Empresas y finanzas

Sopra Group: Sharp Rise in 2006 Revenue: EUR 897.7M (+18.6%)



    Sopra Group (Paris:SOP):

    -0-
    *T
    Growth (%) Growth (%)
    Q4 12 M
    in MEUR 2006 Total Organic 2006 Total Organic
    -------------------------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ -------
    Consulting 11.3 +4.6% +4.6% 41.0 -0.7% -0.7%
    SSI(1) France 149.7 +11.5% +11.5% 535.7 +6.1% +6.1%
    SSI Europe 53.6 +20.7% +12.4% 204.1 +62.6% +12.8%
    Axway 34.9 +26.0% +10.4% 116.9 +36.7% +16.2%
    ========================== ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== =======
    Total Group 249.5 +14.9% +11.2% 897.7 +18.6% +8.5%
    *T

    Sopra Group achieved an excellent performance in 2006.
    Consolidated revenue for 2006 rose +18.6% to EUR897.7 million,
    including an organicgrowth(2) component of +8.5%, which is better than
    the market average.

    Revenue rose +14.9% in the fourth quarter of the year, including
    an organic growth component of +11.2%, beating the forecast and
    reflecting the strong momentum at all Group entities. SSI France's
    activities are now achieving strong growth levels again.

    Sopra Group has confirmed its forecast for a 2006 operating margin
    of more than 8%.

    Information by division

    Consulting (Orga Consultants): The return to growth in the third
    and fourth quarters reflects the Group's reactivity to recrutement
    difficulties in the first half of the year. This activity does not
    include the achievements of the Business Consulting team, which is
    currently included under SSI France.

    -0-
    *T
    12 M
    Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2006
    ---------------------------------------- ----- ------ ---- ----- -----
    Revenue 2006 (MEUR ) 11.0 10.4 8.3 11.3 41.0
    Revenue 2005 (MEUR ) 10.9 11.6 8.0 10.8 41.3
    Total growth (%) 0.9% -10.3% 3.8% 4.6% -0.7%
    Organic growth (%) 0.9% -10.3% 3.8% 4.6% -0.7%
    *T

    Systems and Solutions Integration France: Robust growth levels
    (+11.5%) were achieved in the fourth quarter. The best performing
    vertical markets were Financial Services, Public Sector and
    Manufacturing.

    -0-
    *T
    12 M
    Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2006
    ----------------------------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
    Revenue 2006 (MEUR ) 136.4 130.5 119.1 149.7 535.7
    Revenue 2005 (MEUR ) 123.3 132.0 115.1 134.3 504.7
    Total growth (%) 10.6% -1.1% 3.5% 11.5% 6.1%
    Organic growth (%) 10.6% -1.1% 3.5% 11.5% 6.1%
    *T

    Systems and Solutions Integration Europe: As indicated previously,
    strong organic growth (+12.8%) was achieved mainly thanks to the
    United Kingdom (+14.7%) and Spain (+15.1%). The organic growth of the
    other European subsidiaries was in line with expectations, notably in
    Italy (+30.8%) and Switzerland (+10.3%).

    -0-
    *T
    12 M
    Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2006
    ------------------------------------- ------ ------ ----- ----- ------
    Revenue 2006 (MEUR ) 50.1 51.4 49.0 53.6 204.1
    Revenue 2005 (MEUR ) 21.1 22.7 37.3 44.4 125.5
    Total growth (%) 137.4% 126.4% 31.4% 20.7% 62.6%
    Organic growth (%) 19.0% 12.7% 7.5% 12.4% 12.8%
    *T

    Axway: The fourth quarter crowns an excellent year with organic
    growth of +16.2%, reflecting strong business growth in France and the
    United States and the successful integration of Cyclone Commerce. The
    acquisition of the B2B business of Atos Origin in Germany, which is
    currently underway (as communicated on 7 December 2006) should
    strengthen Axway's positioning in Europe.

    -0-
    *T
    12 M
    Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2006
    --------------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------
    Revenue 2006 (MEUR ) 25.9 27.3 28.8 34.9 116.9
    Revenue 2005 (MEUR ) 18.6 20.3 18.9 27.7 85.5
    Total growth (%) 39.2% 34.5% 52.4% 26.0% 36.7%
    Organic growth (%) 16.1% 13.3% 27.4% 10.4% 16.2%
    *T

    Changes in the scope of consolidation

    As indicated previously:

    -- Newell & Budge (United Kingdom) has been consolidated since 1
    July 2005.

    -- PROFit Informatica (Spain) has been consolidated since 1
    November 2005.

    -- Cyclone Commerce (United States) has been consolidated since 1
    January 2006.

    The acquisition of the B2B business of Atos Origin in Germany is
    currently being finalised.

    Upcoming events

    Publication of 2006 full-year results: Monday, 26 February 2007,
    following the market close. An information meeting will be held on 27
    February 2007 at 11:30 am at the Hotel Meurice.

    About Sopra Group (www.sopragroup.com)

    A leader in the European consulting and IT services market, with a
    total workforce of 10,000, Sopra Group provides the full spectrum of
    services enabling companies to transform their organisations and their
    information systems. Sopra Group is a total solution provider, from
    prior strategic reflection from an executive management perspective,
    through to the supervision and implementation of major systems
    integration and application outsourcing projects. Through its
    subsidiary Axway, the Group pursues the worldwide deployment of its
    activities in both application integration and collaborative business
    solutions, with a complete range of solutions and services.

    Appendices

    -- Group revenue by quarter

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    *T
    12 M
    Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2006
    ----------------------------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
    Revenue 2006 (MEUR ) 223.4 219.6 205.2 249.5 897.7
    Revenue 2005 (MEUR ) 173.9 186.6 179.3 217.2 757.0
    Total growth (%) 28.5% 17.7% 14.4% 14.9% 18.6%
    Organic growth (%) 12.5% 3.0% 7.3% 11.2% 8.5%
    *T

    -- Revenue breakdown by division

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    *T

    Revenue
    2006
    (%)
    -------------------------------------------------------------- -------
    Consulting 5.5%
    SSI France 66.6%
    SSI Europe 16.6%
    Axway 11.3%
    -------
    100.0%
    *T

    -- Breakdown and movements of Group employees (excluding external
    staff)

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    *T

    31/12 2006
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Staff - France 6,550
    Staff - International 2,550
    -----------
    Total 9,100

    Staff at year end 2005 7,500
    Integration of acquired companies 1,200
    Net recruits 400
    -----------
    Total 9,100
    *T

    (1) SSI: Systems and Solutions Integration.

    (2) At constant exchange rates and consolidation scope.