Bonnier released their 2022 earnings, reporting sales at the Bonnier Books division of SEK 7.4 billion ($736 million), growing 13.7 percent over their record 2021 results. EBITDA was SEK 385 million, down from SEK 573 million last year, as “margins were squeezed by, among other things, rising paper prices.” Audio subscription service BookBeat grew to more than 700,000 subscribers. CEO Erik Haegerstrand said, “We can be quite satisfied with the financial results for 2022. The financial results for 2022 exemplified the advantage and security of having diversified operations, which reported relatively stable earnings overall. But our growth and earnings must […]
Earnings Reports
For the Record: Paramount Still Selling S&S
While Paramount Global did not mention their book publishing division during their investor call on Thursday, the 10-K filed with the SEC later in the day officially reaffirms yet again their plans to sell: “Simon & Schuster remains a noncore asset as it does not fit strategically within our video-based portfolio. We expect to enter into a new agreement to sell Simon & Schuster in 2023. Assuming that we do so, closing would be subject to closing conditions that would include regulatory approval.” The termination fee paid by Bertelsmann and Penguin Random House following the expiration of their original purchase […]
Storytel Gains 22 Percent in 2022, Suspends Guidance
Swedish streaming company Storytel released their official year-end earnings report after a brief quarterly update in January, with net sales up 22 percent in 2022 to SEK3.2 billion ($293 million), due to the acquisition of Audiobooks.com, organic growth, and positive foreign exchange. Operating loss was SEK(389) million compared to SEK(350) million last year. The company said that expenses in the period include the purchase of Audiobooks.com, a strategic shift and reorganization in the beginning of the year “to focus on profitable growth”, and an SEK8.3 million severance payment to former ceo Jonas Tellander. EBITDA was SEK(56.5) million. In personnel news, […]
Simon & Schuster Celebrates Record Year
As was clearly in the works but is now official, Simon & Schuster is celebrating an “extraordinary, stratospheric” and record year — “the greatest year in the history of Simon & Schuster” — far exceeding $1 billion in sales for the first time ever and capping a three-year run of record results. Sales were a big $1.177 billion, up 18.5 percent, and operating income hit $248 million, up 16 percent. Those numbers compare to sales of $993 million in 2021, when operating income was $213 million. In 2020, also a record at the time, sales were $901 million and operating […]
Lagardere Publishing Gains on Acquisitions and FX, Falls on Comp Basis
Lagardere reported fourth quarter and full-year results on Wednesday after the market close in Paris. Sales at Lagardere Publishing were €752 million for the fourth quarter, down €20 million compared to the previous year, a 2.6 percent decline overall (and down 8.1 percent on a like for like basis). Foreign exchange provided a €21 million boost during the quarter due to the stronger US dollar (though was held back slightly by the declining British pound) while recent acquisitions added €23 million to sales. For the full year, sales rose €150 million to €2.748 billion — also due to a combination […]
Indigo’s Holiday Sales Offset Soft Start to the Quarter
Indigo reported fiscal third quarter earnings at the close of trading yesterday, one day after experiencing a cyber incident on Wednesday that continues to shut down the company’s website and all electronic in-store sales. Sales were $422.7 million, down 1.9 percent from $430.7 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA was $40.8 million, down from $52.0 million, due to inflation, increased supply chain costs, and the company’s “investment to support modernized ecommerce technology.” Holiday sales offset a quieter start to the quarter, as consumers were cautious with spending and waited for Black Friday deals. Net earnings were $34.3 million, compared to $45.1 […]