Sales billionaire again
Balance sheet I Ringier achieves record sales thanks to extremely strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe.
Balance sheet I Thanks to extremely strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe, Ringier achieves record sales Ringier posted the best result in its history in 2004. Profit increased by 28.7 percent to CHF 55.6 million and cash flow rose by 8 percent to CHF 130.6 million. A return on sales of 11.7 percent was achieved. At 5 percent, the profit margin was up on the previous year's figure of 4.4 percent.The turnover of Switzerland's largest media company increased primarily thanks to significant growth in Central and Eastern Europe, two thirds of which was due to acquisitions. Business in the East is flourishing. One example illustrates this: In the Czech Republic, Blesk pro zeny (Blick for women), launched in 2004, has already taken second place in the weekly magazine segment. No wonder, then, that Ringier also launched a Hungarian counterpart, Blikk Nök, in March of this year.
Print Switzerland stagnatesIn terms of sales, the European business increased by a full 41.6 percent or 94 million francs in 2004. It thus contributed just under 29 percent to total sales of CHF 1,113.5 million; in 2003, this share had still amounted to 23 percent. No other Ringier division is growing so rapidly. However, activities in the Swiss print and publishing sector are still the mainstay, accounting for 66.7 percent of sales. Despite declining advertising revenues, at least the Swiss publishing division reported growth of 5.4 percent, while the Swiss printing division suffered from falling prices and restructuring and reorganization measures led to a slight drop in revenues of 1.1 percent. However, the result in the printing division improved thanks to job cuts, including in connection with the Winterthur printing plant.
Ringier's newspaper division remained stable overall with sales of CHF 197.9 million, although sales figures fell slightly while advertising revenue increased somewhat. Magazines, on the other hand, increased significantly by 8 percent to 235.1 million francs. Business media, on the other hand, were down on the previous year in 2004 at CHF 21.5 million (-2.7 percent).
Ringier reported a 26 percent increase in sales for its TV activities, which now total CHF 32.4 million.
Newly launched in Hungary: Blikk Nök - the view for women.
Print Switzerland stagnatesIn terms of sales, the European business increased by a full 41.6 percent or 94 million francs in 2004. It thus contributed just under 29 percent to total sales of CHF 1,113.5 million; in 2003, this share had still amounted to 23 percent. No other Ringier division is growing so rapidly. However, activities in the Swiss print and publishing sector are still the mainstay, accounting for 66.7 percent of sales. Despite declining advertising revenues, at least the Swiss publishing division reported growth of 5.4 percent, while the Swiss printing division suffered from falling prices and restructuring and reorganization measures led to a slight drop in revenues of 1.1 percent. However, the result in the printing division improved thanks to job cuts, including in connection with the Winterthur printing plant.
Ringier's newspaper division remained stable overall with sales of CHF 197.9 million, although sales figures fell slightly while advertising revenue increased somewhat. Magazines, on the other hand, increased significantly by 8 percent to 235.1 million francs. Business media, on the other hand, were down on the previous year in 2004 at CHF 21.5 million (-2.7 percent).
Ringier reported a 26 percent increase in sales for its TV activities, which now total CHF 32.4 million.
Newly launched in Hungary: Blikk Nök - the view for women.
Markus Knöpfli
