Jungfraubahnen: Initial review of 2006 business year, information on coming Annual General Meeting of 14 May 2007
Interlaken (ots)
We are pleased to be able to report once again on a very satisfactory business year. Our most important attraction, the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe, achieved its best result since 2000 (special offer).
In winter sport, we enjoyed almost unchanged high demand in 2006. Last year we registered an overall total of 1.174 million guest admissions in the JUNGFRAU Region (-0.1% compared to the previous year). However, low snowfall and above average temperatures resulted in a slow start to the current winter season: in November and December 2006 we recorded 6.9% fewer guest admissions than in the previous year.
We achieved excellent results in excursion traffic. In 11 of 12 months, more guests visited our most important excursion destination, the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe, than in the previous year. 623,114 visitors enjoyed the outstanding excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage, meaning an average of over 1700 per day (+11 %). We put this latest success down to the prevailing favourable economic conditions and our strong presence in the Asian market. The other experience mountains, which are more reliant on weather conditions, could not quite match the growth of the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe.
Our major railways recorded the following frequencies:
Passenger frequency Passenger frequency Change 2006 2005 in % - Jungfrau Railway (Jungfraujoch arr.) 623,100 560,800 +11.1 % - Wengernalp Railway (total frequency) 2,405,000 2,341,100 +2.7 % - Grindelwald-First (from bottom station) 478,400 500,300 -4.4 %
Thanks to these excellent results it was possible to compensate for the Lauterbrunnen-Mürren Mountain Railway drop in revenue, which was due to rebuilding. With CHF 93.7 million, we achieved almost unchanged transport revenue (+0.3 %) in comparison to last year.
The Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp Aerial Cableway went into operation on 16 December, in due time for the start of the winter season. The Mürren Railway is very popular with guests.
Share development
The value of your Jungfraubahn Holding AG registered shares rose by 8.2%. in the past year. Added to this comes a dividend yield of 2.8%.
2007 Preview
Unfortunately the slow start to the 2006/2007 winter season continued into the beginning of the year. By the end of January we recorded a reduction of 25.4% in guests to Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and Grindelwald-First in comparison to the previous winter. Enquiries from tour operators and the continuing positive, economic climate put us in confident mood for the coming summer season.
2007 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The 2007 AGM of the Jungfraubahn Holding AG will take place at 14.00 hrs on Monday, 14 May 2007, in the Kursaal Interlaken. Lodgement of right of entry and voting rights will be made on 17 April 2007. Subsequently no further inscriptions will be made in the share register until the day following the AGM. Shareholders who sell shares during this blocking period lose the affiliated voting rights. Your invitation and entry card for the AGM will be mailed to you in due course.
Shareholders who individually or collectively represent 10% of share capital or shares to a nominal value of a minimum of CHF 1 million, may request the inclusion of an agenda item in the AGM order of business on provision of details of the item for discussion and the motion. According to the statutes, any such request must be submitted by the latest 45 days before the AGM, i.e. by 29 March 2007.
We have set the ex-dividend date, which becomes relevant after the AGM decision on dividends, for 21 May 2007.
At 01.01.2007, the tax value of one Jungfraubahn Holding AG registered share, par value CHF 2.00 is CHF 45.50. Taxable gross yield for 2006 is CHF 1.20.
Contact:
Christoph Seiler
Leiter Finance and Controlling (F+C)
Tel.: +41/33/828'71'11
Walter Steuri
Vorsitzender der Geschäftsleitung
Tel: +41/33/828'71'11