Jungfrau Railway Group with record result

With an operating revenue of 147.8 million francs, the Jungfrau Railway Group recorded the highest revenue in its history. This growth was reached mainly in the business with Asian guests. Some 765,000 people visited the Jungfraujoch–Top of Europe in 2011, thus significantly exceeding the previous visitor record. The Jungfrau Railway Group’s strategy of intensifying its global marketing activities has clearly paid off.

In the winter-sport business segment, the Jungfrau Railway Group recorded a revenue of 23.5 million francs, equivalent to a drop of 8.2 per cent in comparison to the previous year. The winter-sport business suffered the effects of the weak Euro and in addition, a period of warm weather set in in March 2011. Late snowfall meant that the 2011/2012 winter season could first start on 17 December 2011.

The experience mountains segment, comprising excursion traffic to the Harder Kulm, First and Winteregg-Mürren, was also adversely affected by the exchange-rate situation. Nevertheless, the Jungfrau Railway Group achieved a satisfying result in 2011. It was able to increase the revenue of the experience mountains business segment by 4.7 per cent to 8.7 million francs.

The Jungfrau Railway Group can look back on a year during which it made above average investments. A total of 45 million francs was invested in the modernisation of facilities and the expansion of offers. The production plant of the Lütschental power station was renewed. A 912 metre-long double-track rail section was put into operation above Wengen. The company also invested in the winter-sport segment with additional snowmaking facilities and took over the Lauberhorn chairlift. On the Jungfraujoch, the Jungfrau Railway Group constructed a 250-metre-long experience tunnel, which was opened on 30 March 2012.

The Annual General Meeting of the Jungfrau Railway Group will be held in Interlaken on 14 May 2012. The Executive Board will submit two proposals, which together will result in a dividend equivalent to 2.30 francs per share. It will be proposed to raise the dividend to 1.80 francs, an increase of 20 centimes on the previous year. It will also be proposed that shareholders receive an option to the value of 0.50 francs per share. This is to be financed by the withholding-tax-free reduction of share capital through reduction of the nominal value. The precise conditions of the subscription-right programme will be published after expiry of the statutory deadlines for the reduction of the share capital; probably at the end of July 2012.

Paul von Allmen, member of the Jungfraubahn Holding AG Executive Board, will not be standing for re-election at the coming Annual General Meeting. The Wengen hotelier and long-term member of the Bern Cantonal Parliament joined the Executive Board in 1981.

The Jungfraubahn Holding AG Executive Board will propose the election of Nils Graf as the successor to Paul von Allmen. Nils Graf is 56 years old and owns a construction business in Wengen.

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