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BMY Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

536.00
-20.00 (-3.60%)
25 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc LSE:BMY London Ordinary Share GB0033147751 ORD 1.25P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  -20.00 -3.60% 536.00 534.00 540.00 556.00 532.00 556.00 85,599 16:35:20
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Books: Pubg, Pubg & Printing 264.1M 20.24M 0.2497 21.31 431.23M

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Final Results (4811F)

18/05/2017 7:01am

UK Regulatory


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RNS Number : 4811F

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

18 May 2017

BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING PLC

("Bloomsbury" or the "Group")

Audited Preliminary Results for the year ended 28 February 2017

Bloomsbury today announces audited results for the year ended 28 February 2017.

Financial Highlights

 
 --   Revenues grew by 15% to GBP142.6 million 
       (2016: GBP123.7 million) 
 --   Profit before taxation and highlighted items* 
       of GBP12.0 million (2016: GBP13.0 million), 
       above market expectations 
 --   Final dividend of 5.6p per share making a 
       total dividend of 6.7p per share for the 
       year (2016: 6.4p per share) 
 --   Diluted earnings per share, excluding highlighted 
       items, were 12.63p (2016: 15.24p) 
 --   Strong cash generation with net cash of GBP15.5m 
       at 28 February 2017 (2016: GBP5.2m) 
 

Operational Highlights

Consumer division

 
 --   The Consumer division, consisting of Adult 
       and Children's trade publishing, had an exceptional 
       year, due primarily to an excellent Children's 
       performance. Revenue increased 28% to GBP85.4m 
       (2016: GBP66.4m) and operating profit before 
       highlighted items increased by 33% to GBP7.9m 
       (2016: GBP6.0m) 
 
 
 --   Children's 
 
 
 o   Revenue for the year increased by 48% 
      to GBP55.9m (2016: GBP37.7m) 
 o   Sales of the Harry Potter series in the 
      year grew by 88%, including Harry Potter 
      and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated 
      Edition. 
 o   Sales of Sarah J. Maas grew by 87% globally, 
      including A Court of Mist and Fury, which 
      was number one on the New York Times Young 
      Adult bestseller list 
 o   Neil Gaiman reached number one in The 
      Sunday Times fiction bestseller list with 
      Norse Mythology 
 
 
 --   Adult division 
 
 
 o   Revenue increased by 3% year on year to 
      GBP29.5m (2016: GBP28.7m) 
 o   Highlights include William Boyd's Sweet 
      Caress, Celia Imrie's Nice Work if You 
      Can Get It, Hannah Rothschild's Improbability 
      of Love and Natasha Pulley's The Watchmaker 
      of Filigree Street 
 o   The cookery list continues to perform 
      well, notably Tom Kerridge's Dopamine 
      Diet which reached number one on The Sunday 
      Times non-fiction bestseller list, and 
      Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons by Raymond 
      Blanc 
 

Non-Consumer division

 
 --   The Non-Consumer division, consisting of 
       Academic & Professional, Special Interest 
       and Content Services, generated revenues 
       of GBP57.2m (2016: GBP57.3m) and operating 
       profit before highlighted items of GBP4.1m 
       (2016: GBP7.1m). Profits were affected by 
       the end of the term of the Qatar contract 
       and investment in the Bloomsbury 2020 digital 
       resources growth strategy 
 
 
 --   Progress on Bloomsbury 2020 digital resources 
       growth strategy 
 
 
 o   As planned, four new digital resources 
      were launched: Fairchild Books Library, 
      The Fashion Photography Archive, Arcadian 
      Library and Bloomsbury Popular Music 
 o   Digital resources revenues grew by 50% 
      to GBP3.9 million (2016: GBP2.6 million) 
 o   Strong pipeline with three new resources 
      to be launched over the next year: The 
      Bloomsbury Design Library, The Bloomsbury 
      Food Library and Bloomsbury Cultural History 
 
 
 --   Strong list for the year ahead 
 
 
 o   Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and 
      the Prisoner of Azkaban and the Illustrated 
      Edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where 
      to Find Them 
 o   A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Mass 
 o   The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas 
      Murray 
 o   Breaking Mad by Anna Williamson 
 

Commenting on the results, Nigel Newton, Chief Executive, said:

"This has been a very strong year for Bloomsbury with excellent revenue growth in all our territories. Our children's publishing, in particular, had an exceptional year, delivering double digit revenue growth for the fourth year in a row.

We are very pleased also at the impact of our trade publishing, having had two simultaneous number one bestsellers in February- Tom Kerridge's Dopamine Diet topping The Sunday Times non-fiction bestseller list and Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology the fiction list. This was followed by George Saunders' extraordinary and brilliant novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, going to Number 1 on the Evening Standard bestseller list in March. The way we publish all three books reflects the significant success of our trade publishing

We have also made substantial progress in delivery of our Bloomsbury 2020 digital resource strategy. We completed a new platform to host our digital resources and launched four new major resources during the year. It was particularly encouraging to see digital resource revenues exceeding expectations, increasing 50% year-on-year.

We are well-placed for the coming year. We are launching three further major digital resources, as planned, and have an exciting publishing list from new and existing authors."

* Highlighted items comprise amortisation of acquired intangible assets and other one-off significant non-cash charges and major one-off initiatives including legal and other professional costs relating to acquisitions and restructuring costs.

For further information, please contact:

 
                                     +44 (0) 20 3772 
 Daniel de Belder, Bell Pottinger     2500 
----------------------------------  ---------------- 
 Nigel Newton, Chief Executive,      +44 (0) 20 7494 
  Bloomsbury Publishing Plc           6015 
----------------------------------  ---------------- 
 

Forward-looking statements: Statements contained in this Annual Results Announcement are based on the knowledge and information available to the Company's directors at the date it was prepared and therefore the facts stated and views expressed may change after that date. By their nature, the statements concerning the risks and uncertainties facing the Company in this Annual Results Announcement involve uncertainty since future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. To the extent that this Annual Results Announcement contains any statement dealing with any time after the date of its preparation such statement is merely predictive and speculative as it relates to events and circumstances which are yet to occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Bloomsbury has had a year of strong progress - with excellent revenue growth and good strategic development through investment in the Bloomsbury 2020 digital resources growth strategy. Book sales, and print in particular, continue to be resilient in spite of political and economic uncertainty.

Bloomsbury achieved excellent revenue growth of 15% for the year ending 28 February 2017 (9% at constant currencies) resulting in total revenues of GBP142.6 million (2016: GBP123.7 million). Profit before tax and highlighted items was GBP12.0 million (2016: GBP13.0 million), GBP1.0 million below the prior year in line with the guidance we gave in May 2016 to reflect our GBP0.6 million investment in the Bloomsbury 2020 digital resources growth strategy and also the end of the seven year term of the Qatar Foundation contract in December 2015.

During the year revenues generated by each of Bloomsbury's four territorial offices grew. The Group's ambitious plans to grow in Australia, announced in July 2016, saw Bloomsbury Australia grow revenues by 50% (26% at constant currencies) from GBP7.0 million to GBP10.5 million. Revenues in Bloomsbury India grew 46% (30% at constant currencies) and the business made an operating profit for the first time. 61% of Bloomsbury's sales now originate from customers outside the UK (2016: 54%).

Book sales grew by 18% year on year to GBP133.3 million, with digital sales, included in this total, increasing by 7% to GBP16.0 million. Digital growth was driven by strong sales of digital resources. Rights and services revenues were GBP9.3 million (2016: GBP10.6 million), being 7% of total Group revenues compared to 9% in the previous year.

The Consumer division and Children's publishing in particular delivered an excellent performance, with its fourth year in a row of double digit revenue growth. The Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling and illustrated by Jim Kay was a major international seller. Book sales in the Non-Consumer division grew by 5% but, as expected, the division saw a reduction in rights and services revenues following the end of the term of the Qatar contract and last year's strong rights performance.

A key strategic focus in 2016/17 was the Bloomsbury 2020 digital resources growth strategy. During the year we built a new platform to host our digital resources. Our programme is on schedule, with two resources launched onto the new platform. We are encouraged that digital resources revenues exceeded our expectation, growing by 50% year on year to GBP3.9 million. Our guidance on future investment and returns for this growth strategy is unchanged.

Due to the strong trading in the year, the Group was able to make a bonus provision of GBP1.0 million (2016: Nil).

Highlighted items of GBP2.6 million (2016: GBP2.7 million) include GBP1.7 million (2016: GBP1.8 million) of amortisation of acquired intangible assets. Other highlighted items in this period of GBP0.9 million are primarily as a result of the strategic restructuring of the US operation.

The effective rate of tax for the year was 22% compared to 6% for the year ended 29 February 2016. The rate last year was low as it included the utilisation of previously unrecognised tax losses and a double tax relief benefit.

Diluted earnings per share, excluding highlighted items, were 12.63 pence (2016: 15.24 pence). Total diluted earnings per share for the year were 9.81 pence compared to 12.93 pence in 2016.

Cash generation was strong with cash and cash equivalents net of bank overdraft of GBP15.5 million at 28 February 2017 (2016: GBP5.2 million). Our focus on working capital continues - stock has reduced by 5% or GBP1.3 million year on year, using constant currencies. We are working to achieve a similar stock reduction in the new financial year. Our strategic priority for cash is organic investment to grow and enhance our existing business. Including capital expenditure, during the year we invested an additional GBP1.5 million of cash in Bloomsbury 2020.

Another strategic priority for cash is the growth of our dividend. The Group has a progressive dividend policy while aiming to keep dividend earnings cover in excess of two. Investment in Bloomsbury 2020 is leading to earnings cover falling below that level in the short-term, but the dividend is underpinned by strong cash cover. The Board has committed during this period of investment to maintain its progressive dividend policy on the basis that earnings cover will improve as the return on Bloomsbury 2020 accrues. The Directors are therefore recommending a final dividend of 5.6 pence per share, which subject to shareholder approval at our AGM on 18 July 2017, will be paid on 20 September 2017 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 25 August 2017. Together with the interim dividend, this makes a total dividend for the year ended 28 February 2017 of 6.7 pence per share, a 5% increase on the 6.4 pence dividend for the year ended 29 February 2016. Including the full year dividend increase, over the past twelve years the dividend has increased steadily at a compound annual growth rate of 7%.

Consumer division

The Consumer division, which consists of Adult and Children's trade publishing, has had an exceptional year, significantly due to an excellent Children's performance. Revenue for the division increased by 28% to GBP85.4 million (2016: GBP66.4 million). Operating profit before highlighted items increased by 33% to GBP7.9 million (2016: GBP6.0 million). There was good revenue growth in all territories; 23% in Australia, 17% in the US, 55% in India and 21% in the UK (all at constant currencies).

The division won many important awards, notably the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award for The Man Who Knew, a biography of Alan Greenspan by Sebastian Mallaby; and Bloomsbury Children's Books became the first publisher in 50 years to win both the Carnegie and Greenaway Medals for One by Sarah Crossan and Chris Riddell for illustrating The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman. The Children's team were shortlisted for the Independent Publishers Guild Children's Publisher of the Year and the British Book Awards Children's Publisher of the Year. These awards recognise the high standard and quality of our authors and illustrators and support our strategy to focus on acquiring global commercial rights, targeted and strategic marketing and brand management of our major authors.

