New Production Facility at Lagoon's plant in Bordeaux

Located on the right bank of the Garonne river between the Bordeaux I aluminium workshop and the Bordeaux II composites workshop, whose buildings already occupy more than 15,000 square metres, the new facility will include an assembly space 120 metres long and 25 metres wide, a 2,500 square metre pre-assembly platform, offices overlooking the river, stores, diverse workshops and a company restaurant for the entire Bordeaux site.

Outside facilities will notably include a 6,000 square metre area outfitted for the pre-launch preparation of boats, an inclined plane launch facility and landscaped areas highlighting the facility's integration into its riverside environment.

Bordeaux III will in particular support the development of the Lagoon programme since it will initially be used for building the Lagoon 500, the exceptional catamaran that will premiere at the autumn 2005 boat shows.

Designed for ocean cruises, this third-generation Lagoon catamaran has incorporated all of the innovative features of the Lagoon 440 into an even more remarkable living space with the all the comforts of a home.

This investment in production capacity of more than €6 million is expected to accommodate nearly 100 additional employees in the medium term.

Today, the Shipbuilding and Large Pleasure Boat Division:

• groups together the CNB, Wauquiez and Lagoon brands and work boats, which are located at three different sites (Bordeaux, l'Herbaudière/Noirmoutier and Neuville en Ferrain/Nord);
• has 550 employees including 300 at the Bordeaux site;
• is forecasting sales of around €80 million for the 2004/2005 financial year.