Defying the pressure of the market
Publishers LZ Medien was successful in 2004 and is already approaching the figures of the record year 2000.
Publishers LZ Medien was successful in 2004 and is already approaching the figures of the record year 2000 again. However, it was not possible to speak of a slump - or then only at the level of advertising revenue. The foundations never slipped: The equity ratio remains at 66 percent, and the flagship, the Neue Luzerner Zeitung (Neue LZ), is slowly but steadily growing in terms of circulation and readership. The basket of the Boten der Urschweiz (WW 5/05) is a downer for Neue LZ, but not a setback, and the Central Swiss media company bucked the trend in 2004 with significant growth. Turnover rose by 5.1 percent and consolidated profit by 20.2 percent. The latter amounted to 9.88 million francs and is only just under 200,000 francs below the record value of 2000. 124.1 million francs is also the third-highest value for the group, in which NZZ holds a 51 percent stake.
The revenue structure cannot be compared with the year 2000: although the advertising business (Neue LZ and weekly newspapers) still accounts for the largest share (40 percent) of Group sales at CHF 48.3 million, this is significantly less than four years ago, when it still accounted for around 60 percent. Subscription and kiosk income (share of sales: one third) and the printing business (around 25 percent) are strong pillars. The latter in particular made up ground last year, growing by 15.1 percent.
Newspaper printing Neue LZ AG and the LZ subsidiary Multicolor Print AG contributed in particular to this growth. Then also the takeover of Kürzi Druck (Einsiedeln) in 2003 and last May the acquisition of a 42.4 percent stake in Beag Druck AG in Emmenbrücke. The Luzerner Woche, the Willisauer Bote and the Wiggertaler Bote are now also printed by Neue LZ.
In the meantime, LZ Medien has already secured an additional print volume with the purchase of Calendaria in December (see box), which will give the print sector even more weight. "We really don't have a newspaper cluster risk, the business areas are a little more spread out than before," says Board delegate Erwin Bachmann. This does not rule out the possibility that advertising revenue, and thus the still dominant newspaper business, will increase again with an upturn in the economy.
However, the fact that LZ Medien has almost returned to the 2000 level, not least thanks to the expansion in the printing sector (commercial and newspaper printing), provides it with a solid basis for the future. According to Bachmann, the "more effective strategy" drawn up last year also envisages that the company will continue to diversify. Initial projects are also being considered in the reader market, now that 20 Minuten has made inroads into Central Switzerland. "We want to do even more for young, urban readers," says Bachmann, without giving away any details.
Calendaria print volume back in Switzerland as of December 23, 2004
LZ Medien took over the Immensee-based company Calendaria,
the Swiss market leader for picture calendars. "Calendaria is an excellent fit for LZ Medien," says Erwin Bachmann. It will work closely with Multicolor Print, which belongs to LZ Medien, and thus also shift the printing volume from Italy back to Switzerland.
The company location in Immensee will remain the same, as will the management structure. The number of jobs has been increased from 39 to 43 and a separate sales organization has been incorporated. Calendaria generates annual sales of around CHF 10 million. (mk)
Growing mainstay: The printing business made a significant contribution to LZ Medien's good result in 2004.
On the up again: LZ Medien increased sales and profits.
Markus Knöpfli
The revenue structure cannot be compared with the year 2000: although the advertising business (Neue LZ and weekly newspapers) still accounts for the largest share (40 percent) of Group sales at CHF 48.3 million, this is significantly less than four years ago, when it still accounted for around 60 percent. Subscription and kiosk income (share of sales: one third) and the printing business (around 25 percent) are strong pillars. The latter in particular made up ground last year, growing by 15.1 percent.
Newspaper printing Neue LZ AG and the LZ subsidiary Multicolor Print AG contributed in particular to this growth. Then also the takeover of Kürzi Druck (Einsiedeln) in 2003 and last May the acquisition of a 42.4 percent stake in Beag Druck AG in Emmenbrücke. The Luzerner Woche, the Willisauer Bote and the Wiggertaler Bote are now also printed by Neue LZ.
In the meantime, LZ Medien has already secured an additional print volume with the purchase of Calendaria in December (see box), which will give the print sector even more weight. "We really don't have a newspaper cluster risk, the business areas are a little more spread out than before," says Board delegate Erwin Bachmann. This does not rule out the possibility that advertising revenue, and thus the still dominant newspaper business, will increase again with an upturn in the economy.
However, the fact that LZ Medien has almost returned to the 2000 level, not least thanks to the expansion in the printing sector (commercial and newspaper printing), provides it with a solid basis for the future. According to Bachmann, the "more effective strategy" drawn up last year also envisages that the company will continue to diversify. Initial projects are also being considered in the reader market, now that 20 Minuten has made inroads into Central Switzerland. "We want to do even more for young, urban readers," says Bachmann, without giving away any details.
Calendaria print volume back in Switzerland as of December 23, 2004
LZ Medien took over the Immensee-based company Calendaria,
the Swiss market leader for picture calendars. "Calendaria is an excellent fit for LZ Medien," says Erwin Bachmann. It will work closely with Multicolor Print, which belongs to LZ Medien, and thus also shift the printing volume from Italy back to Switzerland.
The company location in Immensee will remain the same, as will the management structure. The number of jobs has been increased from 39 to 43 and a separate sales organization has been incorporated. Calendaria generates annual sales of around CHF 10 million. (mk)
Growing mainstay: The printing business made a significant contribution to LZ Medien's good result in 2004.
On the up again: LZ Medien increased sales and profits.
Markus Knöpfli
