Stepping up of Audika’s geographical cover across France

27/06/06 - 6 new centers in Q2 and Integration of 10 franchised centers

 

The second quarter of 2006 saw Audika continue to reinforce its geographical cover across France, with the Group adding a further 6 centers (including 3 and acquisitions 3 new centers) to its name.

 

 

Establishment in 2 major cities and opening in a new regional department

 

Audika has completed the strategic acquisition of a center in Saint Etienne and two centers in the Sarthe region including one in Mans, thus extending its reach to two high-potential cities in which the Group had yet to develop a presence.

 

In line with its strategy, the Group has set up operations in a new regional department following the creation of a center in Annonay in the Ardèche. The other two centers also created mean that the Group’s coverage of the Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc Roussillon regions, two regions which are particularly well covered by Audika, is now complete.

 

All told, these six new centers are expected to generate sales of around EUR 1.0 million over a full year in 2007.

 

 

Integration of 10 franchised centers

 

Audika has also completed the acquisition of a major franchisee operating 10 centers in the north of France. The transaction, which is expected to boost the Group’s sales by a further EUR 0.6 million over a full year, is perfectly in line with the strategy pursued by Audika for some years now which aims to progressively integrate its franchised centers. Following the operation, Audika now has six franchised centers.

A network of nearly 320 centers to reinforce the Group’s leadership position

 

Having already extended its network by 13 centers during the first quarter of the year (7 acquisitions, 6 new centers), Audika Group has thus increased the number of centers acquired or created since January to 19. Moreover, the Group has continued to improve on the locations making up its network having regrouped centers in a number of cities where it had several locations, such as Vincennes or Enghien.

 

With almost 320 centers to its name, the Group has progressed to the next stage in achieving its medium-term goal of 500 centers.

 

Audika fully intends to pursue this dynamic strategy over the coming months in order to reinforce its leadership in terms of reputation and geographical cover across France. The Group is ideally placed to draw upon its undeniable competitive edge to be the first to benefit from the forecast growth in its market in the years ahead as its target category, the “oldies boom” generation, comes of age.

 

Audika will publish its sales for H1 2006 on July 18, 2006

 

 

About Audika:

 

With nearly 320 centers in 76 different regional departments and a market share of almost 13%, Audika is the number one network offering hearing correction consulting and solutions in France. Positioned on the market for hearing correction solutions for senior citizens, which is not affected by changes in the economic situation, Audika aims to consolidate its leadership in a sector that remains very highly fragmented. Audika is listed on segment B of the Eurolist SMALL 90 index.

 

If you would like to receive financial information about Audika by e-mail, contact: www.audika.com

 

ISIN FR0000063752-ADI

Reuters DIKA.PA

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Number of shares: 9,450,000



Audika contacts: Alain Tonnard / Etienne Sirand-Pugnet on +33 (0)1 55 37 30 30

Kaparca Finance contact : Guillaume Le Floch on +33 (0)1 72 74 82 25