The Board of Directors of Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A. met today to examine and approve the management report for the first six months of the year to 30th June 2008, as presented by the Group’s Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, Maurizio Costa.
The market scenario
The first six months of 2008 saw a sharpening of the uncertainties in the short and medium term and an acceleration in price increases for fast moving consumer goods, with a negative impact on consumer and investor confidence.
Over the last two months, in the reference market for the Mondadori Group in Italy, the downturn in magazine circulation was accompanied by a slowdown in advertising expenditure; at the same time, there was a continuation of the decline in add-on sales during the period, while the book market displayed encouraging signs of growth.
In France, magazine circulation remained essentially stable, while advertising investments were down compared to the same period of 2007.
Group performance in the period to 30 June 2008
When comparing the results for the period with those at 30 June 2007 the same considerations made at the end of the first quarter apply: the essential stability in business profitability and the growing performance of Radio R101 have made it possible to amply compensate for the investments made in development (digital and international activities), while the impact of the decline in add-on sales has been marked the effects are expected to be less significant in the second half of the year, given that at 30 June 2007 Mondadori had already generated 65% of the result for the entire year.
Consolidated revenues for the first half of 2008 came to €930.1 million, a fall of 3.2% compared with the €960.6 million in the first half of 2007. Net of add-on sales, revenues were up by 1.1%.
Consolidated gross operating profit at 30 June 2008 came to €104.5 million, compared with the €119.6 million of the same period of the previous year a fall of 12.6%. As a proportion of revenues a fall to 11.2% from the 12.4% of 2007.
Net of add-on sales (-€15.6 million compared with 30 June 2007) and discontinuous non-recurring factors (higher capital gains of €0.6 million; lower personnel costs of -€2.9 million due to the application of new regulations governing leaving entitlements in 2007 and other extraordinary charges) the difference in the operating margin at 30 June 2008 would be +€2.8 million, due to improved business performance business (+€6.8 million) and increased investments in businesses under development (-€4 million).
Consolidated operating profit at 30 June 2008 came to €83.8 million, a fall of 14.4% on the €97.9 million of the same period of 2007, with amortizations and depreciations of tangible and intangible assets for a total of €20.7 million (€21.7 million in 2007); as a proportion of revenues, a fall from the 10.2% of 2007 to 9% this time.
Consolidated profit before taxation amounted to €64.2 million, a fall of 25.3% on the €85.9 million of 2007, with an increase of €7.6 million in net financial charges, essentially due to the increased cost of borrowing (around €4.5 million) and lower returns from financial investments (around €2.7 million).
Consolidated net profit at 30 June 2008 came to €36.7 million, a fall of 20.6% on the €46.2 million for the same period of the previous year.
Gross cash flow in the first half of 2008 amounted to €57.4 million compared with €67.9 million in the first six months of 2007.
The Group’s net financial position at 30 June 2008 showed a deficit of €680.1 million compared to a deficit of €535.3 million at the end of 2007. During the period income taxes of €54 million and dividends of €83.8 million were paid out.
Results of the business areas
• Books
During the first half of 2008 the Book Division generated revenues of €192.7 million, in line with the €192.8 million of the same period of 2007. Net of add-on sales, revenues were up by 1.7%.
During the first six months of the year the Mondadori Group confirmed its leadership in the trade segment, increasing its share to 28%[1], with a marked advantage over its main competitors; in the large-scale retail channel the estimated share is more than 35%[2].
Among the various publishing houses in the Group, there were positive results for the first half for Edizioni Mondadori, which recorded revenues of €68.3 million, (+0.4%) and Mondadori Education which recorded sales of €15.1 million, (+4.9%). Einaudi confirmed net revenues for the first six months of 2008 of €26,4 million, in line with those of the same period of 2007.
• Magazines
During the period the Magazine Division generated revenues of €514.4 million, a 6.3% fall on the €549 million of the same period of 2007.
Italy
The first half of the year has seen a generalised downturn in the market in which the Division operates. A marked fall in consumer spending has consequently also affected the magazine sector, and most particularly and in a predominant manner, the add-on sales phenomenon, which is clearly well on the way to being progressively downsized. To a lesser extent, circulations in almost all segments have continued to display a certain weakness. Advertising, after an initially promising first quarter, was subject to a sharp downturn.
