Regulatory News:
Sopra Group (Paris:SOP):
-- Total growth: +7.1%
-- Organic growth: +5.9%
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1st Quarter
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MEUR Total Organic
2007 2006 Growth Growth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consulting 10.8 11.0 - 1.8% - 1.8%
SSI(1) France 146.1 136.4 + 7.1% + 7.1%
SSI Europe 52.4 50.1 + 4.6% + 4.0%
Axway 29.9 25.9 + 15.4% + 6.8%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Group Total 239.2 223.4 + 7.1% + 5.9%
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(1) SSI: Systems and Solutions Integration.
Consolidated revenue for the first quarter 2007 totalled 239.2
million euros. Total and organic growth came to +7.1% and +5.9%
respectively, despite an unfavourable base effect due to very strong
performance in the first quarter 2006 and one less billable workday
(65 days in 2006 vs. 64 days in 2007 for the same period). This
growth, which is in line with the company forecast, was achieved
thanks to the overall strong performance of Group business activities
and the implementation of a major recruitment drive.
Within a robust market, Sopra Group anticipates higher growth
rates for the coming quarters and has confirmed its target of beating
the average market growth rate for the full year 2007 (estimated at 6%
to 8% by Syntec Informatique), while continuing to improve its
operating margin.
Information by division
Consulting (Orga Consultants): revenue for the quarter was EUR
10.8 million, slightly lower than the same period last year. This
division, which suffered recruitment difficulties in 2006, is expected
to grow slightly over the first half of the year and in line with the
market during the second half.
SSI France: this division produced revenue of EUR 146.1 million,
with organic growth of +7.1% above the first quarter of last year. The
Group is confident in its ability to service the full range of client
needs in high-growth areas - notably banking, insurance, utilities and
the public sector. The pace of its recruitment drive remains strong.
Organic growth is expected to increase moderately throughout the year.
SSI Europe: revenue of EUR 52.4 million generated in the first
quarter, representing total growth of +4.6%, is in line with the
company forecast for activity in Europe. This performance is expected
to improve over the full year.
Axway: revenue totalled EUR 29.9 million in the first quarter,
reflecting total growth of +15.4% and organic growth of +6.8%. The
business has benefited from the favourable reception of the
Synchrony(TM) platform by major clients. The pace of growth is
expected to surge in the second quarter and should be in line with
forecasts for the first half and the full year. The integration of the
B2B business of Atos Origin has been making excellent progress and
should contribute to company growth from the second half of 2007
onwards.
Change in the scope of consolidation
-- The B2B business of Atos Origin (Germany) was consolidated as
of 1 February 2007.
Upcoming events
The Annual General Meeting will take place on 8 June 2007 at 2:30
pm at Hotel Meurice, 228 rue de Rivoli in Paris. A dividend of EUR
1.35 per share will be submitted for shareholder approval to be paid
as of 15 June 2007.
Sopra Group will publish its second quarter 2007 results on
Monday, 13 August 2007 following the market close.
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.
Appendix
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1st Quarter
------------------------------- Total Organic
MEUR 2006 2006 Growth Growth
2007 Reported Pro forma
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Consulting 10.8 11.0 11.0 - 1.8% - 1.8%
SSI France 146.1 136.4 136.4 + 7.1% + 7.1%
SSI Europe 52.4 50.1 50.4 + 4.6% + 4.0%
Axway 29.9 25.9 28.0 + 15.4% + 6.8%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Group Total 239.2 223.4 225.8 + 7.1% + 5.9%
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