The move follows a successful 2011 for the business as Axis Communications announces its end of year figures including net sales of over GB pound 335 million and a 33% growth in local currencies.
With market research company Key Note forecasting that the UK’s CCTV market will rise in value by 30.1% between 2012 and 2016 (and with significant growth from 2013 onwards), Axis’ new headquarters in Watford, Hertfordshire is ideally located to support not only UK-based installers and end users of IP-based surveillance but also those throughout the rest of the region and further afield.
One of the main features of the new headquarters is a state-of-the-art demonstration suite designed to showcase Axis Communications’ range of video solutions and offer demonstrations and product training in a classroom environment for partners and customers.
Phil Doyle, regional director for Northern Europe at Axis Communications, said: “Following a strong 2011 for the company and a promising start to 2012, this move comes at exactly the right time for our team. The new premises not only reflect the recent strong growth of IP-based surveillance in the market, but also provide a fantastic platform for our future expansion plans.”
Recruiting new team members
Doyle is already recruiting seven new positions for this base, with Watford seen as an ideal location to support the company’s growth ambitions as it provides “excellent national and international transport links”.
He continued: “The new headquarters has also allowed us to really focus on educating the end users of CCTV as they migrate to IP, demonstrating improved image quality and usability in a range of applications.”
In conclusion, Doyle explained: “We selected Watford as the location for the new office as it’s so easily accessible, and we welcome our customers dropping in to take advantage of this investment.”
A key feature of the new premises is its purpose-built training facility which will allow Axis to deliver its highly successful partner training and certification courses. The facility can be adapted to accommodate up to 80 visitors.
2011 success down to “competitive portfolio”
Axis Communications puts its success during 2011 down to its competitive portfolio but also its global organisatio. The new Northern Europe headquarters will further support the company’s expansion in 2012 and beyond.
In terms of the year end report for 2011, the results look like this…
The fourth quarter
- Net sales increased during the fourth quarter by 20% to SEK 1 051 M (875). Net sales increased by 22% in local currencies.
- Operating profit increased to SEK 192 M (125), which corresponds to an operating margin of 18.3% (14.3).
- Profit after tax amounted to SEK 134 M (90).
- Earnings per share amounted to SEK 1.93 (1.29).
January-December
- Net sales during the year amounted to SEK 3,578 M (2,933), corresponding to growth of 22%. Net sales increased by 33% in local currencies.
- Operating profit increased to SEK 633 M (415), which corresponds to an operating margin of 17.7% (14.1).
- Profit after tax amounted to SEK 456 M (300).
- Earnings per share amounted to SEK 6.56 (4.32).
The Board proposes a dividend of SEK 5.50 of which SEK 3.25 is an extra dividend (SEK 4.50 of which SEK 3.00 was an extra dividend).
President Ray Mauritsson commented: “We completed a successful year in the fourth quarter by passing SEK 1 billion in sales for the first time during a single quarter. The impact on sales of the floods in Thailand was much lower than expected after successful efforts to relocate production, among other things.”
He added: “The sales increase of 33% in local currencies for the full-year 2011 means we estimate that we captured market shares in the rapidly growing global network video market. This trend is due to our competitive product portfolio as well as the global expansion of our sales organisation.”