PARIS, February 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Electrical and HVAC Engineering Group is Following a Robust Acquisitions Policy.

SPIE crossed a significant threshold in 2007 in its ambition to become the European leader in its sector by making two major acquisitions, Controlec in the Netherlands and Matthew Hall in the United Kingdom, as well as nine other companies in France, with total sales exceeding EUR600 million.

Strengthening SPIE's European presence

In Northern Europe, the acquisitions of Matthew Hall in the United Kingdom, Controlec in the Netherlands and Anca-Tech in the Benelux countries opens up new prospects for SPIE and has increased the share of sales generated outside France from 28% to 42%.

SPIE Matthew Hall specialises in engineering, installation and multitechnical maintenance services. It has sales exceeding EUR500 million and some 2,300 employees, and since the acquisition in September 2007 has been the largest group subsidiary in terms of sales. The acquisition has enabled SPIE to re-establish its presence in the United Kingdom in its core business activities following the disposal of former subsidiary SPIE Rail to the Colas group in 2007 as part of the group's strategic repositioning.

In the Netherlands, SPIE is now a major player in electrical engineering, automation and mechanical engineering through the acquisition of Controlec. Based in Rotterdam, the company generates sales of EUR55 million and has a staff of 450.

In Southern Europe, SPIE has strengthened its position in Portugal through the acquisition of ACI, which specialises in maintenance in the industrial and commercial sectors.

Developing the group's range of services

In France, SPIE has followed its strategy of acquiring specialised companies, enabling the group to expand its local multitechnical services offering and round out its geographic coverage. No less than nine companies were acquired in 2007, representing sales in excess of EUR50 million.

The acquisitions included Gemco, a company based near Pau and specialising in the renovation and maintenance of rotating machines that generated sales of EUR13.3 million in 2006, to form part of SPIE Oil & Gas Services, and Acem, based to the north of Clermont-Ferrand and specialising in industrial maintenance that had sales of EUR7.4 million in 2006, which was acquired by SPIE Sud-Est.

In addition, at the end of 2007 SPIE Ile-de-France Nord-Ouest acquired Paternoster, which specialises in high- and low-voltage electrical engineering services. Paternoster posted sales of EUR13 million in 2006.

"2007 was a historical year for the group in terms of sales, which increased by nearly 30%(x) relative to 2006 in the electrical engineering activities", stated SPIE's Chief Executive Officer, Gauthier Louette, adding that "in 2007 the group finalised its strategic repositioning on its local technical services activities and crossed a decisive threshold in its ambition to become the European leader in its sector".

(x) Pro forma sales for 2007, consolidating 100% of SPIE Matthew Hall

About SPIE

As a specialist in electrical, mechanical and HVAC engineering, energy, communications networks and infrastructure, SPIE brings the world around us to life and helps the organisations that cause change - manufacturers and commercial enterprises as well as local and regional authorities - to design, build, operate and maintain their facilities.

SPIE's 27,000 employees work from nearly 400 locations in 28 countries providing advanced technical services and solutions to meet the current and future challenges of both local and international customers.

SPIE: ACQUISITIONS 2007

Name Subsidiary of Activities 2006 sales (EUR'm) France Ent. Jean Polaud SPIE Sud-Est External networks 3.5 Mouillot SA SPIE Est HVAC 6.7 Somti SPIE Sud-Ouest Mechanical maintenance in the aeronautics sector 1.0 Gemco SPIE Oil & Renovation and Gas Services maintenance of rotating /SPIE Sud-Ouest machines 13.3 Electricité SPIE Est Electrical installations 2.8 H. Gilg & Cie Acem SPIE Sud-Est Industrial maintenance 7.4 Siemens SPIE Siemens PABX maintenance Ent. Com Communications service contracts 2.3 Pier SPIE Sud-Est Telecommunication infrastructure studies and installations 3.8 Paternoster SPIE Ile-de- High- and low-voltage France electrical engineering Nord-Ouest services 13.0 TOTAL - France 53.8 Rest of Europe Facilities management Matthew Hall SPIE and building services 503.0 Controlec SPIE Benelux Studies, engineering, construction, installations and maintenance for industry, including the petrochemical, refining and pharmaceutical sectors 55.0 Maintenance in the TecnoSPIE commercial and ACI (Portugal) industrial sectors 3.2 Installation and maintenance of lifts Anca-tech SPIE Benelux and safety systems 2.6 TOTAL - rest of Europe 563.8

Press Contact: SPIE SAPascal OmnèsCommunication Director: Tel. +33(0)1-34-22-58, 21pascal.omnes@spie.comwww.spie.com; Agence Droit DevantPhilippe Hériard: Tel. +33(0)1-45-77-02, 45heriard@droitdevant.fr