euro adhoc: ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG
Quarterly or Semiannual
Financial Statements
Q1 2005: ProSiebenSat.1 Group increases
pre-tax profit despite adverse advertising market
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
13.05.2005
The ProSiebenSat.1 Groups pre-tax profit rose in the first quarter of 2005. The figure climbed 8.3 percent, from EUR 43.5 million for Q1 2004 to EUR 47.1 million. The consolidated net profit grew 14.3 percent to EUR 28.7 million even though revenues for the first three months of the current year were down slightly, by 1.4 percent, from EUR 436.3 million to EUR 430.0 million.
The revenue dip was caused by the still-overcast TV advertising market, which receded again in the first quarter. The impact is also evident in EBITDA, which was down 7.1 percent to EUR 64.2 million, compared to EUR 69.1 million in the comparable quarter of last year. Pre-tax profits benefited from a reduction in net financial expenses, which narrowed from EUR -16.9 million to EUR -10.1 million because of lower interest expenses and the sharp rise in income contributed by associated companies, especially Euvia Media.
It is difficult to forecast where the television advertising market will go for the rest of this year. But there are already signs that 2005 is turning out less favorable than had been expected. Consumers remain wary, hampering the growth of the economy. The ProSiebenSat.1 Group assumes that this will have a direct impact on the advertising market. The Group projects that 2005 will be another negative year for the TV advertising industry. It now assumes that the net German TV advertising market will decline about 2 percent in 2005.
Despite this environment, the ProSiebenSat.1 Group will increase revenues and earnings in 2005. The ProSiebenSat.1 Group feels that the situation in the advertising industry provides ample confirmation that its strategic positioning has been well chosen. With this years conditions in the advertising market, the Euvia Media takeover and strengthening the Diversification segment will pay off especially well.
end of announcement euro adhoc 13.05.2005 07:30:35
Further inquiry note:
Katja Pichler
Tel.: +49 (0) 899507 1181
E-Mail: Katja.Pichler@ProSiebenSat1.com
Branche: Television
ISIN: DE0007771172
WKN: 777117
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, Prime Standard, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX
Börsen: Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing