Briarwood Chase Management, a prominent US-based investment firm, has surpassed the 5% ownership threshold in Sidetrade (Euronext Growth: ALBFR.PA). The decision to build its shareholding follows a comprehensive analysis of the SaaS leader’s economic model and a meeting at Sidetrade’s headquarters, solidifying the firm’s confidence in the CEO’s visionary leadership, its AI roadmap and market potential.
Robert Blatt, Managing Director of Briarwood Chase Management, said: Our position in Sidetrade underscores our commitment to investing in exceptional businesses and management teams. Sidetrade’s strategic focus on and growth in North America, and exceptional margin potential align with our investment philosophy. In today’s economic environment, Sidetrade distinguishes itself as a robust and high-quality SaaS player, offering built-in growth, strong revenue predictability and recurring income. Furthermore, its status as a sought-after contender in a consolidating market highlights its significant medium-term potential. We are looking forward to being long-term partners to the business and management team.
Sidetrade, recognized as a leader by top US technology research and consulting firms, is transforming the Order-to-Cash industry by simplifying the daily operations of financial leaders in large organizations to deliver immediate productivity improvements while securing and accelerating cash flow generation. This innovative approach sets new standards and redefines what’s possible in accounts receivable.
We are very excited to have the trust of Briarwood Chase Management in our growth journey, Olivier Novasque, CEO of Sidetrade, commented.After two years of rapid expansion to build a critical foothold in the US, 2024 was a year of strategic consolidation, focusing on strengthening our foundations and fine-tuning our teams. With the US market showing exceptional momentum, we are reigniting investments in 2025 to seize this unparalleled opportunity and drive Sidetrade’s growth to the next level.
The rapid rise of generative AI and the growing demand for efficiency are leading businesses to adopt cutting-edge technologies like Sidetrade’s. At the heart of Sidetrade’s innovation is Aimie, the most unique AI which – powered by the Sidetrade Data Lake – drives smart customer insights and delivers value for businesses worldwide.
Olivier Novasque, CEO of Sidetrade commented:
Following a downturn in the third quarter, we finished the year with a return to dynamic growth for fourth-quarter bookings, posting slightly more than €2 million in new annual recurring revenue (ARR), significantly up by 33% year-over-year. Except for Q3, we successfully aligned three out of four quarters throughout the year, with slightly over €2 million in new ARR per quarter. As a result, we achieved a new annual record for bookings. Figures aside, this dynamic confirms three structural trends that will propel Sidetrade’s trajectory in the months and years ahead. 1/ Our technological lead in AI, now boosted by generative AI capabilities, positions us to secure very large global accounts. 2/ Sidetrade is firmly establishing itself as the go-to partner for multinational companies, with a 44% growth in subscriptions from companies with revenue exceeding €2.5 billion and nearly 80% of total subscription revenue coming from those generating over €1 billion. 3/ The United States is and will continue to act as a vigorous growth driver for the Group, registering nearly half of the year’s bookings (46%) and with impressive revenue growth (+36%). To this end, and in anticipation of the expected market environment on both sides of the Atlantic, we decided to focus most of our business investments for 2025 on North America, where we see considerable growth potential. 2024 heralded a milestone in our development, buoyed by a promising start in generative AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, not to mention our stronger leader position in Europe following the acquisition of SHS Viveon, and lastly, a marked acceleration in our US expansion. Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Sidetrade is on track to deliver another year of growth and profitability.
Solid Q4 2024: subscription bookings up 33%
Sidetrade ended Q4 2024 with bookings of €2.08 million in new ARR, a substantial increase of 33% versus €1.56 million in the same period last year. Parallel to this, services bookings, with almost all invoiced within 12 months of their signing, totaled €1.72 million, up 29% on the same period the previous year (€1.33 million).
Overall, new Annual Contract Value (ACV) – combining new yearly subscriptions and related services – totaled €3.8 million, representing a sustained increase of 31% versus €2.89 million in Q4 2023.
