Friday 27 May 2022
The NRB Group, one of Belgium’s leading IT service providers, has announced its results for 2021, a year of records: an unprecedented turnover of 501.6 million euros, a growth of 20 percent compared to 2020; a net profit of 40.8 million euros, an increase of 41.6 per cent compared to the previous year. And these results translate directly into the creation of jobs: 200 people were hired in 2021 and recruitment will continue in 2022. NRB announced that it has hired 100 people since January and expects to welcome as many more by the end of the year. With these results, the 100% Belgian IT group has consolidated its position as an IT leader and shows that it has the necessary size and resources to take on new challenges such as artificial intelligence and telecommunications.
Look at the annual report 2021
Results in figures
The operating profit (EBIT) went from 44.9 million euros in 2020 to 63.9 million euros in 2021, an increase of 42.3 per cent. The gross operating profit (EBITDA) rose 31.4 per cent, from 57.2 million euros in 2020 to 75.2 million euros last year.
The results for 2021 also show the diversity of the group’s activities. Last year, 36.9 per cent of the NRB Group’s turnover came from the public and social sectors, 22.9 per cent from the financial sector, 11.8 per cent came from healthcare, and 10.6 per cent from international organizations such as EU institutions. Industry accounted for 9.7 per cent of the turnover in 2021 and 7 per cent came from the energy sector and public utilities.
In 2021, NRB also received the “Top Employer” certification for the first time, as well as in January 2022 for the second consecutive year. It is a certification that recognizes the company’s innovative and sound practices, which aim to provide its employees with a satisfying and friendly work environment.
Achievements, new contracts and external growth
The increase in turnover was the result of a combination of organic growth and growth through acquisitions, both of which exceeded 10 per cent.
As regards the growth and consolidation of the group’s historical activities, what is remarkable are the activities of Trasys International, which works within the NRB Group for international organizations. The subsidiary has extended its framework agreement with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for eight years, starting from 2021. Also in 2021, Trasys International won a four-year framework contract with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The NRB Group has also continued its external growth. Cevi took over SDP, the Belgian software specialist for notaries. At the same time, the group strengthened its expertise in Salesforce with Together Services, the joint venture established with the Cronos Group. Since then, Ink Consulting has joined the NRB Group. NRB acquired the remaining shares of Computerland after having taken a majority stake in this Belgian company in 2020. Last year, Mobitrace joined Zorgi, which focuses on the healthcare sector from within NRB.
“We want to offer competencies and an ecosystem of partners made in Belgium to our customers, companies, institutions, public services,” explains Pascal Laffineur, CEO of the NRB Group. “Digital transformation and IT security are strategic issues for the competitiveness of our country’s businesses and the efficiency of the services provided to citizens. Until now, it was only the big foreign players that had sufficient size and skills in this sector. Our internal and external growth aims to correct this reality and ensure that Belgian players can rely on excellent, comprehensive and local skills and infrastructures.”
Towards low-carbon IT
Last year, the construction of a 185-metre high wind turbine began at the NRB site in Herstal. The wind turbine is expected to generate 50 per cent of the electricity NRB uses in Herstal and will complement the solar panels that have been installed since 2014. “The issue of data’s climate footprint is crucially important for a company like ours. We want to guarantee our customers that the data they entrust to us are of course completely secure in our data centre, as well as managed in a socially responsible way. The construction of this wind turbine is the next step in this direction,” says Pascal Laffineur.
The resources to achieve ambitions
“In 2021, our 2017-2022 strategic plan was replaced by a new 2021-2026 strategic plan a year ahead of schedule,” concludes Pascal Laffineur. “The driving force behind this strategy is the evolving digital needs of our customers, whether in basic IT or new challenges such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things or telecommunications. It is essential for Belgian companies and institutions to be able to rely on a major local player to support their digital transformation and guarantee their security. Our results for 2021 confirm that we ourselves can provide the resources and skills to achieve our ambitions. But in a sector that is constantly changing, we know that we cannot stop there: we expect to reach a turnover of 750 million euros by 2026, thanks to organic growth, acquisitions and the development of growth markets such as biotechnology and industry.”
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