SIX Closes First Half of 2022 with Stable Results on the Back of Challenging Market Conditions

• Operating income amounted to CHF 751.7 million (+0.8%, currency-adjusted +2.6%)
• Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to CHF 213.7 million (-5.5%)
• The non-operating result increased year-on-year thanks to one-off effects in the financial result
• Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) increased by 4.9% to CHF 161.4 million
• Net profit increased by 12.1% to CHF 121.3 million

Net profit rises significantly
Despite increasing macroeconomic challenges, SIX kept its operating income virtually unchanged year-on-year in the first half of the year (+0.8%). Adjusted for currency effects, the growth rate increased to 2.6%. The diversified business model of SIX once again proved its worth. The investments made in the Banking Services business unit over the past three years led to positive developments in the reporting period, such as in Debit & Mobile Services, ATMs and eBill. These largely compensated for the declines in income in other business units resulting from currency effects and unfavorable market developments. Investments in infrastructure and integration expenses led to a year-on-year cost increase of 3.5%. Overall, this resulted in operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of CHF 213.7 million, down 5.5% year-on-year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of CHF 161.4 million are 4.9% above the previous year’s level due to one-off effects in financial income mainly related to the full acquisition of REGIS-TR trade repository. Net profit increased by a substantial 12.1% to CHF 121.3 million.

Consistent implementation of growth strategy
SIX achieved various further milestones in the implementation of its strategy during the reporting period, increasing volumes, reach and productivity. Xlife Sciences was the first SME to go public in the new “Sparks” Swiss SME segment. At the same time, the Spanish market counterpart “BME Growth,” which has already existed for some time, recorded six company listings: Enerside Energy, Vytrus Biotech, Hannun, SUBSTRATE AI, Labiana Health and IBI LION. In the international custody business, SIX expanded into Singapore and launched a new clearing platform for the Scandinavian markets. For the environment, social and governance (ESG) investment topics, SIX further expanded its data offering and, in the area of open banking, established its bLink platform more firmly in the market.

SIX took further steps in the integration of Spanish Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) in the first half of the year. Among other things, it introduced the CONNEXOR reference data platform, which is well established in the Swiss market, to the Spanish market in February and has enabled customers there to settle and hold Swiss securities via its Spanish central securities depository Iberclear since June.

“Despite turbulent market conditions, we have achieved a solid result in the first half of the year,” emphasizes Jos Dijsselhof, CEO of SIX. “We provide global access to the Swiss and Spanish financial centers, guarantee capital raising, trading and settlement, and ensure the supply of data to the financial markets and payment transactions. In economically and geopolitically challenging times, it is particularly important that our customers and all market participants can always rely on us.

At the same time, we are continuing to drive forward our growth in order to systematically develop new business potential and continuously invest in new and improved services, as well as in our infrastructure and security. This enables us to ensure that we continue to drive change in response to changing needs in our markets and can continue to offer our customers excellent service at all times in the future.”

Company Wide

• New organizational structure for further growth in international capital market infrastructure business
• Milestones in integration of BME:
• CONNEXOR reference data platform expands into Spanish market
• Consolidation of market data feeds and SWIFT systems in both home markets
• Settlement and custody of Swiss securities now possible via Spanish central securities depository Iberclear
• Exchanges
• _{Four company listings in Switzerland, including the first in the “Sparks” SME segment}
• _{Eight company listings in Spain – six of them in the “BME Growth” segment, one in the LATAM segment “Latibex” and one in the main market}
• _{Expansion of data microwave network with new route to Bergamo}
• _{First trading activities at SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) with world’s first SIX digital bond in regulated environment}
• _{Successful test integration of settlement in wholesale CBDC with commercial banks by BIS, SNB and SIX}
• Securities Services
• _{Expansion of international custody business to Singapore}
• _{Launch of new clearing platform for Scandinavian markets}
• _{Partnership with Cyprus for post-trade solution}
• _{Completion of the acquisition of the REGIS-TR trade repository}
• _{Cooperation with LMAX Group for clearing of crypto futures}
• Financial Information
• _{Expansion of ESG data offer with data from Sustainalytics}
• _{Cooperation with Urgentem to offer climate data and analytics}
• Banking Services
• _{Cooperation with Finnova for Open Banking platform bLink}
• _{Increasing debit card, ATM and eBill transaction volumes}

Financial and business outlook
It can currently be assumed that the development since the beginning of the year will largely continue in the second half of the year. SIX remains committed to its growth strategy and the medium- to long-term turnover and cost targets published in March. The focus is particularly on the digital assets business and the data offering in the ESG area. At the same time, net debt is to be continuously reduced. The ongoing integration of BME will also remain a focus in the second half of the year.

Download the Interim Report

The publication provides a full report on the performance of the business units of SIX and outlines the ongoing efforts of SIX in providing the financial sector with innovative products and services.

• Interim Report 2022
• Media Presentation

Key Figures of SIX

1 Net debt to EBITDA = net debt / adjusted EBITDA previous 12 months

² Equity ratio = average equity previous 12 months / (average adjusted liabilities previous 12 months + average equity previous 12 months).
  The adjustments of the liabilities include the positions "payables from clearing & settlement" and "negative replacement values from clearing & settlement".

³ Return on equity = profit previous 12 months / average equity previous 12 months.

Links to Business Unit Performances

• Exchanges
• Securities Services
• Banking Services
• Financial Information