Roca reaches its maximum turnover in 2011 due to its international expansion
The Catalan company has promoted its presence in BRIC countries and has achieved two consecutive years of profits therefore recovering from the effects of the explosion of the property bubble
Barcelona (ACN).- The Catalan company Roca, created in 1917, achieved its maximum turnover of €1.551 billion in 2011. This figure represents an increase of 3.5% over its results in 2010. After two years of losses (2008 and 2009) Roca decided to promote its international presence based mostly in BRIC countries (Brasil, Russia, India, and China). It is due to these countries that the company has overcome the last period and this is the second consecutive year with profits. In 2011 the EBITDA (Earnings Before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) reached €214 million, which represents 13.8% of its annual turnover.
After the explosion of the property bubble, Catalonia has faced economic difficulties. These problems were also present in the Roca Group; however, after some years of losses they decided to strengthen their international presence. This has paid off and 2011 is the second consecutive year of profits. The Catalan company Roca, created in 1917, has reached its maximum turnover of €1.551 billion in 2011 (an increase of 3.5% over its results in 2010: €1.498 billion). This increase has been achieved in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) where the Catalan group is increasing its presence. In the 2011 financial year the EBITDA (Earnings Before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) reached €214 million (13.8% of annual turnover). In 2011, the company achieved a profit of €20 million, one million more than the last business year: €19 million. This positive figure in 2011 has been possible due to the increase in sales in BRIC countries. They represent 40% of the turnover of the Roca Group. The most important country is Brazil which has become their main market, overtaking Spain. On the one hand, Brazil has steady growth in the property sector promoted by the events that will take place in the country in coming years (the Football World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016). On the other hand, Spain’s sales have decreased by 14.5% since 2010 and this is the fourth consecutive year with the same tendency. Another cause of this improvement in the Catalan company Roca is the acquisition in 2010 of the Russian company Akvaton, specialised in the production of bathroom furniture. Also the positive behaviour of the markets in Argentina, and other European markets (Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, and northern countries) has contributed to this positive figures. The Catalan Roca Group is formed, nowadays, by 32 trademarks, some of them are global such as Roca or Laufen but others are regional or specialised. Ramón Asensio, CEO of Roca Group, explained that their expansion policy has caused this growth. According to Asensios, this policy “continues in force with the objective of implementing a structure of a true global operator”. “Fortunately, nowadays we have a strong presence in the main emerging economies and we have the largest range of commercial offers in the sector”, Asensios concludes.