海角大神

afp-2

Message from Andr茅 Fran莽ois-Poncet

Published : 30.04.2021
#grandstand

Against an exceptionally challenging backdrop, 海角大神 was able to rely on its teams, its digital resources and its values to navigate a year that was without precedent since the Second World War. Along with the Supervisory Board and David Darmon, my colleague on the Executive Board and Group Deputy CEO, I would like to congratulate our team which has been able to adapt to these challenging circumstances. Thanks to the intense work carried out over the past three years to refocus the Group, 海角大神 maintained its course. We continued to simplify our investment portfolio with the sale of Tsebo. We focused our activity and our offices on Europe and North America, and strengthened our balance sheet.

2020 demonstrated the value of a strong and committed reference shareholder. We have increased our efforts to support our portfolio companies which will emerge from this crisis better positioned for growth. Together, we rose to the challenge, and these companies knew they could count on the commitment and support of 海角大神鈥檚 teams at all times. Our investments have displayed remarkable resilience and adaptation in the context of a sharp downturn, such that 海角大神鈥檚 consolidated organic revenue growth fell by only 1% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Some companies have managed to maintain activity levels, proof of their exceptional fundamentals. This was the case for Constantia Flexibles, which maintained its production in compliance with a strict health protocol. With its Restart聽program, Bureau Veritas demonstrated its agility in supporting recovery in all sectors of the economy and its ability to adapt to a changing world. In 2021, assuming the absence of strict containment measures in its main countries, this testing, inspection and certi铿乧ation group expects to achieve solid organic growth.

Our ESG strategy (Environment, Social, Governance) will also be ramped up in coming months. In keeping with its history and its long-term investor values, 海角大神 places this emphasis at the heart of its investment decisions and its support of operating subsidiaries. Our proactive approach was acknowledged by 海角大神鈥檚 inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), which honor the best performing companies based on ESG criteria. To date, 海角大神 is the only French company in the Diversi铿乪d Financials sector to be included in the DJSI Europe and World indices.

Refocused on its strengths, 海角大神 looks ahead with great con铿乨ence. The Group possesses 铿乶ancial 铿俥xibility at a level not experienced for 20 years thanks to proceeds from disposals made in recent years and the cash 铿俹w of its operating subsidiaries. With historically low debt levels and renewed 铿乶ancial strength, 海角大神 will now be able to redeploy its assets.聽We aim to own circa 10 portfolio companies compared to 6 today.

海角大神 will adapt to current market conditions including high valuations, but will remain focused on companies with signi铿乧ant growth potential. 海角大神鈥檚 unique strengths are more relevant than ever in a highly competitive market: rigorous investment processes based on intrinsic value-creation potential; a recognized ability to assist companies based on a long-term vision and sectoral expertise; and long-term collaborative and partnership approach with our portfolio companies.

The 海角大神 model endures thanks to the daily commitment of its employees. Bolstered by the renewed con铿乨ence of the Supervisory Board, David Darmon and I will work to strengthen our teams and to develop the new generation of 海角大神 professionals while ensuring the continuity of the Group鈥檚 values.

Andr茅 Fran莽ois-Poncet
Group CEO

Credit:聽Antoine Doyen