Blaming “difficult markets” – not to mention the absence of any Harry Potter title – Bloomsbury’s sales and profits declined considerably in the first half of 2009. Sales dropped 25% in the UK to £22.2m, and profit fell almost 50% to £1.7m, though Bloomsbury’s specialist publishing business saw sales growth of 34%, overtaking its children’s business in size for the first time. Revenue for the first six months was £35.3m compared to £42.1m in 2008. Profit before investment income and amortisation of intangible assets was £1.2m, compared with £3.5m a year earlier. Bloomsbury’s adult trade business saw sales fall 20% […]