Data#3 sells 30 percent more services

Queensland reseller Data#3 has reported net profit after tax of $3.9 million for the full year ended 30 June 2005 on the back of a 30 percent jump in services revenue.

Richard Anderson, chairman of Data#3, said the market had been strong but "very competitive". Its contract revenues had increased to 51 percent of its total revenue, supported by 30 percent growth rate in its services business to $38 million.

The reseller had reported a net profit after tax of $3.9 million on revenue of $197 million -- up 15 percent on last year's net profit after tax. Turnover was up 12 percent, Data#3 said.

"This result demonstrates our ability to adapt to changes in the market to deliver sustainable profitability," Anderson said. :"Our aim remains to continue to increase these returns over time."

Data#3 said in an announcement to the ASX that it had reported its best ever result for the full year, declaring a final dividend of 11.5 cents a share that brought its total annual dividends for the year to 19 cents a share.

EBITDA was $6.2 million, up 17 percent on the previous year, the company said.

The company said it had strong underlying net operating cash inflows and "essentially" no long-term debt. It had also lifted its game in staff and customer satisfaction, the company claimed.

Its Software Licensing business had grown strongly and it had successfully established a complementary software asset management consultancy arm. Meanwhile, its enterprise business was performing better, Data#3 said.

Margins in sales of server, networking and personal systems volumen products had also improved and its recruitment arm had grown well, it said.

John Grant, managing director at Data#3, said results had been good across all parts of the business. The company had grown in all locations and had doubled its operating profit before expenses in NSW and Victoria.

"We have maintained our focus along six national areas of specialty, and are delighted with their development over the year. We intend to achieve a leadership position in all these areas by developing the expertise of our people," Grant said.

Data#3 would seek to achieve those goals by "proactively engaging" with partners, Grant said.

The vendor had also "repositioned" its ICT Services and Microsoft Application Solutions specialities around "market-leading" technologies, the company said.

Data#3 was recently a finalist in Microsoft's Worldwide Partner of the Year competition for technology innovation in advanced infrastructure solutions.

The Brisbane-based company also won an excellence award from IBM for its top Australian and New Zealand reseller.