NUMBER 2

Casalgrande Padana is arriving at the debut of the new millennium with the awareness of having worked well in the past and with the determination to continue to be the key player in its industrial field in the future as well. For many years our sales, and in paticular our exports, have been increasing at a rate above the national average for this sector. It is not by chance that last year Casalgrande Padana was included into the ranking of the 500 European firms which from 1992 to 1997 recorded the best performance in terms of increases in sales and turnover and number of employees.

The passage to the new century coincides with two important and significant events in the life of the company. In fact, in 2000 we will celebrate the 40th anniversary in the life of Casalgrande Padana (40 years of success and constant growth not only as regards but also quality). Next year we will also inaugurate a new factory (the fourth) which covers more than 35,000 square meters and has a production capacity to yield 600,000 square meters of ceramic tile mounth.

The total investment amounts to about 70 billion Lire (36 million Euros). We are moving towards the year 200 with the confidence of being be able to take the best advantage of the opportunities linked to the globalization of markets and certain to have at our side the guarantee of the active partecipation of our employees, of our customers and of many partners in synergy with us for several more years of teamwork. To all of you our most hearty thanks and our very best wishes.