Private Area
                                                                                                                                                        
                                The Origins     

Origins

            In 1915, the brothers José and Vicente RAGA PINILLA began activities in Sabiñán (Zaragoza-Spain) related to the world of arboriculture and gardening. Several years later they started up activities in the service sector for the conservation of green zones and planting projects. As a result of this start of activity, they moved to Madrid.

HISTORY

            In 1960, nurseries were opened in Barajas (near Madrid) and in the street of Embajadores in Madrid capital to meet their own needs and external sales. During 1970, the first trading company was set up with the name VIVEROS RAGA, S.A.

            In 1973, as a result of the continuous development experienced by the company
Viveros Raga, S.A. (Raga Nurseries), Construcciones y Conservaciones Raga, S.A., Raga Constructions, was set up to offer a separate more specialist service, henceforth separating the activities of both companies; the first focused mainly on the production and sales of plants, shrubs, and trees, and the second on the execution of gardening and green-space conservation projects. Later, The Empresa de Conservacion de Parques S.A. ( the Park Conservation Company) would be founded.

            The business concerns of these companies were constant, and in order to expand and develop new activities in the service domain, in 1988, Construcciones y Conservaciones Raga, S.A. was incorporated as a team of professionals from the leading companies in the sector and started to develop a series of new products that are as of this date fully consolidated and are being developed to an extent in successive versions.

RECENT HISTORY

            Until December 2003, our group was composed of three sociedades anónimas (Spanish public limited companies) and a number of temporary joint ventures created with a view to forming competitive groups in the gardening and environmental sector. The group companies merged at the start of 2004. Once all the legal procedures had been completed, the company was henceforth known as GRUPORAGA, S.A.

            Projects and maintenance work from that date have grown in sales both from environmental projects and urban services. Large-scale projects have been undertaken such as the Financial City of Santander in Boadilla del Monte.

            GRUPORAGA, S.A. currently has a large portfolio of clients and employs about 700 people. During 2006, it continued its expansion throughout Spain, and now has various branches in Madrid, León, and Zaragoza, in addition to different projects and maintenance work in other autonomous communities.

            During the 2006 accounting year, turnover growth was consolidated and resources have continued to be restructured and optimised, significantly increasing profitability by more than 139.5%. Furthermore, the sales margin has grown again, going from 19.8% year on year in 2005 to 38.6% year on year in 2006.

            The growth experienced in recent years has been considerable: turnover has doubled and profit has tripled in just two years.
This is basically due to the following factors:

• The many public and private long-term contracts signed.
• High-end client portfolio.
• The large workforce making up the company, most of them being qualified and experienced technicians with diplomas or degrees, thus professionalising the production areas and administrative areas of the company.
• The commitment to the quality of our products and respect for the environment.

            Sales for this year  have started at a good pace, and given the project volume in the portfolio, it is likely that the company will close the year with turnover growth of 35%. The company has implemented its working procedures according to standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, which are currently in the certification phase.

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