IMA continues to grow: in the first nine months of the year consolidated revenues reach 497,3 million (+12,9% compared to 30 September 2012); the gross operating margin (EBITDA) rose to 67 million (+25,2%); operating profit (EBIT) to 54,1 million (+31,6%); profit before taxes at 48,8 million (+41% compared). Positive consolidated order book a 466,5 million (+16,6%) “thanks – reads a note from the group – to the finalization of numerous negotiations in the core businesses, pharmaceuticals and food”.
The excellent results, according to the Bologna-based company, can be attributed to the “favorable trend in sales to the pharmaceutical and food industries and to the increase in margins in the various business areas. These results are also higher when comparing the final balance for the first nine months of 2012, which includes the results of the Stephan and Kilian businesses, further confirming the good performance of the IMA Group" .
At the same time, net financial debt fell to 156,1 million (225,6 million as at 30 September 2012) “also as a result of the sale of the Stephan business. A further reduction in debt is expected by the end of the year thanks also to the sale of the Kilian business”.
The high consistency of the consolidated order portfolio (+16,6%) and the good trend of orders in the month of October lead the board of directors to "expect a year of further growth compared to the previous year".
Also following the consolidation of the ILAPAK Group in the last five months of the year, Ima expects revenues to grow in 2013 by approximately 760 million euros (734,3 million in 2012) and a gross operating margin (EBITDA) of approximately 105 million euros (101,4 million in 2012).
Satisfied the president and Alberto Vacchi who announces: "On the acquisitions front, IMA will see its stake in the ILAPAK Group increased up to 51% by the end of 2013, confirming the good performance and excellent future prospects of the company that produces packaging machines for primary packaging in food, a sector in which we have heavily invested in the last three years".
But the news does not end here. In today's note, Ima also underlines that it has "finalized the agreement relating to the sale of the 80% stake in the company Zibo IMA Xinhua Pharmatech Co. Ltd., based in Zibo, China specializing in the production of components and automatic machines for the processing of pharmaceutical products, to some Chinese investors and company managers. The operation is part of the strategy of reorganization of the production platforms abroad and in particular in China where the IMA Group is present with other production and commercial realities and does not involve significant changes in the expected results given the limited contribution in terms of profitability. The price of the sale was set at 50 million Renminbi, equivalent to around 5,8 million euro; 15 million Renminbi has already been paid and the remainder will be settled at the closing, expected at the end of January 2014”.
The Board of Directors also resolved to amend the Internal Dealing Regulations, filed today and available to the public on the Company's website www.ima.it, in the Investor Relations (Internal Dealing) section.
