Diligent first-half profit rises 11%, sees faster annual revenue growth

Diligent Board Member Services [NZX: DIL], the governance software developer, lifted first-half profit 11% as it generated stronger sales in the US in the second quarter and is picking faster revenue growth through the rest of the year.

Net profit after minorities rose to $US4.9 million, or 4c a share, in the six months ended June 30, from $US4.4 million, or 4c, a year earlier, the New York-based, NZX-listed company said in a statement. Revenue rose 19% to $US46.9 million, in line with expectations from Forsyth Barr, after Diligent reported its best quarterly sales performance in two years.

The company increased its forecast for annual revenue to be between $US98.5 million and $US99.2 million in the 12 months ending December 31, up from a previous range of between $US97 million and $US99 million, though a strengthening US dollar was a headwind to sales.

"We are building solid momentum in the core business. We had a strong second quarter, highlighted by revenue growth which exceeded the top end of our guidance," chief executive Brian Stafford said in a statement. "We had our best quarter in new sales in two years, both overall and in the Americas, driven by continued strong demand for Diligent Boards and improved execution on our growth initiatives."

Diligent is building up its investment on sales and marketing and research and development as it seeks to increase the value of the business. It plans to launch a new Diligent Teams product, to let companies use the firm's workflow and security software to improve collaboration, by the end of the year. Stafford told analysts the early feedback from customers was positive.

The company, which has faced censure by the stock market three times in the past two years, plans to add a new directors and officers' questionnaire module to its BoardBooks governance product next month, and will have a better idea about potential selling from the new module once it's available to customers, Mr Stafford said.

Diligent reported a net cash outflow of $US6.5 million in the half, including an operational outflow of $US475,000 as some invoicing was delayed by a new IT system. The company had cash and equivalents of $US64.3 million as at June 30.

Stafford said Diligent is still looking at potential acquisitions, but he declined to say whether any would be completed in the current financial year.

The shares fell 0.5% to $5.70, and have gained 8.9% this year.

(BusinessDesk)