“Atos Origin: preliminary fourth quarter revenues for 2004”
Organic revenue growth at +5.3% in Q4 2004
Atos Origin, a leading international information technology services provider, today announced that unaudited revenues for the three months ended December 31st, 2004 amounted to EUR 1,396 million, compared with EUR 775 million for the same period in 2003 (+80%). Adjusting for the acquisition of Sema Group at the start of 2004 and the disposal of several business units during the past twelve months, the group generated strong organic revenue growth of 5.3% on a constant scope and exchange rate basis. Total Group revenues for 2004 amounted to EUR 5,302 million.
The appendix to this statement provides an analysis of revenues by service line and geographic region.
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Fourth Quarter Revenue Performance
Total Group revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31st, 2004 were EUR 1,396 million, compared with EUR 775 million for the equivalent period in 2003, representing an increase of 80%. Adjusting for the acquisition of Sema Group at the start of 2004 and the disposal of several business units during the past twelve months, and at constant exchange rates, the Group produced a strong organic growth of 5.3%, with revenue increases in all of its major markets in Europe. This is the second consecutive quarter-on-quarter increase and clearly marks a recovery from the market downcycle of 2002 – 2003.
Revenue in the fourth quarter represented an exceptional sequential organic increase of 14.4% in comparison with the third, both in Consulting & Systems Integration (+15.9%) and Managed Operations (+13.0%).
In Consulting & Systems Integration there was a decline of just 0.1% in revenue organically in the fourth quarter, year-on-year, coming from a limited volume decline of 1% as the Group continues to reduce its activities in low-end commoditized business. This was compensated by a 1% tariff increase on specific added value solutions. After adjusting for disposals, organic revenue growth in Managed Operations in the fourth quarter showed a significant increase of 10.9%, reflecting the steady inflow of orders accumulated during the year.
Quarterly Revenue Performance
A positive growth trend has been established quarter by quarter in both service lines and the Group has increased volumes in all of its activities in each quarter of the year. This was due to a combination of strong new order signings and a steady improvement in the market generally.
As a result, after a small organic decline of 1.3% in the first half, Atos Origin produced organic growth of 3.2% in the second half of 2004.
Full Year Revenue Performance
Group revenues for 2004 were slightly ahead of expectations at EUR 5,302 million, an increase of 75% compared with 2003, prior to the acquisition of Sema Group. This represents an organic increase of 0.9% compared with the pro forma results of the combined Group for the same period in 2003, on a constant scope and exchange rate basis. The organic increase includes a year-on-year pricing pressure at around 1.1%, in line with our estimate for 2004, offset by a net volume improvement of 2.0%. Excluding the 1.2% volume decline from Philips, the remainder of the Group produced a volume increase of 3.2%.
In Consulting and Systems Integration, revenue in 2004 reached EUR 2,537 million, which was a decline of 4.0% at constant scope and exchange rates. However, sequential organic growth in the second half reached +0.8%.
Managed Operations revenues in 2004 were EUR 2,765 million, an increase of 5.8% at constant scope and exchange rates. Revenue in the second half represented a sequential organic growth of +4.6%.
Financial Targets
The Group has outperformed its guidance for the year by achieving organic revenue growth of +0.9% on a constant scope and exchange rate basis, while integrating Sema Group’s businesses.
The Group confirms that the operating margin for 2004 will exceed 7%, and that net debt will be lower than EUR 550 million at December 31st, 2004.
Future Reporting Dates
This preliminary announcement is made in accordance with the regulations of the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) in Paris. The group’s full audited results for the year ended December 31st, 2004 will be announced at 08.00 hrs (CET) on Wednesday March 16th, 2005 and no further information will be released before that date.
About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company’s annual revenues are more than EUR 5 billion and it employs 45,000 people in 50 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and its clients include ABN AMRO, Akzo Nobel, Alstom, BNP Paribas, Ericsson, EDF, Euronext, Fiat, France Telecom, ING, KPN, Philips, Renault, Royal Bank of Scotland, Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, Shell, Standard Chartered Bank, Telecom Italia, UK Department for Work and Pensions, Unilever, Vivendi Universal and Vodafone.
Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Euronext Market and operates under the trade names Atos Origin, AtosEuronext, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.
