EARNINGS : ATV Systems Rebounds With Final Quarter Profits

Rebounding from 1984’s worst-ever performance, ATV Systems Inc. posted profits of $467,000 in the final quarter of fiscal 1985 compared with a $32.3 million loss in the year-earlier period.

The Santa Ana maker of computer systems for restaurants had net earnings of $1.3 million gain for all of its fiscal 1985, which ended March 31, compared to a loss of $31.6 million for fiscal 1984.

ATV officials said about half of the 1985 annual loss came from continuing operations and attributed the remainder to one-time charges associated with the sale of non-performing subsidiaries.

Because the company sold several subsidiaries, revenues for 1985, ended March 31, fell 44% to $30.8 million from the $54.8 million recorded a year earlier. Fourth quarter revenues in 1985 were $5 million, 23% below the $6.5 million posted last year.

ATV President Douglas O’Connor attributed the dramatic turn around to “a massive adjustment in costs and staffing” as well as a sharper focus on the company’s primary business of serving the restaurant industry.

Between June 1984 and June 1985, the company trimmed its work force from 799 employees to 217. Nearly 370 of the original workers left ATV when it sold its computer service subsidiary.

“The company you see now has a very different character than the company you saw a year ago,” O’Connor said.