> Financial release, February the 8th of 1999

 The consolidated turnover as at 31 December 1998 surpasses the objectives and reaches 2.867 MFRF (437 M), an increase of 50% compared with the prior year.

 The consolidated turnover taken into account related to companies acquired in 1998 amounts to 105 MFRF (16 M). Excluding the impact of the 1997 and 1998 acquisitions, the internal growth of consolidated turnover is 35%.

 The increase in turnover for the fourth quarter 1998 relative to the fourth quarter 1997 is 46%, with the proportion of acquisitions in the fourth quarter 1998 inferior to that of the fourth quarter 1997. During this period five companies joined the group, one in Switzerland, one in Italy, one in Great Britain, one in Austria, and one in France. Their core activities are similar to those of the group.

 In two years from 1996 to 1998 the turnover has more than doubled. We are confident that we can achieve the target of one billion euros for the year 2002; only 23% growth a year from 1999 would be necessary to reach it.

COMPARISON OF TURNOVER BETWEEN 1998 AND 1997

CONSOLIDATED   TURNOVERS		1998			1997
		Thousands of FRF	Thousands  of		Thousands of FRF	Thousands  of
First quarter		577 796	88 084		381 933	58 225
Second quarter		686 213	104 613		445 014	67 842
Third quarter		716 231	109 189		476 574	72 653
Fourth quarter		887 150	135 245		607 346	92 589
TOTAL		2 867 390	437 131		1 910 867	291 309