Key figures

Socotec Group in figures

In 2007, the Socotec Group achieved excellent results again with a turnover (403.6 M€) showing 6.2% organic growth and a net consolidated result, on a constant base, up nearly 40%.
The sale of the Serpro subsidiary, whose activities were not part of the Group’s core business, actually created an increase in net earnings (net capital gain on disposal of 1.2 M€) and, conversely, reduced the rate of change of turnover which stood at +3.2 %.
Socotec SA’s dynamic results (turnover of 290.7 M€; +6.5%) were once again based on the buoyancy of the construction sector. On the other hand, projects in existing property have generally marked time.

Training within the Institute was ahead of its progress schedule established in 2004 and Consulting did remarkably well following its restructuring plan.
After the +16% of 2006, the development of the Socotec International network was once again significant (+8.4 % to 64.6 M€). For its part, Socotec Industries showed production of 55.2 M€ which has developed by nearly 11% compared to a 2006 financial year corrected by the withdrawal of Serpro and the reorganisation of the Training business.
In terms of staff, the Group employed 4,669 employees as at 31st December 2007, almost unchanged compared to the end of 2006 (4,647) but, once again, the sale of Serpro masked an overall growth of nearly 3%.

In 2007, the improvement in Socotec SA’s operational profitability was no longer eclipsed by heavy provisions as in 2006. It was focussed on the operating result which shot up to 31.1 M€ compared to 21.3 M€ for the previous year. With the maintenance of a significant gross margin at Socotec International, Socotec Industries’s return to profitability and the favourable balance of consolidation restatements, the consolidated operating result rose by 46% to 39.1 M€, representing a margin of 9.7% compared with 6.8% in 2006.