The Azkoyen Group improved its sales by 12.3% during the
2000 financial year, with a consolidated turnover of 23,866
million pesetas (143.4 million euros). Sales on the foreign
markets increased more (20.9%) than those in Spain (7.9%).
Profits before tax were down by 3.9%, a considerable improvement
on the third quarter.
Turnover for exports was 8,708 million pesetas (52.3
million euros), which consolidates Azkoyen's position
on the international markets, with exports representing
36.5% of the Group's total sales.
Profits after tax were 1,583 million pesetas (9.5 million
euros). Investments in fixed assets were more than 1290
million pesetas (7.77 million euros) and expenditure
on R&D was 1,139 million pesetas (6.8 million euros).
In December, Azkoyen's shareholders (21,337,500 shares
with a nominal value of 100 pesetas/0.60 euros) received
15 pesetas gross (0.09 euros) per share, as a dividend
on account for 2000.
In the first few days of 2001, the Board of Directors
of Azkoyen approved a reorganization of its industrial
and sales companies (nine in total) into just three
companies set up as business units with autonomy in
terms of assets, finance and management: Azkoyen Industrial,
Azkoyen Medios de Pago and Azkoyen Comercial.
Specialist analysts viewed that decision as very positive,
as they say it will improve the Group's position on
the global market and its competitive capacity. During
the first two months of this year, the price of Azkoyen
shares rose by more than 41%, and they were among the
ten stocks on the Spanish Mercado Continuo that had
appreciated the most since 1 January.
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