Skip to main content

Q-Free reports strong revenue growth

Q-Free has reported strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2014, reflecting a substantial increase in sales within the advanced transportation management systems (ATMS) business following the acquisition of US-based Open Roads by the end of the third quarter 2014 and an increase in product revenues. “In early 2014, we revised our strategy and now aim at creating more leads in the small and mid-sized segments. In Q4, we have made significant progress in this respect. At the same time we succeeded
February 12, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
RSS

108 Q-Free has reported strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2014, reflecting a substantial increase in sales within the advanced transportation management systems (ATMS) business following the acquisition of US-based Open Roads by the end of the third quarter 2014 and an increase in product revenues.

“In early 2014, we revised our strategy and now aim at creating more leads in the small and mid-sized segments. In Q4, we have made significant progress in this respect. At the same time we succeeded in improving our overall financial performance and increased our operational cash flow,” commented Q-Free CEO, Thomas Falck.

Revenue in the quarter was US$334 million, up 71 per cent from the corresponding quarter in 2013. For the full year 2014, revenues increased by 30 per cent to US$103million, up from US$479 million in 2013. EBITDA improved to US$11 million from minus US$4 million, while EBIT was US$1 million, an improvement on 2013’s minus US$12 million.

“We see that the expansion into ATMS is starting to pay off and we see signs of improvement in the road user charging market. In Q4 we demonstrated improving underlying margins from increasing volumes. We still have a long way to go and we expect some volatility in the quarters to come, but we are taking steps to continuously improve our business to become a stronger and healthier player within the ITS market,” Falck continues.

Order intake during the fourth quarter amounted to US$44 million, up from US$24.9 million in the third quarter 2014. By the end of the period, total order backlog amounted to US$63 million, of which US$47.5 is for delivery in 2015.

Related Content

  • WiLAN to acquire International Road Dynamics
    April 20, 2017
    Canadian patent licensing company WiLAN is to acquire intelligent transportation systems (ITS) supplier International Road Dynamics for an equity value of approximately US $47.4 million (CA$63.5 million). The acquisition is part of WiLAN’s growth strategy which will see it operate under the Quarterhill name from around the beginning of June 2017.
  • IRD announces strong third quarter, launches new products
    October 14, 2016
    Intelligent transportation systems provider International Road Dynamics (IRD) has announced solid financial results for the third quarter of 2016, with revenues up 16.0 per cent to US$36.6 million (CA$48.4 million) on growth in key North American markets and an increase in gross margin to 32.5 per cent. Nett earnings increased 27.5 per cent to US$1.6 million (CA$2.2 million). The company says it is in a strong financial position with working capital of US$10 million ($13.3 million). According to Terry Be
  • Russian tag order for Q-Free
    September 11, 2015
    Q-Free has been awarded a three-year frame agreement valued at around US$1.2 million by the North-West Concession Company in Russia. The contract is for the company’s OBU615, which features ultra-low power consumption and new signal discrimination technology which enables an extended lifetime and immunity to radio frequency (RF) interference from wireless-enabled devices to be found within or around the vehicle. The first order under the frame agreement will be delivered during the fourth quarter 201
  • Eastern Europe opts for Q-Free traffic management
    July 21, 2014
    Q-Free subsidiary Elcom is to supply the city of Belgrade, Serbia, with advanced transportation management systems (ATMS), including traffic signal controllers and traffic management systems. The contract, valued at around US$1 million will begin in July 2014 and will be delivered within one year. Q-Free has also been awarded contracts valued at more than US$300,000 for traffic signal systems to be supplied to in Serbia and Macedonia during 2014. “Q-Free has made several acquisitions within the ATMS