GROUPE GORGE : Annual revenue significantly exceeded target to reach EUR 264.8M, up 18.6%

information fournie par Actusnews •25/02/2016 à 07:00

1. Unaudited figures

The Group recorded a very good level of revenue during the 4 ^th quarter, at €89.4 million compared to €70.6 million for the previous fiscal year, an increase of 26.5%.

This strong performance, following on from the positive 3 ^rd quarter results (+19.8% vs. Q3 2014), allowed it to post significant revenue growth over the 2 ^nd half, for all divisions: revenue of €150.8 million, an increase of 23.7% vs. H2 2014.

For the whole fiscal year, consolidated revenue significantly exceeded the announced objective, reaching €264.8 million, an increase of 18.6%.

Annual revenue for the Smart Safety Systems division is at a very good level with growth across all divisions vs. 2014 and in particular, the Robotics and Integrated Systems (+16.6%) and Simulation (+16.4%) divisions. The strong commercial momentum generated by the ECA Group during the past year allowed it to exceed the revenue objective of €100 million announced at the beginning of 2015, to reach €105.2 million.

After good performance during the 1 ^st half of 2015 (+24.9% vs. H1 2015), the Industrial Projects and Services division confirmed the strong momentum across all of its businesses with significant revenue growth in Q4 (+34.4% vs. Q4 2014) and over all of the 2 ^nd half (+26.4% vs. H2 2014).

Revenue for the Protection in Nuclear Environments division reached €22.1 million for the 2 ^nd half, compared to €18.5 million for the 2 ^nd half 2014. These very positive results, up 33.2% vs. Q4 2014, offset the decline recorded during the 1 ^st half marked by project shifts that adversely impacted 1 ^st half revenue.

Lastly, the 3D Printing division saw a good final quarter, posting revenue of €5.1 million. At comparable scope, this division continues to show exceptional growth: x 2.2 compared to the previous fiscal year.

A positive outlook for all the Group's businesses

The Smart Safety Systems division is in a good trend. The significant sales and marketing investments carried out since 2014 started to produce their effects in 2015. The outlook for the division is positive for all activities for 2016. The division is particularly dynamic in terms of R&D and widened its range of drones and simulators during the course of 2015. These numerous technical developments (launch of the IGUANA land robot, development of the captive version of the airborne IT180 drone, marketing of a new-generation high-end military simulator) have further strengthened the already vast range of solutions in the Smart Safety Systems division and point to 2016 being particularly rich in responses to calls for tenders. The Group considers that it is very well positioned to win many significant projects, in particular for the supply of robot systems that cooperate with each other.

The Industrial Projects and Services division should continue its very positive trend. Growth in 2015 was strong, outpacing the market. This was the result of significant sales investments launched at the beginning of the fiscal year, whose costs should be justified by an improved profitability as of 2016. Furthermore, the division's operational reorganization launched at the same time, is being completed; following the full integration of the AI Group company during the 1 ^st half of 2015, a new Director has just been appointed to manage this subsidiary, and should take up his position at the beginning of March. This change should enable better operational efficiency from 2016.

The Protection in Nuclear Environments division has a very positive medium-term outlook. This division enjoys strong business prospects through major projects in France (Post-Fukushima projects) and abroad (UK electronuclear program, new plant constructions in China) which should allow it to be well placed for numerous calls for tender.

The Group is confident in the long-term outlook for this business, and has announced that it is in exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of the business for technical doors for the nuclear industry, developed by Portafeu, a subsidiary of the ASSA Abloy Group. The Group intends to increase the means at its disposal to respond even more effectively and sustainably to its customers' needs.

Lastly, 2016 should be particularly dynamic for the 3D Printing division . Whilst the world leaders have seen sluggish growth, Prodways' growth has out-performed the sector, and confirms the relevance of its positioning in the market for professional applications for 3D printing.

This follows the particularly strategic year of 2015, during which the division continued to structure its operations (opening of a subsidiary in the USA, new contracts with distributors, signing of a service partnership with the LLS company) and to extend its technological offering (acquisitions of Initial, Norge Systems and Exceltec, extension of the technology offering in selective sintering for plastics and metals, a significant new investment in Varia 3D).

Twenty-eight machines were installed in 2015 compared to nine in 2014. This year again, growth should be extremely strong in all areas: machine sales, materials sales (consumables), 3D printed parts sales. In 2015, the Group printed more than 500,000 parts for more than 1,200 customers in all sectors of activity.

Launched in November 2015 and based in Toulouse, France, Prodways' Aerospace division should generate recurrent production volumes of several million euros each year over the medium term. This division is already responding to calls for tender for the design of tools and embedded parts, and for the production of finished plastic and metal parts.

In this context of favorable trends for all the markets in which the Group operates, the Management aims for revenue that could exceed €280 million in 2016.

Next report

Publication of annual results on April 4, 2016

Disclaimer

This press release could contain statements on past events and forward-looking statements including statements regarding future goals or targets. Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations for results and future events.

Such forward-looking statements and targets depend on known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. All these risks and uncertainties could affect the Group's future ability to achieve its targets. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements and targets include, among other things: the risks and uncertainties possibly mentioned in this press release; the strength of competition; the growth of the market; currency fluctuations; interest rate fluctuations; raw materials and freight price fluctuations; armed conflicts or political instability; control of costs and expenses; changes in tax legislation, rules, regulation or enforcement; our ability to successfully keep pace with technology changes; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and key-men; the evolution, interpretation and uniform application and enforcement of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to which we prepare our financial statements; supply chain bottlenecks; the performance of our business partners (subcontractors, agents, suppliers, etc.).

Some of these risk factors are set forth and detailed in our Document de Référence (Registration Document including the annual financial report filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers). This list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not limitative. Other non-anticipated, unknown or unforeseeable factors could also have material adverse effect on our targets. The Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements or targets potentially contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

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About Groupe Gorgé

Established in 1990, Group Gorgé is an industrial group operating in different areas of expertise:

Smart Safety Systems – Using technology to work in risk environments;

Protection in Nuclear Environments – Protecting people and securing buildings operating with radioactive materials;

Industrial Projects & Services Conducting Robotics and Fire protection systems projects for industry and service-sector player;

3D Printing – Enabling major industry players to find new routes to successful innovation and production processes by providing systems, 3D printers and new premium material.

In 2015, the Group reported revenue of €264.8 million. It is backed by 1,536 employees and operations in over ten countries.

More information available on www.groupe-gorge.com

Groupe Gorgé is listed on Euronext Paris and on the US OTC market in the form of ADR.

Contacts

Groupe Gorgé - Raphaël GORGÉ – CEO & Chairman - Tél. : +33 1 44 77 94 77 - E-mail : contact@groupe-gorge.com

Actus Finance – Natacha MORANDI – Analysts/Investors Relations - Tél. : +33 1 53 67 36 72 - E-mail : nmorandi@actus.fr

Actus Finance – Jean-Michel MARMILLON – Press Relations - Tél. : +33 1 53 67 36 73 - E-mail : jmmarmillon@actus.fr

Image 7 – Lauranne Guirlinger – Press relations – Tél. : +33 1 53 70 74 18 – E-mail : lguirlinger@image7.fr