Children's revenues increased by 48% to GBP55.9 million (2016: GBP37.7 million). Operating profit before highlighted items increased by 44% to GBP7.6 million (2016: GBP5.3 million). Sales of Harry Potter titles grew by 88% in the year. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition was published to great acclaim in October 2016. We sold rights to Jim Kay's Harry Potter illustrations, in which we control world rights, in 30 languages. The film tie-in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Newt Scamander: A Movie Scrapbook sold well following the release of the film, the first of five, in November 2016. Sales of Sarah J. Maas titles grew by 87% year on year. A Court of Mist and Fury, the second book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, was number one on the New York Times Young Adult bestseller list. Her new Throne of Glass novel - Empire of Storms - was on the New York Times Series bestseller list for nine weeks reaching number two and was also number two on the Bookseller UK children's chart. The success of Sarah J. Maas and other Young Adult publishing contributed significantly to Children's e-book sales increasing by 19% to GBP3.4 million. Neil Gaiman reached number one in the Nielsen BookScan original fiction chart with Norse Mythology. Bloomsbury Children's UK market share value grew by 21% year on year to 4% (source: Nielsen BookScan). During the year we created a Children's Non-Fiction team to enhance focus and growth in that part of the division.

Adult revenues increased by 3% to GBP29.5 million (2016: GBP28.7 million). Operating profit before highlighted items of GBP0.3 million (2016: GBP0.7 million) was affected by a reduction in higher margin e-book revenues and increased advance provisions. William Boyd's Sweet Caress, Ann Patchett's Commonwealth, Hannah Rothschild's Improbability of Love and Natasha Pulley's The Watchmaker of Filigree Street all sold strongly. In cookery, Tom Kerridge's Dopamine Diet sold over 140,000 copies and went to number one in the overall Nielsen BookScan chart in the UK on publication. Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons by Raymond Blanc also sold well. Peter Frankopan's The Silk Roads was in the Sunday Times paperback non-fiction chart for eleven weeks and in the US, Dreamland by Sam Quinones won the National Book Critics Circle non-fiction award. Bloomsbury Adult in the UK grew market share by value by 2% year on year (source: Nielsen BookScan).

During the year a new Publishing Director joined the Adult team in London and we launched a new crime imprint, Raven Books, run by a new Editorial Director. Crime is a constantly growing segment of the market. Bloomsbury's first book in this imprint, The River at Night by Erica Ferencik was published in January 2017. It is nominated as The Bookseller's Book of the Month for June. The US Consumer division has been restructured and a new Editorial Director for Fiction was appointed in January 2017.

Non-Consumer division

The Non-Consumer division consists of Academic & Professional, Special Interest and Content Services. Both revenues in the division of GBP57.2 million (2016: GBP57.3 million) and adjusted operating profits of GBP4.1 million (2016: GBP7.1 million) were affected by the end of the term of the Qatar Foundation contract in December 2015, our GBP0.6 million net incremental investment in Bloomsbury 2020 and the benefit of a full year of results from certain Family Law titles, which were acquired in January 2016. Academic & Professional revenues make up 65% of total division revenues and were up 1%. Within this, Education has revenue of GBP2.5 million (2016: GBP3.9 million) and operating profit before highlighted items of GBP0.3 million (2016: GBP0.7 million) in the year ended 28 February 2017. The GBP1.4 million reduction in revenues year on year is due to a strong year for rights sales last year. Excluding Education, Academic & Professional revenues grew by 5%.

The Bloomsbury 2020 digital resources growth strategy, announced in May 2016, will make Bloomsbury a leading non-consumer publisher in the B2B academic and professional information market and significantly accelerate the growth of digital revenues. The plan is to increase the output and speed to market of a range of new digital products, provide a robust scalable set of platforms, and improve the strength, depth and geographical spread of our institutional digital sales team. Bloomsbury Digital Resources, a separate team within Non-Consumer, has been set up under its own Managing Director and Sales Director to bring this to fruition more quickly. During the year ended 28 February 2017, the focus of this plan was to deliver the digital platform upon which to host the new services and hire the new content acquisition, sales and marketing teams as well as launch two new resources on the new platform. All this was achieved as planned during the year. Academic & Professional digital resources revenues grew by 58% to GBP3.7 million (2016: GBP2.4 million), well above our expectations. Over 40% of digital resources revenues originated from outside the UK, with the largest single territory being North America at 33% (2016: 18%) which had 194% revenue growth year on year. Bloomsbury now has over 1,700 active institutional customers worldwide for its digital resources (2016: 1,009), a growth of 68%. All our existing major digital resources saw revenue growth. In the year, as planned, we launched four new major digital resources: Fairchild Books Library, The Fashion Photography Archive, Arcadian Library and Bloomsbury Popular Music - the latter two hosted on our new platform. In addition there were a number of modules added to existing products including BBC Drama and Hollow Crown added to Drama Online, which now reaches over one million students worldwide. The pipeline of new resources is strong - over the next year we will be launching three new resources: The Bloomsbury Design Library, The Bloomsbury Food Library and Bloomsbury Cultural History, as well as three new modules to Drama Online.

Including e-book revenues, Academic & Professional digital revenues in total grew by 25% year on year to GBP6.9 million, more than four times the industry growth rate of 6% for academic and professional digital revenues (Source: Publishing Association Yearbook 2016).

