Edita’s Finnish operations accounted for EUR 68.2 million (EUR 65.6 million), and operations in Sweden EUR 41.6 million (EUR 23.1 million), of total net revenue. Edita’s equity-to-assets ratio was 31.1 percent (36.7 percent), and it employed an average of 896 (705) staff. Edita’s financial statements for 2008 have been prepared in compliance with IFRS standards.

Edita’s gross capital expenditure in 2008 totaled EUR 37.7 million (EUR 5.6 million). The most important capital expenditure item during the year was the purchase of the Swedish company Citat Group AB in July. Citat Group is Sweden’s largest producer of printed and electronic marketing communications. As a result of this transaction, Edita became the biggest marketing communications producer in the Nordic region. The operations of the Swedish companies constitute 37 percent of Edita’s total net revenue and the operations of the Finnish companies 63 percent. In January 2008, Edita strengthened its direct marketing production and expertise by acquiring the Swedish company Arkpressen i Västerås AB, a specialist in the production of direct marketing and advertising materials, and the Finnish company Käpylä Print Oy, which also specializes in these fields.

Profit remained solid

After a very good first half of 2008, Edita’s performance was later slowed by the global economic downturn and weakening market towards the end of the year. The level of profit was also burdened by the various corporate transactions.

Edita's CEO and President Timo Lepistö says: “Taking into account the weakening market and the costs of our acquisitions, Edita's profit remained solid in 2008. As Edita has expanded into the international arena, our shift in strategic focus from the printing business towards the broader concept of communications production has given the company a strong basis for continued growth as an innovative communications group."

Edita’s business areas in 2008 comprised Marketing Services, Publishing and Print & Distribution. With the acquisition of Citat Group AB, Edita established a fourth business area – Editorial Communication – on
January 1, 2009. This business area specializes in editorial communication for all channels, from magazines and websites to sound and vision.

One thing that is common to all our business areas is Edita's customer pledge: we help our customers reach their goals by providing efficient communication solutions through services and systems that contribute to cost-effective marketing communication that supports their daily business.

Progressive stance in environmental protection

In 2008, Edita’s Swedish production facilities, Edita Västra Aros AB and Edita Bobergs AB, achieved climate-neutral status as measured in terms of carbon-dioxide emissions. The same target has also been set for the Finnish production plants. Other advances during the year included: the start of extensive environmental training for Edita’s personnel, Edita Prima Oy switching over completely to green electricity and Edita Västra Aros AB receiving the right to use the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label on printed products. The FSC label guarantees that paper used in Edita Västra Aros AB printed products has been made from raw materials procured from forests that are well managed ecologically, socially and economically. Similar systems will be introduced at the other Edita production plants during 2009.

Further information: Timo Lepistö, CEO, tel. +358 40 860 2355.