News

« Headlines

'Lively' sales at Hachette US

08.11.07 Alison Flood

Lagardère has singled out its US publishing division Hachette Book Group USA for praise, pointing to the "lively pace" of its revenues over the first nine months of the year. Revenues for Lagardère's publishing division rose 7.1% to E1,545m over the nine months to end-September, thanks to the inclusion of an extra quarter of sales from the Time Warner Book Group which in 2006 was consolidated from 1st April.

On a like-for-like basis, revenues for the publishing division for the first nine months of 2007 rose by 3.0%, compared with a 1.7% increase in the first six months of the year.

Lagardère said growth at HBGUSA was driven by best-sellers (including Baldacci, Hitchens and Meyer) and by a solid performance from its back catalogue.

In Spain, it said there was a marked increase in sales in the education segment. Education sales also rose sharply in France, in both primary and secondary and also in distance learning. Lagardère added that illustrated books (including Hachette practical guides, children’s fiction and tourist guides) also performed well, as did distribution.

The UK, meanwhile, was singled out for strong part-works sales.

Looking ahead to the final quarter of the year, Lagardère said that the outlook is good, particularly for its US activities. But it added: "The growth rate, though satisfactory, is unlikely to match the level reached in the third quarter."

Overall, Lagardère's consolidated revenues for the nine month period amounted to E6,213.9m, an increase of 7.1% on a reported basis and 2.5% on a like-for-like basis.

 

Hachette time warner Lagardere Alison Flood Results

See Also