Bouygues also in the running for Equans, a subsidiary of Engie

Engie launched its new entity at the end of June, in order to bring out of its fold this structure which brings together the majority of its technical service activities, covering many trades (air conditioning, heating and ventilation, electricity, digital, mechanics, general services ... .).

"We are interested in Equans," said Olivier Roussat, CEO of the Bouygues group on the sidelines of the presentation of company results.

“Geographically, the Equans markets, Europe and the United States, correspond to the places where we want to develop,” Mr. Roussat then argued during a meeting with analysts.

"In the market, when you are with a client and the work is delivered correctly, positions are kept: the recurrence rate is quite high", he explains, therefore favoring "external growth" to integrate more into depth of the market and its promise of a “5%” margin rate.

With 74.000 employees, Equans represents a turnover of nearly 12 billion euros, according to Engie.

In the first half of 2021, the turnover of the Energy & Services division of the Bouygues group amounted to 1,9 billion euros.

"Between four billion" of annual turnover for this branch of Bouygues, "and 12 billion, there is a difference but the mechanics are the same," continued Mr. Roussat.

Equans, which has been operating as an autonomous entity within Engie since July 1, aims to leave the bosom of the energy company, which wishes to refocus on renewable energies and infrastructure.

"We have not yet decided whether we will sell to a strategic (group) or strategic (groups), or to a fund, or funds, or even to market the entity," said the general manager by Engie Catherine MacGregor during a hearing at the National Assembly at the end of June.