Contact for Press:
Marie-Tatiana Collombert,
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 91 26 33,
marie-tatiana.collombert@atosorigin.com
Contact for Investors:
John White,
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 91 26 32,
john.white@atosorigin.com
Unaudited figures 3 Months ended December 31st 2004
| Euro Millions | 2004 | 2003 | % change |
| Statutory growth | 1,396 | 775 | +80.2% |
| Add: Acquisitions | 605 | ||
| Pro forma growth | 1,396 | 1,380 | +1.2% |
| Less: Disposals | (47) | ||
| Less: Exchange Rate impact | (8) | ||
| Organic at Constant Scope and Exchange Rates | 1,396 | 1,325 | +5.3% |
By Service Line 3 Months ended December 31st 2004
| Euro Millions | 2004 | 2003(*) | % pro forma growth | % organic growth (**) |
| Consulting & Systems Integration | 672 | 693 | -3.1% | -0.1% |
| Managed Operations | 724 | 687 | +5.5% | +10.9% |
| Total | 1,396 | 1,380 | +1.2% | +5.3% |
(*) Unaudited pro forma combined figures
(**) Organic growth at constant scope and exchange rates
By Geographic Region 3 Months ended December 31st 2004
| Euro Millions | 2004 | 2003(*) | % pro forma growth | % organic growth (**) |
| France | 365 | 370 | -1.3% | -1.3% |
| United-Kingdom | 309 | 282 | +9.4% | +9.0% |
| The Netherlands | 268 | 259 | +3.3% | +3.3% |
| Rest of EMEA | 366 | 335 | +9.4% | +9.7% |
| Americas | 52 | 87 | -40.1% | +29.2% |
| Asia Pacific | 36 | 47 | -23.4% | -7.6% |
| Total | 1,396 | 1,380 | +1.2% | +5.3% |
(*) Unaudited pro forma combined figures
(**) Organic growth at constant scope and exchange rates
Unaudited figures 12 Months ended December 31st 2004
| Euro Millions | 2004 | 2003 | % change |
| Statutory growth | 5,302 | 3,035 | +74.7% |
| Add: Acquisitions | 2,370 | ||
| Pro forma growth | 5,302 | 5,405 | -1.9% |
| Less: Disposals | (127) | ||
| Less: Exchange Rate impact | (21) | ||
| Organic at Constant Scope and Exchange Rates | 5,302 | 5,257 | +0.9% |
By Quarter 12 Months ended December 31st 200
| Euro Millions | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | H1 | H2 | 2004 |
| Co. & Systems Integration | 623 | 647 | 595 | 672 | 1,270 | 1,267 | 2,537 |
| % organic growth (*) | -6.4% | -5.4% | -4.3% | -0.1% | -5.9% | -2.1% | -4.0% |
| Managed Operations | 682 | 701 | 658 | 724 | 1,382 | 1,382 | 2,765 |
| % organic growth (*) | +4.7% | +1.9% | +6.0% | +10.9% | +3.2% | +8.5% | +5.8% |
| Total | 1,305 | 1,348 | 1,253 | 1,396 | 2,653 | 2,649 | 5,302 |
| % organic growth (*) | -0.9% | -1.8% | +0.9% | +5.3% | -1.3% | +3.2% | +0.9% |
(*) Organic growth at constant scope and exchange rates
By Service Line 12 Months ended December 31st 2004
| Euro Millions | 2004 | 2003(*) | % pro forma growth | % organic growth (**) |
| Consulting & Systems Integration | 2,537 | 2,706 | -6.2% | -4.0% |
| Managed Operations | 2,765 | 2,699 | +2.4% | +5.8% |
| Total | 5,302 | 5,405 | -1.9% | +0.9% |
(*) Unaudited pro forma combined figures
(**) Organic growth at constant scope and exchange rates
By Geographic Region 12 Months ended December 31st 2004
| Euro Millions | 2004 | 2003(*) | % pro forma growth | % organic growth (**) |
| France | 1,410 | 1,445 | -2.4% | +0.2% |
| United-Kingdom | 1,222 | 1,133 | +7.9% | +5.8% |
| The Netherlands | 983 | 967 | +1.7% | +2.1% |
| Rest of EMEA | 1,266 | 1,291 | -2.0% | -1.5% |
| Americas | 280 | 386 | -27.6% | -1.0% |
| Asia Pacific | 141 | 182 | -22.6% | -14.5% |
| Total | 5,302 | 5,405 | -1.9% | +0.9% |
(*) Unaudited pro forma combined figures
(**) Organic growth at constant scope and exchange rates
