19 March 2009

Astellia 2008 financial results, strong international growth

Astellia has announced turnover of 24.98 M€ for 2008, an annual increase of 20%. The net profit ratio is 13% and this provides support for foreign investments aimed at speeding up international expansion (+49%). The net result has progressed by 15%.

In 2008, 66% of turnover was achieved on the international market and 34% in France. The breakdown of orders shows an increase in the services and maintenance activities.

After profit-sharing, tax and research tax credit, the net income for 2008 amounts to 2.8 M€, a 15% increase compared to 2007 with a net profit margin of 12%.

Astellia’s financial structure was further improved in 2008. On December 31, 2008, the group’s cash position amounted to 15.3 M€ (compared to 13.0 M€ on 31/12/2007).

2008: significant progress

- Dynamic commercial success with French operators reflects the ongoing development of installations for long-standing clients with the marked success of 3G offers and the increase in data traffic (mobile Internet etc.). Astellia also assists French clients expanding into other countries. 

- Internationally, Astellia acquired 17 new clients while continuing to equip its existing clients. Sales offices were opened in South Africa (Johannesburg) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). At the same time, a number of sustainable factors were beneficial to the market penetration of solutions provided by Astellia, e.g. strong growth in mobile networks, exponential rise in the number of subscribers and rapid popularity of 3G, including in emerging countries.

- The ongoing improvements to available solutions dedicated to the efficiency of mobile networks, in particular:

• The integration of a new technology with high added value - Xpert. Purchased in October 2008, this expert system completes Astellia’s QoS portfolio. It automates the troubleshooting process when a drop in quality or efficiency is detected in networks and proposes solutions. This offer has already begun to be marketed.
• The development of new applications combining innovative products based on Astellia R&D with the technology acquired in 2007 (Acurio) reflects the relevance of the group’s strategic decisions.
• The adaptation of technologies to allow for diversified usage by new teams within Astellia client companies. This diversification is a response to current challenges within the sector, i.e. the reduction in investment expenditure (Capex) and operating charges (Opex).

- Recruitment at Astellia (staffing levels rose by 19% in 2008 to 177 people on 31/12/2008), mainly in sales and client assistance (pre-sale engineer, support engineer) and, in particular, the recruitment of an Innovation Manager whose mission is to organise innovation over the next few years (IMS, IP Multimedia Subsystem and LTE, Long Term Evolution), a pledge for long-term growth.

- Astellia received the Innovation Award for Western France, attributed by Ernst & Young as part of the Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2008.

Prospects for 2009: continued innovation and strengthening of the commercial dynamic

In the current climate, Astellia considers that it can take advantage of a favourable environment thanks to:

• The increase in data traffic linked to the increased popularity of Smartphones (iPhone, Google G1 Android, Blackberry Storm etc.);
• The ongoing increase in the number of mobile subscribers worldwide (from 4 billion at the end of 2008 to 5.7 billion in 2013, according to the Gartner Institute).

Structurally speaking, Astellia is continuing its international expansion, concentrating on:

• The opportunities for market shares in new countries; 
• The increased sale of services as a result of market expectations (better use of solutions and technologies), which is a source of recurrent turnover; 
• The strengthening of ties with existing clients by assisting in the growth of mobile networks (coverage, subscribers, traffic) and the confirmation of the first contracts signed in Latin America and the USA.

All these factors, and Astellia’s sound financial structure, enable the group to see 2009 as a year of opportunities, both in terms of organic and external growth.