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.
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.
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."