French Unix software distributor Top Log International SA last week reported its 1993 revenues and net profit up significantly from its previous reporting period of nine months in 1992, along with very encouraging trends for 1994. The company, whose leading products come from Santa Cruz Operation Inc and Informix Software inc, said its sales for the year to September 30 came to the equivalent of $49.8m with a pre-tax profit of $2.8m, and net net profit of $1.4m. Top Log ended its previous fiscal in June 1992 when its management bought it out from financially troubled distributor Metrologie International SA. For those nine months, the company saw sales of about $36.5m, pre-tax profit of $2.1m and net profit of $899,000. On a pro-forma 12-month comparison, Top Log’s sales would have totaled $49.5m. In 1993, France represented 53.6% of revenues, followed by 15.7% from Top Log UK, 12.6% from Top Log Iberica, 11.1% from Top Log GmbH and 7% from Top Log Benelux. Objectives for this year include strengthening its positions in France, Germany and the UK, penetrating complementary market sectors and extending its European presence, said founder and chief executive Serge van Gorkum. It is already in discussion with potential partners in Italy, and has a new subsidiary in Morocco, which began operation in December.If the opportunities present themselves, we will finance our external growth largely with our own cash flow, said Minh Tran Chau, director general, noting that the company has between $4m and $5m immediately available. It expects good growth this year: first quarter sales are up 15%, and it sees sales up 12% and pre-tax profitability of 6%.
