Revenue at $874 M, up 14% Year on Year PARIS, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CGGVeritas (ISIN: 0000120164 - NYSE: CGV) today announced its second quarter 2008 unaudited financial results1. All comparisons are made on a year-on-year basis with second quarter 2007 figures unless otherwise stated. During the second quarter of 2008: - Group revenue was up 14% to $874 million. - Group operating income was up 11% to $151 million. Sercel delivered robust performance and Services was in line with expectations resulting in a group operating margin of 17%. With a constant $/EUR exchange rate,(1) the margin would be approximately 19%. - Sercel revenue grew 7% to $281 million with a 30% operating margin. With a constant exchange rate, the margin would be approximately 34%. - Services revenue grew 17% to $613 million with a 14% operating margin. During the quarter we saw lower marine availability and production rates as previously communicated and strengthening multi-client sales. - Net income of $81 million represented 9% of revenue corresponding to $0.56 per ADS. Net income in Euros was EUR52 million corresponding to EUR0.35 earnings per share (EPS). - Backlog as of July 1, 2008 remains strong at $1.7 billion. CGGVeritas Chairman & CEO, Robert Brunck commented: "During the quarter, our revenue grew 14% year-on-year and net income grew 35%. At the operational level, continued robust performance of Sercel, strong contract demand in Services and increasing multi-client sales were offset partially by lower marine utilization rates, low seasonal activity in land and the unfavorable euro/dollar exchange rate. Sercel further expanded its leadership position as the 428 XL acquisition system and Sentinel solid streamers saw accelerating technology adoption. Services continued to strengthen with further wide-azimuth success and excellent take-up of land's HPVA and V1 technology as well as processing's unique advanced imaging capabilities. We confirm our 2008 objectives based on an expected strong second half of the year. In Services, with our full fleet back in operation, vessel utilization rates will return to high levels and multi-client sales will continue to increase especially in the Gulf of Mexico. In Sercel we will see even further strengthening of seismic equipment sales throughout the year. Looking forward through 2009, demand outlook continues to remain strong across all segments of our unique business portfolio and I am confident that we are well positioned to further extend our leadership and grow our financial results." Second Quarter 2008 Performance and Highlights Group Revenue was $874 million (EUR559 million), compared to $769 million (EUR571 million). Growth of 14% in $ was driven by strong sustained sales of Sercel equipment and increasing levels of multi-client sales in Services. Group Operating Income was $151 million (EUR96 million), up 11% in $ and down 4% in EUR, with a 17% operating margin, compared to $136 million (EUR101 million) and an 18% margin last year. With a constant exchange rate, the margin would be approximately 19%. Group EBITDAs1 was $339 million (EUR217 million) up 20% in $ and up 3% in EUR compared to $284 million (EUR210 million) last year. EBITDAs margin was 39% this quarter. Group Net Income was $81 million (EUR52 million) compared to $60 million (EUR45 million), resulting in an EPS of EUR0.35 per ordinary share and $0.56 per ADS. The Effective Tax Rate, not including deferred tax on currency translation, was 32%. During the quarter, we saw preliminary benefits from our tax planning program. Group Net Debt was stable over the quarter at $1.6 billion (EUR1.0 billion), representing 44% of total shareholders equity of $3.7 billion (EUR2.4 billion). Industrial Capex was $61 million (EUR39 million) while multi-client Capex was $143 million (EUR91 million) as the acquisition on our Garden Banks wide-azimuth (WAZ) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) continued to progress well. Multi-client prefunding was 79%. The Net Book Value of the multi-client library closed at $759 million (EUR481 million) distributed respectively with $554 million (EUR351 million) for our marine library and $205 million (EUR130 million) for our land library. The multi-client amortization rate was 48%. Comparison with Second Quarter 2007 Consolidated Statement of Income Second Quarter Second Quarter (in million euros) (in million dollars) 2008 2007 2008 2007 Exchange rate 1.562 1.347 1.562 1.347 Operating revenue 559.0 571.1 874.1 768.7 Sercel 179.9 196.2 281.3 263.5 Services 391.6 390.1 613.1 525.4 Elimination -12.5 -15.2 -20.3 -20.7 Gross profit 155.8 174.9 244.9 235.9 Operating income 96.1 100.5 151.1 135.9 Sercel 53.9 67.3 84.5 90.5 Services 52.7 45.5 83.6 62.0 Corporate and Elimination -10.5 -12.3 -17.0 -16.6 Cost of financial debt -18.4 -26.2 -28.8 -35.3 Income tax -26.2 -31.0 -41.4 -41.9 Income from equity investments 0.2 0.8 0.4 1.0 Net income 51.8 44.6 81.5 60.4 Earnings per share (EUR) / per 0.35 0.31 0.56 0.42 ADR ($) EBITDAs 217.0 210.2 339.4 283.6 Sercel 60.1 72.1 94.1 97.0 Services 172.0 147.1 269.4 199.0 Industrial Capex 38.6 48.1 60.5 65.2 Multi-client Capex 91.2 82.6 142.7 110.7 Net debt / Equity gearing ratio 44% 50% 44% 50% Second Quarter 2008 Business Review Sercel Revenue for Sercel was $281 million (EUR180 million), up 7% in $ and down 8% in EUR. Internal sales were flat accounting for 7% of total sales. Continued increase in demand for high resolution and highly productive solutions further extended Sercel's technology leadership both onshore and offshore as technology adoption of the 428 XL recording system and the Sentinel solid streamer accelerated. Operating Income was $85 million (EUR54 million), with a 30% operating margin, compared to $91 million (EUR67 million) and a 34% margin a year ago. With a constant exchange rate, the margin would be approximately 34%. EBITDAs was $94 million (EUR60 million), with a 33% EBITDAs margin, compared to $97 million (EUR72 million) and a 37% margin last year. Services Revenue for Services was $613 million (EUR392 million), up 17% in $ and stable in EUR supported by increasing multi-client sales and continued growth in the contract market. Operating Income was $84 million (EUR53 million), with a 14% operating margin, compared to $62 million (EUR46 million) and a 12% margin. Strong prefunding of multi-client surveys in the GoM and growing after sales in Brazil were partially offset as anticipated by a lower vessel availability rate(2) of 86% and a lower vessel production rate2 of 80% as well as the seasonal demobilization of our Arctic operations. With a constant exchange rate, the margin would be approximately 16%. EBITDAs was $269 million (EUR172 million), a 44% EBITDAs margin compared to $199 million (EUR147 million) a 38% margin last year. - Marine contract revenue reached $214 million (EUR137 million) up 19% in $ and up 2% in EUR in an undersupplied market. We operated 75% of our high-end 3D fleet on contract, mainly in the Eastern Hemisphere. All vessels were in operations in June including the Symphony following its loss of propulsion incident. - Land contract revenue was $110 million (EUR70 million) up 14% in $ and down 3% in EUR based on growing demand for higher resolution data and increased take-up of our advanced HPVA and V1 technology. We operated on average 16 crews in select locations with 11 crews in the Eastern Hemisphere and 5 crews in the Western Hemisphere, as a result of the typical seasonal low activity in the North American Arctic region. - Processing & Imaging revenue was $96 million (EUR62 million) up 7% in $ and down 8% in EUR based on the strengthening position and take-up of our new high-end imaging and depth migration technologies. - Multi-client revenue was $192 million (EUR124 million) up 21% in $ and up 5% in EUR. The amortization rate for multi-client sales was 48% both in marine and land. Multi-client marine revenue was $149 million (EUR96 million) up 14% in $ and down 2% in EUR. Marine multi-client Capex reached $112 million (EUR71 million) with prefunding at 87% driven by stronger sales of our leading WAZ programs. The Garden Banks high resolution WAZ survey in the GoM is progressing well and is showing very promising preliminary results. Prefunding for marine multi-client was $98 million (EUR63 million). After-sales revenue was $51 million (EUR33 million). Multi-client land revenue was $43 million (EUR28 million) up 58% in $ and up 38% in EUR driven by strong demand for our Canadian data. Capex was $31 million (EUR20 million) with 47% prefunding as new programs were launched in Canada. Prefunding for land multi-client was $15 million (EUR9 million). After-sales revenue was $29 million (EUR19 million). First Half 2008 Performance and Highlights Group Revenue was $1,747 million (EUR1,144 million), compared to $1,546 million (EUR1,163 million). This 13% growth in $ was driven by sustained sales of Sercel equipment and a high level of land and marine contract activity in Services. Group Operating Income was $335 million (EUR219 million), up 3% in $ and down 10% in EUR, with a 19% operating margin, compared to $324 million (EUR244 million) and a 21% margin last year. With a constant exchange rate, the margin for the first half 2008 would be approximately 21%. Group EBITDAs1 was $682 million (EUR447 million) compared to $622 million (EUR468 million), EBITDAs margin was 39%. Group Net Income was $177 million (EUR116 million) compared to $151 million (EUR114 million), resulting in an EPS of EUR0.81 per ordinary