                       

                  Loyalty rate                                                                           77%                                79%

                  Engagement score                                                                  7.3                                  7.5

                   Employee training rate                                                        66%                                73%

                   % of women in management                                              18%                                20%

% of women in top management

18%         25% (Executive Committee)