euro adhoc: feratel media technologies AG
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet /
Sales up 10 % and marked improvement in earnings at feratel
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
21.07.2006
Board proposes payment of a dividend of 8 eurocents
"Our goals for financial 2005/2006 were clearly formulated. Today we have every reason to be satisfied with the results. With an increase of about 10 % in sales and a substantial improvement (+ 141 %) in the operating result, we have achieved our objective of substantial further growth," said Dr. Markus Schröcksnadel, CEO at the listed feratel media technologies AG, at the presentation of the year-end results.
Group sales increased in the year under report from EUR 15.2 million to EUR 16.7 million. Operating revenues were also up, from EUR 16.9 million in the previous year to EUR 17.5 million in financial 2005/2006.
Consolidated net income increased from TEUR 412.7 to TEUR 575.9 in the 2005/2006 business year. EBITDA remained unchanged in the year-on-year comparison at EUR 2.6 million. Operating income (EBIT) improved from TEUR 226.5 in the previous year to TEUR 546.2 in financial 2005/2006. At TEUR 686.4, earnings before taxes were also well up year on year (after TEUR 392.9).
Dividend In its year-end financial statements for 2005/2006, feratel media technologies AG reports retained earnings amounting to EUR 1.1 million after EUR 1.2 million in the previous year. At the Annual General Meeting to be held in October, the Executive Board will accordingly propose payment of a dividend of 8 eurocents (compared with 7 eurocents in the previous year).
Focus on the new EU member countries "More than any other country, Austria benefits from its proximity to Central and Eastern Europe and from the enlargement of the EU. In the last few years we, too, have been able to exploit the opportunities and potential for growth. This market strategy is now being consistently applied in Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic," Schröcksnadel continued. "The new EU member countries are becoming increasingly attractive as tourist destinations. The fact that they have Objective 1 status for EU funding can also be expected to stimulate a high level of capital spending on their tourism infrastructures. The accession of Bulgaria to the EU in 2007 should have a further strong stimulating effect."
New broadcasting partners and locations In the summer of 2005 feratel recruited the Spanish TV weather channel Canal Méteo as a new and attractive broadcasting partner. Canal Méteo uses individual weather cams to present the overall weather situation for Europe. In the middle of April 2006 two additions were also made to feratels Hungarian television customer base in the form of Budapest-TV and duna II Autonomia. A total of 24 new international customers were recruited in the 2005/2006 financial year, and additional cameras were purchased by five Austrian destinations.
Numerous major e-tourism projects In addition to several projects in Austria (including Kaiserwinkl, Upper Styria and Europasportregion Zell am See - Kaprun), the go-ahead was given in September for the first e-tourism projects in Slovakia (Donovaly Ski Area) and the Czech Republic (Benecko and Jánské Lázne Ski Areas). feratel recruited its first Deskline customers in Spain with the five municipalities of Tarragona Province (Baix Camp, Priorat, Ribera d'Ebre, Terra Alta and Conca de Barberà) and in the Netherlands with the seaside resort of Grou.
Second biggest ever order for information kiosks In the period under report feratel received an order to supply sixteen information terminals to the Salzkammergut - the second biggest single order for information kiosks ever received. In July 2005 the first information kiosk was installed in the Spanish seaside resort of Cambrils. In Hungary the first contract was signed for an information terminal for Lake Balaton, while six outdoor information kiosks were supplied to Italy and two to Bulgaria.
Outlook All predictions suggest that the positive economic climate and buoyant tourism market will be maintained in the current financial year. The record results in tourism achieved in 2005 give reason to expect an increase in capital spending on tourism infrastructure. feratel will continue to pursue a strong core market strategy focused on Austria, Germany and Switzerland. In addition to its established products like panorama cams, outdoor information terminals and destination management systems, a special emphasis here will be on marketing innovative add-on products. In Italy, Benelux, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Bulgaria, the aim is to prepare the market step by step for further feratel products so as to fully utilize the considerable untapped potential there, and also to take advantage of the opportunities presented on the French and Spanish markets.
feratel is continuing its work in the field of product development. Following the relaunch of its Internet applications with Deskline, Eurosoft and darWIN, the company is currently working on a complete redesign of its Deskline ExpertClient (back office application) with the help of the latest development tools.
"For the 2006/2007 financial year, it is feratels goal to achieve a further increase in sales and earnings in the year-end result," Schröcksnadel concluded.
The 2005/2006 financial year in figures (pursuant to IFRS)
The annual financial statements for the previous year were drawn up in accordance with the Austrian Commercial Code. At the beginning of the year under report, the switch was made to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Pursuant to the provisions of IFRS 1, financial statements for the 2004/2005 business year were also prepared on the basis of IFRS for better comparability.
2005/2006 2004/2005
TEUR TEUR
Sales 16,695.2 15,183.2
Income from operations 17,451.0 16,855.4
EBITDA 2,587.0 2,601.0
EBIT 546.2 226.5
EBT 686.4 392.9end of announcement euro adhoc 21.07.2006 07:58:08
Further inquiry note:
Herr Fritsch Martin
Branche: Technology
ISIN: AT0000737804
WKN: 615165
Index: Standard Market Auction
Börsen: Börse Berlin-Bremen / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Wiener Börse AG / official dealing