2014, a successful first year of transformation
On the strength of its position as the 4th largest European rental company in the rental market and sustainable growth since its creation, in 2014 the Kiloutou Group set up a new organisation to serve its development strategy with the ambition of creating, in the medium term, an integrated multi-specialist group.
This organisation, driven by the desire to serve all customers with the highest level of expertise, has enabled the Kiloutou Group, since 2014, to offer equipment and services adapted to the needs of each customer thanks to a network of differentiated, generalist or specialised branches (Public Works, Elevation, Event), under the same banner. These solutions are complemented by specific, cutting-edge expertise and the synergy of the Group’s best practices.
At the same time, in France, the Kiloutou Group’s development policy continued, with the opening of 4 new branches, the completion of strategic acquisitions (Alain Location, Nacelle 42, Dariche Location) and the consolidation of acquisitions made in 2013 (Most Location and Trefoulet). In 2014, Kiloutou accelerated the development of its initiatives aimed at simplifying the lives of its customers by providing them with multi-channel access to all its expertise: MarketPlace available on the Internet and its customer extranet, UnikCall, customer training, KGS, Event…
Finally, Kiloutou has strengthened its actions serving its commitments by opening a technical training school adapted to the rental business and designed to promote the integration of young people into professional life. The Group has also structured its Corporate Social Responsibility approach to better deploy all the group’s actions in favour of sustainable development (carbon footprint of equipment, participation in the Global Compact, waste recovery, etc.).
Internationally, the Kiloutou Group has continued its growth strategy initiated 18 months ago in Poland through the acquisition, in May 2014, of the EWPA Group and then in December 2014, of the company Tytanium Rental, one of the leaders in equipment rental in this country. This allows Kiloutou to provide a response to all customers on the Polish territory, with 32 branches bringing together more than 200 teammates and a complete range of equipment (earthmoving, access, multi-hire).
The Kiloutou Group’s development model has enabled it to resist and mitigate the impact of a very difficult construction market. The Kiloutou Group thus achieved sales of €458 million, in line with the decline in the French rental market (-2.7% vs 2013). The Kiloutou Group thus maintains its position as the 4th largest rental company in the European rental market. It currently has 407 branches and 3,500 employees.
In 2015, Kiloutou continues its transformation to better serve its customers
“I intend to continue the transformation of the Group with an ambitious programme focused on national and international development, the diversification of our activities, the optimisation of our operational efficiency, the maintenance of the quality of our services and our equipment, and finally, the pursuit of our responsible commitments.”
Xavier du Boÿs, Chairman and CEO of the Kiloutou Group
Among the areas of development planned for 2015, two major new actions have already been announced: the creation of a Specialities Division and the strengthening of the Kiloutou Group’s responsible commitments.
Creation of a Specialties Division to enhance its product and service offering
In order to strengthen its multi-specialist rental model, the Kiloutou Group has created a Specialty Division. This Division will offer a range of equipment and services requiring specialised know-how through specialised branches.
The Specialities Division is a national entity with its own operations and is currently structured around four activities: modular space, Sanitary, Reception, and the provision of equipment outside the Sub-letting range. These activities will have dedicated resources and means to accelerate their development.
- The modular space activity is a diversification that began with the acquisition, in January 2015, of the specialist company AKMO. Kiloutou thus entered the strategic modular construction market. With nearly 25 years of experience, AKMO is mainly aimed at the construction industry, has a stock of 2,000 modular spaces and its 23 teammates are able to offer the most sophisticated base-lives.
- The Sanitary business operates a branch dedicated to mobile sanitary facilities, based in Lyon, inherited from the acquisition of Top Loc in 2011. It will be gradually deployed throughout France.
- The Reception business offers reception equipment rental to caterers, local authorities, companies and individuals. This activity is based on the expertise of Loca Réception, acquired in 2011.
- The Sub-rental activity offers the know-how of Kiloutou Global Service (KGS), created in 2006 to serve customers for all their needs, including the most atypical, for equipment and services not offered by Kiloutou branches. The Sub-rental business currently refers to 1,000 rental partners and relies on a team of 20 sales advisors.
To ensure the rapid and successful development of its Specialty Division throughout France, the Kiloutou Group plans to open new branches for the Module, Sanitary and Reception activities, as well as making acquisitions. For the Subletting activity, the aim will be to continue to expand the range by referencing new suppliers.
Strengthening responsible commitments
The Kiloutou Group’s ambition is to move from being an equipment rental company to a complete partner. To achieve this, the group relies on a strong conviction that has been part of its DNA since its creation: to help its customers succeed by giving them access to the necessary equipment in the best possible conditions.
In 2015, Kiloutou strengthened these actions with the implementation of a partnership with two prevention referents and demonstrated its responsible commitments with the publication of the first Kiloutou Group CSR Report.
A concrete partnership with two prevention referents
In 2015, the Kiloutou Group strengthened its concrete and committed actions to make the practices of construction and civil engineering professionals safer, in particular through a partnership with two leading prevention organisations: the OPPBTP and IRIS-ST.
The partnership with the OPPBTP enables simple solutions to be disseminated to prevent the main risks on site:
- As early as its specifications for the choice of equipment, Kiloutou makes manufacturers aware of the need for cost-effective prevention, notably through an economic study carried out by the reference organisation.
- The Document Unique service, offered by the OPPBTP, is now available online on the Kiloutou.fr website.
- On the Wikimat community website, prevention news is regularly offered by the OPPBTP.
- In all its branches, Kiloutou will relay the OPPBTP’s communication campaigns and will make communication tools (posters, etc.) available to its customers via its website.
With IRIS-ST, Kiloutou is already organising the sharing of expertise via its community website Wikimat to help and guide professionals in all their risk prevention activities on site.
The first CSR Report demonstrating Kiloutou’s sustainable responsibility
Sustainable development has been a reality for Kiloutou for a long time. In 2015, the Group took a further step and published the first CSR Report in its history, which presents all of its social and societal, environmental and economic initiatives in favour of responsible behaviour. This report demonstrates that Corporate Social Responsibility is a natural fit with Kiloutou’s convictions and values. For many years, Kiloutou has taken into account the impact of its activity on the environment and future generations.
The Kiloutou Group’s CSR policy is based on a voluntary and structured approach since 2012 with the signing of the Global Compact. Today, it involves all 407 branches and 3,500 Kiloutou teammates on a permanent basis. Each of the Group’s 14 commercial regions is certified by an independent certification body (Euracrp) as it progresses.
All the commitments and actions carried out within the framework of this policy can now be consulted in the Kiloutou Group’s 2014 CSR Report. Among the actions, let us note a few examples:
- Social / Societal commitment: creation of a qualifying school designed to encourage young people in professional life, animation on PPE, e-learning training, Mase certification of the 1st branche, permanent training school…
- Environmental commitment: 50% of juggernauts replaced by more energy-efficient vehicles, labelling of the CO2 footprint of equipment on rental contracts, waste treatment, recycling of machines at the end of their life, etc.
- Economic commitment: creation of a test center ensuring the choice of equipment that guarantees better prevention and more productivity, development of innovation (Marketplace, Wikimat, CACES customer training), etc.