Gilles Schnepp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Legrand, comments:
“In the first half of 2010, Legrand sales were up 5.4% to €1.9 billion, while the rise at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates was 3.1%. Adjusted operating income rose 44% to €400 million...

- Legrand makes an offer for Indo Asian Switchgear, a key player in the Indian market for electrical protection devices
- Legrand aims to pursue its expansion in emerging economies and significantly increase its presence in India

Following its purchase of Inform, Turkey’s number-one contender in UPS, on July 9, Legrand today announced that it had made an offer to buy the Indo Asian Switchgear division of Indo Asian Fusegear Limited. The offer, which requires corporate approval, has already received the unanimous support of Indo Asian Fusegear’s Board of Directors.

Protection devices made by Indo Asian Switchgear (miniature and residual current circuit breakers, distribution boards, relays, etc.) are aimed primarily at the retail market, where Indo Asian Switchgear is a major player. They perfectly round out existing Legrand operations in India, where the group holds strong positions in both high value-added protection systems mostly used in project business and in premium wiring devices.

The move will significantly increase Legrand’s presence in a fast-growing market where the group should generate close to 4% of its annual sales following the acquisition, and where Legrand has recorded organic growth averaging over 19% a year for the past 15 years.

With 2010 sales that should exceed €35 million and an operating margin in double digits, Indo Asian Switchgear is based near New Delhi and employs approximately 2000 people at three sites.

The EV Plug Alliance announced today the joining of Gewiss, Marechal Electric, Radiall, Vimar, Weidmüller France & Yazaki Europe. Established end march 2010 by Schneider Electric, Legrand & Scame, the EV Plug Alliance aims to promote the use of a high safety plug and socket solution for Electric Vehicle charge infrastructure.

This first extension of the EV Plug Alliance with members from several countries and various business backgrounds confirms the validity of the proposal made by the Alliance to rapidly converge towards a standardized solution to connect Electric Vehicles in Europe. New members will contribute to the creation of an eco-system with one strong standard, accelerating development and adoption of solutions and practical applications to revolutionize the Electric Vehicle charge.

On May 10, 2010, already, Gimélec  announced its support to the EV Plug Alliance, explaining this proposal of convergence reconciles the interests of all participants, users and manufacturers thus allowing the best usage of technologies offered by the different European companies, in full compliance with applicable norms and standards in Europe.

Installed on the infrastructure side, the plug and socket system endorsed by the Alliance will ensure compatibility between multiple suppliers' products. Charge at a power up to 24 kW, in mono or three phase installations, will allow charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. It will offer the highest level of safety with the use of shutters to protect against accidental touch of electric parts and is fully compliant with the IEC standard for plug & socket in finalization.

The first products labeled by the EV Plug Alliance are planned to be available at the end of second quarter 2010.

In the first quarter of 2010, Legrand’s sales rose 0.5% at constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates and adjusted operating income was up 38%.

The rapid adoption of a European standard for Electric Vehicle infrastructure plugs that meets the existing security levels required for installation in homes and buildings at an optimized cost is a key factor to develop the nascent Electric Vehicle market. The Alliance aims to provide a label that guarantees full compliance with the Type 3 of the IEC standard for plug & socket in finalization. 

The plug endorsed by the Alliance will ensure compatibility between multiple suppliers' products. Charge at a power up to 24 kW, in mono or three phase installations will allow charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. It will offer the highest level of safety with the use of shutters to protect against accidental touch of electric parts.

“The EV Plug Alliance is open to any new member, and our first challenge is to gather as many actors concerned as possible. The more we enlarge the Alliance, the more chances we will have to create an eco-system with one strong standard, easing development of solutions and practical applications to revolutionize the electric vehicle charge”, said the three cofounders of the EV Plug Alliance; Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice-President Strategy & Innovation of Schneider Electric; Jean-Charles Thuard, Executive Vice-President Strategy & Development of Legrand; and Giampiero Camilli, Marketing & Product Development Director of Scame.

The first products labeled by the EV Plug Alliance are planned to be available at the end of second quarter 2010.

With 2009 sales down a steep 13.9% at constant scope of consolidation   and exchange rates, our maintainable adjusted operating income fell   15.6% to €629.5 million, which corresponds to a near steady margin of   17.6% of sales, compared with 17.7% in 2008.