AZ Medien with best result in the company's history
In the 2011 financial year, AZ Medien continued the positive development of the company from the previous year. At 14.9 million Swiss francs, the company's result more than quadrupled compared to the previous year.
The result from operating activities increased by 25 percent to 36.6 million Swiss francs. At 238.8 million Swiss francs, Group sales were 4.4 million francs higher than in the previous year. AZ Medien thus generated the best result in its company history.
According to the press release, the pleasing business performance in 2011 resulted primarily from revenue growth in the regional advertising markets, numerous optimization measures for processes in the Systems&Services division, and media production. The decline in national advertising revenues since mid-2011, particularly in daily newspapers, and the declining job advertising segment prevented significant revenue growth at Group level.
The operating income of newspaper publishers improved by 0.4 million Swiss francs (+ 0.3 percent) compared to the previous year. Magazines and books, grouped together under trade publishers, posted a decrease of 1.0 million Swiss francs (- 2.8 percent compared to the previous year). Printing and distribution generated 5.3 million Swiss francs more than in the previous year (+ 12.4 percent), as did radio and television with an increase of 1.3 million (+ 10.1 percent over the previous year).
"Difficult to assess"
With a self-financing ratio of 39.7 percent, AZ Medien has a solid financial basis, according to the statement. The headcount at the end of the year was 747.8 full-time positions (previous year 761.4). AZ Medien's annual report will be published at the beginning of May. The Annual General Meeting will be held on June 1, 2012.
Christoph Bauer, CEO of AZ Medien, considers the market trend in 2012 to be difficult to assess: "A decline is likely in the volatile advertising market and in job ads, which will have to be compensated for by other areas. The current economic forecasts, on the other hand, are positive."
