Punto Blanco has its own network to distribute and sell in 37 countries. The Catalan socks and underwear manufacturer has 16 shops, 15 of them in Spain and another in Portugal. Exports might represent 15% of the companies turnover.
The Federation of Blood Donors in Catalonia wants to reach the young population and to raise the number of donations. Besides, the Catalan pharmaceutical company Grifols asked for a change in the law in order to pay for giving blood. This measure would be an incentive to increase the stock of plasma.
The Russian company Lukoil has reached an agreement with the Catalan company Meroil to build 13 new oil tanks at Barcelona Port, which are able to store 360,000 cubic metres. Furthermore, Barcelona Port is the only Mediterranean port ready to host the largest and deepest oil tankers. The Catalan President, Artur Mas, unveiled the infrastructure and emphasised Catalonia is strengthening its position as “Europe’s gateway for goods coming from Asia and North Africa”. He also noted Catalonia’s attractive position for foreign investment. Barcelona Port is linked by international width standard railway with Central Europe and has the Zona Franca logistics and industrial district next to it.
During the first quarter of the year, the Catalan bank placed €293 million in provisions to strengthen its financial position. Despite the provision, Banc Sabadell had a net profit of €80 million in the first 3 months of 2012, which represents a 5% decrease when compared to the same period last year. The CEO of Banc Sabadell said that creating a “bad bank” in Spain to manage real estate assets is “unnecessary”, as the Catalan bank is “self-sufficient” and is “satisfied” with the management of its own real estate assets.
The Barcelona-based multinational will manage more than 7,500 kilometres of toll highways worldwide and will increase the company’s annual turnover by €1 billion. The Catalan company Abertis will become the world’s leader in the highway management sector after adding OHL’s concessions in Brazil and Chile. In exchange, OHL would buy ACS’s shares in Abertis, which represent 10% of the Catalan company. The operation is not fully closed yet, pending to be approved by the respective boards, but it has already been officially announced.
It is the first time Seat, whose factory is in Greater Barcelona, presents a new car model in Asia. Seat has started to export cars to China this year. The new model aims to guarantee Seat’s implantation in China and to foster the company’s international expansion.
Spain’s largest bank presented its results for 2012’s first quarter. Barcelona-based CaixaBank has reduced its profits by 84% compared to the same period last year in order to immediately fulfil all the new financial requirements decreed by the Spanish Government in February. The Catalan bank has allocated €2.44 billion in provisions in the last quarter. CaixaBank’s CEO explained they wanted to concentrate their efforts in this first quarter. Besides, the bank’s President explained that despite Repsol-YPF’s episode in Argentina, they will carry on with their expansion plan in the Americas, with the support of Carlos Slim, opening new branches in Chile, Colombia and the United States.
The Catalan company Áreas will manage two service areas in the United States until 2047, including the largest in the entire country, located on the I-95 in Maryland, the busiest motorway in the US. The Catalan company will invest $56 million in their renovation, which will produce a turnover of about $1.8 billion in 35 years. With this operation, Áreas becomes the second largest operator in the US. The Catalan multinational ended the 2011 financial year with a turnover of €649 million, which represents 4% more than in 2010. This growth has been possible due to the company’s expansion in international markets.
Banca Cívica has accepted the offer from the Catalan bank to pay €1.97 per share. With this operation, CaixaBank, the private bank created last year by the Catalan savings bank ‘La Caixa’, becomes Spain’s largest financial entity, ahead of BBVA and Banco Santander. After buying Banca Cívica, CaixaBank will have more than €342.6 billion in assets in the Spanish market. Banca Cívica was the merger of four savings banks: Caja Navarra, Caja Canarias, Caja de Burgos and Cajasol.
TEAM Ports&Maritime will build the five passenger boarding bridges for Hong Kong’s new cruise ship terminal, designed by Norman Foster. According to the company, it is the largest contract ever made in the sector. Furthermore, the Catalan company, which is part of the Adelte Group, will supply two more bridges for Sydney’s new White Bay terminal and two more for Cape Canaveral’s new terminal. The company has also just installed three passenger boarding bridges at Singapore’s International Cruise Terminal.
Vueling will offer almost 1 million seats from Rome in eight different routes, including a new direct connection with Nantes. Rome will be Vueling’s third base abroad, after Amsterdam and Toulouse. “It is the first necessary step to consolidate Vueling’s growth in Rome and in Italy”, stated the Catalan airline’s CEO, Àlex Cruz.
Virtual desks, automatic cash points, a new packaging line or consulting services on innovation are some of the Catalan products displayed at CeBIT. This is the Europe’s biggest trade fair on digital industry. It is being held in Hannover from March 6th to March 10th.
Vueling had a net profit of €10.4 million last year. This marks a clear improvement of 8.4% on its results from 2010 despite the 40% price increase in fuel. Vueling transported 11.6% more passengers in total, and 9% through its European routes last year. The Catalan company reached in 2011 its passenger record, with more than 12.3 million people transported.
The Catalan transport and telecommunication company ended 2011 with a net profit of €720 million. The profit increase is due to a growth in returns from Abertis’ airport business and the increase in traffic on its motorways in France and the United States. However, the Barcelona-based multinational experienced a drop in its telecommunication revenues.
The Barcelona-based energy company’s net profit growth is due to a business increase in Latin America and the synergies created after the merger of Gas Natural with Unión Fenosa.