The Academic division generally had a good year, with a sizeable increase in output of titles, a third Dartmouth prize in seven years and a new strategic partnership for the Classics list with leading exam board Oxford Cambridge and RSA, making Bloomsbury the largest publisher in UK secondary schools classics. Bloomsbury's expanding digital resources sales mitigated the ongoing flat US print library budgets. The effect of retailer text book rental and used book programmes on higher education text book sales in North America, while structurally significant for the market, is restricted within Bloomsbury to the Fairchild Books list. Fairchild comprises 7% of Non-Consumer revenues and less than 3% of Group turnover. Through Bloomsbury 2020, we are able to exploit the Fairchild content digitally on Bloomsbury Fashion Central, with direct institutional sales.

The integration of the Family Law titles, acquired in January 2016, into Bloomsbury's Professional division was completed during the year. Family Law contributed GBP0.9 million of revenue (2016: GBP0.3 million) and GBP0.5 million of profit (2016: GBP0.3 million), in excess of our expectations. Excluding these results in both years, Group revenues grew by 15% (9% at constant currencies).

In the year, Bloomsbury was shortlisted for Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year at the Bookseller Industry Awards, for the fourth year in a row.

Our focus on special interest niches is succeeding, with revenues up by 5% to GBP18.4 million (2016: GBP17.5 million). The value of our strategy is the ability to pinpoint market sectors and promote and sell direct to a community of shared interest. Our chosen niches are military history (through Osprey), natural history (through Helm and Poyser), sport (through Nautical, Reed's, and Wisden), popular science (through Sigma) and reference (through Who's Who, Whitaker's, and www.writersandartists.co.uk). In each of these areas we have strengthened our editorial positioning, and invested in digital marketing, new products and widening our portfolio. In particular Wisden has seen one of its highest sales for many years. The division launched the Green Tree imprint in February 2017 with the goal of publishing the best in health and wellness books - a natural extension from our expertise in sport and fitness publishing.

Bloomsbury Content Services had revenue growth of 9% to GBP1.9 million (excluding the loss of GBP1.5 million revenue year on year from the end of the term of the Qatar contract). This organic growth was in content marketing and publishing services, with new customers including the Royal Bank of Canada and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The agreement with the Institute of Labor Economics for the provision of publishing, marketing and digital services for the IZA World of Labor knowledge hub was extended for a further 18 months from January 2017. A new and enhanced version of the website was launched in February 2017.

Outlook

In 2017/18 we will continue to expand Bloomsbury 2020 digital growth resources by launching three further digital services.

June 2017 is the 20(th) anniversary since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published. To celebrate, there will be new editions of this title and a series of events. There is a new edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a foreword by J.K.Rowling and six new beasts. There are also two new illustrated Harry Potter editions, the Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and the Illustrated Edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In addition our strong publishing list for the new year includes Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman, Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas, The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas Murray and Breaking Mad by Anna Williamson.

Trading in the new financial year is in line with our expectations.

Audited Consolidated Income Statement

FOR THE YEARED 28 FEBRUARY 2017

 
                                              Year ended    Year ended 
                                             28 February   29 February 
                                                    2017          2016 
                                     Notes       GBP'000       GBP'000 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Revenue                               2         142,564       123,725 
 Cost of sales                                  (67,686)      (55,198) 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Gross profit                                     74,878        68,527 
 Marketing and distribution 
  costs                                         (20,977)      (17,065) 
 Administrative expenses                        (44,499)      (41,016) 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Operating profit before 
  highlighted items                               11,997        13,115 
 Highlighted items                     3         (2,595)       (2,669) 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Operating profit                                  9,402        10,446 
 Finance income                                      138            27 
 Finance costs                                      (96)         (114) 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit before taxation and 
  highlighted items                               12,039        13,028 
 Highlighted items                     3         (2,595)       (2,669) 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit before taxation                            9,444        10,359 
 Taxation                              4         (2,091)         (652) 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit for the year attributable 
  to owners of the Company                         7,353         9,707 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 
 Earnings per share attributable 
  to owners of the Company 
 Basic earnings per share              6           9.83p        12.98p 
 Diluted earnings per share            6           9.81p        12.93p 
----------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Audited Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

FOR THE YEARED 28 FEBRUARY 2017

 
                                                Year          Year 
                                               ended         ended 
                                         28 February   29 February 
                                                2017          2016 
                                             GBP'000       GBP'000 
--------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit for the year                           7,353         9,707 
 Other comprehensive income 
 Items that may be reclassified 
  to the income statement: 
 Currency translation differences 
  on foreign operations                        4,587         3,214 
 Items that may not be reclassified 
  to the income statement: 
 Remeasurements on the defined 
  benefit pension scheme                        (58)          (24) 
--------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Other comprehensive income for 
  the year net of tax                          4,529         3,190 
 Total comprehensive income for 
  the year attributable to the owners 
  of the Company                              11,882        12,897 
--------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Audited Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2017

 
                                           28 February   29 February 
                                                  2017          2016 
                                   Notes       GBP'000       GBP'000 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Assets 
 Goodwill                                       42,548        42,092 
 Other intangible assets                        21,214        22,465 
 Property, plant and equipment                   2,248         2,463 
 Deferred tax assets                             4,808         2,988 
 Trade and other receivables         7           1,951         1,011 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total non-current assets                       72,769        71,019 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Inventories                                    28,611        27,598 
 Trade and other receivables         7          75,808        71,461 
 Cash and cash equivalents                      15,478         6,556 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total current assets                          119,897       105,615 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total assets                                  192,666       176,634 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Liabilities 
 Retirement benefit obligations                    255           230 
 Deferred tax liabilities                        2,225         2,675 
 Other payables                                  2,191           871 
 Provisions                                         43            43 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total non-current liabilities                   4,714         3,819 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Trade and other payables                       47,365        38,435 
 Bank overdraft                                      -         1,390 
 Current tax liabilities                         1,265             - 
 Provisions                                         23            23 
 Total current liabilities                      48,653        39,848 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total liabilities                              53,367        43,667 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net assets                                    139,299       132,967 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Equity 
 Share capital                                     942           939 
 Share premium                                  39,388        39,388 
 Translation reserve                            11,630         7,043 
 Other reserves                                  6,274         6,829 
 Retained earnings                              81,065        78,768 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total equity attributable to 
  owners of the Company                        139,299       132,967 
--------------------------------  ------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Audited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2017

 
                                                                 Capital  Share-based  Own shares 
                    Share     Share  Translation     Merger   redemption      payment        held   Retained     Total 
                  capital   premium      reserve    reserve      reserve      reserve      by EBT   earnings    equity 
                  GBP'000   GBP'000      GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000      GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000   GBP'000 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
At 28 February 
 2015                 938    39,388        3,829      1,386           22        4,986       (338)     73,943   124,154 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
Profit for the 
 year                   -         -            -          -            -            -           -      9,707     9,707 
Other 
comprehensive 
income 
Exchange 
 differences 
 on translating 
 foreign 
 operations             -         -        3,214          -            -            -           -          -     3,214 
Remeasurements 
 on the defined 
 benefit 
 pension 
 scheme                 -         -            -          -            -            -           -       (24)      (24) 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income for the 
 year                   -         -        3,214          -            -            -           -      9,683    12,897 
Transactions 
 with owners 
Issue of shares         1         -            -          -            -            -           -        (1)         - 
Dividends to 
 equity holders 
 of the Company         -         -            -          -            -            -           -    (4,590)   (4,590) 
Share options 
 exercised              -         -            -          -            -            -         331      (243)        88 
Deferred tax 
 on share-based 
 payment 
 transactions           -         -            -          -            -            -           -       (24)      (24) 
Share-based 
 payment 
 transactions           -         -            -          -            -          442           -          -       442 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
Total 
 transactions 
 with owners 
 of the Company         1         -            -          -            -          442         331    (4,858)   (4,084) 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
At 29 February 
 2016                 939    39,388        7,043      1,386           22        5,428         (7)     78,768   132,967 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
Profit for the 
 year                   -         -            -          -            -            -           -      7,353     7,353 
Other 
comprehensive 
income 
Exchange 
 differences 
 on translating 
 foreign 
 operations             -         -        4,587          -            -            -           -          -     4,587 
Remeasurements 
 on the defined 
 benefit 
 pension 
 scheme                 -         -            -          -            -            -           -       (58)      (58) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income for the 
 year                   -         -        4,587          -            -            -           -      7,295    11,882 
Transactions 
 with owners 
Issue of shares         3         -            -        417            -            -           -          -       420 
Purchase of 
 shares by the 
 Employee 
 Benefit 
 Trust                  -         -            -          -            -            -     (1,196)          -   (1,196) 
Dividends to 
 equity holders 
 of the Company         -         -            -          -            -            -           -    (4,819)   (4,819) 
Share options 
 exercised              -         -            -          -            -            -         160      (160)         - 
Deferred tax 
 on share-based 
 payment 
 transactions           -         -            -          -            -            -           -       (19)      (19) 
Share-based 
 payment 
 transactions           -         -            -          -            -           64           -          -        64 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
Total 
 transactions 
 with owners 
 of the Company         3         -            -        417            -           64     (1,036)    (4,998)   (5,550) 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
At 28 February 
 2017                 942    39,388       11,630      1,803           22        5,492     (1,043)     81,065   139,299 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -------- 
 

Audited Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

FOR THE YEARED 28 FEBRUARY 2017

 
                                   Year ended    Year ended 
                                  28 February   29 February 
                                         2017          2016 
                                      GBP'000       GBP'000 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash flows from operating 
  activities 
 
 Profit before taxation                 9,444        10,359 
 Finance income                         (138)          (27) 
 Finance costs                             96           114 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Operating profit                       9,402        10,446 
 Adjustments for: 
   Depreciation of property, 
    plant and equipment                   541           666 
   Amortisation of intangible 
    assets                              3,988         3,857 
   Loss on sale of property, 
    plant and equipment                     -             1 
   Share-based payment charges             73           487 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                       14,004        15,457 
 Decrease in inventories                1,334         3,133 
 Increase in trade and other 
  receivables                         (2,873)       (8,212) 
 Increase/(decrease) in 
  trade and other payables              7,318       (1,476) 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash generated from operating 
  activities                           19,783         8,902 
 Income taxes paid                    (1,009)       (3,870) 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net cash generated from 
  operating activities                 18,774         5,032 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash flows from investing 
  activities 
 Purchase of property, plant 
  and equipment                         (267)         (249) 
 Purchase of businesses, 
  net of cash acquired                      -          (60) 
 Purchases of intangible 
  assets                              (2,628)       (2,846) 
 Interest received                        120             9 
 Net cash used in investing 
  activities                          (2,775)       (3,146) 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash flows from financing 
  activities 
 Equity dividends paid                (4,819)       (4,590) 
 Purchase of shares by the 
  Employee Benefit Trust              (1,196)             - 
 Proceeds from exercise 
  of share options                          -            88 
 Repayment of borrowings                    -       (2,500) 
 Interest paid                           (72)          (90) 
 Net cash used in financing 
  activities                          (6,087)       (7,092) 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net increase/(decrease) 
  in cash and cash equivalents          9,912       (5,206) 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at beginning of year                  5,166        10,021 
 Exchange gain on cash and 
  cash equivalents                        400           351 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at end of year                       15,478         5,166 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

NOTES

1. Accounting policies

The above Audited financial information does not constitute statutory financial statements as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The above figures for the year ended 28 February 2017 are an abridged version of the Group's financial statements which will be reported on by the Group's auditors before dispatch to the shareholders and filing with the Registrar of Companies and as such do not contain full disclosures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The preliminary announcement was approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 18 May 2017.