New record for bookings, year-over-year (ACV up 13%)
Despite a sharp decline in Q3 2024, Sidetrade succeeded in setting a new full-year record for bookings, both in terms of total new subscriptions and related services. For the fiscal year 2024, new contracts amounted to €6.53 million in subscriptions in new ARR, up 6% from the €6.18 million reported in 2023, with services bookings of €6.2 million, i.e., growth of 21% versus the €5.1 million recorded in the previous fiscal year.
On balance, new ACV totaled a never-before-seen €12.73 million, compared to €11.30 million year-over-year (+13%).
The United States played its full role as a growth driver, with a 36% increase in subscription bookings, accounting for 46% of the total. In addition, the Northern Europe region – mainly driven by the United Kingdom – kick-started a positive upturn with €0.74 million in subscriptions for 2024, representing a 20% increase on 2023 and indicating potential for further growth in 2025.
In the 2024 fiscal year, bookings in subscriptions by new customers (“New Business”) accounted for 63% of the total, while 18% of total bookings were driven by Cross-selling for new entities within a Group. Lastly, Upselling of additional modules to existing customers represented the remaining 19% of bookings.
Strong revenue growth in 2024, up 26%, with SaaS subscriptions up 22%
| Sidetrade (€m) |
2024 | 2023 | Change |
| SaaS subscriptions | 45.51 | 37.3 | +22% |
| revenue | 55.02 | 43.7 | +26% |
In 2024, Sidetrade achieved annual revenue of €55.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 26% and up 16% on a comparable basis (excluding the acquisition of SHS Viveon completed in June 2024), which is underpinned by solid internal momentum. These outstanding results are due to several factors:
- Sustained organic growth
Excluding the contribution of SHS Viveon, Sidetrade expertly demonstrated its ability to sustain growth. Total Company revenue (excluding the acquisition) increased by 16%, while SaaS subscriptions were up by a sizeable 15%. In particular, this performance was bolstered by a record first-half for bookings. In parallel, the Group’s Services business achieved remarkable growth of 24%, notably thanks to deployment projects signed worldwide. - Strategic acquisition of SHS Viveon
Following its consolidation on July 1, 2024, SHS Viveon delivered revenue of €4.4 million, serving to accelerate Sidetrade’s growth momentum. Fully consolidated in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eastern European countries), SHS Viveon’s business accounted for 15% of the Company’s total revenue in H2 2024. This new geography is now an established growth driver for the Group. - A fast-expanding global presence (65% of revenue)
Sidetrade is extending its foothold worldwide, which validates international expansion as one of its strategic pillars. The consolidation of SHS Viveon has propelled the share of revenue generated outside France to 65%, a significant development testifying to the Group’s successful expansion.
What’s more, with 70% of its workforce based abroad, Sidetrade has proven its ability in expanding in global markets while upholding close ties with local customers, fostering trust and effectiveness. - Remarkable performance in North America (+36%)
Of all the Group’s geographies, North America posted the strongest growth for 2024, up 36% and accounting for €16.6 million in annual revenue. This strategic market will continue to play an important role in fulfilling Sidetrade’s ambitions for development.
Rise in subscriptions from multinationals: a growth driver for Sidetrade
Analysis of Sidetrade’s customer profiles, which is enhanced by the consolidation of SHS Viveon, is underpinned by impressive growth of 44% in subscriptions with multinationals generating €2.5 billion-plus revenue. These contracts now account for 50% of Sidetrade’s total subscriptions, proving critical to the Company’s development strategy.
More generally, subscriptions with multinationals achieving €1.0 billion-plus revenue now represent 79% of the total portfolio, cementing Sidetrade’s strengthened position as the partner of choice among large corporations.
The acquisition of SHS Viveon substantially contributed to this performance, providing an established portfolio of key accounts and widening the scope for Sidetrade with major companies in the DACH region. With this expanded customer base, Sidetrade is firmly positioned to sustain demand and fully capitalize on these new opportunities over the next few quarters.
It should be noted that all multi-year Sidetrade contracts are routinely indexed to inflation (the Syntec for Southern Europe, the UK CPI for Northern Europe and the US CPI for the United States). This measure alters the total price of SaaS subscriptions each year by reference to changes in these price indices, without the need for contract renewals.
Sidetrade rises to the Top 15% in EcoVadis ratings
2024 marked a new milestone for Sidetrade in terms of social and environmental performance as the Group was awarded a Silver medal from EcoVadis. As a result, the Company now ranks among the top 15% rated within its industry.
With a score of 70/100 – an improvement from 2023 – this medal recognizes the Group’s efforts to shrink its energy footprint while optimizing infrastructure. This success reaffirms Sidetrade’s status as a responsible partner in the transition towards a sustainable economy.
Sidetrade looks ahead to the fiscal year 2025 with confidence and a clear vision, and has the resources to fulfill its ambitions.
Building on its achievement of SOC 1® Type 1 and SOC 2® Type 1 assurance first obtained in January 2024, this milestone reflects a significant improvement and demonstrates Sidetrade’s dedication to consistently improving its security and operational practices.
Laurent Pontier, Sidetrade’s CTO Chief of Staff, commented: We are extremely proud of our strong commitment to information security, assurance and operational excellence at Sidetrade. These achievements have become a defining advantage in the financial software landscape, particularly in the Order-to-Cash process, where secure and efficient management of financial workflows is critical.
SOC 1® Type 2 and SOC 2® Type 2 assurance reports are of particular relevance to our clients in North America, those operating in regulated sectors, and businesses prioritizing data security. These attestations and certifications provide assurance to our customers and partners worldwide that we adhere to international best practices in security, reliability, and compliance, and consistently strive to surpass them with the utmost rigor year after year.
The SOC (System and Organization Controls) reporting process provides an industry benchmark for evaluating the security, reliability, and effectiveness of third-party service providers. SOC 1® (ISAE 3402) focuses on the financial reporting aspects of Sidetrade’s solutions, validating the controls’ effectiveness that support accurate and secure financial operations. In contrast, SOC 2® (ISAE 3000) addresses the broader security framework across the entire organization.
The advancement from Type 1 to Type 2 attestations demonstrates that Sidetrade not only has designed controls that comply with the most stringent international information security standards at a specific point in time, but also that they are operationally effective and consistently implemented over an extended period. This progression underscores Sidetrade’s proactive efforts to stay ahead of evolving assurance and security challenges, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for organizations.
Additionally, Sidetrade has successfully renewed its ISO 27001:2022 certification for the fifth consecutive year since 2019. Issued by EY CertifyPoint, the internationally recognized certification sets the benchmark for secure information management, providing a comprehensive framework to protect data, mitigate security risks, and ensure organizations uphold international best practices. By achieving ISO 27001:2022 certification once again, Sidetrade reaffirms its dedication to information security, assuring customers that its data protection practices not only meet global standards but are also continually reviewed and improved to address emerging threats.
Find out more about Sidetrade’s commitment to effective governance and Corporate Social Responsibility here.
“Cash Maturity 2024” by Sidetrade and PwC provides a perspective on finance transformation trends across Europe, revealing how companies are rethinking Order-to-Cash strategies amid significant interest rates and tighter credit conditions. Now in its second year, the report shows businesses adopting generative AI and cultivating in-house talent to build finance functions that drive measurable value.
The study serves as a guide for finance leaders to assess their cash maturity and take proactive steps to optimize their finance functions. As finance departments continue to evolve into dynamic, value-generating units, the road to success lies in embracing change, setting clear priorities, and making bold, informed choices in the face of economic uncertainty.
The complete Cash Maturity 2024 study can be accessed here.
