Eutelsat Com Regulatory News (ETL)

16 Oct 2006 11:03

Eurotunnel PLC/Eurotunnel S.A.16 October 2006 16 October 2006 For immediate release Further growth for Eurotunnel activity during the third quarter of 2006 • Revenue reaches £149.5 million (+7%) • Revenue from Shuttle activities up 12% • Volume increases in both car and truck traffic Eurotunnel saw strong growth in activities during the third quarter of 2006,compared to the same period in 2005, with total revenue up by 7% to £149.5million, mainly as a result of good performance from Shuttle services. This success underlines the impact of the company's, now firmly established, newcommercial and operational policy. It is also the result of the efforts ofEurotunnel's staff to maintain and further improve the quality of servicedelivery. Compared to 2005, the numbers of trucks and cars carried haveincreased, as have those of Eurostar passengers. The fire on a truck being carried on a Freight Shuttle, on 21 August, did notaffect the summer's performance. Thanks to the efforts of the operational teams,and in contrast to the experience of 1996, operations were completely back tonormal in just over 24 hours. Jacques Gounon, Eurotunnel Chairman and Chief Executive, said: "I would like tothank our customers for their loyalty and our teams for their commitment. Theyhave enabled us to achieve remarkable performance levels this summer. Thesesuccesses must nevertheless be viewed in a context which remains worrying: it ismy responsibility to point out that Eurotunnel cannot continue much longer onthis course, unless the very serious uncertainty which weighs on its future isremoved. Only a vote in favour of the Safeguard plan, which will be put tocreditors before the end of the month, can remove this uncertainty. Revenue Eurotunnel's revenue, which results from transport and non-transport activities,totalled £149.5 million for the third quarter of 2006. At constant exchangerates, this represents a 7% increase over the same period in the previous year. Shuttle services - Eurotunnel's core activities - are the principal drivers ofthis growth. Revenue from these activities grew by 12% to £87.3 million. • During this key period, when passenger flows are high, the Passenger service made a significant contribution to performance: the new pricing policy is now adapted to market evolution, enabling it to attract and secure the loyalty of customers in the higher-yielding segments. Furthermore, the third quarter of 2006 saw a significant increase in continental traffic travelling to the UK. • The Truck service, in a business which is generally quieter during the summer, is showing the benefit of the restoration of direct control by Eurotunnel over the sales network. Revenues from the Railways increased slightly (+2%, to £59.8 million). Theyinclude payments under the Minimum Usage Charge, which represented £15.4 millionfor the period; this arrangement will cease at the end of November 2006. Revenuefrom non-transport activities remains marginal, with a decrease due to anon-recurring item recorded during the summer of 2005. Revenue 3rd quarter 2006 3rd quarter 2005 Change un-audited* restated* 2006/05 £ millionShuttle services 87.3 77.5 +12 %Railways 59.8 58.5 +2%Transport activities 147.1 136.0 +8%Non transport activities 2.4 4.1 -41%Revenue 149.5 140.1 +7% \* The exchange rate for the year to 30 September 2006 and for the restated yearto 30 September 2005 is £1 = €1.453 Traffic Eurotunnel's quality of service and the speed, ease and reliability of itstransport system, have led many customers to choose to travel with the companyduring the summer. The number of trucks transported on Eurotunnel's Freight Shuttle serviceincreased by 4%, to 305,850. In a market that has been in decline for some time, Eurotunnel's PassengerShuttles carried 625,862 cars (+3%) and 17,295 coaches (-11%). Eurotunnel Shuttle traffic 3rd quarter 3rd quarter Change 2006 2005 2006/05 Truck Shuttles 305,850 295,230 +4%Passenger Shuttles Cars* 625,862 609,357 +3% Coaches 17,295 19,443 -11% * Including motorcycles, vehicles with trailers, caravans and camper vans. Railways activity increased substantially during the summer months. 2,152,063 people chose to travel through the tunnel by Eurostar this summer,representing a 10% increase over the same period in 2005, during which trafficgrowth slowed following attacks on London. Trains operated by the Railways carried 371,910 tonnes of freight in the thirdquarter of 2006, 3% more than in 2005. Despite this progression, traffic levelsremain very much lower than the original forecasts and below the capacity of theChannel Tunnel. Railways traffic 3rd quarter 3rd quarter Change 2006 2005 2006/05 Eurostar* 2,152,063 1,959,271 +10%passengersRailfreight trains 371,910 362,431 +3%(SNCF / EWS) tonnes * The number of Eurostar passengers included in this table is that of passengerstravelling through the Tunnel and excluding those who take the Eurostar betweenParis-Calais and Brussels-Lille. No 995/2006 For media enquiries contact John Keefe on + 44 (0) 1303 284 491.Email: John.keefe@eurotunnel.com For investor enquiries contact Michael Schuller on + 44 (0) 1303 288 749.Email: michael.schuller@eurotunnel.com www.eurotunnel.com Eurotunnel manages the infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel and operatesaccompanied truck shuttle and passenger shuttle (car and coach) services betweenFolkestone, UK and Calais, France. Eurotunnel also earns toll revenue fromtrain operators (Eurostar for rail passengers, and EWS and SNCF for railfreight) which use the Tunnel. Eurotunnel is quoted in London, Paris andBrussels. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange