The Number 1 site designer in France A regional company, a network of agencies
PRESS DOSSIER
www.cortix.fr
Press Information : Territoires & Co Odile Lemoine
[email protected] 05 56 00 89 50 - 06 18 37 06 12
CONTENTS I. Cortix, a business facilitator 1. Partner in the growth of enterprises 2. The customized CORTIX offer: suitable for VSBs, SMEs and groups …………………………………p 3 to 5
II. Cortix is floated on the Stock Exchange ……………………………………p 6
III. New agencies and news 1. The CORTIX objectives: an international operation 2. Latest news from Cortix …………………………………p 7 to 8
IV. The people at Cortix 1. Staff, profiles 2. An SME that recruits 3. The trend at Cortix …………………………………p 9 to 10
V. A global vision of the market 1. 2H Technologies: the support of a group with complementary competencies 2. Group development: operations and objectives for 2006/2007 ……..…………………………p 11 to 13
VI. Key figures, useful information 1. Cortix figures 2. Contacts and CORTIX agencies ………………………………p 14 to 15 Cortix, a marked progress for the growth of enterprises PRESS DOSSIER – January 2008
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I. Cortix, a business facilitator Created in 1999 in Bordeaux by a young entrepreneur, Hassane HAMZA, the company Cortix, specializing in the global offer of internet sites for businesses (design, hosting, referencing), has become in a few years the leader for site design in France and the growth partner of enterprises through the Net. With more than 12,000 clients, 600 new clients per month and fifteen agencies operating in France, this company of 235 employees continues to grow: increasing Business Turnover, strengthened customer service and new openings of agencies planned. 2007 was a year of expansion for Cortix in Europe. Spain was the first foreign country to welcome a Cortix agency: Barcelona in March. In July a Belgian office was opened in Brussels. New offices are opening in October and November in Munich, Geneva and Valencia in Spain.
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1. Partner in the growth of enterprises The significant renewal of contracts (70 % renewal) proves the level of satisfaction of the companies (VSBs, SMEs, groups…) that trust Cortix. With the implementation of CRM software entirely dedicated and developed for the specific needs of its clients, a most accurate support has been set up since the beginning of the year in order to ensure a policy of customer loyalty development for a client portfolio in full evolution. New modifications? A new site to be referenced? Cortix undertakes, as a partner to its clients, to promote the attractiveness of their site, and thus the development of their structure.
New at Cortix: the catalogue of sites dedicated by business… In order to respond very closely to its clients’ requests, Cortix has developed a catalogue of models on digital support. These models are classified by areas of activity (commerce, construction, real estate, catering, hotels, agriculture…), but also by ambiance (userfriendliness, recreation, high-end, tradition, corporate…). Thus the most representative professions of the VSBs-SMEs in all areas of activity are expressed in up to 6 models, themselves ranked by color. Within a few months, some sixty activities will be proposed in this catalogue, representing some 250 to 300 models. The diversity of this offer, perfectly adapted to the business through the graphics as well as through the architecture of the site model, will enable many creative and customized combinations.
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2. The Cortix offer: adapted to VSBs, SMEs and groups
Cortix proposes a complete turnkey solution to companies wishing to develop their activities on the Internet. The Cortix package includes the design of the site with domain name, hosting on a professional platform, referencing on the search tools (directories and engines), and administration of the site as well as its maintenance. The offer, designed for all enterprises of all sizes, is particularly adapted to small structures (VSBs, SMEs) through a specific financing solution which suits small cash flows. The highly competitive prices of Cortix can be explained by the total command of the process for the execution of internet sites. This is done with an original financing method spread, on average, over 4 years (standard price €110 /month according to the services provided). Cortix undertakes, with its technical partners (referencing partner, host), to obtain the best guarantees at the best price on the market. As the owner of the technologies used and by fully controlling the know-how, Cortix can propose a quality offer at the best price.
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II. Cortix is floated on the Stock Exchange Cortix was floated on the Stock Exchange on 20 December 2007 (admission to Alternext). The floating on Alternext has allowed Cortix to secure its rapid international growth. With 14 agencies across France and a successful start in Europe (Barcelona, Brussels, Valencia, Geneva and Munich), Cortix plans to open 13 further agencies outside of France before the end of its 2007-2008 financial year, on 30 June. Hassane Hamza, Chairman and founder of Cortix said: “2007 was a great year for Cortix, opening our first agencies across Europe immediately generated interest from international clients while our growth within France was the best on record. Now I am delighted to have successfully floated Cortix on Alternext. The funds raised will allow us to carry out our strategy of quickly acquiring market share in France more easily, where we already have more than 9500 active websites, and more importantly at an International level.
