* Plan targets very conservative, can be beaten -CEO
* To invest 312 million euros in 3 yrs to 2013
* Plans India, Vietnam expansion, mulls China project * Shares end 6 percent lower
(Recasts, adds analyst comments, updates shares)
By Nigel Tutt
MILAN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Italy's Piaggio SpA, best known for its Vespa scooters, delivered a deliberately conservative strategy plan on Thursday, sending its shares into sharp reverse after recent strong gains.
Piaggio said it plans to expand in high-growth Asian markets including China and aims to increase its core earnings margin, investing 312 million euros ($418 million) through 2013 mostly on producing its scooter, motorbike and light commercial vehicle models.
"We have been very prudent in our plan. We have presented a very conservative plan. The aim is to reach higher objectives," Chairman and Chief Executive Roberto Colaninno told analysts in a presentation.
Shares closed down 6.3 percent at 2.32 euros and were the worst performer in Milan, on worries over whether weak European sales will undercut gains to be made in Asia.
"It is a sharp correction (to the share price). The market was expecting something more bullish on the EBITDA margin for 2010 and 2011 and lower net debt in 2013," a Milan analyst said.
Brokers said another reason for the stock price fall was profit-taking after a strong run in the run-up to the plan. The stock had risen this week to hit a more than four-month high.
MARGIN TARGET
Piaggio set a 2013 target of a 15 percent margin on its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation (EBITDA). The goal was broadly in line with analyst expectations and above its previous goal of 13.2 percent in 2012.
The analyst said the 2013 EBITDA target could be feasible if Piaggio restructures in Europe.
Piaggio's key targets for investment are Vietnam, where it plans to expand production of Vespa scooters, and India where it wants to launch scooters. They include the Vespa from 2012 in addition to the present light vehicle production.
In China, where Piaggio has a joint venture, the company is considering launching in the electric-powered vehicle sector rather than in traditional petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles, Colannino said.
"We have to decide in this electric market if we go it alone or with others. We will decide in the next months," he said.
Piaggio is also considering plans to enter the African market with products from India. "In five years it will be an extraordinary market, probably more interesting than Asia is now," he said.
One analyst said the end-2013 net debt target of about 300 million euros was higher than the 250 million she expected.
The plan takes advantage of higher Asian growth than in mature European and American markets, where Piaggio plans to introduce new technology to woo customers.
Net profit is expected to double to about 90 million euros in 2013 compared with from 2009 and in addition to investing in growth the company will pay 86 million euros in dividends over the 2011 to 2013 period, it said in slides. (Editing by Hans Peters and David Holmes) ($1=.7461 euros)