Espace Media closes the 2005 financial year on a stable note

The Bernese media company Espace Media Groupe reports stable total revenues and a respectable profit for the 2005 financial year. Operating revenues increased slightly from CHF 260.9 million in the previous year to CHF 261.9 million. Despite special costs in connection with the commissioning of the new newspaper printing center in Berne, the operating result Ebitda was still CHF 32.5 million, CHF 2.2 million less than in the previous year, Espace Media Groupe announced on Tuesday. Net profit after tax also fell slightly to CHF 21.3 million (previous year CHF 25.7 million) due to higher depreciation and amortization in the same context. Shareholders' equity increased by 7.8 percent to CHF 210.3 million and achieved a solid ratio of 60.4 percent (previous year: 56.7 percent) despite investments of CHF 37.8 million.