Press release

Strong start to the year; 2024 outlook confirmed

Apr. 25 2024

Q1 2024 Key figures1 

  • Revenue of EUR 1,439.5 million in the first quarter of 2024, up 2.5% year-on-year and up 8.0% organically 

  • Strong organic growth from Industry +16.3%, Certification +13.7%, Marine & Offshore +13.6%, compared to the first quarter of 2023; growth of +6.1% for Consumer Products Services, +3.6% for Buildings & Infrastructure and +3.2% for Agri-food & Commodities 

  • The scope effect was a positive 0.1%, reflecting bolt-on acquisitions offset by a small disposal 

  • The currency impact was negative by 5.6% mainly due to the depreciation of some emerging countries’ currencies against the euro 

     

Q1 2024 Highlights 

  • New strategy LEAP | 28, announced on March 20, 2024, to deliver a step change in growth and performance, built around three pillars: Focused Portfolio, Performance-led execution and Evolved People model 

  • Strong growth in every region (Americas, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe), outperforming many underlying markets 

  • Growth momentum maintained for sustainability services – both transition services and Green Objects - across the entire portfolio 

  • In line with the LEAP | 28 strategy, the Consumer Products Services business line completed the acquisition of three bolt-on companies in South and North-East Asia, expanding the Group’s portfolio into new sectors and diversifying its geographical coverage, adding an annualized revenue of c. EUR 20 million 

  • To execute the share buyback program announced in March at the Capital Markets Day, an acquisition of c. 0.8% of the Group’s own shares on April 5, 2024, was completed under the Wendel placement 

  • Assignment of the first long-term credit rating of Bureau Veritas with a A3 rating from Moody’s, with “stable” outlook, which reflects the Group’s strong financial structure and competitive advantage 

  • New recognition of Bureau Veritas’ CSR commitment by several non-financial rating agencies, including a first ranking in Sustainalytics. Bureau Veritas also joins the United Nations Global Compact. 

2024 Outlook confirmed 

Leveraging a healthy and growing sales pipeline, high customer demand for ‘new economy services’ and strong underlying market growth, Bureau Veritas expects to deliver for the full year 2024: 

  • Mid-to-high single-digit organic revenue growth; 

  • Improvement in adjusted operating margin at constant exchange rates; 

  • Strong cash flow, with a cash conversion2 above 90%. 

The Group expects H2 organic revenue growth above H1 given stronger comparables in Q2.   

Hinda Gharbi, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“In the first quarter of the year, we launched our LEAP I 28 strategy both internally and to our investors. Our commitment to sustainable organic growth, active portfolio management through M&A and yearly margin improvement is in line with our ambition to deliver double-digit shareholder returns. 

We have started our strategy execution and Bureau Veritas maintained its growth trajectory with broad organic growth of 8.0% supported by strong market trends in the first quarter of 2024. 

In addition, I am pleased to announce the first long-term credit rating of Bureau Veritas. The decision by Moody’s to assign a A3 rating, with stable outlook, confirms our strong financial structure, a leading market position, and a solid business model. 

Looking ahead, we confirm our outlook for 2024.”

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1 Alternative performance indicators are presented, defined and reconciled with IFRS in appendix 2 of this press release.
2 (Net cash generated from operating activities – lease payments + corporate tax)/adjusted operating profit.