Raising more than 10 million Euros The operation, limited to qualified investors was completed on Friday 14 December and was oversubscribed by around 250%. Cortix raised €10,185,006 from around 20 qualified investors from: a capital increase of 294,118 new shares the sale of 305,000 existing shares. Following Arkéon Finance’s investment, the share price was fixed at €17.00, in the middle of the proposed price range. The float increased to 20.36%.
Operation timetable The share transaction was carried out on 19 December 2007. The floating of CORTIX was carried out on 20 December 2007 and the first negotiations on Alternext of NYSE Euronext Paris began on 21 December 2007 with the mnemonic ALCTX. Arkéon Finance is Cortix’s Listing Sponsor. Note: “placing financial instruments on the market for investment reserved for qualified investors does not exclude other investors from acquiring such financial instruments" in accordance with the AMF statement dated 15 October 2007.
Information 20 December 2007 Cortix, a marked progress for the growth of enterprises PRESS DOSSIER – January 2008
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III. New agencies and news 1. CORTIX objectives: operation on an international scale With a business turnover in 2007 of more than € 14 M and an increasing profitability, CORTIX has exceeded the set objectives. Evolution of the growth: Year 2000
Year 2001
€ 233 600
€ 926 500
Year 2002
Year 2003
Year 2004
Year 2005
€ 1 548 800 € 2 145 000 € 2 550 000 € 4 320 000
Year 2006
Year 2007
€ 8 965 000
Agencies Moreover, Cortix has gained market share in the Bordeaux well as in ten cities with economic development such as Nantes, Lyon and Paris.*
a strong region as significant Toulouse,
New agencies in 2007: New offices were established by Cortix in several French cities in 2007: -
Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon and Paris.
In Europe: -
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Spain : Barcelona in March and Valencia in October Belgium: Brussels in July. Germany (Munich) and Switzerland (Geneva): October/November.
* Cortix is everywhere in France: Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Tours.
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€ 14 060 000
2. Cortix news December 2007 Cortix is floated Cortix was floated on 20 December 2007. The floating on Alternext has allowed Cortix to secure its rapid international growth. Cortix raised €10,185,006 from around 20 qualified investors from a capital increase of 294,118 new shares and the sale of 305,000 existing shares.
November 2007 Cortix receives Deloitte award for the 2nd consecutive year By winning 1st place at the Trophées Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards - Palmarès Grand Ouest in November 2007 in Nantes, Cortix confirms their position as a competitive and innovative company. For the second year running, this SME from Bordeaux is one of the 50 best-performing companies in France (and one of the 68 French companies in the 500 best European success stories at the 2007 awards). These awards, organised every year by Deloitte, aim to promote companies who show their capacity to develop at a sustainable rate in an ever-changing technological environment.
October 2007 Inauguration of the new head office of Cortix at Mérignac (Gironde) CORTIX moved into its new premises and inaugurated its head office at the end of October in Mérignac (Gironde), close to the Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. The construction of a 2floor 1150 m² building started in the month of January on bare land. It accommodates the Cortix offices as well as those of the group, 2H Technologies, to which it belongs.
September 2007 Opening of new agencies -
Since July: Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon and Paris. Belgium: Brussels in July. Germany (Munich) and Switzerland (Geneva): October/November. Spain: Valencia in October
May 2007 The new Cortix site Since May 2007 CORTIX has been offering its new site to Internet users. Different from the highly animated traditional web agency sites, the Cortix site is more focused on content (clear information on the company, its growth, news…) while giving preference to a sober and qualitative aestheticism. www.cortix.fr intends to portray its know-how in terms of design of high-end sites and adapted to “its client companies’ clientele”.
