Data#3 touts 'best ever' results

Diversified IT products and services outfit Data#3 this morning claimed to have experienced its "best ever" financial result over the past year, with both revenues and profits increasing.

For the 12 months to 30 June, the company this morning booked total revenues of $599.2 million (up 13 per cent on the previous year), earnings before interest, taxation and depreciation of $16.3 million (up 12.4 per cent) and net profit after tax of $10.9 million (up 11 per cent).

"2010 was a year marked by improving business confidence but continued restraint in ICT expenditure," Data#3 managing director John Grant said in a statement.

"With our national footprint and the broad appeal of our offerings, we are targeting to once again deliver organic growth ahead of the market in all areas of the business in 2011."

Like SMS Management & Technology, which recently revealed it was doing due diligence on two potential acquisition opportunities, Grant said that the company was looking out for future purchases.

"We will remain watchful for partnering and acquisition opportunities, mindful of the cultural and financial issues that accompany them," he said. "Our overall financial objective is to improve on the performance of 2010."

However, despite the company's performance, Grant's own remuneration package didn't rise substantially over that of the previous year. In 2009, the MD took home a total of about $537,000, which this year increased to $556,000. Other key managers at Data#3 did better: group general manager Laurence Baynham received a raise of $42,000 to reach $446,000, for example, while there were similar increases across a number of executives.

Data#3's share price is currently at $9.00 — a number slightly up this morning and close to its 52-week high of $9.30.