Group sales moved up 4.4%, or 5.8% at constant exchange rates. Changes in the Group structure had a positive 0.7% impact, with contributions from acquisitions carried out in 2006 and 2007 (essentially in the Building Distribution and CP sectors) just exceeding contributions from companies sold (mainly Calmar on July 1st, 2006, Desjonquères on March 31, 2007, and the Reinforcements & Composites business on November 1, 2007). On a like-for-like basis*, Group sales advanced 5.0% or €2,059 million, including a 3.7% price impact and a 1.3% volume effect.

Operating income jumped 10.6%, or 11.4% at constant exchange rates*. The Group’s operating margin, which notched up gains in each half of the year, advanced to 9.5% of sales (12.0% excluding Building Distribution), compared with 8.9% of sales in 2006 (10.9% excluding Building Distribution). With the exception of North America, profitability improved across all geographic areas.