The Group's financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") interpretations adopted by the European Union ("EU") at the time of preparing the Group's financial statements and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The accounting policies applied in the year ended 28 February 2017 are consistent with those applied in the financial statements for year ended 29 February 2016 with the exception of a number of new accounting standards which have not had a material impact on the Group's results.

The Group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 29 February 2016 have been lodged with the Registrar of Companies. These financial statements received an audit report which was unqualified and did not include any reference to matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report or a statement under section 498(2) or section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

2. Segmental analysis

We announced in May 2016 a reorganisation of the business into two divisions: Consumer and Non-Consumer, reflecting the core customers for our different operations. The Consumer division is further split out into two operating segments; Children's Trade and Adult Trade and Non-Consumer split between four operating segments; Academic & Professional, Education, Special Interest and Content Services. Education has been aggregated with Academic & Professional to create one reportable segment. Both operating segments share very similar products, customers and sales behaviours.

These divisions are the basis on which the Group primarily reports its segment information. Segments derive their revenue from book publishing, sale of publishing and distribution rights, management and other publishing services. The analysis by segment is shown below:

The analysis by segment is shown below:

 
                   Children's      Adult   Consumer       Academic    Special    Content   Non-Consumer   Unallocated      Total 
                        Trade      Trade                         &   Interest   Services 
                                                      Professional 
 Year ended 28        GBP'000               GBP'000                   GBP'000    GBP'000        GBP'000                  GBP'000 
 February 
 2017                            GBP'000                   GBP'000                                            GBP'000 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 External 
  revenue              55,915     29,459     85,374         36,915     18,404      1,871         57,190             -    142,564 
 Cost of sales       (26,838)   (15,688)   (42,526)       (15,474)    (9,076)      (610)       (25,160)             -   (67,686) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Gross profit          29,077     13,771     42,848         21,441      9,328      1,261         32,030             -     74,878 
 Marketing and 
  distribution 
  costs               (8,751)    (5,034)   (13,785)        (4,600)    (2,455)      (137)        (7,192)             -   (20,977) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Contribution 
  before 
  administrative 
  expenses             20,326      8,737     29,063         16,841      6,873      1,124         24,838             -     53,901 
 Administrative 
  expenses 
  excluding 
  highlighted 
  items              (12,716)    (8,407)   (21,123)       (14,084)    (5,648)    (1,049)       (20,781)             -   (41,904) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating 
  profit before 
  highlighted 
  items/ 
  segment 
  results               7,610        330      7,940          2,757      1,225         75          4,057             -     11,997 
 Amortisation of 
  acquired 
  intangible 
  assets                    -       (18)       (18)        (1,478)      (182)        (5)        (1,665)             -    (1,683) 
 Other 
  highlighted 
  items                     -          -          -              -          -          -              -         (912)      (912) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating 
  profit /(loss)        7,610        312      7,922          1,279      1,043         70          2,392         (912)      9,402 
 Finance income             -          -          -              -          -          -              -           138        138 
 Finance costs              -          -          -              -          -          -              -          (96)       (96) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit/(loss) 
  before 
  taxation              7,610        312      7,922          1,279      1,043         70          2,392         (870)      9,444 
 Taxation                   -          -          -              -          -          -              -       (2,091)    (2,091) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit/(loss) 
  for 
  the year              7,610        312      7,922          1,279      1,043         70          2,392       (2,961)      7,353 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating 
  profit before 
  highlighted 
  items/ 
  segment 
  results               7,610        330      7,940          2,757      1,225         75          4,057             -     11,997 
 Depreciation             162        109        271            162         98         10            270             -        541 
 Amortisation of 
  internally 
  generated 
  intangibles             268        194        462          1,454        365         24          1,843             -      2,305 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 EBITDA before 
  highlighted 
  items                 8,040        633      8,673          4,373      1,688        109          6,170             -     14,843 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 
 
 
                   Children's      Adult   Consumer       Academic    Special    Content   Non-Consumer   Unallocated      Total 
                        Trade      Trade                         &   Interest   Services 
                                                      Professional 
 Year ended 29        GBP'000               GBP'000                   GBP'000    GBP'000        GBP'000                  GBP'000 
 February 
 2016*                           GBP'000                   GBP'000                                            GBP'000 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 External 
  revenue              37,722     28,726     66,448         36,601     17,454      3,222         57,277             -    123,725 
 Cost of sales       (17,010)   (14,452)   (31,462)       (15,422)    (7,728)      (586)       (23,736)             -   (55,198) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Gross profit          20,712     14,274     34,986         21,179      9,726      2,636         33,541             -     68,527 
 Marketing and 
  distribution 
  costs               (5,469)    (4,989)   (10,458)        (4,369)    (2,155)       (83)        (6,607)             -   (17,065) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Contribution 
  before 
  administrative 
  expenses             15,243      9,285     24,528         16,810      7,571      2,553         26,934             -     51,462 
 Administrative 
  expenses 
  excluding 
  highlighted 
  items               (9,954)    (8,594)   (18,548)       (12,903)    (5,571)    (1,325)       (19,799)             -   (38,347) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating 
  profit before 
  highlighted 
  items/ 
  segment 
  results               5,289        691      5,980          3,907      2,000      1,228          7,135             -     13,115 
 Amortisation of 
  acquired 
  intangible 
  assets                 (88)       (17)      (105)        (1,487)      (189)        (5)        (1,681)             -    (1,786) 
 Other 
  highlighted 
  items                     -          -          -              -          -          -              -         (883)      (883) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating 
  profit /(loss)        5,201        674      5,875          2,420      1,811      1,223          5,454         (883)     10,446 
 Finance income             -          -          -              -          -          -              -            27         27 
 Finance costs              -          -          -              -          -          -              -         (114)      (114) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit/(loss) 
  before 
  taxation              5,201        674      5,875          2,420      1,811      1,223          5,454         (970)     10,359 
 Taxation                   -          -          -              -          -          -              -         (652)      (652) 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Profit/(loss) 
  for 
  the year              5,201        674      5,875          2,420      1,811      1,223          5,454       (1,622)      9,707 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 Operating 
  profit before 
  highlighted 
  items/ 
  segment 
  results               5,289        691      5,980          3,907      2,000      1,228          7,135             -     13,115 
 Depreciation             138        160        298            239         99         30            368             -        666 
 Amortisation of 
  internally 
  generated 
  intangibles             162        203        365          1,329        331         46          1,706             -      2,071 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 EBITDA before 
  highlighted 
  items                 5,589      1,054      6,643          5,475      2,430      1,304          9,209             -     15,852 
----------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ------------  --------- 
 

* The year ended 29 February 2016 has been restated to reflect the new divisional structure. The total result has not changed.

Total assets

 
                            28 February   29 February 
                                   2017          2016 
                                GBP'000       GBP'000 
-------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Children's Trade                 9,057         9,068 
 Adult Trade                      8,282         5,932 
 Academic & Professional         58,709        61,569 
 Special Interest                13,416        12,900 
 Content Services                   198           203 
 Unallocated                    103,004        86,962 
 Total assets                   192,666       176,634 
-------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Unallocated primarily represents centrally held assets including system development, property plant and equipment receivables and cash.

External revenue by destination

 
                                                         Source 
                              United Kingdom  North America  Australia     India     Total 
                                     GBP'000        GBP'000    GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
Destination 
Year ended 28 February 2017 
United Kingdom (country of 
 domicile)                            55,249             30          -         -    55,279 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
  North America                        7,999         38,314          -         -    46,313 
  Continental Europe                  11,397             52          -         -    11,449 
  Australasia                            521            431     10,530         -    11,482 
  Middle East and 
   Asia                                5,700          1,625          -     2,802    10,127 
  Rest of the world                    7,819             95          -         -     7,914 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
Overseas countries                    33,436         40,517     10,530     2,802    87,285 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
 Total                                88,685         40,547     10,530     2,802   142,564 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
 
Year ended 29 February 2016 
United Kingdom (country of 
 domicile)                            56,943              3          -         -    56,946 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
  North America                        3,373         32,762          -         -    36,135 
  Continental Europe                   9,254            332          -         -     9,586 
  Australasia                            741          1,302      7,038         -     9,081 
  Middle East and 
   Asia                                4,935            188          -     1,917     7,040 
  Rest of the world                    4,737            200          -         -     4,937 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
Overseas countries                    23,040         34,784      7,038     1,917    66,779 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
 Total                                79,983         34,787      7,038     1,917   123,725 
----------------------------  --------------  -------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
 

During the year sales to one customer exceeded 10% of Group revenue (2016: one customer). The value of these sales was GBP24,757,000 (2016: GBP23,426,000).

External revenue by product type

 
                          Year ended   Year ended 
                         28 February  29 February 
                                2017        2016* 
                             GBP'000      GBP'000 
-----------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Print                        117,261       98,111 
Digital                       16,036       15,022 
Rights and services(1)         9,267       10,592 
Total                        142,564      123,725 
-----------------------  -----------  ----------- 
 

1. Rights and services revenue includes revenue from copyright and trademark licences, management contracts, advertising and publishing services.

Analysis of non-current assets (excluding deferred tax assets) by geographic location

 
                                       28 February  29 February 
                                              2017         2016 
                                           GBP'000      GBP'000 
-------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
United Kingdom (country of domicile)        62,652       62,877 
North America                                5,168        5,094 
Other                                          141           60 
Total                                       67,961       68,031 
-------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
 

3. Highlighted items

 
                                          Year ended    Year ended 
                                         28 February   29 February 
                                                2017          2016 
                                             GBP'000       GBP'000 
-------------------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 Legal and other professional 
  fees                                             -            16 
 Restructuring costs                             881           915 
 Other                                            31          (48) 
 Other highlighted items                         912           883 
 Amortisation of acquired intangible 
  assets                                       1,683         1,786 
--------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total highlighted items                       2,595         2,669 
--------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Highlighted items charged to operating profit comprise significant non-cash charges and major one-off initiatives which are highlighted in the income statement because, in the opinion of the Directors, separate disclosure is helpful in understanding the underlying performance of the business and future profitability of the business.

All highlighted items are included in administrative expenses in the income statement.

Restructuring costs of GBP881,000 have been incurred primarily as a result of strategic restructuring of the Bloomsbury US business (2016: GBP915,000 incurred as a result of the Group's acquisition activities and the restructuring of the Bloomsbury Content Services division).

The other cost of GBP31,000 relate to final costs on the historic tax enquiry with HMRC (2016: credit of GBP48,000 is primarily the release of penalties and interest relating to a historic tax enquiry with HMRC).

