v2.3.0.11
Operations by Industry Segment and Geographic Area
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011
Operations by Industry Segment and Geographic Area  
Operations by Industry Segment and Geographic Area

24. Operations by Industry Segment and Geographic Area

The Company has three reportable business segments based on geographic regions, defined as follows:

 

   

Americas, which includes North and South America, with the segment headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA,

 

   

Europe, which includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with the segment headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and

 

   

Asia, which includes Asia, Australia and Oceania, with the segment headquarters in Singapore.

 

Summarized financial information related to the Company's business segments at March 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 and for each of the fiscal years then ended is shown below.

 

     Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  

Net sales

      

Europe

   $ 890,313      $ 741,975      $ 987,178   

Americas

     896,629        700,297        831,251   

Asia

     177,520        137,113        154,438   
                        

Total net sales

   $ 1,964,462      $ 1,579,385      $ 1,972,867   
                        

Operating earnings

      

Europe

   $ 55,643      $ 17,649      $ 64,898   

Americas

     124,515        87,156        79,236   

Asia

     10,469        20,502        12,793   

Restructuring charges (Europe)

     (6,813     (13,212     (21,996

Bargain purchase gain (Europe)

     —          2,919        —     

Restructuring charges (Americas)

     —          (717     (428

Legal proceedings charge (Europe)

     —          —          (3,366

Gain on sale of facilities (Europe)

     —          —          11,308   
                        

Total operating earnings

   $ 183,814      $ 114,297      $ 142,445   
                        

Property, plant and equipment, net

      

Europe

   $ 169,056      $ 156,953      $ 147,248   

Americas

     142,263        138,217        133,880   

Asia

     33,066        19,971        20,237   
                        

Total

   $ 344,385      $ 315,141      $ 301,365   
                        

Depreciation and Amortization

      

Europe

   $ 21,564      $ 22,348      $ 23,663   

Americas

     19,842        19,189        20,249   

Asia

     2,987        3,314        3,321   
                        

Total

   $ 44,393      $ 44,851      $ 47,233   
                        

The Company markets its products and services in over 100 countries. Sales are attributed to countries based on the location of sale approval and acceptance. The following represent the net sales to unaffiliated customers of the Company's country of domicile and the other top countries which collectively comprise approximately 70% the Company's consolidated net sales for the periods presented:

 

     Fiscal years ended  
   March 31, 2011      March 31, 2010  

United States

   $ 812,253       $ 638,138   

France

     158,815         159,242   

Germany

     153,409         151,031   

Switzerland

     111,112         40,456   

United Kingdom

     100,879         91,355   

Italy

     86,564         83,893