From 1 April to 30 June 2012, Alstom booked €6 billion orders, up 20% compared to the first quarter last year. As expected, sales grew by 6%, at €4.8 billion in the first quarter 2012/13.
 
Over the first three months of the fiscal year, Thermal Power received orders of €2.5 billion, including a major gas power plant project in Israel as well as sustained service contracts. With €2.3 billion, Transport reached a very strong level of order intake made of numerous medium-sized contracts, especially in Europe. Grid also booked sound orders at €1 billion, whilst Renewable Power, at €0.2 billion, recorded a few small projects. Demand continued to be supported by emerging markets, which represented over 50% of the total orders over this period.
 
During the first quarter 2012/13, sales growth compared to the same period last year was supported by Thermal Power and Transport whilst Grid's turnover was flat and Renewable Power's temporarily down.
 
The total backlog stood at €51 billion on 30 June 2012; it represented 30 months of sales.

”2012/13 begins with a strong commercial performance, as illustrated by the book-to-bill ratio at 1.3. In the first quarter, orders stood at a sound level whilst sales progressed as expected. The current tendering remains active, still driven by prospects in emerging markets but also in Europe for Transport. For the full year, we expect orders to be sustained and, as previously announced, sales to grow by more than 5%”, said Patrick Kron, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Alstom.

Sector Review

Thermal Power

During the first quarter of 2012/13, Thermal Power Sector received €2,499 million of new orders, down 11% compared to the first quarter of last fiscal year. In particular, the Sector booked a large project for a gas power plant including two GT26 gas turbines in Israel with its associated operation and maintenance contract. Two turbine islands for a coal power plant, won in partnership with Bharat Forge, were also registered in India, as well as a GT13 gas turbine in China. Beyond the operation and maintenance contract mentioned, Thermal Service maintained a strong commercial activity.

Sales, at €2,070 million, increased by 6% compared to the same period last year.

Renewable Power

In the first quarter of 2012/13, Renewable Power booked €214 million of orders, down 35% from the first quarter of 2011/12. The Sector received only small hydro and wind projects, mainly in Africa and in Brazil.

Sales, at €389 million, were down 18% compared to the same period last year, impacted by the absence of significant revenues for large hydro contracts in execution in Latin America during this quarter.

Grid

At €1,017 million, the Grid Sector recorded a sustained level of orders, 14% above the first quarter 2011/12. They included two contracts for turnkey substations in the United Arab Emirates and in Taiwan.

During the quarter, the Sector generated sales at €889 million, stable as compared to the same period last year.

Transport