Micropole, a Digital Services Enterprise, specialized in the fields of Business Intelligence, e-Business, ERP and CRM, achieved a consolidated turnover of 59.5 million Euros in the first half-year of 2013, a dip of 2.9% in relation to the 61.3 million Euros attained during the same period in 2012.
On the same working day basis, the slowdown in business has been limited to 1.4% in the 1st half-year, 2013 having 2 fewer working days than in 2012. Like for like, the turnover in the first half-year 2013 is down 1.9%.
For the second quarter 2013, consolidated turnover stood at 30.4 million Euros, a drop of 1.5% in relation to the previous financial period. Taking favorable exchange rate factors into consideration, the like-for-like turnover for the second quarter stands at 30.5 million Euros, a drop of 1.3 % in relation to the same period the previous year.
As we anticipated, the first half-year 2013 has thus been marked by a still uncertain economic climate which has led corporations to limit or defer their investments. The month of May 2013 has also largely contributed to the slowdown.
- In France, the second quarter has, however, shown an improvement in activity rates, already noticeable from the first quarter 2013, with a relatively stable headcount in relation to the last quarter 2012. Incidentally, some of the groups' high added-value activities, such as Master Data Management (MDM) or financial performance management applications (FPM), on which Micropole is a leader, continue to perform well. Business in the regions as well as at Micropole Institut, Micropole's training subsidiary, has also succeeded in maintaining good levels of organic growth.
- As regards Switzerland, the Micropole group has reorganized its headcount after a difficult FY 2012, due to the systemic issues impacting the banking sector. In comparison, the turnover is therefore logically lower but the aim remains focused on restoring a good level of profitability.
- In Benelux, business continues to grow, with a slowdown, however, in the second quarter, explicable partly by the length of pre-sales cycles and ERP project decisions, the whole within a more complex international environment.
" The second half-year conjuncture remains hard to predict. Our positioning, which today enables us to achieve almost 30% of our turnover internationally, as well as our strategy based on high value-added offers, continue to open development prospects to strengthen our objective of stabilizing the business in the second half of 2013 " , comments Christian Poyau, Micropole CEO.
