Paris, January 30th 2008: Business & Decision, international Consulting and Systems Integration (CIS) Group specializing in Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and e-Business, reports a consolidated turnover of
€202 million, which represents an
43% increase over last year (at constant exchange rates); more than 2
4% of this turnover was achieved organically.
Business & Decision has been reaching
sustained growth for three consecutive years: 42% in 2005, 56% in 2006 and 43% in 2007.
Patrick Bensabat, Business & Decision Chairman and CEO, comments: “
2007 has been another year of sustainable growth for Business & Decision which records a turnover increase of 43%, confirming the relevance of our strategy.
Moreover, Inforte’s integration process was highly focused on cost reduction and should lead to a commercial boost, already visible in USA and Germany. A growing part of the Group’s turnover is carried out in the US/UK geographical areas with a currency impact on the consolidated turnover in Euros. At 24%, the organic growth exceeds our expectations and confirms our ability to create value as soon as all acquisitions will be integrated. Our growth figures still top the market’s average in our segments. With an important order book at the beginning of this year, we remain confident for 2008. The Group intends to capitalize on concrete opportunities arising from listings, big multi-annual projects that have already started as well as transmitting our offers globally. Business & Decision pursues its global, profitable and sustainable growth strategy, having as target the most dynamic and rewarding markets.”
The Group’s international expansion
With
48% of this period’s turnover realized from international activities, the year 2007 is a milestone for the Group’s international development. At present, the Group has locations on four continents (America, Europe, Africa and Asia), translating into a geographical coverage of 19 countries.
Since 2005, the Group’s international turnover has been
multiplied by 3.5.
The Group’s model relies on differentiated offers with strong added value. Thus, each new country can also rely on a wide range of targeted knowledge in order to develop and conquer new clients. Additional growth should arise in 2008, thanks to the opening of four new countries realized organically and three new countries by the means of different acquisitions.
In February, Business & Decision increased its investment in the Consulting and Engineering Geneva-based company,
Integrated Solutions, by
62%. Thanks to this operation, the Group became the leader of the Swiss Business Intelligence market and ended up with a total of 90% of the company’s equity.
August found Business & Decision finalizing
Inforte’s acquisition, initiated last May. Inforte's integration strengthened the Group’s presence in the United States, the United Kingdom and India. This operation also helped Business & Decision establish some presence in Germany.
The last acquisition made by the Group in July helped Business & Decision stretch its operations into Eastern Europe. Business Intelligence and Customer Relationship Management leader,
the Russian company DSS positioned the Group in a flourishing Russian market having substantial growth potential.
Extension of the Group’s business coverage
The Group’s strong business dynamics and the recent external growth operations have won Business & Decision major corporate customers, amongst which
Groupama, Areva, Danone, Accor, Rexel, Banque Rothschild, La Française des Jeux, Eurocopter, Airbus, Servier, Système-U, ALD-Automotive, Johnson & Johnson, Genetech, General Electric Healthcare … Dynamism of the Group’s expertise
Business & Decision maintains its leadership in its key activity segments.
Business Intelligence, the Group’s cornerstone business segment generated
62% of turnover in 2007, i.e.
increased by 52% as compared to last year.
CRM, for its part, recorded a
31% growth and accounted for
23% of 2007’s turnover.
The Group’s
e-Business activity segment represented
15% of the Group’s turnover and equated to a growth of
31% as compared to the previous period’s figures; however, growth was only organic.
Workforce increase
During this period, the Group’s headcount has grown at a sustainable rate. Spread over Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America, the number of employees, as at December 31, amounted to 2,500; an overall
46% increase, and
31% increase excluding acquisitions.
Business & Decision pursues its recruitment plan for 2008, having as aim the employment of
more than 800 new talents worldwide over the 12 coming months in order to support the Group's expansion.
About Business & Decision
Founded in 1992, Business & Decision is an international engineering and consulting firm specialising in Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and E-Business. The Group works with clients to facilitate system implementations that assist business performance management (dashboards, reporting, consolidation etc.); customer relationship management (sales force automation, call centers, campaign management, analytical CRM); and E-Business (intranet and extranet portals, directories and Meta directories, e-commerce, knowledge management, Open source technologies, etc.).
Business & Decision has been listed on the Euronext Paris since 6 February 2001 (compartment C / Isin code: FR 00000 7895 8 / Symbol: BND). Business & Decision is also listed in the NextEconomy segment and in the IT-Cac (technology market).
With more than 2,500 employees worldwide, Business & Decision has developed a ‘complete project approach’ that ranges from consultation to implementation. The Group has a reputation for its functional and technological expertise and has forged partnerships with all of the key technology vendors. Today Business & Decision has more than 1,200 clients.
For more information visit: www.businessdecision.com.
Press Contact:
John Simmerman
Business & Decision Netherlands BV
Tel: 020 580 67 30
Fax: 020 580 67 39
E-mail:
john.simmerman@businessdecision.com