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Ekinops H1 2024 results: EBITDA margin of 14.3%

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PARIS, July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — EKINOPS (Euronext Paris – FR0011466069 – EKI), a leading supplier of telecommunications solutions for telecom operators and enterprises, reports its H1 2024 financial statements (for the period ended 30 June 2024) as approved by the Board of Directors on 29 July 2024. The statutory auditors conducted an interim review of these half-year financial statements.

m€ – IFRS

H1 2023

(6 months)

H2 2023

(6 months)

H1 2024

(6 months)

2023

(12 months)

Revenue

71.0

58.1

57.5

129.1

Gross margin

37.7

29.6

32.2

67.3

As a %

53.1 %

50.9 %

56.1 %

52.1 %

Operating expenses

31.0

31.3

29.3

62.3

EBITDA1

14.3

4.3

8.2

18.6

As a %

20.2 %

7.4 %

14.3 %

14.4 %

Current operating income (EBIT)

6.7

-1.6

3.0

5.1

Operating income

6.6

-3.0

2.6

3.6

Consolidated net income

6.0

-2.4

1.5

3.6

As a %

8.4 %

n.a.

2.6 %

2.8 %

1 EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) corresponds to current operating income restated for (i) amortization, depreciation and provisions, and (ii) income and expenses relating to share-based payments.

H1 2024 revenue: 57.5m€
Ekinops recorded H1 2024 consolidated revenue of 57.5m€, down -19% from the same period last year (identical at constant exchange rates).

Propelled by the sales rebound in France (+16% in H1 2024), the Access business line grew +1% over the period, after a decline over 2023. The Group’s main operator-customers are gradually rebuilding their Access equipment inventory, without reaching normative levels.

Conversely, sales of Optical Transport solutions were down -41% in H1 2024, after an all-time high performance in 2023 (+41% in H1 2023 and +27% on a full-year basis). This business line was mainly impacted by (i) reluctance from operators with substantial inventory to initiate CAPEX (capital expenditure), (ii) slower growth for 2023 internet traffic in a context of overcapacity and (iii) a wait-and-see attitude triggered by the delayed launch of Ekinops’ new 800G optical solution.  

Software & Services accounted for 17% of Group revenue, with an increasing share of recurring revenue, particularly for the SD-WAN solution.

Geographically, H1 2024 revenue increased by +5% in France while international business declined by -31%. International sales for this first half came out to 56% (vs. 66% a year earlier), of which 22% in North America (down -31%), 32% in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa, down -32%) and 2% in Asia-Pacific (decline of -15%).

H1 2024 gross margin: 56.1% 
At mid-year, gross margin stood at 32.2m€, versus 37.7m€ Y-o-Y.

Gross margin thus reached a record level of 56.1% in H1 2024, vs. 53.1% a year earlier and 52.1% end-2023.

This record gross margin performance results from a favorable business mix (growth in the Access business line), a solid “selling price/manufacturing costs” ratio for Ekinops’ solutions, and the increasing share of Software & Services’ in Group’s revenue.

H1 2024 EBITDA margin[1]: 14.3%
At mid-year, EBITDA came to 8.2m€ vs. 14.3m€ Y-o-Y, with a -6% decline in operating expenses, driven by carefully managed costs (-11% in general costs, -6% in R&D costs and -3% in marketing and sales costs).

As such, H1 2024 EBITDA margin was 14.3%, compared to an exceptional 20.2% a year earlier and 14.4% in FY 2023.

After accounting for net depreciation, amortization and provisions (4.1m€, including 1.1m€
of amortization relating to post purchase price allocation technologies), declining due to the discontinued amortization of OneAccess technology, and non-cash expenses relating to share-based payments (0.6m€), current operating income came to 3.0m€ in H1 2024 vs. 6.7m€ a year earlier.

Current operating margin therefore stood at 5.1% of half-year revenue, vs. 9.4% the same period last year and 3.9% in FY 2023.

