ETDE, Bouygues Construction's electrical contracting and maintenance subsidiary, recently acquired Szigma Coop, one of the leaders on the Hungarian HVAC engineering market. Szigma Coop was founded in 1980 and specializes in installation and maintenance of heat plants, air conditioning equipment, and automatic control and fire detection systems. Its main clients are private-sector companies, including major groups such as Coca Cola, Samsung, Audi, Nokia, Bosch and Sanyo. The company reported sales of 25 million euros in 2005, and employs a workforce of around 100. It operates mainly in north-west Hungary and the Budapest region.

Through this acquisition, ETDE gains a foothold on the fast-growing Central European market, extending its geographical coverage and buying in new technical skills consistent with the company’s vigorous growth strategy. The long-term aim is to establish a broad, enduring presence in Hungary, covering all ETDE market segments (energy transmission networks, city lighting, electrical and HVAC engineering, etc.).

Szigma Coop is ETDE’s fifth acquisition in Europe, following on from UK companies David Webster (city lighting), Icel (power systems and generators) and Thermal Transfer (HVAC engineering and cleanrooms) and Swiss company Balestra Galiotto (facilities management).

About ETDE:
A subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, ETDE is a full-line supplier and integrator of technological solutions and services, serving public and private clients in the energy, industry, service, transport, environment and telecommunications sectors.

It operates through four clearly structured, customer-oriented business areas: utility networks, electrical, mechanical and HVAC engineering, communication systems and facilities management.

ETDE provides its French and international clients with comprehensive solutions that encompass engineering, installation, maintenance and operation.

It relies on the expertise, commitment and responsiveness of its 9,500 staff members to deliver innovative solutions with added technological value. Backed by a network of 170 offices in France and a presence in 20 countries abroad, ETDE posted sales of €746 million in 2004 and expects to generate €1 billion in 2005.