PRESS RELEASE
Paris La Défense, April 23, 2013
Solid growth in 2013 first quarter revenues
supported by the thermal biomass business
Séchilienne Sidec's consolidated revenues came to € 99.3 million in the first three months of 2013, up 6% compared to the same period in 2012 (excluding wind power business).
| Revenues (€ million)* | Q1 2013 | Q1 2012 | Change |
| Thermal biomass energy | 88.6 | 82.8 | + 7% |
| Solar energy | 9.7 | 10.1 | - 4% |
| Holding | 1.0 | 0.4 | ns |
| TOTAL | 99.3 | 93.4 | + 6% |
* Non-audited figures, excluding wind power business
A 7% rise in thermal biomass business
Revenues of the thermal biomass business increased to € 88.6 million in the first quarter of 2013, up 7% compared to the same period in 2012.
Total power generation of the thermal biomass plants, excluding plants in Mauritius consolidated using the equity method, amounted to 573.4 GWh, slightly below first quarter 2012 level due to a significant scheduled shutdown in Caraïbes Energie plant in Guadeloupe.
The increase in the thermal biomass business revenues, despite a drop in coal prices during the period, reflects a strong call-out rate at the group's CCG peak turbine in Martinique and the signing of an amendment to the agreement between EDF and CTM plant in early 2013.
Slight decrease in solar activity
Group revenues from photovoltaic energy came to € 9.7 million in the first quarter of 2013, a 4% drop compared to the first quarter 2012.
Solar energy reached 22.7 GWh, down 3% compared to the same period in 2012 (23.5 GWh) due to a reduced number of sunny days in continental Europe.
Launch of the bio-methanization activity
Methaneo's first agricultural bio-methanization plant, Tiper, will be inaugurated on April 26, 2013 in Thouars, Deux-Sèvres in South-West France. This 2MW plant will enable more than 75 000 tons of biomass to be used and to produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 12,000 people.
Sale of the wind-power business
As a reminder, Séchilienne Sidec sold its wind-power business to EDF Energies Nouvelles in February 2013 for an enterprise value of € 59 million and a complementary earn-out for wind-power projects currently under development. This sale will generate a capital gain of € 5.6 million for 2013.
About Séchilienne Sidec
Séchilienne-Sidec has built up a unique expertise in the production of electric energy using bagasse (a sugar byproduct). The group has progressively extended its expertise to the cogeneration of energy using all other forms of biomass. Its ambition is to be recognized as a key partner of agri-business in efficiently exploiting biomass without conflict of use. In addition, the group hopes to continue to further develop highly-profitable solar-power ventures.
For further information, please visit www.sechilienne-sidec.com.
Media contacts - HeadLand Consultancy Investor Contacts
Luc Perinet-Marquet +33 (0)1 44 50 40 35, Julien Gauthier +33 1 41 16 82 75,
lperinet@headlandconsultancy.com julien.gauthier@sidec-sa.com
Constance Guillot-Chêne +33 (0)1 44 50 40 34,
cguillot-chene@headlandconsultancy.com
