Edipresse in shape
The publisher in French-speaking Switzerland continues to rely on printed media
The publishing house in French-speaking Switzerland continues to rely on printed mediaBy Anita VaucherThe publishing house Edipresse in French-speaking Switzerland can again present a pleasing business result this year. However, this family-owned company is not getting cocky. It intends to meet the challenges of the future with flexibility and new concepts.
In an economic climate characterized by economic growth, the Media Group of Western Switzerland once again posted improved results for the 2000 financial year. Sales rose from CHF 678 million to CHF 730 million (plus 7.7 percent). The advertising business in particular contributed to this good result. Advertising volume expanded by 12.3 percent, rising from
308 million (1999) to 346 million Swiss francs (2000).
Le Matin Dimanche - with the largest circulation of the Edipresse titles - has not felt the new competition from dimanche.ch in terms of advertising volume. The net profit amounts to 40.2 million Swiss francs,
which represents an increase of 9 percent over the previous year. Cash flow amounted to 83 million Swiss francs in 2000 compared to 76 million in 1999.
The Group invested a total of CHF 22.4 million in new projects last year (compared with CHF 9 million in the previous year).
Edipresse continues to waive
on TV projects
For the publishing house in French-speaking Switzerland, the printed medium will continue to have priority. The electronic media would only ever be the extended arm, announced le grand patron Pierre Lamunière at the media conference. The publisher also had no intention of participating in TV projects, he added.
Although 52.2 percent of publishing sales for 2000 were realized abroad, Lamunière said the Swiss market still has first priority in strategic considerations. After all, the high quality and the publishing culture in this market made for success abroad, he went on to say.
Edipresse is still interested in emerging markets, especially in the eastern states, because there is no need for costly investments here and there is great market potential. Since March of this year, Edipresse has also been present on the Russian market with the magazine Viva. In addition, the publisher could one day also flirt with South America and Asia, explains Lamunière.
In connection with the growth strategy, Lamunière proudly compares Edipresse and the other publishing houses: Out of ten newly launched products, one to two would normally be successful over a period of three years. At Edipresse, the figure is six to ten.
New concepts and flexibility for successful survival
Lamunière sees the internationalization of large publishing groups and the associated saturation of the markets, as well as the development of free newspapers and the foreseeable economic slump for the second half of 2001, as major challenges for the publishing industry in the near future. For the long-term survival of a publishing house, he considers it indispensable to develop new concepts, as the life cycle of a product is becoming shorter and shorter. In addition, when investing in products during an economic slump, the strongest titles must be considered - and last but not least, rigorous cost control must be managed.
Edipresse Group in figures (monetary values in thousands of Swiss francs) 2000 1999 %
In an economic climate characterized by economic growth, the Media Group of Western Switzerland once again posted improved results for the 2000 financial year. Sales rose from CHF 678 million to CHF 730 million (plus 7.7 percent). The advertising business in particular contributed to this good result. Advertising volume expanded by 12.3 percent, rising from
308 million (1999) to 346 million Swiss francs (2000).
Le Matin Dimanche - with the largest circulation of the Edipresse titles - has not felt the new competition from dimanche.ch in terms of advertising volume. The net profit amounts to 40.2 million Swiss francs,
which represents an increase of 9 percent over the previous year. Cash flow amounted to 83 million Swiss francs in 2000 compared to 76 million in 1999.
The Group invested a total of CHF 22.4 million in new projects last year (compared with CHF 9 million in the previous year).
Edipresse continues to waive
on TV projects
For the publishing house in French-speaking Switzerland, the printed medium will continue to have priority. The electronic media would only ever be the extended arm, announced le grand patron Pierre Lamunière at the media conference. The publisher also had no intention of participating in TV projects, he added.
Although 52.2 percent of publishing sales for 2000 were realized abroad, Lamunière said the Swiss market still has first priority in strategic considerations. After all, the high quality and the publishing culture in this market made for success abroad, he went on to say.
Edipresse is still interested in emerging markets, especially in the eastern states, because there is no need for costly investments here and there is great market potential. Since March of this year, Edipresse has also been present on the Russian market with the magazine Viva. In addition, the publisher could one day also flirt with South America and Asia, explains Lamunière.
In connection with the growth strategy, Lamunière proudly compares Edipresse and the other publishing houses: Out of ten newly launched products, one to two would normally be successful over a period of three years. At Edipresse, the figure is six to ten.
New concepts and flexibility for successful survival
Lamunière sees the internationalization of large publishing groups and the associated saturation of the markets, as well as the development of free newspapers and the foreseeable economic slump for the second half of 2001, as major challenges for the publishing industry in the near future. For the long-term survival of a publishing house, he considers it indispensable to develop new concepts, as the life cycle of a product is becoming shorter and shorter. In addition, when investing in products during an economic slump, the strongest titles must be considered - and last but not least, rigorous cost control must be managed.
Edipresse Group in figures (monetary values in thousands of Swiss francs) 2000 1999 %
Sales 729 710 677 716 + 7.7
Operating result before
Depreciation and amortization 98 111 93 403 + 5.0
Cash flow 83,211 76,288 + 9.1
Net income 40,161 36,842 + 9.0
Investments 63,558 55,248 + 15.0
