Page 61 - Monaco Economy 131
P. 61

SBM: Good Financial Results

                                                                                                        By Milena Radoman
          The gaming company posted record sales of over €700 million and an operating income of €73.6
          million. And it is investing in several new projects.



























         © Monte-Carlo SBM - Alain Duprat






           Stéphane Valeri, Président - Délégué Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer / President - Delegate Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer

          "The 2024 Grand Prix was a vintage year. SBM's   upwards by 8% in 2024 (and should also be   of a restaurant in Dubai in 2025 in partnership
          performance that weekend was on a par with   in 2025), the group assumes that its results   with the D.ream International group... SBM
          Charles Leclerc's victory", confided Stéphane   are impacted by operating expenses. "Our   is also investing for the future. SBM is also
          Valeri, after presenting a "record" 2023-2024   wage bill is much higher than that of our   bidding to rebuild and operate Le Méridien.
          financial year, ending on 31 March at a press   restaurant competitors, with salaries much   So how does it plan to make savings? We're
          conference. SBM posted sales of €704 million,   higher than those in comparable professions   going to improve the bottom line by buying
          compared with €667 million for the 2022-2023   in restaurants on the Côte d'Azur, in France, in   better. We can buy the same quality at
          financial year (+6%), an operating income   Europe and around the world. We're sticking   lower prices. It is precisely to make all SBM
          of €73.6 million and a positive net result of   to this policy, but it takes its toll", observes   restaurants "profitable" that a new Food and
          €103.9 million. (Last year's net result of €896   the CEO, with figures to prove it. In concrete   Beverage division has been created for the
          million was exceptional and linked to the sale   terms, SBM's employment model is based   whole Group. On the gaming side, as well
          of BetClic).                        on "a 13  month, transport bonuses, as well   as targeting a new clientele - particularly
                                                     th
          All three of SBM's main sectors of activity   as a Grand Prix bonus of 100 euros per day   American - SBM has changed its policy
          recorded growth (+6% for hotel revenues   worked. There are no salaries below €2,000   on lending and collection of outstanding
          and +3% for gaming). Unsurprisingly, it   gross per month in our establishments",   debts. Because the context is complicated.
          was the rental sector that generated the   asserted Stéphane Valeri, announcing a new   "International compliance rules are becoming
          strongest increase (9%), with an occupancy   bonus of around €2,000 gross following the   increasingly stringent. We've had to turn
          rate approaching 100%, making it "the Group's   group's good results. This means a bonus   down some very, very big customers, which
          major source of operating income. This income   of €400 for salaries below €2,200 gross,   is never easy for a business, because they
          rose from €83.7 million to €90.8 million".   and €200 for salaries between €2,200 and   no longer meet the standards we can accept
          But SBM has lost money in the operational   €2,500 gross.                when we don't have an absolute guarantee
          management of its casinos and restaurants.                               of the source of their funds. We're talking
          "We've lost €5 million in casino operations and   Seeking economies of scale  about customers from Eastern Europe and
          €18 million in hotel and restaurant operations   The creation of two new departments within   the Middle East. As we are very concerned
          in this 2023-2024 financial year".  the Executive Committee (international   to comply with international standards and
                                              development and property development),   to be beyond reproach in this respect, we've
          "Our payroll is much higher than that of our   the renovation of the Monte-Carlo Bay and the   been deprived of several tens of millions
          competitors".                       Hermitage hotel over 5 years, the acquisition of   of euros in sales, which we had in previous
          While prices in SBM hotels have been revised   the Palace des Neiges in Courchevel, the launch   years", said Stéphane Valeri.

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