NECKARSULM (dpa-AFX) - IT service provider Bechtle expects slightly lower growth for 2023 in the current uncertain economic environment. Both group revenue and earnings are expected to grow by 5 to 10 percent, said group CEO Thomas Olemotz in a conference with journalists on Friday. The pre-tax profit margin is expected to remain roughly stable. In 2023, the MDax group from Neckarsulm also wants to grow larger through acquisitions. Just on Thursday, Bechtle announced that it would acquire the British IT company Tangible Benefit. "We assume that this will not be the last acquisition this year," Olemotz said.

On Friday, the Executive Board confirmed the preliminary key figures that had already been known since February. Sales in 2022, for example, had grown by around 13.6 percent to more than six billion euros. Earnings before tax (EBT) climbed by 9.4 percent to a good 350 million euros. The margin of 5.8 percent thus deteriorated slightly.

After taxes, Bechtle earned 251 million euros - 20 million more than in the previous year. At 65 cents per share, Bechtle intends to pay out 10 cents more to its shareholders than in the previous year./ngu/mis