Aerospace engineering leader - Sogeclair Group opens a subsidiary in Greater Montréal

LE BOURGET (France), June 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - International high-tech leader Sogeclair group has announced it is opening a Canadian subsidiary in Greater Montréal. Philippe Robardey, Sogeclair CEO, and Yves Sagot, president of the company's Québec subsidiary, made the announcement today at the Paris Air Show - Le Bourget, in presence of Nicolas Marceau, Québec's Minister of Finance and the Economy.

"This new Canadian subsidiary will allow us to get closer to our clients and bring them the full range of expertise developed by the group's divisions. There, we can listen to our clients and adapt our offer based on their expectations: making experts available, conducting a complete study with a commitment to results or even designing and implementing a complete subassembly. Greater Montréal is also an access point to the United States, which is attractive for market development with the major U.S. players," said Philippe Robardey.

"Québec attracts a growing number of innovative companies that contribute to the dynamism of our aerospace cluster. And these companies are often French," affirmed Minister Marceau. "The new arrivals can count on a range of extremely attractive competitive advantages, starting with a qualified workforce from the best schools, who support the many innovations proposed in this cutting-edge field. The companies can also count on the support of the Québec government," he added.

"Investissement Québec, with its international visitors, has been able to help us develop our project from its inception. We have received unwavering support from Montréal International and Investissement Québec, who actively set up meetings with potential clients, partners and suppliers during our active prospecting phase. This assistance helped us to get established and will continue to support us as we develop our subsidiary," said Yves Sagot.

At the announcement, Minister Marceau emphasized that the "company plans to recruit approximately 50 people in the next three years, primarily in engineering. These are good jobs in a booming sector where Québec continues to move forward."

In 2012, the Québec aerospace industry ranked sixth worldwide in sales, behind the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. With more than 42,000 jobs and sales in excess of $12 billion, the Greater Montréal aerospace sector combines a concentration of prime contractors, first-rate equipment manufacturers and a network of close to 200 SMEs. "Nearly 60% of Canadian aerospace production is carried out in Greater Montréal. The industry's significant presence has enabled the region to become one of the three major aerospace centres worldwide, along with Seattle and Toulouse," explained Elie Farah, Vice President, Investment Greater Montreal, Montréal International.

About Sogeclair (www.sogeclair.com)
Established in Toulouse, Sogeclair Group has a worldwide presence and more than one thousand employees. The company ensures major studies and co-development projects for major industrial accounts and develops innovative simulation and virtual reality solutions. The group's international activities today represent 40% of sales.

Its aerospace division is a major player in this sector and represents 85% of Sogeclair Group's activities. Bringing together more than 900 professionals, its main clients include EADS subsidiaries, in particular Airbus, Eurocopter, Aerolia, Premium Aerotec, and other leading companies including CAE, Dassault, Safran, Thales and Spirit Aerosystems. The company has operations in France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Tunisia.

About Montréal International (www.montrealinternational.com)
Created in 1996, Montréal International (MI) is the result of a private-public partnership. Its mission is to contribute to the economic development of Greater Montréal and enhance its international status. Its mandates include attracting foreign direct investments, international organizations and international strategic workers as well as promoting the competitive and international environment of Greater Montréal. Montréal International—a non-profit organization—is funded by the private sector, the governments of Canada and Québec, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal Metropolitan Community) and the City of Montréal.

Since its creation, Montréal International has helped to attract $9.4 billion in foreign direct investments to Greater Montréal. From these investments, more than 49,000 jobs have been created or maintained. To date, MI's activities have also allowed almost half of some 60 international organizations to establish themselves in the city and attract and retain more than 8,000 international strategic workers.

About Investissement Québec (www.investquebec.com)
Investissement Québec's mission is to foster the growth of investment in Québec, thereby contributing to economic development and job creation in every region. The Corporation offers businesses a full range of financial solutions, including loans, loan guarantees, and equity investments, to support them at all stages of their development. It is also responsible for administering tax measures and prospecting for foreign investments.

SOURCE: Montréal International

For further information:

Céline Clément
Communications Advisor
Montréal International
Tel.: 514-987-9317
Cell: 514-892-4030
celine.clement@montrealinternational.com