Atea came out of 2003 even stronger
2/12/2004 5:31 AM EST
Press Release - Stockholm, 12 February 2004
Atea, the Nordic region's leading one-stop supplier of IT products and
related services, has during the fourth quarter 2003 improved the result
by 20 percent before taxes compared with the same period in 2002. The
result for the financial year was affected by the general terms of the
market, e.g. prices declining by 20 percent in average.
Turnover for the fourth quarter amounted to SEK 1,457 million (SEK
1,451m fourth quarter 2002). The operating profit (EBITA) was SEK 42
million (SEK 39m) and the pre-tax profit SEK 30 million (SEK 25m).
Total turnover for 2003 amounted to SEK 4,917 million (SEK 6,062m in
2002). The operating profit (EBITA) was SEK 77 million (SEK 107m), and
the pre-tax profit amounted to SEK 39 million (SEK 65m).
"Our Nordic market was characterised in 2003 by restructuring and
consolidation, with a number of large outsourcing contracts and
considerable pressure on prices. Prices have fallen by approximately 20
percent, due partly to the IT products that we sell being quoted in US
dollars, and that the dollar has declined in value against the Nordic
currencies", says Thomas Keifer, CEO of Atea.
"Despite this situation, and through an efficiency and cost-savings
programme, broader service content in our deliveries combined with a
very strong fourth quarter, we have succeeded in achieving satisfactory
results in view of prevailing circumstances", says Thomas Keifer. He
continues:
"Furthermore, we could feel in the fourth quarter that large companies
and organisations had started to invest again after three years of
biding their time. Compared with the same period last year, we grew by
about 23 percent in the corporate market in the fourth quarter, while
the market grew by 17 percent according to IT-research".
During the year, Atea continued its investment in strategic growth areas
such as server and data storage solutions and security solutions through
the acquisition of System Platforms from WM-data and the acquisition of
the security company Atremo.
In Sweden, which is the Company's principal market, Atea has been very
successful within the public sector with a number of new and interesting
customers, as well as good growth within strategically important areas.
Growth in services, Atea Value Chain, was 82 percent in total. Volume
growth within IT equipment and infrastructure was 56 percent for
stationary computers and 24 percent for servers.
Operations in Denmark continued to develop positively in 2003 with an
increase in both market share and margins. Atea Denmark doubled its
service sales within Atea Value Chain, increased sales of IT products by
a total of 18 percent, and obtained 87 new customers.
In Norway, Atea has well-balanced operations in relation to market
developments, and Atea has maintained sales levels and increased its
market share.
Atea Finland was significantly affected by outsourcing trends, but has
partially compensated lower volumes through new customers and by
developing business with existing customers. Atea has had considerable
success in Finland within consolidation projects, server and data
storage solutions, and migration to new platforms.
Atea is the leading Nordic company within sales, distribution and
integration of IT products and IT infrastructure. Atea's business
concept is to simplify and rationalise customers' management of IT
products throughout the entire life cycle.
The Atea group (Atea Holding AB) was legally formed on 1 October 2001,
and is owned by
WM-data, the international venture capital company 3i, as well as the
management of Atea. The CEO is Thomas Keifer. Atea employs about 700
people in the Nordic region, and turnover in 2003 amounted to
SEK 4,917 million.
www.atea.com
For further information, please contact:
Atea
Thomas Keifer, CEO
Tel: +46 (0)733-98 00 06
E-mail:
Atea
Tomas Kihlstrand, CFO
Tel: +46 (0)733-98 58 51
E-mail:
Atea
Johan Scherlin, Marketing and Information
Tel: +46 (0)733-98 43 10
E-mail: