Bertrand Does Better than Competitors in Q3

/ September 6, 2020

Bertrandt reported its Q3 FY20 results (calendar Q2 2020). Revenues were EUR 205m, down by a massive-20.9% yoy, and the EBIT margin was -0.9% (Q3 FY19: +2.7%). Yet, Bertrandt’s results were better than those of EDAG ( yoy revenues down by 32.6%) and Akka (-31.4% yoy at CC/CS).

Cyient Acquires An Onshore Mining Consulting Unit in Australia

/ August 31, 2020

Cyient is to acquire Melbourne-based Integrated Global Partners (IG Partners) for AUD 12m in cash (USD 9m) + earn-outs. IG Partners is a mining business and organizational consulting firm. The company has a specialty in enterprise asset management. It had in FY20 revenues of AUD 15m (USD 11m) and a headcount of 40.

EDAG Declined by 33% in Q2 2020

/ August 30, 2020

We were expecting EDAG would have a difficult Q2, as the company is very European and services mostly the automotive sector. However, we had not anticipated a decline of this scale: revenues were down by 32.6% in Q2. Unsurprisingly, the EBIT margin was significantly in negative territory (-14.4%).

Assystem Bounced Back in June

/ August 29, 2020

As expected, Assystem suffered in Q2 2020: revenues declined by 13.7% yoy CC/CS during the quarter. Staffing was down by 16.3%, while Energy & Infrastructure did somewhat better (-13.3%). The core nuclear engineering business was down by 10.1% (our estimate).

Unofficial: Renault Selects its Four ER&D Preferred Vendors

/ July 24, 2020

According to unofficial sources, Renault has now finalized its list of preferred ER&D service vendors, reducing it from nine vendors to four. The four winners are Akka, Bertrandt, Expleo, and Segula. They will now grab 80% of Renault’s ER&D spending and double their market shares.

Sweco Demonstrates Its Resilience Despite COVID-19

/ July 17, 2020

Sweco had already demonstrated its resilience in Q1, with a +4% organic growth. In Q2, despite COVID-19, the company remained in positive territory (+2%). The performance is a surprise, as Sweco is very sensitive to the number of working days.

Earnings Preview: Revenues of Alten to Plunge in Q2

/ July 15, 2020

ER&D’s largest pure-play globally, Alten, will be announcing its Q2 2020 revenue by the end of July. The company had a very decent Q1, with a 4% CC/CS revenue growth. However, it warned that revenues would be down by ~22% in Q2.

AFRY Hit by Collapse in Automotive Engineering Demand in Q2

/ July 14, 2020

No surprise. AFRY had a terrible Q2 2020: revenues were down by 9.2% yoy at CC/CS. The Industry and Digital Solutions Division led the decline (with revenues down yoy at 16.3% at CC/CS). The Division suffered in the automotive sector, whose revenues collapsed by 40% during the quarter.

Expleo’s New CEO: A Perfect Resume and Daunting Challenges

/ July 3, 2020

We just learned that Expleo has a new CEO, Rajesh Krishnamurthy. On paper, Mr. Krishnamurthy, has everything right for Expleo. He is a French citizen of Indian origin. He has held senior roles at Infosys, including one as head of the Energy, Utilities, and Telco division, a major responsibility as Infosys is organized by vertical. He also led Infosys Global Consulting.

Ricardo Exits the Automotive Engine Testing Business

/ June 16, 2020

Ricardo divested, as expected, its engine testing and prototype facility in Belleville, MI. The company had looked for a buyer for more than one year and even bought the property to make the sale of the facility easier.

Dassault Sytems Lowers its Q1 2020 Guidance: Read-Throughs for the ER&D Service Industry

/ April 7, 2020

Dassault Systems lowered it Q1 2020: the company is now expecting revenue growth in the range of 14%-17%, down from a 20-23% guidance (that includes the acquisition of Medidata). The company has suffered from weaker than expected new license and services revenues. Meanwhile, revenues of Medidata were on a “momentum and license renewals were up too.