NZZ Media Group with more profit - but only thanks to sales

Admeira, the advertising alliance of SRG, Swisscom and Ringier, bought 15 percent of Audienzz last year. This is the digital sales organization of the NZZ media group. Details were not disclosed at the time. In addition to the Audienzz shares, the NZZ Media Group also sold its part of the Tagblatt of the City of Zurich to Tamedia and 14 per cent of Sursee week. No detailed figures are available on all these sales. What is clear, however, is that they provided welcome revenue for the NZZ Media Group.

Without these sales and without well-performing securities, last year's result would have been significantly worse. The operating result before interest and taxes decreased by 1.8 million to 25.6 million Swiss francs, according to a release from the NZZ media group on Monday. The EBIT margin fell from 6.2 to 6.0 percent.

This decline is mainly due to the regional media, which are still heavily dependent on the advertising and print market, writes the NZZ Media Group. The print advertising market in particular is pointing downward. However, this 12 percent drop in sales was largely compensated for by cost-cutting measures. As announced in December, NZZ is now bundling its regional media with those of AZ Medien in a joint venture. The two partners hope that this will bring economies of scale.

More dividend for shareholders

The NZZ Group as a whole generated sales of CHF 428.2 million last year. This corresponds to a decrease of 3 percent compared to 2016. At the same time, equity including minority interests increased by CHF 4.9 million to CHF 285.2 million.

Shareholders are to benefit from the good results. The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting a dividend of 250 Swiss francs per share. In the previous year, the dividend was 200 Swiss francs. (SDA)