Revenues generated by the Magazine Division in Italy in the first half of 2008 amounted to €319.9 million, a 9.9% fall compared to the €355 million of the same period of last year.
This result was determined by the following factors:
– A sharp reduction in revenues from add-on sales (-24.4%) in a market that in the first five months of the year fell by 26%, and whose overall value has halved compared with the record levels of 2005;
– A fall in circulation revenues of 5.1%, essential due to a reduction in volumes sold (-3.3% on comparable basis);
– A growth in advertising revenues of 1.3% thanks to the performance of leader titles, in an already falling market (-0.7% to May with further falls expected in June).
During the period Mondadori has put in place a number of actions in key segments. The most important include:
– the relaunch of Panorama, in February, with good results in terms of circulation and, in particular, advertising;
– strong support, in a highly competitive market, for TV guides, the results of which have so far been satisfactory;
– the relaunch of Donna Moderna, to mark the weekly’s 20th anniversary, which has achieved wide consent from both readers and advertisers;
– the relaunch of Grazia, completed in June with very satisfactory results, aimed at focusing and further strengthening the magazine’s elements of quality in the fashion area;
– the development of internet activities that have involved a number of titles, in particular Donna Moderna, with the web launch at the end of June of a new hub dedicated to women;
– a strong and sharper control of costs in all areas, which has made it possible to reduce the impact of the fall in revenues.
As already mentioned, in the context of a general slowdown, Mondadori recorded a fall in circulation revenues of 5.1% (-3.3% on a comparable basis, considering the closure of Star+TV, Per Me and Creare). There was an improvement, however, compared with the same period of last year, of the competitive position of Grazia, Chi, Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni, Donna Moderna (with a circulation more than double that of its competitors) and Panorama, which confirmed its leadership in its segment, both in terms of circulation and, to a marked degree, in advertising sales. The positive performance of Flair, Casaviva, Casabella and Interni should also be noted.
France
In the first half of 2008 the activities of the Magazine Division in France generated consolidated revenues of €194.5 million, an increase of 0.3% on the €194 million of the same period of 2007.
In general, in a context in which circulations remained essentially in line with the previous year and advertising was affected by a period of difficulty, Mondadori France nevertheless managed to hold on to its market share.
On the circulation side, the Group’s titles acheived good results thanks to redesigns and relaunches completed during the period. Of particular note was the exceptional performance of Closer, which confirmed its leadership position in the segment.
There was a fall in the sale of advertising space in consumer magazines in France of 2.1% in terms of volume at the end of May 2008 (source: TNS-MI), while the reference market for Mondadori France saw a fall of -3.9%. Bucking this trend was the upscale segment (+5.1%), in which Mondadori is not yet present.
The advertising revenues of Mondadori France in the first six months of the year came to €53.5 million, compared with the €57.2 million of the same period of last year (-6.5%).
In particular, television titles have been affected by a reduction in investments by large-scale retailers and direct marketing. There were also difficulties for women’s titles, while those in the car segment showed signs of improvement compared to the first quarter of the year, with a result in line with the same period of 2007.
As already announced, June 30 saw the closing of an agreement for the sale to Motor Presse France, of six specialised titles published by the Mondadori France Group. This operation is part of the plan for the rationalisation of the Mondadori France portfolio, with a focus on the development of segments with high potential also in terms of advertising, such as the upscale (and activities have continued for the launch of a magazine in this segment) and the mass-market segments.
International activities
During the period there was a further improvement in the already notable performance of international activities. In particular Grazia UK confirmed its position as the publishing phenomenon of the moment, marking itself out even more in a market showing clear signs of a downturn.
Advertising planning for the first issues of Grazia Australia, launched on July 21, was way beyond expectations; while there were also excellent initial results for Grazia India (where a contract has also been signed for the launch of Casaviva, the Group’s leading interiors title) and the now consolidated joint venture with Sanoma, which publishes Grazia and Interni in Russia; excellent performances were also recorded by Flair Austria and Casaviva Greece.
• Advertising
In the first half of 2008 Mondadori Pubblicità recorded revenues of €178.2 million (+1% on the €176.4 million of the first half of 2007), with a performance above the market average, despite the significant slowdown of the second quarter.
