|
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
||||
Business & Decision announces 2000/2001 annual results in line with targets and foundations for perennial profitable growth
Business & Decision (Euroclear : 7895 / Bloomberg : BSDC FP), the French IT consulting and engineering company specialized in business intelligence, customer relationship management (CRM) and e-business, registered annual results for FY 2000/2001, ended 30 June 2001, in conformity with the business plan put forth at its Nouveau Marché IPO of 6 February 2001. The company registered net profit of EUR 2.1 millions (against EUR 1.4 millions for the previous fiscal year), a progression of +50% on a consolidated annual turnover which increased organically by +55% at EUR 27.7 millions.
EBIT was EUR 3.1 millions (11.2% of turnover) reflecting the company's high profitability in a context of strong growth through regional (Aix-Marseille, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon and Nantes, in France) and international (Belgium, Spain, Switzerland) offices.
Millions of euros | FY 2000/2001 | % of turnover | FY1999/2000 | variation (en %) |
Consolidated turnover | 27.7 | 100% | 17.9 | +55% |
EBIT after employee participation | 3.1 | 11.2% | 2.4 | +29% |
Profit on ordinary activities | 3.2 | 11.5% | 2.4 | +33% |
Net profit (group share) | 2.1 | 7.5% | 1.4 | +50% |
Diluted EPS | EUR 0.29 | EUR 0.23 | ||
Norm@net and Araxe, the companies acquired and integrated at the end of the fiscal year (respectively 1 May and 1 June 2001) contributed marginally to consolidated turnover (EUR 0.2 millions) and did not impact Group profitability.
Significative growth of Business & Decision's three core-business markets
The balanced turnover breakdown between Business & Decision's three markets and their respective growth rates attests to the company's distinctive and high added value positioning. With a 42% share of company activity Business Intelligence records +50% growth, whilst CRM (31% of global turnover) grows by +35% and e-business which accounts for 27% of the company's activity progresses by +70%. Over the year, Business & Decision's strategy of penetrating the mid-market segment (EUR 330 millions-1 billions) of French companies situated in the provinces paid off with 18% percent of company activity being generated from clients situated in France's regions.
The gradual strengthening of the Swiss and Spanish subsidiaries (created in January 2000 and February 2001) as well as the Belgian joint-venture (March 2001, with BBDO-Omnicom) should enable the company to markedly accelerate its already increasing International share of turnover (13.5% in 2000/2001 versus 1% last year).
In line with Group anticipations, Business & Decision's headcount (at the core of the company's development strategy) increased during FY 2000/2001 from 284 to 461. The billing rate recorded by company consultants progressed by 1.2% for a global occupation rate which remained unchanged, further testimony to Business & Decision's signature standard of "technological and functional consulting". More than 90% of the company's consultants operated in a "project" mode (which ranges from consulting to implementation) as opposed to 7% of personnel who are delegated in-house and 3% who work on a fixed fee basis.
This growth in the company's headcount also accounts for a strong structuring of the company in terms of training, management control, human resources, sales teams and extension new and promising e-decision segments (such as the June 2001 creation of Directory & Services, a subsidiary specialized in company electronic directory architectures).The new paths of growth: broadening and internationalizing Business & Decision's offering
Future growth will rely in the near-term on the broadening of the CRM offering and in the extension of the company's international network of European units.
Accordingly, in early September 2001, Business & Decision took a 40% stake in the capital of CommuNeed, an ASP provider of CRM infrastructures, and the company has also recently opened a second Swiss agency, in Lausanne.
Confident in its strategic orientations and barring any substantial market upheavals, Business & Decision confirms its turnover objective of EUR 52 millions for FY 2001/2002, achieved through organic and external growth with a maintaining of its current level of operating margin.
Note: Q1 turnover figures (for the quarter ended 30 September 2001) will be announced 7 November 2001
About Business & Decision - www.businessdecision.com
Founded in 1992, Business & Decision is an International consulting and Systems Integration company specializing in Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and E-Business. The Group works with clients to implement systems that aim at driving business functions and performance (dashboards, reporting, consolidation etc.); help in customer relationship management (sales force automation, call centers, campaign management, analytical CRM); and assist in E-Business (intranet and extranet portals, directories and Meta directories, e-commerce, knowledge management, Open source technologies, etc.). With more than 2,800 employees worldwide, Business & Decision has developed a "complete project" approach that spans from consulting to implementation. The Group has a reputation for its functional and technological expertise and has forged partnerships with all of the key technology vendors. At present, Business & Decision has more than 1,200 clients.
Business & Decision has been listed on the Euronext Paris since February 2001 (compartment B / Isin code: FR 00000 7895 8 / Symbol: BND). Business & Decision is listed in the NextEconomy segment and in the IT-Cac (technology market). For more information, visit: http://www.businessdecision.com/
Press Contact at Business & Decision
Investor relations
Pauline Cieutat - pauline.cieutat@businessdecision.com
Tel: +33 1 56 21 21 20
Fax: +33 1 56 21 21 22
