Sacmi Group: 2002 turnover up by 42%

Jul 02, 2003

02/06/03 - The Sacmi Group has reported a good 2002, closing the year with a turnover of 829 million euro, 42% up on the 582 million euro of 2001.
This good performance is a result of the Group's penetration into the new business areas of plastic materials and food machinery.

In particular, 2002 saw the acquisition of Negri Bossi, a leading manufacturer of injection presses listed in the STAR segment of the Italian stock market. The holding company Sacmi & Catelli also acquired stakes in firms producing plant and machinery for the food industry. Furthermore, the acquisitions of companies Carle&Montanari, Oima and BM Braghi are being consolidated and the new companies Protesa, Raytec Vision, Sacmi Shanghai and Sacmi Polska have been set up.

As a result of the company's diversification programme towards the Beverage, Packaging and Food Processing sectors, the balance between the sales volumes in the various segments has been improved: 59% of 2002 turnover was generated by the ceramic sector and 41% by the plastics sector. In 2001 the proportions were 76% ceramic and 24% plastics.

Following the good performance of the Group's foreign companies and the continuous growth of Sacmi Net (the global network of sales and support companies), the export percentage was confirmed in the region of 80%.
The Group's profitability also improved last year. Gross operating margin (Ebitda) rose to 79 million euro (19.7% up on the 66 million euro of 2001), while the net operating margin (Ebit) was positive by 55 million euro (+37.5%). The number of employees reached more than 3,100, over a third more than on 31 December 2001 (2,339).