SOCOTEC - Experts & Thought Leaders

SOCOTEC Nederland provides technical advisory, testing and inspection services and risks analysis on buildings and infrastructures. With the acquisition of Vermeer Groep, SOCOTEC consolidates its Risk Management and Claims business line previously called Hanselman. Vermeer is a recognized leader in the field of land surveying, pre-construction risks studies and works monitoring in the Netherlands. Expanding its service portfolio SOCOTEC expands its service portfolio to offer a comprehensive set of expertise SOCOTEC expands its service portfolio to offer a comprehensive set of expertise to construction companies, developers, architects, engineering companies and asset owners spanning from geotechnical advisory to risk monitoring in the construction phase, energy labelling of residential and social housing or drinking water quality management. Through the merger with Vermeer Groep and its 3 companies Vermeer Maatvoering, Vermeer Expertise and Vermeer Landmeten, SOCOTEC will benefit from a better national coverage and a significantly increased capacity with more than 60 new experts, allowing to better serve its clients. Construction and infrastructure expertise services "Together, with Vermeer (group), SOCOTEC is strengthening its leading position in the Netherlands in the field of construction and infrastructure expertise services.” “The acquisition was an obvious decision given the cultural fit between our companies, the natural complementarity in services provided and the geographical footprint, Vermeer being more active in the South of the Netherlands and Socotec in the North," says Arnaud de Pracomtal, CEO of SOCOTEC Netherlands. Increasing demand for quality surveying and monitoring Robert Hanselman, Director of SOCOTEC Risk Management adds: “Vermeer acquisition will double the size of our team at a time when the Netherlands’ building market faces increasing needs for quality surveying and monitoring.” Erik Goris, Director of Vermeer also comments: "Joining forces with SOCOTEC marks a very exciting new chapter for Vermeer. We share the same values of commitment, proximity and sense of service. We are delighted to bring our renowned expertise and benefit to SOCOTEC network and brand to accelerate our growth.”

By acquiring FOX Certification GmbH, a German specialist in information security and cyber certification, SOCOTEC intends to reinforce both its geographical development and its span of certification service offering. The certification Business Unit of SOCOTEC Group operates in 26 countries through a network of 850 auditors covering all business sectors. It has been providing a wide range of management systems, services and certifications for both companies and individuals, for more than 30 years, supporting 20,000 clients worldwide. Cyber and information security specialist FOX Certification, a privately owned company, headquartered south of Munich, is a cyber and information security specialist. Most of services provided by FOX certification are DAkkS accredited (the German national accreditation body). With a client portfolio of more than 200 key accounts, the company has built its reputation in the booming market of IT, cybersecurity and information security. “Having FOX certification joining the SOCOTEC Group is a strategic move for our certification activities”, says Xavier Daniel, General Manager of the Certification BU. “It enables us to offer additional quality, environment, safety, and CSR-third-party recognitions to FOX’s clients while developing FOX certification’s activities beyond Germany, by addressing our current customer needs in the fast-growing market of IT security certification.” Seasoned team of experts For Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group: “FOX certification’s seasoned team of experts is a unique opportunity to consolidate our SOCOTEC footprint in Germany.” “We already have a strong presence in the country with more than 1,000 employees and have been delivering ETIC services (Engineering Testing Inspection Certification) for more than 15 years, with leading positions in the Building and Infrastructure sectors as well as in the EOD (explosive ordnance detection) services. A good cultural fit with real entrepreneurial spirit was a key factor to bring us together.” Joining forces “By joining forces, we will add a strong business vertical to our already successful activities in Germany,” adds Ludger Speier, CEO of SOCOTEC Germany. “Our expansion and ambitions are aimed at delivering the most complete offer to clients. Our holistic approach is definitely what makes us unique.” “As a DAkkS accredited company, FOX Certification has been offering certifications for critical infrastructures and organizations for more than 10 years.” Aykut Bader, MD of FOX Certification says: "Being part of the SOCOTEC Group brings FOX Certification the opportunity to offer our long-standing customers a larger portfolio internationally.” “Cyber and information security required by regulations, the new European NIS 2 directive or the new ISO 27001:2022 are mandatory for a broad range of organizations in Germany and in Europe."

SOCOTEC, a major group in risk management and technical advisory for the construction, real estate and infrastructure sectors, is committed to supporting companies throughout the life cycle of their built assets. SOCOTEC Germany now has a 4th line of business and a total workforce of 1,400 people. The company is thus achieving a total turnover of €180 million. With more than 300 geomonitoring specialists, Trigis brings complementary expertise to SOCOTEC Germany's existing activities in the infrastructure, mining, building and industrial sectors, with a strong focus on the utilities world. Geomonitoring expertise The geomonitoring expertise enables ground monitoring, large-scale mapping, the creation of site plans, monitoring point planning, 3D digital terrain models, and thermal imaging, among other services in geomonitoring to monitor land and assets and prevent natural hazards. These services are generally on the critical path of major infrastructure projects. SOCOTEC Germany and Trigis GeoServices GmbH have come together to implement numerous synergies in markets with increasingly complex regulatory and technical challenges. Acquisition of Trigis For Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group: "With the acquisition of Trigis, we are at the heart of SOCOTEC's strategic challenges in Germany.” “As a major player in infrastructure projects, SOCOTEC Germany now offers its customers the possibility of large-scale digitization of their assets or the environment surrounding their assets, such as power grids, mines or buildings, in order to better monitor and control them.” “This approach in Germany echoes the Group's other investments in monitoring in France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, which, by adding these technological services of geo-surveillance and mapping of land, underground, maritime or fluvial areas, complements the historically recognized expertise of its civil engineers." Development prospects For Ludger Speier, CEO of SOCOTEC Germany: "In addition to the diversification of our service offer in perfect complementarity with our historical offerings, we are delighted to welcome the 300 Trigis experts, spread over 8 key geographical areas across Germany, in addition to our current sites.” “We will thus be able to work on new projects in good synergy and our development prospects are significant. The whole contributes to strengthening our reputation and our brand in the German territory for the benefit of our clients.”