euro adhoc: feratel media technologies AG
Quarterly or Semiannual
Financial Statements
Clear improvement to earnings ratios for the
first half of the year
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
"Results for the first half of the year were in line with the companys expectations. We are happy to report that, in keeping with the companys objectives, all key earnings ratios again showed a significant improvement," says Markus Schröcksnadel, CEO at feratel media technologies AG.
"At EUR 5.6 million, consolidated sales remained stable in the period-to-period comparison. Consolidated EBITDA improved significantly from minus TEUR 545.5 in the first half of the previous year to minus TEUR 173.7 in the first half of 2004/05. Consolidated EBIT also showed a marked improvement from minus EUR 1.5 million to minus EUR 1 million," Schröcksnadel continues.
In this context it should be pointed out that in the Telecommunications Division sales are always concentrated in the second half of the financial year, while overheads are distributed equally over the year. Budgeted income for the division is therefore always significantly lower for the first half of the year, with higher figures for the second half to compensate the situation and generate a positive year-end result.
Highlights of the first half of 2004/2005 In July 2004 transmission of feratel weather cams was introduced by the Dutch television station TROS-NED 2, the countrys biggest family broadcasting company, whose programs also reach audiences in Belgium and Luxembourg. In the period under report a new camera location was established in the Netherlands, in Grou. This means feratel now has six camera locations in the Netherlands, namely Drachten, Ijmuiden aan Zee, Sluis, Utrecht, Vlissingen and Grou.
Val di Fassa, the biggest tourism region in the Trentino, was recruited to the customer base for feratels Deskline® information and reservation system in the first half of the financial year. That further strengthens feratels position in Italy. In Val die Fassa, some 300 businesses with a total of 16,000 beds are currently integrated in the Deskline® information and reservation system. As of this winter season, the regions eight tourist offices will be working with the new system.
In October 2004 a new feratel development team was established in Bulgaria. They are currently working on a software solution for a visitor orientation module for Munich.
Outlook "Following our successful entry into the Benelux market with Telecommunications in the last few months, we are expecting further positive developments there in the months to come. That also applies to IRS. In France, too, we are confident that a number of specific projects will generate earnings in the next few months."
"In the case of Information and Reservation Systems we anticipate a continuation of our stable business position, with additional positive effects possible from international projects," says Schröcksnadel.
In the legal action taken against feratel media technologies GmbH / Deutschland over the sum of EUR 290,000 plus interest, the appeal court has ruled in favor of the plaintiff. The amount accordingly has to be provided for as an expenditure in the 3rd quarter of 2004/2005.
"For the next two quarters feratel is expecting further improvements in sales and results," says Schröcksnadel in conclusion.
Extract from the Consolidated Income Statement (in TEURO)
For reasons of economy and practicability, this half-yearly balance sheet for the period 1 May to 31 October 2004 of feratel media technologies AG was drawn up pursuant to the provisions of the Austrian Commercial Code (HGB).
~ 2004/2005 2003/2004
Sales 5,645.0 5,755.8 Income from operations 6,101.3 6,072.1 EBITDA -173.7 -545.5 EBIT -996.5 -1,466.5 EBT -989.0 -1,441.8
end of announcement euro adhoc 20.12.2004 07:51:28
Further inquiry note:
Herr Fritsch Martin
Branche: Tourism & Leisure
ISIN: AT0000737804
WKN: 073780
Index: Standard Market Auction
Börsen: Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / free trade
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