Arthur Wastyn, Partner PwC France and Maghreb commented: Through technology – AI and process automation primarily – companies are now embracing a more systematic and ambitious transformation of their Order-to-Cash processes, moving beyond the aspirations of 2023. Yet, the success and sustainability of this transformation depend not only on technological foundations but, above all, on identifying bold, visionary leaders able to deliver complex projects in a volatile environment.
Key findings of “Cash Maturity 2024”
- Even as budget increases shrink, down 30% from 2023, finance leaders are pressing ahead with transformation efforts; 87% are actively engaged in projects for 2024 (compared to 59% in 2023), with nearly all of these active projects (98%) making optimized Order-to-Cash (O2C) processes a focal point of their investments. This push aligns with a 79% increase in priority for initiatives targeting cash flow acceleration and EBITDA growth which is critical as businesses navigate rising interest rates and constrained credit conditions.
- Generative AI has emerged as a high priority within this transformation landscape. Over 80% of companies are investing in it, despite financial constraints, placing it just behind ERP systems in deployment plans. Yet, with more than 55% of O2C tasks still handled manually, many companies are recognizing the need to automate these processes. In fact, three-quarters of respondents are planning significant automation upgrades over the next 18 months, seeking to boost productivity and cash flow efficiency.
- Accompanying these technological moves is a notable pivot in HR strategy within finance teams. Rather than outsourcing, companies are emphasizing internal upskilling, addressing the rising demand for technical, analytical, and leadership skills. This year, 50% of respondents report prioritizing talent development—up from 27% in 2023—reflecting a substantial commitment to building both the hard and soft skills essential for today’s finance strategy.
Jean-Claude Charpenet, Sidetrade Partner added: In today’s climate, budget limitations aren’t slowing down investment in generative AI – in fact most business leaders see it as essential to drive Order-to-Cash transformation. For today’s CFOs, smart technology isn’t just about productivity; it’s a strategic move to stabilize cash flow and protect EBITDA. Finance transformation is now a must, fueling growth and resilience in a market that demands agility. The real challenge is no longer ‘if’ but deciding ‘how fast’ and ‘where to focus’.
Methodology
“Cash Maturity 2024” was co-authored by PwC and Sidetrade between Q2 – Q3 FY24.
The research encompassed responses from a sample of 180 companies across a range of industries and represented a diverse spectrum of functions, including CEO, CFO and Financial Manager.
To ensure the robustness of our findings, it intentionally designed the survey sample to be highly heterogeneous, encompassing companies of varying sizes, from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations, and spanning across a multitude of industry sectors.
This methodological approach was undertaken to provide a comprehensive and representative analysis of the finance transformation landscape, offering insights that cater to a wide range of organizations.
Sidetrade is one of 14 vendors to be evaluated and was cited within the IDC MarketScape report.
According to the report, “Consider Sidetrade when you are looking for an Order-to-Cash software provider that specializes in AI technology and has a global footprint.”
Kevin Permenter, Research Director in Financial Applications at IDC said: Sidetrade’s position as a Leader is a reflection of its advanced AI, extensive data set and robust multi-tenancy cloud architecture. Its comprehensive O2C solution is powered by an impressive data lake, offering real-time payment behavior insights and benchmarks to help large organizations improve their cashflow performance, whilst its multi-tenant cloud architecture ensures easier upgrades and scalability, enhancing customer support and maintenance.
Sidetrade has long been recognized for its pioneering approach to innovation in the field of AI. The power of its AI technology – Aimie – is fueled by the most advanced and extensive Order-to-Cash data lake. The Sidetrade Data Lake processes $6.1 trillion in B2B payment transactions real-time daily in Sidetrade’s cloud. Aimie is continuously enriched with millions of data points, leveraging the latest in machine learning, natural language processing and, more recently, generative AI.
Because there is no high-performance AI without data, Aimie brings a significant competitive advantage and differentiating efficiency over other O2C solutions. With exclusive access to the Sidetrade Data Lake, Aimie mines a vast source of financial and business insights. This unique capacity ensures exceptional accuracy in analyzing payment behaviors and predicting the dynamics of cash flow generation.
