Bourse & Valeurs #61, avec Pierre Boulud (bioMérieux)

Yes, so we crossed the 3 billion mark this year in 2020, 3.118 billion euros, and yes, the year was driven by the activity of COVID tests, obviously, so it was exceptional.

Yes, so we offer three types of tests for COVID: the classic PCR test, which is used daily by millions of patients worldwide; a syndromic respiratory panel test on which we integrated COVID-19 to have the broadest possible test, created by the company bioFire, a subsidiary of bioMérieux in the United States; and finally a test to detect COVID antibodies to know if one has developed immunity, which was also developed in France and is produced in France. So, in the United States, in Salt Lake City exactly, and in France it's both Marcy-l'Étoile and Marcy-l'Étoile exactly, and near Lyon. An increase in activity in all geographic regions concerning the group. If we take stock of the year, all geographies experienced very strong growth, but it is particularly true for us in Europe and the United States, where the needs for COVID-19 diagnostics were considerable. We also saw very good growth in Latin America, and bioMérieux's global geographic presence greatly benefited from this activity. And then high investments, so of course, yes, investments continue because the group is projecting long-term, so continuous investments in research and development, obviously in production to meet market needs, so new investments have been made, particularly in the United States, to be able to support our customers' demand. And then a result therefore sharply higher, a little more than 2,400 million in net profit. Yes, and if its 13 million in operating result, which reflects the operational performance of the company in very strong growth, which we anticipate and hope to maintain by 2021. So, and of course, it highlights the importance of diagnostics. Yes, at the heart of public health issues. So yes, effectively for bioMérieux, which is one of the world leaders in the field of infectious disease diagnostics, unfortunately the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the necessity and importance of effective, reliable, rapid diagnostics for different infectious diseases. So COVID, and what we hope is that for the future, it will also be an opportunity to demonstrate the value of our diagnostic solutions to doctors, laboratories, hospitals, and health systems.

Almost all countries, practically all countries in the world. We have a direct presence in 47 countries, with bioMérieux teams directly present selling our products, which is extremely broad. The group's first country is now the United States, the second country is China, and the third country remains France. So a geographic presence across all continents. So, and then the workforce: 12,800 people, yes practically 13,000 people, which increased by nearly 800 last year. Yes, and it covers the entire value chain, so teams that visit hospitals, support clients, production teams, R&D teams, and so across the entire value chain we have increased resources and teams. So, regarding teams, an employee share ownership plan that will have a new important episode in May. Yes, so we will propose in 2021 to our employees to acquire bioMérieux shares, obviously with plans to facilitate this share ownership. It is a desire of the group and of President Alexandre Mérieux to give access to bioMérieux shares to all group employees. We have already done it and will probably continue beyond 2021, and in 2021 the plan will be proposed. So, and also a strong choice to redistribute 42 million euros in 2020, redistributed for solidarity actions. Yes, so it's the group's culture, a culture of solidarity and humanity. In 2020, exceptionally, given the ongoing crisis, the exceptional financial performance of bioMérieux, and given the exceptional crisis that our society is going through, the group decided to invest and give 42 million euros, part to the Mérieux Foundation, part to 'Entreprise des Possibles', which is a collective of companies initiated by Mr. Alain Mérieux, but also this year we allocated a significant portion, 8 million euros, to bioMérieux teams in the different countries where bioMérieux is present, so that they themselves choose the associations and NGOs they wish to contribute to and help. So it ranges from India, where we helped associations fight malnutrition, South Africa, domestic violence, allowing women and their children to be welcomed, in France the fight against school failure. About a hundred projects in total, about sixty projects. It created extraordinary enthusiasm in the organization and demonstrated the desire to be a supportive company. And in fact, Alexandre Mérieux wished in December, beyond this exceptional year 2020, that we make a donation of 20 million euros to a fund that will allow these actions to be sustained over time, with the creation of an endowment fund initially endowed with 20 million euros, which will allow this dynamic to continue with bioMérieux teams in all the countries where we are directly present, and which will carry this mission of solidarity, which they considered important and which is part of the group's DNA.

Full of uncertainties because we see that the crisis unfortunately continues, evolves also depending on geographies, is less important now in the United States, remains very present in Europe, so we follow that very closely. What we have to communicate is guidance to the financial markets of around 5 to 8% growth in our sales, and obviously we follow that very closely, but we hope to capitalize on the very good performance of 2020.