Skip to main content

Q-Free preparing for new projects

Q-Free has announced revenues of US$21.11 million during the first quarter 2012 compared to US$29.66 million in the corresponding quarter in 2011, while order intake came in at $44.29 million, $6.45 million more than in previous quarter and $2.96 million more than in Q1-2011, reflecting, the company says, that its general optimism regarding demand is well grounded.
April 27, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
108 Q-Free has announced revenues of US$21.11 million during the first quarter 2012 compared to US$29.66 million in the corresponding quarter in 2011, while order intake came in at $44.29 million, $6.45 million more than in previous quarter and $2.96 million more than in Q1-2011, reflecting, the company says, that its general optimism regarding demand is well grounded.

Most important short term is the development in the Jakarta project which Q-Free signed at the end of October, 2011, with PT Rin for the delivery of an electronic law enforcement (ELE) system for Jakarta (DKI) and greater area of Jakarta (Bodetabek). Based on Q-Free's latest tolling solutions, it will be used by the local police for controlling traffic in Jakarta. The purpose of the system is to provide a more efficient system for registration and control of registered vehicles in Indonesia and will improve the efficiency of the local police to enforce stolen vehicles, fake number plates and security related incidents. The potential contract value is some US$167 million for road side infrastructure, operational back office, tags and a service and a maintenance contract for six years. More than half of the contract value is related to delivery of tags.

Although the financing for the project is not concluded yet, Q-Free reports that good progress has been made. 5320 GIEK has approved to give guarantees for the project and 5321 Eksportfinans and Q-Free’s client are currently negotiating the loan agreement. It is expected that this will be signed during May 2012.

The $44.29 million order intake in the quarter is comprised of congestion charging infrastructure in Gothenburg, Sweden, a tag frame agreement with Spanish operator Abertis, AutoPASS contracts in Norway, an access control contract with Brisbane Airport in Australia, a tag order from 3843 Via Verde, Portugal, and other smaller product orders from various markets. The Group’s order backlog totalled US$103.75 at the end of the first quarter 2012 compared to $80.57 at the end of the fourth quarter 2011.

“Our order intake this quarter indicates the high market activity,” says Q-Free CEO Øyvind Isaksen. The company communicated last quarter an addressable opportunity pipeline of US$872 million - $2.62 billion globally for the next three years, and Isaksen says he sees no reasons to revise this. ”We are working on company changing projects and believe it is just a matter of time before breakthrough in new markets.”

The company targeted US$174.42 million in revenue with EBIT level exceeding 10 % for 2012. As the financial close for the Jakarta project is somewhat delayed, the key assumption for the year target is not met. Even so, Q-Free says it still aims to be in the range of the target, depending on kick-off of the Jakarta project in May and conclusion on other projects in the first half of the year.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Q-Free increases its stake in Intelight
    March 20, 2015
    Q-Free has increased its stake in US traffic controller supplier, Intelight, with a five year option program which will give shareholders the option to sell shares at closing in 2015 and in five subsequent years valid from 2016. The deal will give Q-Free the opportunity to add some 15 per cent of Intelight shares to its current 10.2 per cent shareholding each year. At end of the five year period, Q-Free has the option to acquire the rest of the shares. The first transaction will be closed during the second
  • National truck tolling scheme compensates for transit traffic
    July 13, 2012
    Q-Free's Per Frederik Ecker talks about the Slovak Republic's new truck tolling system, which is intended to compensate for the large amounts of transit traffic which passes through the country. In January this year Q-Free, together with Siemens, was awarded the contract to deliver the new national truck tolling scheme in the Slovak Republic. This will be operated by Slovakia SkyToll on a 13-year concession and Q-Free is supplying the central tolling and enforcement system, together with a three-year servic
  • Sensys Gatso scoops orders from Royal Oman Police
    December 16, 2015
    Sensys Gatso Group has received orders for traffic safety systems valued at around US$1million from long-standing customer the Royal Oman Police. Deliveries will commence in the fourth quarter of 2015 and are planned to be finalised in the first quarter of 2016. “It is an honour to be selected by the Royal Oman Police for these orders as we are one of three suppliers in Oman. It manifests our leading position and shows on the value we bring to our customers in relation to the competition. We are looki
  • Q-Free sells parking division 
    May 5, 2021
    Q-Free says it wants to concentrate on tolling and traffic management solutions