Sarantis Group corporate presentation was realized today, March 23rd 2010 at the Association of Greek Institutional Investors where Mr. Konstantinos Rozakeas, Chief Financial Officer of Sarantis Group, presented the Group’s 2009 financial results as well as the management’s strategy and estimates for 2010 financial results.
According to Mr. Rozakeas, Sarantis Group financial results for 2009 were in line with the management’s 2009 turnover target and exceeded its estimates in the profitability level. Sarantis Group financial results were negatively affected by the adverse economic environment across all regions and business units of the Group, although the management’s timely implementation of cost control initiatives and focus on efficient working capital management helped to mitigate the negative impact. The downward trend eased during Q4 2009, predominantly aided by the stabilisation of the EE countries currency devaluation towards the end of 2009 and the termination of the inventory reduction in the retail market. What is more, the own brands increased their participation to total Group turnover. In addition, Mr. Rozakeas made a remark on the Group’s robust financial position, solid cashflow generation and low leverage.
In terms of the Group’s future prospects and developments, Mr. Rozakeas remarked that in the middle of the adverse economic environment, the Group remains focused on its strategic pillars of growth that consist of organic growth of the core business activities and emphasis on Sarantis own brands portfolio, increase of the existing market shares of own brands in the EE region, continuous examination of the situation in the economies of the Group’s foreign countries and modification of the business where deemed necessary according to the new market conditions and finally emphasis on the examination of possible acquisition targets in the old countries of operation, as long as market share, profitability and cost structure allow for synergies.
The Management’s guidance with regards to the Group’s financial performance in 2010 is shown in the following table: