The BoD approves the first half interim report. Revenues at million euros (+1.0%)

Transcription

1 The BoD approves the first half interim report Revenues at million euros (+1.0%) 7.8% increase in advertising Milan, 25th August 2011 The Board of Directors of Class Editori SpA, which met today, approved the consolidated results relative to the first six months of the year. Consolidated results Total revenues for the first half of 2011 amounted to million euros, an increase of 1.0% compared with the first half of 2010; in particular operating revenues, amounting to million euros, grew by 2.2% compared with the same period in the previous year. Operating costs rose from to million euros, mainly due to the increases in raw materials prices (paper), sales related expenses (agentsʹ fees and commissions), structural costs of the advertising concessionaire and production costs in the business information and Outdoor TV areas, as well as higher investments in the production and purchase of programmes and contents for the new TV schedules. The gross operating margin (Ebitda) showed a loss of 0.88 million euros (+3.68 million euros in 2010). The consolidated result, net of minority interest and taxes, showed a loss of 3.76 million euros ( 0.79 million euros in the corresponding period of 2010). In the second quarter of the year, consolidated revenues increased by 9.8% (to 32.6 million euros) and the pre tax net result stood at 0.6 million euros, a strong recovery with respect to the pre tax net result ( 2,6 million euros) at the end of the first quarter of the current year. Economic financial highlights during the year Despite the continuation of the most serious economical and financial crisis in history, advertising revenues of the Publishing Housesʹ media outlets grew by approximately 7.8%, recovering market shares in the context of a negative national situation (newspaper advertising revenues 6.4% and magazine advertising revenues 1.5%, half year Nielsen data for national paid advertising revenues, television advertising 5%). The development strategy mainly continued in the digital areas (Internet and TV) with the creation, acquisition and consolidation of the new channels added to Class CNBC (ClassTV Msnbc, broadcast live on digital terrestrial television, ClassTV Moda, broadcast on Sky satellite), enriching and renewing programmes and scheduling. Editorial, technical and sales costs for the realisation of the new activities, which from 2011 are operative at the beginning of the year, are particularly heavy. The signs of growth in revenues, however, seem to bear out the development strategy, even though the current gap between costs and revenues is still wide and generates losses, mainly due to digital terrestrial television transmission delays. A dual and unexpected postponement of the switch off, first from June to September and then to the end of November 2010, and the ensuing delay in assigning nationwide channel numbering for automatic electronic programming (Lcn, logical channel numbering), made it impossible to rapidly generate new revenues from 1

2 that activity whilst significant costs (not all of which can be capitalised), compromising not only 2010 results but, due to the lack of historical survey data, also revenues in the first half of 2011, have been sustained. The development strategy in the television sector includes the 30% holding in ClassHORSE TV, the first channel entirely dedicated to the world of horses and an official broadcaster recognised by the Fei (International Equestrian Federation) and FISE (Italian Equestrian Federation). The publishing house exploits all its experience and synergies, performs technological service activities and collects advertising revenues on behalf of ClassHORSE TV with encouraging results. Considering the difficulties existing in the printed paper market, circulation figures for the period remained at a satisfactory level: Class enjoyed (updated moving average) a circulation of approximately 92,000 copies (76,000 copies in 2010), Capital approximately 85,000 copies (78,000 copies in 2010), and MF/Milano Finanza about 103,000 copies (97,000 in 2010). The number of readers of the Publishing Houseʹs websites grew strongly, by 107.7% in terms of daily average unique users and 103.9% in terms of pages browsed (source: Audiweb Database). Tablet and smartphone applications are being developed rapidly: MF/Milano Finanza is present on all the main market platforms, such as ipad, Android, iphone, Blackberry and Bada. The tablet and smartphone applications for Class Meteo and ItaliaOggi are also generating a growing number of downloads and users. All the above confirms the great interest by advertising investors: during the first six months of the year, website and web application revenues grew by 54%. Compared with the second half of 2010, the Publishing Houseʹs network of websites was extended with ClassMeteo.it, thanks to agreement between Class Editori and the global leader in the sector, The Weather Channel, which is rapidly growing in terms of unique users. As well as on the publishing houseʹs media, weather contents are distributed in the metropolitan areas of Milan and Rome, at airports, on third party websites (including Yahoo!) and on the media of other important Italian publishers. As of 30th June 2011, the net financial position showed a net debt of 54.4 million Euros. The increase compared with 31st December 2010 was due to the results for the period and financial items awaiting collection. Post balance sheet highlights There was an encouraging increase in advertising revenues from the groupʹs television channels compared with the first six months of the year. In 2011, the monthly magazine Class and the publishing house celebrate their 25th anniversary. For this reason, the company developed the Class25 project which, in five areas, narrates the history and evolution of the most prestigious national and international fashion, design and luxury brands in the last 25 years: a book with more than 500 pages, a tablet application, a new generation website, a television programme in 25 episodes and a large multi media exhibition at the Milan Triennale from 8th September to 2nd October The location of the exhibition, which will travel to New York and Asia in 2012, and a great curator, the architect, Italo Rota, who among other things realised the Museo del Novecento in Milan (inaugurated in early December and already visited by over 500,000 people), give an idea of the resources fielded by Class Editori for this event. The international publishing criticism and analysis committee comprise the most prestigious and authoritative names in the sector, such as Andrew Bolton, Franco Cologni, the artist Ghada Amer and the American journalist and writer Pamela Fiori. 2