Advertising sales for magazines were sustained by a good performance for weeklies, with significant increases being recorded above all by Grazia (up more than 10%) and Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni (+10%); Panorama performed well (+1.6%); while Donna Moderna and Chi remained stable; among the monthlies, there were stand out performances by Flair (+5%) and the specialised titles in the upscale Design and Interiors segment, which were up by around 10%.
In other media, in a difficult half year for il Giornale (-18%), there was a particularly positive performance on the internet (+15%), with an absolutely stand out performance by the new Donna Moderna site. There was also a significant increase in radio, with R101 which, with a growing audience, saw its advertising grow by 43.9% compared with the first half of 2007, and well above the market trend.
• Printing
In the first six months of 2008 the Printing Division generated revenues of €196.1 million, a 11.8% fall against the €222.4 million of the same period of the previous year. On a comparable basis, excluding the printing activities for Mondadori Education, no longer managed in 2008, the fall would be 7.4%.
The fall in like-for-like revenues was the result of a marked downturn in printing contracts for add-on sales initiatives for both the Group and third parties and the exceptional increase in the value of the euro against the dollar and the pound, while in terms of volume, the foreign market for catalogues and commercial products remained essentially stable.
During the period the cost of paper increased by between 1 and 2%, while energy costs (gas and electricity) continued to increase substantially.
The level of plant use was satisfactory and in line with the budget, having significantly reduced outsourcing activities; this was made possible also by the full use of recent investments which are now fully operational.
• Direct marketing
In the first half of 2008 Cemit Interactive Media generated revenues of €12 million, a 9.1% fall compared with the €13.2 million of the previous year. The sales mix has improved, in favour of activities with greater added value.
Continuing cost controls, along with a organisational structure review, has made it possible to safeguard levels of profitability in a difficult market context.
• Retail
Revenues from the Retail Division in the first half of 2008 rose to €86.2 million from the €77.8 million of 2007, an increase of 10.8% compared with the same period of the previous year.
Mondadori Franchising recorded first half revenues of €28.3 million (+18.7% compared with the €23.8 million in the first half of 2007). The network development programme continued during the period which, with 209 bookstores (compared with 191 on 30 June 2007) and the 152 Edicolè outlets (compared with 104 at the same point of the previous year), is now the most extensive in Italy for editorial products.
Mondadori Retail generated first half revenues in 2008 of €58 million, an increase of 7.6% on the €53.9 million of 2007, despite a difficult context for consumer spending in the non-food sector.
Following the opening of the new Multicenter store in Marcianise (CE), the company now has 29 outlets and has focused on the integration of the former Messaggerie Musicali (Mondadori Shop) stores and the rationalisation of the chain.
• Radio
During the first half of 2008 gross advertising revenues for Radio R101 amounted to €11.8 million, which corresponds to a net figure of €8.2 million, and increase of 54.7% on the €5.3 million of the same period of the previous year.
In an essentially stable market in terms of audience, in the first half of 2008 R101 reached a daily average of 2.1 million listeners, a 7% increase compared with the first half of 2007. Over the seven-day period, Radio R101 confirmed its position among the top six Italian commercial radio stations with more than 8.8 million listeners.
Expectations for the full year
In the second quarter of the year the market saw an intensification of the same critical elements that characterised the first. Of particular relevance was the negative effect of the real and perceived situation in terms of consumer spending and investment.
In this context the Mondadori Group has set in motion actions to safeguard the profitability of its core business, establishing further and significant efficiency objectives, and has continued with growing commitment, its development policy for new activities both in Italy and abroad.
Mondadori’s demonstrable managerial competence and leadership position in its reference markets are expected to allow the company, despite the difficult situation, to confirm its management results, net of the downturn ion add-on sales, a decline which shows no sign of ending in the short term.
§
As per article IA.2.9.3 n.4 of Rules for the Regulation of Markets, it should be noted that the following bonded loans are due to expire in the eighteen months subsequent to 30 June 2008:
Date of issue: 20/10/2003;
Amount: €109,900,000 corresponding to n°. 1,099 bonds of a value of €100,000 each, convertible in ordinary shares of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A.;
Issuer: Mondadori International S.A., wholly owned by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A.;
Guarantor: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A.;
Date of expiry: 20/10/2008.
§
The executive responsible for the preparation of the company’s accounts, Carlo Maria Vismara, declares that, as per art. 2, 154 bis of the Single Finance Text, the accounting information contained in this release corresponds to that contained in the company’s formal accounts.