H1 2024 adjusted EBIT: 7.0%
Excluding amortization of intangible assets identified post purchase price allocation, adjusted current operating margin (adjusted EBIT[2]) came to 7.0%, vs. 14.0% a year earlier and 8.0% at end-2023.

Other operating expenses totaled 0.4m€, resulting in operating income of 2.6m€ for H1 2024 vs. 6.6m€ Y-o-Y and 3.6m€ for FY 2023.

After taking into account financial expenses of 0.7m€, comprising a net interest expense and foreign exchange gains on currency hedging, and a tax expense of 0.4m€, H1 2024 net income stood at 1.5m€, vs. 6.0m€ a year earlier and 3.6m€ in FY 2023

H1 2024 operating cash flow: 5.1m€
Despite the economic challenges impacting its business, Ekinops showed once again resilience with an ability to generate cash through its operations.

At mid-year, operating cash flow totaled 5.1m€, up significantly compared with H1 2023 (+0.9m€). Change in working capital requirements was limited to €2.1m, down considerably from the previous year (13.1m€ in H1 2023, boosted by the sharp increase in accounts receivable). H1 2024 decrease in accounts receivable (-3.4m€) notably offset rising inventory (3.3m€) as a result of slower business activity.

Cash flow from investments (non-current assets and R&D) amounted to -5.7m€ (vs. -4.5m€ a year earlier), with 1.1m€ in equipment investments and 4.5m€ for capitalized R&D and the acquisition of the 5View software suite.

Cash flow from financing activities totaled -4.7m€, including -2.5m€ in repayments under bank loans. No new loans were taken out during the semester.

At the end of H1 2024, change in cash flow was -€5.4m.

Comfortable net cash[3] position of €22.3m as of June 30, 2024

ASSETS – €m
IFRS

12/31

2023

6/30

2024

LIABILITIES – €m
IFRS

12/31

2023

6/30

2024

Non-current assets

78.8

85.4

Shareholders’ equity

119.4

120.4

o/w goodwill

28.5

28.4

Financial borrowings

21.4

19.5

o/w intangible assets

17.1

18.5

o/w bank loans

18.3

16.7

o/w right-of-use assets

6.7

12.4

o/w factoring

2.8

2.5

Current assets

66.6

68.9

French research tax credit pre-financing

5.1

4.3

o/w inventories

25.9

29.2

Trade payables

18.2

17.1

o/w trade receivables

30.0

26.6

Lease liabilities

7.0

12.9

Cash

47.2

41.8

Other liabilities

21.5

21.8

TOTAL

192.6

196.0

TOTAL

192.6

196.0

During the first half of 2024, Ekinops signed the lease for its new headquarters in Lannion (Brittany) as well as renewing its Belgian subsidiary’s commercial lease. This increased the Group’s right-of-use assets to 12.4m€.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled 41.8m€ as of 30 June 2024, for financial borrowings[4] of 19.5m€.

As such, Ekinops benefited from a healthy financial position at the end of H1 2024, with net cash at 22.3m€ (vs. 20.3m€ a year earlier and 25.8m€ at end-2023) with shareholders’ equity of 120.4m€ (vs. 119.4m€ as of 31 December 2023).

Subsequent to the semester, Ekinops secured a 1.8m€ subsidy, granted by the French government and Bpifrance as part of the “ORANGE MECT PART” major project of common European interest (PIIEC) initiative. The latter was developed in collaboration with Orange and its partners, to provide innovative connectivity solutions for specific configurations or digital deserts, as an alternative to current transmission solutions.

Outlook
Against a sluggish economic backdrop, Ekinops proved resilient thanks to a strong gross margin, sound management of operating expenses and a further demonstrated ability to generate cash flow despite the slowdown in business.

In Access, the gradual normalization of operator inventories in France led Ekinops to report modest growth for this segment over the semester. Looking ahead to H2 2024, the Group aims to accelerate this trend, both in France and EMEA, conditional on a favorable economic recovery. In Optical Transport, the launch of the 800G solution with its innovative features and the cost-optimized 100G product should spark fresh momentum in this business line over the coming semesters.

In this context, Ekinops expects Q3 2024 revenue to follow the same trend as previous quarters, with a more marked improvement in business targeted for Q4 2024.

In terms of external growth, Ekinops still aims to carry out operations to consolidate the Group, strengthen its offering and expand its customer base, favoring a non-dilutive source of financing.

See 2024 financial calendar here.

All press releases are published after Euronext Paris market close.

EKINOPS Contact
Didier Brédy, Chairman and CEO
contact@ekinops.com

Investors
Mathieu Omnes, Investor relation
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 92
momnes@actus.fr

Press
Amaury Dugast, Press relation
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 74
adugast@actus.fr

[1] EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) corresponds to current operating income restated for (i) amortization, depreciation and provisions, and (ii) income and expenses relating to share-based payments.

[2] Adjusted EBIT corresponds to current operating income adjusted for amortization of intangible assets identified after allocation of goodwill, Technologies developed and Customer relations.

[3] Net cash = cash and cash equivalents – borrowings (excluding bank debt relating to French research tax credit (CIR) pre-financing and IFRS 16 lease liabilities)

[4] excluding bank debt relating to French research tax credit (CIR) pre-financing and IFRS 16 lease liabilities

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SOURCE Ekinops

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TWSE deepens global capital market partnerships in London

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TAIPEI, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) will lead a delegation to London this September to strengthen investor engagement for Taiwan-listed companies, promote the Asian Asset Management Center (AAMC) initiative, and deepen collaboration with global financial institutions.

The visit comes as international participation in Taiwan’s equity market continues to expand. Foreign investors’ share of TWSE-listed market capitalization increased from 39.56% in 2022 to 48.61% in the second quarter of 2026, approaching half of the market’s total value and underscoring their increasingly important role in connecting Taiwan-listed companies with global capital.

“London is a key market for Taiwan as we deepen engagement with global investors and financial institutions,” said TWSE Chairman Sherman Lin. “Through this visit, we look forward to showcasing the latest developments and strengths of Taiwan’s companies and capital market, advancing the Asian Asset Management Center initiative, and strengthening two-way connections between Taiwan and global capital markets.”

Following the successful investor outreach program in New York in March, TWSE will partner with SinoPac Securities in London to facilitate meetings between Taiwan-listed companies and institutional investors. A luncheon presentation will also provide investors with an update on developments in Taiwan’s capital market and its investment opportunities.

TWSE will participate in the Taiwan Financial Briefing Forum – London Edition, jointly organized by the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance and Z/Yen Group. Under the theme, “Unlocking Taiwan’s Edge as Asia’s Asset Management Hub,” the forum will showcase Taiwan’s deep and liquid capital markets, substantial private wealth, and growing demand for wealth management services. TWSE will also highlight the policy direction of the Asian Asset Management Center initiative and its role in supporting Taiwan’s development as a leading asset management hub in Asia.

About TWSE

The Taiwan Stock Exchange (the TWSE) commenced operations on February 9, 1962, and is responsible for operating and advancing Taiwan’s securities market. Its core business activities include listing, trading, clearing and settlement, and market surveillance. These functions encompass listing promotion and review, post-listing supervision and corporate governance, maintaining orderly market operations, securities firm services, investor protection, clearing and settlement activities, safeguarding against market defaults, and monitoring illegal trading activities. Through these efforts, the TWSE provides comprehensive services to support the development and integrity of Taiwan’s securities market.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/twse-deepens-global-capital-market-partnerships-in-london-302870637.html

SOURCE Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE)

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum Launches “Gather in Shenzhen, Create a Better Asia-Pacific” Media Cooperation Initiative

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shenzhen is a city born from China’s reform and opening-up. In just over four decades, it has grown from a small fishing village into a modern international metropolis. It is a remarkable story of development created by the Chinese people, and a window through which the world can better understand China.

As part of the overall outcomes of Asia-Pacific Media Forum, Shenzhen is launching three long-term initiatives under a media cooperation program titled “Gather in Shenzhen, Create a Better Asia-Pacific.”

