It's been a busy year for Dimension Data, Europe's biggest networking equipment reseller, and the company has not come out unscathed from recessionary pressures afflicting the industry.

But any problems it faces pale into insignificance compared with most rivals. At the close of the year ended 30 September 2001, DiData had $920m cash in hand.

The company made a big splash in the US market, mopping up four resellers, and outbidding Compaq to get Proxicom and a place in ebusiness integration. Time will tell whether Proxicom overpaid.

Turnover during the year was up 24 per cent to $2,460.3 million. Net profit before exceptional items was up 12% to $160.6 million. And net cash inflow was $186.3m. This is evidence of a tight fiscal ship.

During the year, headcount in continuing operations was reduced by 14 per cent and operating expenses were cut by 11 per cent. ®