Pro Optica sees profit

Precision optical equipment manufacturer Pro Optica SA, controlled by actor Florin Calinescu, estimates turnover to grow by more than 33% by 2007, when sales should exceed 6 million euros. Pro Optica’s business plan for 2004-2007 shows both sales and net income should increase at an annual pace of at least 10% until 2007. The company expects profit to stand at 0.5 million euros that year. Pro Optica last year made about 0.3 million euros in net profit, while turnover amounted to 4.5 million euros, according to the preliminary data for 2004. Both the net profit and the sales are almost double compared with 2003. The company was privatised in 2000, when Florin Calinescu bought 96% in it from the State. At the time, he did not choose the optical equipment segment because of significant growth expectations for the next few years. Calinescu explains he was merely looking for something to invest his capital in, so he asked for a list of companies up for privatisation he could afford to buy and decided to go ahead and bid after consultations with other people. ZF