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2.8.1.1 Europe<br />

In the first quarter of 2010, issue volume in Europe grew by 4.8% at constant scope of<br />

consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

In contrast, the Group’s revenue in Europe declined by 1.7% at constant scope of<br />

consolidation and exchange rates (compared to a decline of 2.2% at constant scope of consolidation<br />

and exchange rates during the fourth quarter of 2009). This decline is attributable to a 23.4%<br />

decrease in financial revenues, which was partially offset by a 1.6% increase in operating revenues<br />

resulting from a 4.8% growth in issue volume at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

This slight overall decline is due to continued unemployment and low interest rates in Europe.<br />

The business in Europe continues to be negatively affected by rising unemployment rates,<br />

partly offset by the launch or deployment of new products such as the EcoChèque ® in Belgium and the<br />

Ticket CESU ® in France.<br />

In France, issue volume grew by 4.7% at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

Operating revenue grew by 4.2% while financial revenue declined by 27.9%. Overall, revenue<br />

generated in France declined slightly by 1.0% at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

The prepaid benefits products performed well, led by firm demand for the Ticket CESU ® . At constant<br />

scope of consolidation and exchange rates, the issue volume and operating revenue attributable to<br />

the Ticket Restaurant ® and Ticket CESU ® generated in France grew respectively by 6.3% and 8.2%. The<br />

issue volume and operating revenue of gift vouchers, which perform more cyclically, declined by 3.0%<br />

and 1.5% respectively at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

In Belgium, issue volume growth was strong at 19.0% at constant scope of consolidation and<br />

exchange rates. Revenues grew by 16.5% at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates, as a<br />

result of a 19.3% growth of operating revenue, offset slightly by a 4.5% decline in financial revenue.<br />

Benefits products contributed to this strong growth, in particular due to the success of the new<br />

EcoChèque ® product launched in June 2009. At constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates,<br />

the issue volume and the operating revenue of Ticket Restaurant ® generated in Belgium grew by 3.2%<br />

and 4.3%, respectively.<br />

In Italy, in a tough economic environment with rising unemployment and business failures<br />

(the negative impact of economic conditions on issue volume was 6.6%), revenues declined by 3.7% at<br />

constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates (representing a decline of 2.4% in operating<br />

revenues and 19.7% in financial revenues) despite a slight increase of 0.9% in issue volume at<br />

constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

2.8.1.2 Latin America and the Caribbean<br />

In the first quarter of 2010, issue volume experienced strong growth of 10.6% in Latin<br />

America and the Caribbean at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates.<br />

Total revenues rose by 3.0% at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates during<br />

the first quarter of 2010 (compared to a decline of 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2009) which is<br />

attributable to a 9.1% increase in operating revenue, partially offset by a 38.7% decline in financial<br />

revenues. The favorable economic environment in Latin America and the Caribbean in the first<br />

quarter of 2010 resulted in significant job creation (particularly in Brazil) and explains the very strong<br />

growth of operating revenue in the first quarter of 2010.<br />

In Brazil, revenues rose by 3.9% at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates. This<br />

growth is attributable to a 7.8% increase in operating revenue, partially offset by a 32.0% decline of<br />

financial revenue. The increase in operating revenue is due to a 9.0% increase in issue volume at<br />

constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates. The Ticket Restaurant ® and the Ticket<br />

Alimentation ® performed very well with a 9.8% increase of issue volume and 10.8% of operating<br />

revenues, at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates. The Ticket Car ® also contributed to<br />

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