share and $1.24 per ADS. The Effective Tax Rate, not including deferred tax on currency translation, was 35.5%. Industrial Capex was $137 million (EUR90 million) while multi-client Capex was $288 million (EUR189 million) reaching a peak in the first quarter as two large WAZ acquisition programs ran concurrently in the GoM. Multi-client prefunding was 71% and the multi-client amortization rate at the end of June was 49%. Comparison with First Half 2007 Consolidated Statement of Income First Half First Half (in million euros) (in million dollars) 2008 2007 2008 2007 Exchange rate 1.527 1.329 1.527 1.329 Operating revenue 1144.0 1163.3 1746.9 1546.0 Sercel 368.7 400.6 563.0 532.2 Services 824.9 815.7 1259.6 1084.2 Elimination -49.6 -53.0 -75.7 -70.4 Gross profit 356.2 381.3 544.0 506.8 Operating income 219.5 244.0 335.2 324.3 Sercel 114.0 136.3 174.1 181.1 Services 141.8 146.7 216.5 195.0 Corporate and Elimination -36.3 -39.0 -55.4 -51.8 Cost of financial debt -41.2 -60.0 -63.0 -79.7 Income tax -64.3 -72.0 -98.2 -95.7 Income from equity investments 3.0 1.2 4.6 1.7 Net income 115.9 113.6 176.9 151.0 Earnings per share (EUR) / per 0.81 0.83 1.24 1.11 ADR ($) EBITDAs 446.8 468.1 682.3 622.1 Sercel 126.1 145.9 192.6 193.9 Services 362.5 357.4 553.5 475.0 Industrial Capex 89.8 121.4 137.1 161.3 Multi-client Capex 188.5 144.4 287.9 191.9 Net debt / Equity gearing ratio 44% 50% 44% 50% 2008 and 2009 Outlook Looking forward we confirm our 2008 objectives. The second half of the year is expected to be stronger than the first half for both Sercel and Services. In Services, vessel utilization rates should return to high levels and multi-client sales should increase to meet early 2009 Gulf of Mexico lease sales. Sercel should increase even further with seismic equipment sales growing quarter by quarter. Global seismic demand outlook remains strong through 2009 across all segments of our equipment and services business. In this market, CGGVeritas is well positioned to further extend its leadership and grow its financial results. Other information The quarterly financial information including press release, 6K and presentation are available on our website at http://www.cggveritas.com/ today July 31, 2008. - A French language conference call is scheduled today for 9.00 AM (Paris) - 8:00 AM (London). - French call-in 01-72-28-01-75 - International call-in 44-207-098-0694 - Replay 01-72-28-01-39 or 44-207-075-3214 code 227126# - The updated English language conference call is scheduled today for 3:00 PM (Paris) - 2:00 PM (London) - 8:00 AM (US CT) - 9:00 AM (US ET). - US call-in +1-888-241-0558 - International call-in +1-647-427-3417 - Replay +1-402-220-4285 or +1-800-839-9879 code 35067015 To take part in the conference calls, simply dial five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time to register and to check your connection is working properly. You will be asked for the name of the conference: "CGGVeritas 2008 Q2 results". CGGVeritas will also provide a streaming audio webcast of the conference calls accessible for two weeks following the conference calls on our website. About CGGVeritas CGGVeritas (http://www.cggveritas.com/) is a leading international pure-play geophysical company delivering a wide range of technologies, services and equipment through Sercel, to its broad base of customers mainly throughout the global oil and gas industry. CGGVeritas is listed on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: 0000120164) and the New York Stock Exchange (in the form of American Depositary Shares, NYSE: CGV). The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the securities act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties as disclosed by the Company from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may vary materially. (1) All the figures are provided in Euros and US dollars. The $ figures are calculated based on a second quarter EUR/$ average exchange rate of 1.562 (compared to 1.347 in Q2 2007) for the Profit & Loss and Cash Flow Statement and are based on the EUR/$ closing exchange rate for the Balance Sheet. EBITDAs figures are EBITDA before share based compensation. (2) Vessel availability rate is the total vessel time, reduced by the sum of the shipyard time and the steaming time, all then divided by total vessel time. Vessel production rate is the available time reduced by operational downtime and then divided by available time. Investor Relations Contacts Paris: Houston: Christophe Barnini Hovey Cox Tel: +33-1-64-47-38-10 Tel: +1-832-351-8821 E-Mail: E-Mail: DATASOURCE: CGGVeritas CONTACT: Investor Relations Contacts: Paris: Christophe Barnini, Tel: +33-1-64-47-38-10, E-Mail: ; Houston: Hovey Cox, Tel: +1-832-351-8821, E-Mail:

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