> Financial release, February the 10th of 2000

  The annual consolidated turnover as of 31 December 1999 reaches 615 M of euros (4 033 MF), an increase of 40,7 % compared with the preceding year, and which corresponds with the average annual growth for the last four years. In two years, from 1997 to 1999, the turnover has more than doubled (+ 111 %).

 Four new companies joined the group during the fourth quarter, their impact on group consolidated turnover is 8 M of euros (51 MF).

 The consolidated turnover of subsidiaries outside of France is 214 M of euros (1 401 MF) for the year 1999, an increase of 83 % compared with 1998. This represents 34,7 % of group consolidated turnover compared with 26,6 % for the preceding year. The objective of achieving a third of the activity outside of France in 2002 is thus reached over three years ahead of time.


  Since the group aims to achieve over the next three years a minimum growth rate of 30 % a year, one billion Euros of consolidated turnover should be reached by 2001, a year ahead of the forecast.
In this framework, the percentage of consolidated turnover in Europe outside of France should represent 50 % of turnover in 2002. This objective is within reach of the group since, if the group's penetration in Europe were identical to that in France the potential turnover today would be, about 1 800 M of euros (11 800 MF) outside of France.