The three initiatives are: Technology sharing ; Content co-creation; and Talent development.

On the occasion of the opening of the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, Shenzhen is officially launching this media cooperation initiative and inviting media partners from across the Asia-Pacific to take part. Together, we hope to contribute the strength of the media to building an Asia-Pacific community and promoting shared prosperity.

Video link: https://youtu.be/oJmxc-nYo10
Video produced by Shenzhen Media Group

 

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SOURCE Shenzhen Media Group

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Best VPS Hosting (2026): Virterion Recognized for Performance, Reliability, and Scalability by Expert Consumers

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NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Expert Consumers has recognized Virterion in an assessment of the best VPS hosting solutions for 2026. The recognition highlights the provider’s performance-focused virtual servers, infrastructure reliability, and ability to scale from entry-level VPS plans to dedicated hardware.

Best VPS Hosting

Virterion – a provider of VPS hosting, Windows VPS, website hosting, and dedicated servers offering KVM virtualization, configurable resources, European server locations, backup options, and scalable infrastructure, supported by 24/7 technical assistance and remote server management tools.

Demand for virtual private servers continues to grow as websites, applications, and databases require more control than conventional shared hosting can provide. VPS hosting allocates processing power, memory, and storage to an independent virtual environment. This structure gives developers and organizations greater control over software, security settings, and server configuration.

Virterion addresses these requirements through several workload-specific services. The portfolio includes standard VPS hosting, high-CPU configurations, Windows VPS, storage-focused virtual servers, website hosting tools, and dedicated servers. The range allows customers to select infrastructure based on processing, storage, operating system, and location requirements.

Virtual Servers Designed Around Different Workloads

Virterion uses KVM virtualization across the VPS range. KVM technology separates virtual machines within a physical server and provides each environment with allocated resources. Customers receive administrative access and can install supported operating systems or use compatible ISO images.

Standard VPS plans are available in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, and Sofia, Bulgaria. Entry configurations include 1 vCPU, 1 GB of RAM, and 10 GB of SSD or NVMe storage. Plans also provide a static IPv4 address, with IPv6 available on applicable configurations.

The Netherlands and Bulgaria VPS ranges support resource customization. CPU cores, memory, storage, bandwidth, IP addresses, and backup capacity can be adjusted through the ordering system. Existing configurations can also be upgraded when traffic or application requirements increase.

Several operational features are available across applicable VPS plans:

Remote server access: A VNC console allows server access when standard network connections are unavailable.Backup controls: Supported plans allow manual backups and scheduled backup creation.Network testing: Looking Glass tools provide information about routes, latency, upload speeds, and download speeds.Flexible operating systems: Customers can select supported Linux distributions or compatible custom images.Technical assistance: Support is available around the clock through email, tickets, and online chat.

These tools give technical teams direct control over routine server management. However, customers remain responsible for application configuration, data protection, and software security.

Performance and Reliability Across European Locations

Location can influence website speed because distance affects the time required to transfer information. Virterion positions the Netherlands location for audiences across Central and Northern Europe. The Sofia location can support projects targeting Southeastern Europe and nearby markets.

Standard plans at both locations provide 300 Mbit/s network options and unlimited traffic. The Netherlands range uses enterprise NVMe storage, while the Bulgaria range uses enterprise SSD storage. Both formats are designed to provide faster data access than traditional mechanical drives.

Projects requiring greater processing capacity can use the High CPU VPS range. These servers use dedicated CPU cores, modern server processors, DDR5 memory, and enterprise NVMe storage. Virterion reports approximately 80 to 90 percent greater CPU performance than the standard Netherlands VPS line. The comparison is based on provider testing and should be evaluated alongside the requirements of each workload.

Reliability also depends on the surrounding data-center and network infrastructure. Virterion cites service availability of up to 99.995 percent for overseas data-center operations. Prospective customers can use the available network-testing tools to evaluate latency and routing before selecting a location.

