Kiloutou hails “extraordinary resilience” in 2020

Kiloutou said its business had demonstrated “extraordinary resilience” in the face of the pandemic as it reported a 12.4% fall in 2020 revenues to €646.1 million. EBITDA margin for the year was 31.2%.

Its business recovered in the second half of 2020 with revenues only 5.2% lower year-on-year. France was the worst hit territory with a 15.6% drop for the full year, while its businesses in Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain were described as more resilient.

Olivier Colleau, CEO of Kiloutou said that despite lockdowns the company was now close to pre-Covid business levels; “Our teams have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and agility to adapt to this unprecedented situation. I am extremely proud of them and would like to thank them warmly for their commitment and energy.”

The company said its priorities for 2021 - with the health situation still uncertain - would be to remain focused on customer service, to integrate its recent acquisitions in France and Germany, to continue the roll-out of its brand in Italy, and to accelerate its environmental transition by, among other things, investing in alternative-energy delivery trucks and vans.

Olivier Colleau, Chief Executive of Kiloutou Group.

Kiloutou said the pandemic had accelerated its digital initiatives, with the company now offering customers online services for payment, management of rental contracts, quotes and invoices, reservations and off-hires.

Its environment strategy is to reduce direct CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. The plan is to cut both direct carbon emissions – in transport and at its branches - and indirect emissions, which is mainly the use of its equipment on site.

The replacement of delivery trucks and vans to alternative-energy vehicles includes the goal to replace all light vehicles with alternative-energy vehicles within five years.

For indirect emissions, it plans to transition to alternative-energy equipment. In France, 85% of its investment this year in engine-driven equipment will be for hybrid, bi-energy, electric and Stage V machines. It will launch a product range of more than 3,000 items to help building and public works customers transition to low-carbon equipment.

Olivier Colleau added; “While managing the crisis situation, we have stayed on course to achieve our long-term strategic goals: digital acceleration, maintaining growth momentum and ramping up our environmental transition.

“The health crisis is still not over – we remain cautious, close to our clients and focused on our performances. We are confident about the favourable outlook for the rental sector and convinced that Kiloutou’s strengths will be perfectly adapted to the needs of [our customers].”