Rob Harvey, Chief Product Officer at Sidetrade added: We are honored to receive this recognition as a Leader by the IDC MarketScape which we believe is a testament to our continued commitment to the advancement of AI technology in Order-to-Cash.
We recognized a long time ago that artificial intelligence is only as powerful as the data that fuels it. By drawing on the Sidetrade Data Lake, our generative AI, Aimie, delivers deeper insights and unparalleled adaptability. It is this steadfast vision that has enabled us to lead the way forward today and propel O2C practices into a new era of efficiency.
About the IDC MarketScape:
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers
Download an excerpt of the report here.
Sidetrade has also been named a Leader in Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ and included in Critical Capabilities for Invoice-to-Cash Applications for three years in a row since 2022. From Sidetrade’s perspective, this recognition is further acknowledgement of its ability to execute and completeness of vision.
Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Invoice-to-Cash Applications 7 May 2024, Tamara Shipley Et Al.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner and Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
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Olivier Novasque, CEO of Sidetrade commented:
To date, our continually robust organic growth, combined with the strategic relevance of our external growth through the consolidation of SHS Viveon, has triggered an impressive 33% increase in our revenue. The expected slowdown in bookings over the third quarter, which is traditionally the weakest period of the year, in no way affects our ambition to match or even exceed our all-time record for contracts won last year. That said, we are embarking on a strong trajectory and reiterate our confidence in stepping up double-digit growth for 2024 and further out.
Parallel to this, our official registration as a Dematerialization Platform Partner by France’s Public Finance Department, and, in a different context, reaching the Top 15% of the EcoVadis ranking highlights our commitment to the environmental, social and governance responsibility. Performance, safety and efficiency are more than mere targets; together, they form the pillars that shape our future.
Quarter after quarter, our resilient economic model combined with our technological lead in AI and accelerated international growth – now with 68% of revenue achieved outside France – have enabled us to significantly upscale in next to no time, fast-tracking Sidetrade’s development into one of the select few Order-to-Cash technology leaders worldwide.
Q3 bookings at €1.52 million, in line for 2024
In Q3 2024, which is traditionally the weakest of the year, Sidetrade achieved bookings of €1.52 million in New Annual Contract Value (ACV), versus €2.49 million in the same period last year. As announced during the September 11 investor presentation, the expected slowdown in third-quarter bookings against a complex economic and political backdrop does not affect the Group’s positive outlook for the full 2024 fiscal year.
In the first nine months of 2024, Sidetrade recorded €8.94 million for bookings in New Annual Contract Value (ACV), compared to €8.42 million year-over-year (+6%). Given the postponement of a number of new contracts in Q3 2024 – serving to bolster an already strong business pipeline for Q4 2024 – Sidetrade is expected to match or even exceed its historic bookings record on a full fiscal year basis, which was set in 2023 with €11.2 million achieved in new ACV terms.
Strong revenue growth, up 33%, with SaaS subscriptions up 31%
| Sidetrade (€m) |
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | Change |
| SaaS subscriptions | 12.51 | 9.5 | +31 |
| revenue | 14.92 | 11.2 | +33% |
In Q3 2024, Sidetrade achieved revenue of €14.9 million, representing an increase of 33% and up 14% on a comparable scope basis (excluding the recent acquisition of SHS Viveon). This strong performance is attributable to several key factors.
First, the robust momentum in revenue growth on a constant scope basis continues. As a reminder, in the first half of 2024, Sidetrade reported a 19% increase in its revenue with growth of 18% in revenue for SaaS subscriptions which was impacted by a 4% contribution from the CreditPoint Software business, consolidated as of July 2023. On a constant scope basis, growth in the Company’s revenue was therefore 15%, with a 14% increase in revenue for SaaS subscriptions. In line with this performance, Sidetrade (excluding SHS Viveon) sustained vigorous momentum over Q3 2024, posting a 14% increase in its total Company revenue and 15% revenue growth for SaaS subscriptions, driven by a record performance for half-year bookings.
