Business News
Atex Powers into 2009
Tuesday 24. February 2009 - - Atex completes 2008 with fourth consecutive profitable year and continues apace with major new sales through January 2009 - Atex demonstrates commitment to the media industry with highest level of media software R&D investment
Atex, the worlds largest and longest serving provider of print and digital solutions for media companies, announced today that it has achieved its fourth consecutive year of profitability. Over the last six months, Atex realised significant growth in its digital business, with major sales to global media companies looking for innovative technologies to help generate new revenues and reduce costs. In addition, Atex is off to a strong start to 2009 with continued success in both its core and digital applications.
Atex has secured major new clients from around the globe, including Fairfax New Zealand, A.H. Belo Corporation, Il Sole 24 Ore, Gruppo Editoriale Espresso, Gulf News, Segodnya, SEAT Pagine Gialle, AiF, Diarios Associados, Editora Verdes Mares and Ekonimka I Zhizn, amongst many others.
Recently Atex has invested heavily in Web technologies, recognising the trends in the industry and the increasing demands from clients to transform their operations. With the acquisition of Web CMS vendor Polopoly, investments in text mining, and the global formation of a digital sales team, Atex is continuing to innovate and deliver solutions for global multi-channel operations. The Atex DNA (Digital News and Advertising) initiative is at the forefront of its customers digital transformation.
As a result of these efforts, Atex today is better positioned than ever, as a single strategic partner to its customers for all media software requirements. In a recessionary environment, Atex grew market share. Comparing yearly like for like sales in 2008, Atex revenues have increased 1%, whilst operating profit is up 7%. In addition, Atex continues to focus on media software R&D with an annual investment of $19.1m, the highest level in the industry.
“In the future the notions of content, readership and advertising will be integrated, with the knowledge of the consumer dictating both the content they receive and the advertising messages”, says Jim Chisholm, Joint Principal of iMedia Advisory Services. “Our industrys employees are going to have to learn that the traditional barriers between these three components have disappeared, and they are going to require holistic systems that bring them together in a single environment. Through DNA, Atex with their experience across all three areas, are well placed to deliver this.”
Most recently, Atex has implemented editorial solutions at Hürriyet, the most prestigious newspaper in Turkey; rolled out the latest advertising solutions at the Columbus Dispatch; and won new business at Newsday with the Atex Polopoly Web CMS solution. Atex continues to set the benchmark for delivering solutions that map directly to real world customer needs.
As a partner of the World Association of Newspapers with the Shaping the Future of Newspapers (SFN) project, Atex is committed to working with customers and prospects alike to meet, exchange and identify solutions that can drive new business opportunities and operational efficiencies. In doing so, Atex is helping clients to redefine their strategy in this changing economic environment.
“2008 was a strong year for Atex, we are very pleased with the level of engagement that we have with our clients, we continue to be the voice of reason in this challenging time”, said John Hawkins, Group CEO at Atex. “Unlike many others in this industry, he continued, we are global, financially strong, and work with our clients to address all their technology and business requirements.”