Vienna, July 17, 2012 – The Kapsch Group continued on its path of growth in the past financial year (1 April 2011 – 31 March 2012) and further extended its position on the world market. With consolidated sales of EUR 984.1 million and an increase in turnover of 19 percent compared to the previous year, this was financially the most successful year in the company’s 120-year history. The subsidiary Kapsch TrafficCom accounts for 55 percent of consolidated sales, Kapsch BusinessCom 22.9 percent and Kapsch CarrierCom 21.8 percent.
The biggest growth in sales of 70 percent year-on-year was recorded in Central and Eastern Europe. 26 percent of turnover is generated in Austria, 38 percent in the CEE countries, 15 in Western Europe, 7 percent in North and South America and 14 percent in the remaining markets, such as South Africa and Australia. The operating result of the Kapsch Group also developed well: EBITDA rose by 10 percent to EUR 99.6 million. EBIT remained at the excellent level of the previous year with EUR 67 million (+1 percent).
The growth strategy is clearly evident in the headcount. The number of employees rose by 18 percent compared to the previous year to 4,826. A research rate of 9 percent saw EUR 84.8 million invested in the areas of research and development. Kapsch currently operates 13 research and development centers worldwide.
"Developments in our business fields illustrate our strong positioning," says Georg Kapsch, CEO Kapsch Group. "We are focusing on the long-term growth of our Group. We will therefore consistently pursue our chosen path by investing in new business fields".
Kapsch TrafficCom: Progress on large projects brings 42 percent increase in turnover
Kapsch TrafficCom increased turnover by a further 42 percent year-on-year. In particular, this growth was achieved through the progress made on the two large projects in Poland and South Africa, as well as through the successful expansion of business in the USA. The number of delivered on-board units rose significantly from 5.2 million to 11.2 million terminals.
Kapsch CarrierCom strengthens strategic position on the international market
Kapsch CarrierCom consistently developed its end-to-end products and services for customers in the rail and provider segments last year. "With the new branch offices in Dubai and Algeria, we are securing our strategic international orientation," says Kari Kapsch, CEO Kapsch CarrierCom. The production of central GSM-R systems was relocated from China to Vienna. In this way, Kapsch CarrierCom is significantly increasing delivery certainty and making optimum use of synergies within the Kapsch Group. In fiscal 2011/2012, many notable rail companies decided in favor of the new 3GPP-Release 4 Voice Core technology developed by Kapsch CarrierCom. Amongst them are Deutsche Bahn and Iarnród Éireann from Ireland.
Kapsch BusinessCom establishes itself as ICT service partner in Central and Eastern Europe
As the leading system integrator for ICT solutions in Austria and CEE, Kapsch BusinessCom increased turnover by 8 percent to EUR 251.6 million last year. "With the expanded presence in Romania, Kapsch BusinessCom is continuing the chosen growth strategy in the CEE region," underscores Franz Semmernegg, CEO Kapsch BusinessCom. "We had a very successful end to the first year of the five-year growth strategy". Strategic partnerships with Apple and Google are enabling the use of extended technologies for existing customers. In the operating area, interesting projects were concluded with Mediaprint, Elin and the OMV subsidiary Gas Connect Austria.
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Kapsch is one of the most successful technology companies in Austria, with global importance in the future markets of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Railway and Public Operator Telecommunications as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The three core companies Kapsch TrafficCom, Kapsch CarrierCom and Kapsch BusinessCom belong to the Kapsch Group. As a family company with headquarters in Vienna, Kapsch has stood for the consistent development and implementation of new technologies to the benefit of its customers for more than 100 years. With a variety of innovative solutions and services, Kapsch makes an important contribution to the responsible shaping of a mobile and networked world. The companies of the Kapsch Group employ around 5,000 people in their worldwide branch offices and representative offices.