In addition, the consolidation of the SHS Viveon business – effective since July 1, 2024 – substantially contributed to this quarterly growth, delivering a positive impact of 19%. SHS Viveon generated revenue of €2.1 million in Q3 2024. Fully consolidated in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eastern European countries), SHS Viveon’s business represents a new growth driver for Sidetrade, with this geography now accounting for 14% of the Company’s total revenue.
On the back of SHS Viveon’s consolidation, international markets now represent 68% of the Group’s revenue. With more than 70% of its workforce based outside France, Sidetrade is strongly positioned to capitalize on an increasingly globalized market, while leveraging a strong local presence in its strategic markets.
Lastly, North America delivered the strongest growth, with revenue up 30%, representing €4.1 million over the period. This market will continue to play a pivotal role in Sidetrade’s growth trajectory.
Analysis of the Company’s customer profiles (including the consolidated SHS Viveon) is underpinned by brisk growth of 53% in subscriptions with multinational corporations generating €2.5 billion-plus revenue. These contracts now account for more than half (52%) of Sidetrade’s total subscriptions and are expected to remain an important growth driver in the quarters ahead. The acquisition of SHS Viveon has helped accelerate this momentum, thanks to the business’ established portfolio of key accounts.
Registration completed in France’s public invoicing portal
Under France’s reform of electronic invoicing, Sidetrade was recently registered as a Dematerialization Platform Partner by the country’s Public Finance Department.
While acknowledging that this initiative marks a step forward, Sidetrade does not regard it as providing a competitive advantage to its solutions and the Company is continuing to assess all options consistent with its targets for strategic development, both in France and internationally.
Sidetrade rises to the Top 15% on EcoVadis
Sidetrade recently secured a new Silver medal from EcoVadis, ranking among the top 15% of companies rated within its industry. This award recognizes the Group’s social and environmental performance.
In September 2024, the Company reached a score of 70/100, placing it in the 91st percentile. This progress from its previous rating of 68/100 and its positioning in the top 25% underscore the Group’s relentless focus on improving its sustainable operations. The EcoVadis score illustrates the strides taken to address environmental, social, and ethical issues, particularly through strengthened policies on cutting energy consumption and optimizing technical infrastructure.
Such recognition distinguishes Sidetrade as one of the sustainability leaders in its sector, enhancing its credibility with international clientele and partners while cementing its position as a responsible company committed to driving the transition towards a more sustainable economy.
| Sidetrade (€m) |
H1 2024 | H1 2023 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 24.8 | 20.9 | + 19% |
|
of which SaaS subscriptions |
20.5 | 17.4 | + 18% |
| Gross margin | 19.9 | 16.9 | + 18% |
| as a % of Revenue | 80% | 81% | |
| Operating expenses (OPEX) | (16.3) | (14.4) | + 13% |
| Operating margin* | 3.6 | 2.5 | + 44% |
| as a % of Revenue | 15% | 12% | |
| Net profit | 3.6 | 2.2 | + 64% |
*Operating margin corresponds to operating profit based on 2024 accounting standards in France, including the French Research Tax Credit.
Olivier Novasque, CEO of Sidetrade commented:
Sidetrade once more delivered its best half-year to date with double-digit growth across the board in terms of financial indicators. This performance reflects a significant leverage effect on the operating margin (+44%) and net profit (+64%). Despite an uncertain economic and political backdrop on both sides of the Atlantic, in this first half, Sidetrade illustrated the robustness of its growth driver, at the same time achieving a new record in bookings – almost balanced between Europe and the United States – with substantial revenue growth. Although by tradition, the third quarter is the weakest, a strong fourth quarter – on the bookings front – could sustain this 2024 momentum and further increase revenue visibility for 2025.
