Report
As one of the six corporate divisions of the Bertelsmann AG arvato AG does not publish an own annual report but is part of the annual report published by the Bertelsmann AG. You have the opportunity to download the »annual report 2009 here. The report is available in German and English.
Excerpt from the annual report 2009:
In 2009 the media and communications service provider arvato fell slightly short of the high revenue levels achieved in the previous year primarily due to lower order volumes and customer insolvencies; operating EBIT was also down year on year. Revenues of €4.8 billion were 3.3 percent lower than the previous year (€5.0 billion) and operating EBIT was €345 million, compared to €369 million in the previous year (-6.5 percent). The return on sales was 7.1 percent (previous year: 7.4 percent). arvato had 60,323 employees at year-end (December 31, 2008: 62,591).
In the year under review, arvato was largely able to offset the loss of revenues caused by the impact of the economic crisis thanks to new orders and extended services. Process and cost optimizations implemented at an early stage also had a positive effect on operating EBIT.
arvato services performed diff erently in individual markets and segments: while the service center activities in France were expanded further, the customer care businesses in other core markets reported lower volumes on existing contracts. arvato services comprehensively expanded its logistics network in 2009, for example with dynamically growing supply chain management activities in China and India, the takeover of a telecommunications logistics provider in Germany and the establishment of a European distribution center in Gütersloh for customers from the games industry. Despite falling advertising budgets, the customer retention businesses achieved further growth in revenues and operating EBIT, and international financial services also performed well.
arvato print gained additional market shares in 2009. Whereas the arvato print units in Germany and the U.S. performed relatively well in a diffi cult market situation, the businesses in Southern Europe were under pressure. arvato print continued to drive forward development to become an integrated service provider for all aspects of print production. For example, the Print Group added the print management business segment to its service portfolio, and with Reader Digest Inc., gained its first major international customer in this growth segment.
There were impairments on the Prinovis gravure printing group, which arvato operates in conjunction with Gruner + Jahr and Axel Springer AG, and also on the print business in Italy. The Prinovis businesses in the U.K. performed well, whereas the performance in Germany was marked by the diffi cult market situation and restructuring measures.
The production and service businesses dealing with digital storage media remained stable in 2009. Despite globally declining CD and DVD production volumes, arvato digital services was able to increase its own market share by consistently expanding its integrated range of solutions. In addition, the international production capacities for the high resolution Blu-ray format were further expanded. In Germany, arvato digital services expanded its service portfolio by taking over Universal Music Group’s central media archive. The electronic software distribution business segment was strengthened through the takeover of the Canadian technology provider Protexis and the establishment of further Microsoft webshops in Europe and Australia.
The Inmediaone direct marketing organization increased its revenues and operating EBIT in 2009, and through its subsidiary Wissenmedia, acquired the rights to the Brockhaus brand, including all content and inventory. The IT service provider arvato systems also reported a positive balance sheet, having maintained last year’s good operating EBIT.
All you need for viewing is the
» Acrobat Reader.
