Sopra Group`s Business Activity for the 3Rd Quarter 2009 Proves Resilient

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PARIS--(Business Wire)--
Regulatory News:

Sopra Group (Paris:SOP) posted revenue of €253.8 million in the third quarter of
2009, slightly lower than the same period in 2008. Total growth was -1.8% and
organic growth was -3.1%.

Given the difficult economic environment, this represents a good performance,
demonstrating the success of the Group`s strategic positioning, as well as the
relevance of the choices made in terms of its portfolio of businesses, the
markets where the Group is active and its production organisation.

3rd Quarter 2009 9 months ended 30/09/09
€m Total Organic €m Total Organic
Growth Growth1 Growth Growth

Consulting 7.9 - 13.2% - 13.2% 26.9 - 20.4% - 20.4%
SSI2 France 162.6 + 0.3% + 0.4% 515.8 + 2.0% + 2.0%
SSI Europe 40.3 - 17.4% - 14.4% 129.8 - 17.7% - 14.3%
Axway 43.0 + 11.7% - 1.8% 126.1 + 13.8% - 10.2%

Group Total 253.8 - 1.8% - 3.1% 798.6 - 1.2% - 3.9%

Information by division

Management consulting (Orga Consultants): Revenue for this division was €7.9
million, representing a 13.2% decrease compared to the year earlier period. The
pace of the revenue contraction has been slowing down since the beginning of the
year and may indicate a possible inversion of the trend. As announced
previously, the operating margin is expected to improve for the second half of
the year as a whole.

SSI France: Revenue for this division amounted to €162.6 million, representing
organic growth of +0.4%. The performance of the Group`s core activities in
France was satisfactory given the economic context. In particular, these results
are attributable to strong order intake in the public sector, utilities and with
certain major clients, in addition to the Group`s solid reputation in major
integration and application outsourcing projects. The fourth quarter will prove
to be more challenging than the third quarter, but the year as a whole should
see very slight organic growth. The target of achieving an operating margin
close to the level achieved in 2008 is maintained.

SSI Europe: Revenue for the Group`s core activities in Europe came to €40.3
million in the third quarter of 2009, representing a decline of 14.4%. The Group
expects this division to post a similar decrease for the year as a whole. The
transformation programme, which is being rigorously applied in each subsidiary,
should minimise the impact on margins and may enable slight growth to be
achieved once again in 2010.

Axway: Revenue for this division was €43.0 million, with positive total growth
of 11.7 % and negative organic growth of 1.8%. The strong order book has not
completely offset the effects of the economic crisis: clients` decision-making
cycles are lengthening, with the result being that projects are postponed or
broken up into smaller orders. Axway currently anticipates organic growth of
between 0% and -3% for the second half of the year and confirms that the current
operating margin is expected to be in the range of 7% to 10% for the full-year
2009, as previously announced.

Outlook

On the basis of currently available information, no known event for the period
is likely to have a significant impact on the Group`s financial position.

Current market conditions remain difficult despite some positive signs of
recovery. However, the Group is confident in its ability to adapt as well as
possible to the current situation in order to protect its revenue and margins.

The Group expects to achieve slight organic growth in its businesses in France
(which accounts for 65% of its revenue). Taking all of its businesses together,
the Group expects negative revenue growth at constant structure and exchange
rates to be contained within the 3-5% range. As indicated previously, Sopra
Group is targeting a current operating margin for all of its businesses combined
of more than 7%. Moreover, the Group confirms an improvement in the cash
position and a net debt target of €150 million at year-end.

Change in the scope of consolidation

As previously indicated, Tumbleweed Communications (USA) was consolidated as of
1 September 2008.

Financial calendar

Monday, 15 February 2010, after the market close: publication of full-year
revenue and results.

Forward-looking statement

This document contains forecasts in respect of which there are risks and
uncertainties concerning the Group`s future growth and profitability. The Group
highlights the fact that the signature of licence contracts, which often
represent investments for clients, are more significant in the second half of
the year, and as a result, may lead to more or less favourable impacts on the
end-of-year performance.

The actual sequence of events or results may differ from that described in this
document, in light of a certain number of risks and uncertainties, which are
described in the 2008 Reference Document, which was filed with the Autorité des
Marchés Financiers (AMF) on 20 April 2009.

This document is a free translation into English of the original French press
release. It is not a binding document. In the event of a conflict in
interpretation, reference should be made to the French version, which is the
authentic text.

About Sopra Group

A leader in the European consulting and IT services market, Sopra Group
generated revenue of 1.129 billion euros in 2008 and has a human and
intellectual resource potential of over 12,000 people. Thanks to a longstanding
culture of excellence and strong sector-specific, functional and technological
know-how, the Group offers its clients an end to end approach based on a
well-honed business model. Sopra Group`s ambition is to allow its clients to
focus on transformation projects that will give them a competitive edge and help
them drive growth. Sopra Group`s savoir-faire encompasses prior strategic
reflection through to the supervision and implementation of major systems
integration and application outsourcing projects. The Group also pursues the
worldwide deployment of its activities in both application integration and
business process management through its subsidiary Axway, a leading provider of
Collaborative Business Solutions, with a complete range of solutions and
services. For more information, please go to our website www.sopragroup.com.

Appendices

3rd Quarter
€m 2009 2008 2008 Total Organic
Reported Pro forma Growth Growth

Consulting 7.9 9.1 9.1 - 13.2% - 13.2%
SSI France 162.6 162.1 162.0 + 0.3% + 0.4%
SSI Europe 40.3 48.8 47.1 - 17.4% - 14.4%
Axway 43.0 38.5 43.8 + 11.7% - 1.8%

Group Total 253.8 258.5 262.0 - 1.8% - 3.1%

9 months ended 30/09/09
€m 2009 2008 2008 Total Organic
Reported Pro forma Growth Growth

Consulting 26.9 33.8 33.8 - 20.4% - 20.4%
SSI France 515.8 505.7 505.6 + 2.0% + 2.0%
SSI Europe 129.8 157.8 151.5 - 17.7% - 14.3%
Axway 126.1 110.8 140.4 + 13.8% - 10.2%

Group Total 798.6 808.1 831.3 - 1.2% - 3.9%

1 At constant Group structure and exchange rates.

2 SSI: Systems and Solutions Integration.

Sopra Group - Société Anonyme with share capital of €46,819,964 - 326 820 065
RCS Annecy - APE 6202 A

Registered office: PAE - Les Glaisins - F-74940 Annecy-le-Vieux - Tel.: +33 (0)4
50 33 30 30

Sopra Group
Investor relations:
Kathleen Bracco
+33 (0)1 40 67 29 61
kbraccoclark@sopragroup.com
or
Press relations:
Virginie Legoupil
+33 (0)1 40 67 29 41
vlegoupil@sopragroup.com

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