3 Class Editori and Solaris Mobile (a jv between SES Astra and Eutelsat and a pioneer in the development of the forthcoming European mobile communications network) have reached an agreement to launch a set of radio services to listeners all over Italy. The test phase will begin in October with the realisation of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial network in Milan: if this is successful, its commercial launch will take place in The publishing house is the exclusive supplier of contents which will be transmitted in Italy via the network managed by Solaris Mobile. Future prospects The growth in TV advertising revenues leads us to deem that the companyʹs development strategy, based on TV and digital services in general, is correct. For the second half of 2011, with the renewed and enriched TV schedules, the new commercial offers and the special operations, such as Class25, recoveries in revenues and margins are expected. For additional information, please contact: Gian Marco Giura Communications Director Class Editori Tel: Cell: E mail: gmgiura@class.it The Income Statement and Balance Sheet schedules follow below. The intermediate management report is available to the pubic on the publishing house s website, 3

4 Pursuant to Par. 2 of Art. 154 bis of the Italian Financial Consolidation Act, the Manager of Corporate Accounting Documents, Emilio Adinolfi, states that the accounting information included in this announcement corresponds to the documentary records, books and accounting entries. Consolidated income statement at 30th June 2011 (Thousands of euros) 30/06/10 31/12/10 30/06/11 Change (%) Sales revenues 55, ,263 56, Other revenues and income 4,789 11,381 4,121 (13.9) Total revenues 60, ,644 61, Operating costs (56,848) (120,105) (61,989) 9.0 Gross profit 3,680 7,539 (882) (124.0) % of revenues (1.44) Amortisation and depreciation (5,101) (9,749) (2,546) (50.1) Operating result (1,421) (2,210) (3,428) (141.2) % of revenues (2.35) (1.73) (5.61) Net financial income and charges (264) (713) (704) (166.7) Pre tax profits (1,685) (2,923) (4,132) (145.2) Taxes (43.1) Minority profit/(loss) 204 (141) (18) (108.8) Net group profit (795) (1,877) (3,760) note below Revenues are broken down as follows (Thousands of euros) 30/06/10 30/06/11 Change (%) News stand sales 4,891 4,673 (4.5) Subscription revenues 20,354 20,243 (0.5) Advertising revenues 30,310 32, Other revenues 4,789 3,313 (30.8) Total revenues 60,344 60, Contributions for operating expenses Total 60,528 61,

5 Net consolidated financial position at 30th June 2011 (Thousands of euros) 31/12/ /06/2011 Changes 2010/2011 Change % Securities Cash and cash equivalents 5,989 5,581 (408) (6.8) Short term financial receivables 7,458 8, Long term financial payables (1,521) (1,320) Short term financial payables (55,773) (67,113) (11,340) (20.3) Net financial position (43,847) (54,398) (10,551) (24.1) - Schedule showing the consolidated asset and financial situation at 30th June 2011 ASSETS (Thousands of euros) 31st December th June 2011 Intangible fixed assets with an indefinite life 55,141 55,078 Other intangible fixed assets 18,893 6,147 Intangible fixed assets 74,034 61,225 Tangible fixed assets 6,802 6,740 Equity investments 3,380 3,076 Other equity investments 1, Financial receivables Other receivables 3,085 3,079 NON CURRENT ASSETS 88,380 74,440 Inventory 4,004 3,963 Trade receivables 81,003 99,094 Securities Financial receivables 7,458 8,454 Tax receivables 10,818 11,885 Other receivables 22,197 22,821 Cash and cash equivalents 5,989 5,581 CURRENT ASSETS 131, ,798 TOTAL ASSETS 219, ,238 5

6 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERSʹ EQUITY (Thousands of euros) 31st December th June 2011 Share capital 10,417 10,561 Share premium account 30,039 31,329 Legal reserve 2,544 2,544 Other reserves 28,534 24,793 Profit (loss) for the year (1,877) (3,760) Group shareholders equity 69,657 65,467 Minority capital and reserves 9,311 8,636 Minority profit (loss) Minority shareholders equity 9,452 8,654 SHAREHOLDERSʹ EQUITY 79,109 74,121 Financial payables 1,521 1,320 Provisions for risks and charges Severance fund and other employee funds 5,206 5,118 NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 7,660 7,265 Financial payables 55,773 67,113 Trade payables 42,846 43,257 Tax payables 6,563 4,743 Other payables 27,898 29,739 CURRENT LIABILITIES 133, ,852 TOTAL LIABILITIES 140, ,117 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERSʹ EQUITY 219, ,238 6