March 2007 Opening of Cortix Ibérica: 1st agency in Barcelona! Cortix is settling in Spain with the opening of the first agency in Barcelona. Cortix, a marked progress for the growth of enterprises PRESS DOSSIER – January 2008
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IV. The people at Cortix 1. Staff, profiles The staff is divided into 3 categories: - Commercial Department - Production - Head Office
The average age is 29 years. Average length of service is 2 years. 1/3 of the staff work in management. Staff on 30/06/07 in %
2. An SME that recruits More than 100 recruitments per year for the French operations Essentially “sales force” profiles for the 14 agencies. “Support services” profiles for the structuring of Head Office teams: Information Technology Department, Administrative and Financial Departments, Marketing, Customer Service, etc. Many CVs, a quick response An answer is given to candidates who write to us (some 800 CVs/month) Quality approach through pre-selections by phone and personalized interview of selected candidates. The “plus” proposed by Cortix One week of training when integrating the company: product, sales method, tour of the business working in twos with a confirmed sales person, Continuous training: in house “training”, regular tours with the agency Manager to set areas of progress. A coverage zone equivalent at the maximum to a French “department”: independent coverage without internal competition of one’s allocated geographical area. Cortix, a marked progress for the growth of enterprises PRESS DOSSIER – January 2008
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Emulation within a united/interdependent team Performing and “facilitating” tools for help in sales Cortix gives a chance to young graduates or self-educated persons: motivation and personality (commitment, energy, attention to details and professional ethics) are paramount. Performance is valorized by: - A system of attractive remuneration with non-leveled off bonuses - Internal promotion (see below).
3. Growth at Cortix Several training courses are given to Cortix employees in order to promote the growth of competencies and internal promotion. -
A “Recruitment” training (Apec) delivered to all the Agency Managers in 2006.
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A “Business Management” training (Mercuri International) also provided to the Agency Managers in 2007. Objective: to have managers master the techniques for the transmission of the know-how in order to sustain the development of their teams.
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Training in English for the executives in order to support the internationalization process of Cortix
Internal promotion: the engine for development Out of 14 Agency Managers, 9 came through internal promotion. The 2 Regional Managers of Cortix started “in the field” as salespersons, before taking over the administration of an agency, and then a network of 7 agencies each. Middle management positions exist in the agencies: the Sales Group Heads supervise and work with 3 salespersons.
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V. A global vision of the market With the support of the group 2H Technologies to which it belongs, Cortix has added complementary and indispensable competencies from its “sister companies” to promote its development. 2H Technologies, whose head office is at Mérignac (Gironde), is a global player, a provider of complementary technological solutions, with innovative services and a high added value, providing services to enterprises of all sizes. It had a total of 385 employees on October 1st, 2007. The President and Chief Executive Officer is Hassane HAMZA, also CEO for Cortix.
1. 2H Technologies : the support of a group with complementary competencies The group consists of the following companies: -
CORTIX (design of internet sites), Gold Référencement (a complete referencing service to increase the number of visits on a site in an optimal manner), Proxitel (a multi-language call center which is responsible for prospecting, marketing and client follow-up), Loxys (the real estate management company of the holding company).
Thanks to these different activities, the Group 2H can offer a complete range of services to its clients.
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2H Technologies Specifics: -
It has a centre of expertise abroad offering reactivity, know-how, adaptation capacities and great efficiency to conduct its missions. Thanks to Cortix, 2H Technologies has a powerful marketing network present all over France and in Europe.
Focus on Proxitel, the multi-language call center The company Proxitel was created in Bordeaux in 2003 with 4 call center operators. In October 2005, the call platform was set up in Tunis with some thirty operators. Today it has a total of 170 employees (call center operators and administrative employees). Within the next few weeks, a new platform will be set up which will support a total staff of 260 persons. The multilingual teams intervene at all the stages of client relations, from prospection to after sales service: -
Booking appointments for the salespersons, New product launch, Telemarketing, Client follow up.
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2. Development of the group: new agencies and objectives for 2007/2008
New agencies and geographical influence: 2H Technologies is an international group which has marketing branches in Europe (Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium) as well as a high-tech production center in Tunisia. In the short term, 2H Technologies also wishes to be present in other European markets.
A dual objective: Search for synergies between the different units and develop each of these independently.
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IV. Key figures, useful information 1. Cortix in a few figures: Year of creation: 1999 600 new clients per month Head-office: Mérignac (Gironde) 70 % of contract renewal Business Turnover in 2007 (June closing): A national networking through fifteen 14 060 000 € agencies More than 12,000 clients to date
2. Evolution of the growth: Year 2000 € 233,600
Year 2001
Year 2002
Year 2003
Year 2004
Year 2005
Year 2006
€ 926,500 €1, 548,800 € 2, 145,000 € 2, 550,000 € 4,320,000 € 8,965,000
Addresses and contacts CORTIX SA (Head office) PARC D’ACTIVITES NEIL AMSTRONG II 19, AVENUE NEIL AMSTRONG 33693 MERIGNAC
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Year 2007 € 14,060,000
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