Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
Orell Füssli Ltd Half-Year 2024
Sustained Sales Growth
- Sales growth continued in the 1st half of the year
- Security printing secures further major orders
- Book retailing expands shop network and gains market share
- Procivis wins tender from a US authority
Zurich, 26 July 2024 - Orell Füssli achieved significant market successes in the seasonally weaker first half of 2024 and increased sales to CHF 107.1 million (previous year: CHF 105.0 million). As expected, the operating result (EBIT) was down on the previous year at CHF 4.6 million (previous year: CHF 5.4 million) due to rising costs, the product mix in security printing and at Zeiser, as well as the seasonal sales trend in book retailing and publishing. The development of the new business areas was systematically driven forward in the first half of the year and the first products and solutions were launched to the market.
Security printing
The security printing division recorded a high order backlog and good capacity utilisation for first half of 2024. The division was able to win further major orders in the area of banknote printing, some of which are multi-year contracts. The first deliveries will be made in autumn. Sales in security printing totalled CHF 38.0 million in the first semester (previous year: CHF 39.2 million). The operating result (EBIT) totalled CHF 5.5 million (previous year: CHF 6.1 million) slightly below last year and due to lower sales and the product mix.
Industrial systems
The Zeiser division achieved a good first half of 2024 and acquired several new orders in the field of banknote serialisation. Sales with third parties rose by 22% to CHF 11.1 million (previous year: CHF 9.1 million). The operating result (EBIT) of CHF 0.6 million (previous year: CHF 0.8 million) was slightly below the same period of last year due to higher costs. Demand for Zeiser's new Track & Trace technology for the traceability of security documents has remained high since its market launch at the end of 2023. The lively interest in this solution was also confirmed at a successful printing trade fair (drupa), which took place in Düsseldorf in June.
Book retailing
Orell Füssli Thalia Ltd performed well in the seasonally weaker first half of 2024 despite subdued consumer sentiment and was able to increase proportionately consolidated sales to CHF 51.0 million (previous year: CHF 49.9 million) compared to the strong previous year. The bookstore network was further expanded with Orell Füssli acquiring the Rapunzel bookstore in Liestal and jointly opening a new branch with Schuler Bücher at Chur railway station and a third location in Aarau. Orell Füssli Thalia Ltd thus further increased its market share. Proportionately consolidated operating earnings (EBIT) totalled CHF 1.2 million in the first six months of the year (previous year: CHF 1.2 million).
Other business areas
Orell Füssli Publishers continued to perform well in the first half of 2024. Various programmes for teaching and learning media are in preparation and will be launched with the new 2024/2025 school year. The digital learning media myKV and myDetailhandel, which are geared towards apprenticeships for commercial employee and retail specialist, were successfully launched and are entering their second cycle. In legal media, the 21st edition of the commercial edition of ZGB/OR was published in the first half of the year and the Orell Füssli Commentary on Financial Market Criminal Law was launched in Switzerland for the first time. Orell Füssli published Globi's new adventure on the Tour de Suisse in time for the start of the legendary Swiss cycling event in June.
At Procivis, a provider of key technologies for digital identity and certificate solutions, the market launch of the new Procivis One software solution is in full swing and has already recorded its first significant successes. Procivis has been able to acquire four new orders from both the public and private sectors. These include winning a tender from the US Department of Homeland Security.
Outlook Fully Year 2024
Orell Füssli expects a perceptible upturn in business in the second half of the year due to seasonal business in book retailing and at publishing, and due to the current order book at the Security Printing and Industrial Systems divisions. Orell Füssli plans to grow in the mid to upper single-digit percentage range and will thus be in or above the communicated growth corridor. As already communicated, the EBIT margin will be most likely slightly lower than in the previous year.
Key figures Orell Füssli Group in CHF million
| |
Jan-Jun 24 |
Jan-Jun 23 |
| Revenue from sales to customers |
107.1 |
105.0 |
| Operating result (EBIT) |
4.6 |
5.4 |
| in % revenue (rounded) |
4.3% |
5.2% |
| Half-year result |
1.8 |
5.0 |
| Number of employees (FTE) as of 30.06 |
630 |
633 |
Half-year Report 2024
The 2024 half-year report is available on our website at https://orellfuessli.com/en/financial-reports-presentations. A print copy can be requested by sending an email to investors@orellfuessli.com.
Agenda
Publication of Annual Report 2024 14 March 2025
Annual General Meeting 2025 13 May 2025
Contact us
Orell Füssli Ltd
Phone +41 44 466 72 94
media@orellfuessli.com
Orell Füssli is a pioneer in the fields of security and education. With its expertise in security solutions for the state and citizens and as a leading Swiss player in the book retailing sector, Orell Füssli supports its clients with a unique and customised offering.
As a leading systems supplier of security technology and identification systems and a long-standing partner to governments, Orell Füssli sets technological standards in both analog and digital applications. In the area of security printing and serialisation, the company offers innovative printing processes, equipment and services for the production and effective protection of banknotes, value documents and identity documents.
Verifiable digital credentials represent a relevant new business area with huge international potential and will be developed in the coming years by Procivis a subsidiary of Orell Füssli.
With its attractive large-format and specialist bookstores, Orell Füssli offers a true book shopping experience. In the book retailing segment, Orell Füssli holds a 50% stake in Orell Füssli Thalia AG, an omnichannel company that provides an extensive offering with 54 branches located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and various e-commerce services. Orell Füssli Thalia provides also logistics and others services for libraries and the corporate sector.
With its publishing houses, Orell Füssli focusses on learning and legal media as well as books for children.
Orell Füssli was established more than 500 years ago and generates revenue of some CHF 230 million, with about 660 employees and locations in five countries. Orell Füssli is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (Security number 342 080; ISIN number CH0003420806). |
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