From Minitel to the Internet: a successful transition for Newtech. Newtech Interactive, a company specializing in providing and publishing interactive content for the general public and professionals, seems to have passed the test in its transfer from Minitel to the Internet.
After having suffered a strong slowdown in the sector in 2004, business in the first quarter of 2005 is showing some promising signs. The company in effect saw a drop of 2.6% in its turnover in 2004, due to the reduction in Minitel and Audiotel activity (95% of sales), but recorded an increase of 12% in its business in the first quarter of 2005.
Newtech now specializes mainly in new paying services on the Internet and mobile telephony.
This sector is set to offer good prospects of growth in 2005 as well as for further years.
The Group is also banking on two figure growth in its sales in 2005. Created out of a merger in 1999 of L.C. Développement and Hélios, quoted on the Free Market,
Newtech hopes to envisage a transfer to Alternext.
In the meantime, the security has seen a good increase in value, +128% since the start of the year and +88% in a year.
Since several mergers in the sector are expected (Jet Multimedia or maybe 123Multimedia), the Newtech Group could become an attractive target.
The Management is careful not to confirm this hypothesis and rejects any idea of a sale at the current price. What outlook does the sector offer?
Does the Newtech share still have upwards potential?
René Carrillo, Newtech Interactive’s President, is Your Guest. He will answer your questions live at 17.00. Let’s have your questions!

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