OREANDA-NEWS. At March 31, 2014:

Downturn in revenue as anticipated, to EUR1.781bn (-17.3% like for like)
Backlog of EUR40.2bn
Luc Oursel, Chief Executive Officer, offered the following comments on the group’s performance in the first quarter of 2014:

“Following the marked growth of the nuclear operations in 2013, thanks in particular to the strength of recurring activities and the contribution of exceptional items such as significant uranium sales volumes and non-recurring foreign contracts, revenue in the first quarter of the year fell sharply, as we had anticipated.

A strong seasonal effect will materialize in 2014, with greater activity to be expected in the second half of the year.

As indicated when releasing 2013 annual results, the current economic environment is still unfavorable, with market prices deteriorating in the front end of the cycle and lackluster demand from customers for installed base services. Nonetheless, we are confident in the group’s ability to generate revenue in line with our target for this year.”

AREVA’s operations generated consolidated revenue of 1.781 billion euros in the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of 18.1% (-17.3 % like for like) compared with the same period in 2013. The Front End Business Group (BG) reported strong growth of +59.0% (+59.8% like for like). Revenue was down in the Mining, Reactors & Services, Back End and Renewable Energies BGs, at -63.0% (-62.3% like for like), -14.1% (-12.5% like for like), -41.7% (-41.6% like for like) and -38.2% (-34.6% like for like) respectively. Foreign exchange had a negative impact of 18 million euros over the period, while the change in consolidation scope had a negative impact of 3 million euros.

The group’s backlog reached 40.2 billion euros at March 31, 2014, a decrease of 2.9% compared with December 31, 2013 and of 8.8% year on year.