GEODIS REPORTS 19% RISE IN 1ST QUARTER REVENUE

GEODIS REPORTS 19% RISE IN 1ST QUARTER REVENUE    Geodis, the French logistics and trucking group, reported an increase of 19 percent in group revenues for the first quarter, to 5.56 billion French francs ($795 million).
   The increase was boosted by the recent acquisitions by Geodis of United Carriers in the United Kingdom, Vitesse in the Netherlands and Borghi Trasporti in Italy.
   Excluding the effects of acquisitions and exchange rate changes, group revenues increased 11 percent in the first quarter, from pro forma revenues of FFr4.68 billion in the first quarter of 1999.
   Geodis said that its groupage (less-than-truckload) business saw an increase in revenues of 12 percent and its logistics businesses had a revenue jump of 27 percent during the first quarter, when measured on a constant group structure and exchange rates.
   “The logistics sector is continuing its strong growth and currently accounts for 21.3 percent of the group’s net sales for the first quarter, against 17.7 percent on March 31, 1999,” Geodis said.