Backup policies require careful review. Manual and scheduled backups are available on several VPS products, but customers remain responsible for protecting important files and databases. The storage-focused VPS line does not include backup functionality.

Storage VPS configurations begin with 500 GB of SSD capacity. Standard options extend to 1.5 TB, while configurable upgrades can reach 3 TB. This category may suit media libraries, archives, or data-heavy applications when an independent backup process is already established.

Windows VPS and Website Hosting

Virterion provides Windows VPS options in both the Netherlands and Bulgaria. Entry plans include 1 vCPU, 2 GB of RAM, 20 GB of SSD storage, a 300 Mbit/s network connection, one IP address, and unlimited traffic.

Windows VPS plans include a graphical desktop through Remote Desktop Protocol. VNC console access provides another method of connecting to the virtual machine. Manual and scheduled backup tools are also available.

The Windows service is unmanaged. Technical support can help address issues involving the virtual machine, but software and applications running inside the server remain the customer’s responsibility.

Windows licensing is another important consideration. Virterion provides an evaluation version with a 180-day trial key. A permanent operating system license is not included. Organizations planning long-term deployment should account for licensing and administration requirements before selecting a plan.

Website hosting can be managed through optional control-panel software. Available editions support individual developers, teams handling multiple projects, and agencies maintaining larger website portfolios. Depending on the selected edition, domain allowances include 10, 30, 50, or unlimited domains.

Relevant control-panel options include visual website management, database administration, WordPress tools, subscription controls, and account management. These features can reduce the amount of command-line work required for common hosting tasks.

A VPS still requires more technical involvement than conventional shared website hosting. The tradeoff is greater control over allocated resources, operating system settings, application installation, and security configuration.

Scaling From VPS Hosting to Dedicated Servers

Virtual servers can support many websites, development environments, databases, and business applications. Dedicated servers become more appropriate when a workload requires physical hardware without virtualization, larger memory capacity, multiple storage devices, hardware RAID, or consistently high network throughput.

Virterion offers dedicated servers from the Netherlands location. The catalog includes configurations for smaller production workloads and higher-capacity business systems. Available specifications include ECC memory, enterprise SSD and NVMe storage, hardware RAID options, and multiple-drive configurations.

Selected systems provide network links ranging from 1 Gbit/s to 10 Gbit/s. Traffic allowances vary by configuration, with unmetered service available as an upgrade on applicable servers. Some systems support hundreds of gigabytes of memory, while higher-capacity models support multiple enterprise storage devices.

The dedicated-server range provides a migration path for projects that outgrow VPS resources. Customers can begin with virtual infrastructure and move to physical hardware when performance, storage, or network requirements justify the change.

Dedicated hardware involves more planning than a standard VPS. Processor requirements, memory capacity, drive layout, RAID configuration, bandwidth, remote management, and operating system selection should be evaluated before ordering. Virterion provides sales assistance for customers who need help selecting a suitable configuration.

Practical Considerations for Prospective Customers

Virterion is suited to developers, agencies, online businesses, and technical teams seeking configurable VPS hosting in Europe. The service may also fit organizations requiring Windows-based environments, large-capacity storage, or access to dedicated infrastructure through the same provider.

The platform requires a degree of technical knowledge. Windows VPS plans are unmanaged, permanent Windows licensing is separate, and some storage plans do not include backup tools. Application security and data protection remain customer responsibilities.

Expert Consumers’ recognition focuses on the combination of workload-specific VPS options, configurable resources, European server locations, practical management tools, and a direct route to dedicated hardware. For organizations evaluating VPS hosting in 2026, these factors provide a structured way to match infrastructure with current requirements while preserving room for future growth.

The full review is available at the Expert Consumers website.

About Virterion

Virterion provides virtual private servers, Windows VPS, storage-focused VPS configurations, website hosting tools, dedicated servers, domains, and SSL certificates. Virtual server locations include the Netherlands and Bulgaria, with scalable configurations available for websites, applications, databases, and other online projects.

About ExpertConsumers.org: Expert Consumers delivers news and insights on consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

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SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org

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