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  • Revenues up 4.8% to €1,067.6 million, organic revenues up 9.5%
  • • Operating margin decreases 0.9% to €277.5 million
  • • EBIT down 5.3% to €165.3 million
  • • Net income Group share decreases 11.6% to €100.9 million
  • • 2008 organic revenue growth expected to remain within previously forecast range of 6-7%

Paris, 1 August 2008 – JCDecaux SA (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company in Europe and Asia-Pacific and the number two worldwide, published today its 2008 half year financial results.

  • Revenues for the six months ended 30 June 2008 were up 4.8% to €1,067.6 million compared to the same period last year. Excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign exchange, organic revenue growth was 9.5% reflecting a strong second quarter. Core advertising revenues, excluding revenues related to the sale, rental and maintenance of street furniture products rose by 8.2 % organically over the period.
  • In the second quarter, consolidated revenues grew by 7.2% to €585.4 million (+11.8% on an organic basis) compared to the same period last year. This growth in revenues reflects improvement across all three divisions with a very strong progression in Transport, which showed double digit organic growth and a solid performance from Street Furniture. Core advertising revenues rose by 10.7% organically over the period.

The Group has benefitted from the geographical diversity of its operations including an increased exposure to the emerging markets. With the exception of the United Kingdom, all geographic regions produced robust organic revenue growth over the first half, with particularly strong revenue performances in North America, Asia-Pacific and in the Rest of the World, each of which achieved double digit revenue growth. France and the Rest of Europe also produced solid revenue growth.

  • Organic revenues grew faster than reported revenues mainly because of significant negative foreign exchange variations (weaker US dollar, British pound, Hong Kong dollar and Chinese yuan versus the euro compared to the same period last year).
  • Operating margin decreased by 0.9% to €277.5 million from €280.0 million in the first half of 2007. The Group’s operating margin as a percentage of consolidated revenues was 26.0%, a decrease of 150 basis points compared to the prior period (H1 2007: 27.5%). This performance reflects a decrease in the Street Furniture and Billboard operating margin as a percentage of revenues and a strong increase in operating margin from the Transport division. Operating margin has also been impacted by negative foreign exchanges variation with an impact of €5.8 million.

At the EBIT level a successful period for contract renewal and new contracts has led to increased depreciation relating to increased capex and spare parts charges for the deployment of Paris free bike-rental scheme.

Commenting on the 2008 first half results, Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Board and co-Chief Executive Officer, said: “JCDecaux continues to deliver strong revenue growth despite more difficult market conditions. Most European countries produced high single digit revenue growth and Asia-Pacific, North-America and the Rest of the World delivered double digit revenue growth. All three of our divisions reported organic revenue growth, reflecting the quality of our advertising assets, the strength of our teams and increased exposure to the emerging markets.The operating margin was impacted by the expected decline in the Street Furniture margin due to a record renewal and new contract win period, the weakness of the billboard market and foreign exchange which were not quite offset by the enhanced Transport profitability. The ongoing deterioration of macro-economic conditions is likely to impact our growth rate in the second half but we still expect to be within our previously forecast range of organic revenue growth of 6 to 7% in 2008 leading to an increased operating margin for the year."

Contacts

Communication Department :Albert Asséraf+33 1 30 79 37 35communication-jcdecaux@jcdecaux.com
Investor Relations :Rémi Grisard+33 1 30 79 79 93remi.grisard@jcdecaux.com

Published in Investors