The additional €3 million in gross margin generated over these six months gave us significant scope to continue investing ambitiously (up by €1.9 million compared to H1 2023). We’ve primarily focused on our own artificial intelligence – namely, Aimie – and have successfully integrated the first Generative AI features into our product offering. Despite the increase in investments, the operating margin surged by around 300 basis points in this first half, now reaching 15% of revenue, compared to 12% in the first half of 2023 – a standout profitability for the industry. In addition, the €6.2 million in operating cash flow generated over the first half was more than sufficient to fully self-finance the SHS Viveon AG acquisition, for a net total of €4.6 million, excluding related costs.
On balance, Sidetrade is fully equipped to focus on its three main priorities for the coming quarters: 1/ Becoming the global Leader in Generative AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, leveraging proprietary technology to create unmatched value for its customers, 2/ Expanding further in the United States, 3/ Strengthening our leader status in Europe, particularly through the growth of the DACH region, accelerated by the acquisition of SHS Viveon AG. Staying true to its proven model which combines growth and profitability, Sidetrade will continue to establish itself as a key global player in the Order-to-Cash space. We are more committed than ever to executing our Fusion100 strategic plan, aiming for $100 million in revenue by the end of 2026.
All-time performance for half-year bookings: ACV up 25%
| Sidetrade (€m) |
H1 2024 | H1 2023 | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| New SaaS subscriptions (New ARR) | 3.95 | 3.30 | + 20% |
| Services bookings | 3.47 | 2.62 | + 32% |
| New Annual Contract Value (ACV) | 7.42 | 5.92 | + 25% |
2024 information is from consolidated, unaudited data.
In H1 2024, Sidetrade set another record for bookings, adding €7.42 million in New Annual Contract Value (ACV), representing a substantial increase of 25%.
This first-half performance is partly due to the Company’s success in North America since it represents New ACV of €3.34 million, accounting for 45% of total bookings. Sidetrade’s development model now shows a near-perfect balance between North America (45%) and Europe (55%). Within Europe, France accounted for 31% of total bookings, serving as a relative contributor to Sidetrade’s future growth.
New SaaS bookings (New ARR) totaled €3.95 million, up 20% on H1 2023, reaching an unprecedented level for a first half in Sidetrade’s history, even though Q2 2023 remains the best-performing single quarter to date in terms of bookings. Q1 and Q2 2024 recorded more regular and steadier new SaaS bookings compared to the same periods last year, posting €1.85 million (Q1 2024) and €2.10 million (Q2 2024) versus €0.89 million (Q1 2023) and €2.41 million (Q2 2023). Overall, in H1 2024, Total Contract Value (TCV) increased to €12.24 million.
Parallel to this, services bookings, with almost all invoiced within 12 months of their signing, totaled €3.47 million for the first half of 2024, up 32% on the same period the previous year. This strong increase is still attributed to the multiplication of global projects.
This first-half 2024 performance reflects the upward trend in bookings observed during the 2023 fiscal year, further validating the relevance of the Company’s strategic decisions, namely: 1/ A business strategy kick-started 24 months ago, with a focus on companies generating $1 billion-plus revenue, 2/ An increased recognition by multinationals of Sidetrade’s technological edge in AI, particularly in the United States, 3/ The development of a comprehensive Order-to-Cash software suite, resulting from a strategy of continuous innovation.
Strong revenue growth, up 19%, with SaaS subscriptions up 18%
The Company’s revenue for the first half of 2024 totaled €24.8 million, also reporting an increase of 19%, attributable to:
- Robust revenue growth in the United States, up 40%
Quarter after quarter, the United States is a growth driver for Sidetrade, posting revenues up 40% to €7.9 million in H1 2024. International markets account for 60% of the Company’s total revenue, with 32% coming from North America. Going forward, the United States will continue to be pivotal for Sidetrade’s growth. - Ever-increasing demand from multinational corporations
Analysis of Sidetrade’s customer profiles is underpinned by growth of 34% in subscriptions with multinational corporations on annual recurring revenue (ARR) contracts in excess of €250,000. These subscriptions now account for 47% of Sidetrade’s total subscriptions and are expected to remain a growth driver in the quarters ahead. - Consolidation of CreditPoint Software business
Since its consolidation on July 1, 2023, CreditPoint Software has positively contributed to Sidetrade’s performance. In H1 2024, this business generated revenue of €0.8 million, with a 4% impact on the Group’s quarterly growth.
