ESI registers €54.2 million Sales for the first 9 months, Further buoyant growth of 10.2%

"Our third quarter confirms the persistence of the positive trend recorded since the start of the year. Despite an especially strong performance in the same period last year, we recorded an increase in both new business and installed base over the quarter. Moreover, Europe delivered a dynamic performance driven by buoyant demand in Central Europe and by our successful diversification. These elements show the offensive and defensive quality of our activity and attest to the high degree of innovation that we bring to our business," said Alain de Rouvray, ESI Group’s Chairman and CEO.

3rd quarter sales

Sales for the 3rd quarter of 2011/12 totalled 17.6 million euros, up +10.2% in actual terms and at constant exchange rates compared to the 3rd quarter of the previous financial year. This quarter notably incorporated the consolidation of IC.IDO, a company whose acquisition was announced on August 16th. On a constant scope basis (excluding the acquisition), sales for the 3rd quarter totalled 16.9 million euros, up +5.8% in actual terms, against a particularly strong 3rd quarter of 2010, for which a year on year growth of 15.5% was recorded.

License sales totalled 11.5 million euros, up +8.8% in actual terms (+8.1% at constant exchange rates). License activity represented 65.3% of total sales, compared to 66.1% over the 3rd quarter of the previous financial year. The main indicators were positive over the quarter: the installed base increased by +13.2% in actual terms and +2.3% at constant scope, totalling 7.2 million euros; the repeat business rate remained high at 77.9%; New Business Licenses (new products, new clients) increased by +6.6% to 3.1 million euros and represented 29.9% of License sales.

Services activity increased by +12.7% in actual terms (+14.2% at constant exchange rates) and totalled 6.1 million euros. On a constant scope basis, Services sales were up +6.2%.

The change in the geographical distribution of sales notably reflects strong growth in Europe (+26.6%), +16.8% of it organic, thanks notably to sales in Central Europe and Germany.

9-month sales

Over the first 9 months of the 2011/12 financial year, the Group recorded sales of 54.2 million euros, up +10.1% in actual terms (+10.7% at constant exchange rates). On a constant scope basis, growth came to +8.6%.

License activity increased by +9.0% in actual terms (+9.1% at constant exchange rates) to 36.4 million euros and represented 67.2% of total sales. The installed base recorded growth of +6.7% in actual terms and +3.7% at constant scope, totalling 25.0 million euros. The repeat business rate remained high at 80.6%. New Business recorded buoyant growth of +18.8% at 9.0 million euros, and thus represented 26.5% of License sales.

Services activity was also up, increasing by +12.3% in actual terms (+14.2% at constant exchange rates) to 17.8 million euros.

In geographical terms, there was an increase in Europe (+19.1%) and Asia (+7.6%), whilst the American zone continued to be affected by a negative exchange rate effect (-0.6% in actual terms and +6.3% at constant exchange rates).

By industrial sector, the first 9 months of the year notably saw an improvement in orders taken in the Automotive and Transportation (+5.7%), Aeronautics and Space (+24.2%) and Education (+57.9%) sectors, confirming the financial year’s positive trends.