BUSINESS IN FIRST QUARTER 2021
- Gradual upturn in business is confirmed
- 3 acquisitions in France and overseas
BUSINESS AT THE END OF MARCH 2021: ‐ 1.3%
Business decreases by 1.3% in First Quarter of 2021: ‐ 12.7% in France and +6.8% overseas. On a like‐for‐like basis and constant exchange rate, business decreases by 9.6% (15.3% in France and 5.6% out of France). As it was foreseen in Q4 2020, we can now confirm business has resumed since the beginning of 2021. Gradually, the activity rate has improved to reach 90 % in March 2021. In the first quarter of 2021, it reached 88.5 % vs. 89.8 % last year.
The Automotive and Civil Aeronautics sectors remain highly impacted by the health crisis and business is resuming progressively in both sectors. Business in the sectors of Rail/Naval, Defense & Security, Life Sciences and Industry has grown since the beginning of the year.
France, Germany, Sweden, UK and the US, where the weight of Automotive and/or Civil Aeronautics sectors is important, keep facing a significant decrease in business this quarter, but far less than in Q4 2020. Italy & Asia/Pacific keep growing at a steady pace.
Acceleration and external growth strategy has allowed ALTEN to develop its market shares. Acquisitions have counted for almost 10% of Q1 2021 revenue.
EXTERNAL GROWTH: 3 ACQUISITIONS IN FRANCE AND OVERSEAS
ALTEN has finalised 3 acquisitions in 2021:
- In UK/Finland: 1 company specialised in Counsulting and Agile Training (€9.5M Revenue, 65 consultants)
- In Germany: 1 company specialised in Engineering Consulting (especially in the Automotive sector) (€10M Revenue, 90 consultants)
- In France: 1 company specialised in the transformation and digitalisation of Information Systems (€37M Revenue, 280 consultants).
OUTLOOK FOR 2021
The sectors of Automotive and Heavy Trucks, Aircrafts and Civil Aeronautics remain sharply impacted by the health crisis, despite a slight upturn in business – more especially in the Automotive sector. This strength of the recovery will however depend on the health crisis and its evolution. We may estimate that organic growth should resume as soon as Q3 2021.
Meanwhile, ALTEN will further develop its position in strategic sectors and activities thanks to its plan of targeted external growth, enabling accelerated expansion.