In H1 2024, revenue for Order-to-Cash SaaS subscriptions was up considerably, by 18%.
Leverage effect on the operating margin, up 44% to 15% of revenue
Significant increase in gross margin, up 18% at 80% of revenue
Sidetrade’s gross margin stood at 80% of revenue for H1 2024 (vs. 81% in H1 2023) and 92% on SaaS subscriptions (vs. 93% year-over-year). Over this period, the Company recorded a €3.0 million incremental increase in gross margin compared with H1 2023.
This strong performance is fueled by the contribution of SaaS subscriptions, which now account for 95% of the Company’s total gross margin. It also reflects a business strategy promoting Sidetrade’s technological edge in AI, and tight cost control despite an inflationary environment.
Operating margin at 15% of revenue ( 12% in H1 2023)
In H1 2024, the Company’s operating margin came out to €3.6 million, up 44% year-over-year (€2.5 million). This profitability was driven by vigorous revenue growth, an excellent gross margin and efficient cost control.
This marked progress enabled Sidetrade to continue its investment policy, with an increase of €1.9 million versus H1 2023, with a particular focus on R&D (+€1.3 million) notably to integrate Generative AI into the core of its product (see press release).
In H1 2024, operating margin included a French Research Tax Credit of €1.4 million (vs. €1.3 million in H1 2023 as well as marginal capitalization of R&D costs at €0.1 million, i.e. 2% of R&D costs for the half-year.
As a result, Sidetrade’s operating margin stands at 15% of revenue, an increase of three points compared to the 12% recorded in H1 2023.
Surge in net profit to €3.6 million: up 64%
Sidetrade’s net financial income for H1 2024 stood at €0.3 million, up significantly year-over-year (-€0.03 million). This performance is mostly due to interest earned on short-term investments and exchange rate gains achieved during the first half.
Corporate income tax for H1 2024 was estimated at €0.3 million (vs. the same amount a year earlier).
All told, Sidetrade’s net profit for the first half of the 2024 fiscal year was €3.6 million, up 64%, confirming a new level of profitability and a solid balance between growth and profitability.
Strengthened financial health, even after the acquisition of SHS Viveon AG
The first half of 2024 enabled the Company to considerably increase its operating cash flow to €6.2 million.
As of June 30, 2024, Sidetrade reported €24.0 million in gross cash, ending at the same position as of December 31, 2023, despite acquiring SHS Viveon AG for a net total of €4.6 million (acquisition of €6 million in shares offset by €1.4 million in available cash at SHS Viveon AG). Parallel to this, Sidetrade held 85,600 of its own shares for a value of €15.2 million at end-June.
With a financial debt of €9.1 million (reduced by €1.2 million), in addition to acquiring SHS Viveon AG, Sidetrade preserves its acquisition capacity to accelerate its expansion.
Expansion in the DACH region, boosted by SHS Viveon AG
On May 6, 2024, Sidetrade opened a public tender offer for SHS Viveon AG, a German leader in credit risk management software (see press release). Following approval by the Munich Stock Exchange to delist SHS Viveon AG’s shares, Sidetrade extended its offer to July 29, 2024 (see press release). To date, Sidetrade owns 88.01% of SHS Viveon AG’s capital, cementing its position as the majority shareholder.
SHS Viveon AG’s business will be consolidated into the Group’s financial statements from July 1, 2024. For Sidetrade, this acquisition presents a new opportunity to grow in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eastern European countries) and further strengthen its position worldwide.