/ 4 February 2005

Didata’s ‘year of profitable growth’

While Dimension Data (Didata) billed 2004 as the year to stabilise and invest in growth, the dual- listed group’s CEO Brett Dawson told the investment community in London that 2005 is the year for profitable growth.

Speaking at Didata’s Investor Day seminar, attended by institutional investors and analysts on Thursday evening, Dawson reiterated that the information and communications technology (ICT) group is well-positioned for growth.

While noting that the market environment is stable to optimistic but competitive, Dawson said the group remains committed to an ongoing drive to improve returns on investments and strengthen its balance sheet.

The ICT group posted a turnover of $2,484-billion (R15,912-billion), for the year ended September 2004, representing an 18% jump from $2,1-billion (R15,718-billion rand) reported in 2003 when the rand was weaker against the greenback.

Last year’s growth was ascribed to a host of factors, including the implementation of cost controls, service efficiency, solution group growth and gains in ICT market share.

Didata offers converged communications and technology solutions, security solutions, data centre and storage solutions, and service-provider solutions.

Of the total global operations revenue the group reported last year, 20% or $481-million was generated from Australian operations, while Africa contributed 19% or $445-million.

Given the positive IT-services revenue growth trend forecast for the 2003 to 2008 period, Didata is poised for further growth on the back of its growing market share — provided such growth patterns are sustained. — I-Net Bridge