4. Taxation

Factors affecting tax charge for the year

The tax on the Group's profit before tax differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 20.00% (2016: 20.08%). The reasons for this are explained below:

 
 
                                            Year ended           Year ended 
                                           28 February           29 February 
                                               2017                  2016 
                                         GBP'000        %       GBP'000         % 
--------------------------------------  --------  -------  ------------  -------- 
 Profit before taxation                    9,444   100.00        10,359    100.00 
--------------------------------------  --------  -------  ------------  -------- 
 Profit on ordinary activities 
  multiplied by the standard 
  rate of corporation tax 
  in the UK of 20.00% (2016: 
  20.08%)                                  1,889    20.00         2,080     20.08 
 Effects of: 
   Non-deductible revenue expenditure        432     4.57           279      2.69 
   Non-qualifying depreciation              (32)   (0.34)            15      0.14 
   Movement in unrecognised 
    temporary differences                   (71)   (0.75)            99      0.96 
   Different rates of tax in 
    foreign jurisdictions                    693     7.34           519      5.01 
   Tax losses utilised                     (104)   (1.10)         (216)    (2.09) 
   Movement in deferred tax 
    rate                                   (149)   (1.57)         (209)    (2.02) 
 Adjustment to tax charge 
  in respect of prior years 
  Current tax - utilisation 
   of previously unrecognised 
   Bloomsbury Verlag losses 
   in the UK                                   -        -         (543)    (5.24) 
   Current tax - other                     (238)   (2.52)       (1,070)   (10.32) 
   Deferred tax                            (349)   (3.70)          (70)    (0.68) 
--------------------------------------  --------  -------  ------------  -------- 
 Tax charge for the year 
  before disallowable costs 
  on highlighted items                     2,071    21.93           884      8.53 
 Highlighted items: 
  Disallowable costs                          20     0.21             5      0.05 
  Disallowable credits                         -        -          (24)    (0.23) 
  Release of Bloomsbury Verlag 
   tax provision                               -        -         (213)    (2.06) 
 
  Tax charge for the year                  2,091   22.14            652      6.29 
--------------------------------------  --------  -------  ------------  -------- 
 
 

In 2017 the GBP349,000 deferred tax prior year adjustment relates to improvements in timing differences on Intangible assets. In 2016 the GBP1,070,000 current tax adjustment in respect of prior years' relates to the carry back of double taxation relief to prior years and an adjustment to align the prior year Group tax charge with recently submitted tax returns, particularly for the US entities.

In 2016 subsequent to the successful First-Tier Tribunal decision on Bloomsbury Verlag, a prior year adjustment of GBP543,000 was recognised for the utilisation of previously unrecognised losses. Linked to this successful decision there was a release of a GBP213,000 tax provision in respect of prior years. This went through highlighted items in prior years and thus has been released in the same place.

5. Dividends

 
                                       Year ended    Year ended 
                                      28 February   29 February 
                                             2017          2016 
                                          GBP'000       GBP'000 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Amounts paid in the year 
 Prior period final 5.34p dividend 
  per share (2016: 5.08p)                   3,996         3,797 
 Interim 1.10p dividend per 
  share (2016: 1.06p)                         823           793 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total dividend payments in 
  the year                                  4,819         4,590 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Amounts arising in respect 
  of the year 
 Interim 1.10p dividend per 
  share for the year (2016: 1.06p)            823           793 
 Proposed 5.60p final dividend 
  per share for the year (2016: 
  5.34p)                                    4,182         4,009 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total dividend 6.70p per share 
  for the year (2016: 6.40p)                5,005         4,802 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

The Directors are recommending a final dividend of 5.60 pence per share, which, subject to Shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting, will be paid on 20 September 2017 to Shareholders on the register at close of business on 25 August 2017.

6. Earnings per share

The basic earnings per share for the year ended 28 February 2017 is calculated using a weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue of 74,820,311 (2016: 74,807,436) after deducting shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust.

The diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of Ordinary shares to take account of all dilutive potential Ordinary shares, which are in respect of unexercised share options and the Performance Share Plan.

 
                                   Year ended    Year ended 
                                  28 February   29 February 
                                         2017          2016 
                                       Number        Number 
 Weighted average shares 
  in issue                         74,820,311    74,807,436 
 Dilution                             111,762       245,115 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Diluted weighted average 
  shares in issue                  74,932,073    75,052,551 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
                                      GBP'000       GBP'000 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit after tax attributable 
  to owners of the Company              7,353         9,707 
 Basic earnings per share               9.83p        12.98p 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Diluted earnings per 
  share                                 9.81p        12.93p 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
                                      GBP'000       GBP'000 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Adjusted profit attributable 
  to owners of the Company              9,465        11,440 
 Adjusted basic earnings 
  per share                            12.65p        15.29p 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Adjusted diluted earnings 
  per share                            12.63p        15.24p 
-------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Adjusted profit is derived as follows:

 
                                Year ended    Year ended 
                               28 February   29 February 
                                      2017          2016 
                                   GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Profit before taxation              9,444        10,359 
 Amortisation of acquired 
  intangible assets                  1,683         1,786 
 Other highlighted items               912           883 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Adjusted profit before tax         12,039        13,028 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 
 Tax expense                          2,091     652 
 Deferred tax movements on 
  goodwill and acquired intangible 
  assets                                321     527 
 Tax expense on other highlighted 
  items                                 162     409 
 Adjusted tax                         2,574   1,588 
-----------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 
 
 Adjusted profit    9,465    11,440 
-----------------  ------  -------- 
 

7. Trade and other receivables

 
                                      28 February   29 February 
                                             2017          2016 
                                          GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Non-current 
 Prepayments and accrued income             1,951         1,011 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Current 
 Gross trade receivables                   50,326        45,476 
 Less: provision for impairment 
  of receivables                            (621)         (432) 
 Less: provision for returns              (6,536)       (5,800) 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net trade receivables                     43,169        39,244 
 Income tax recoverable                       401           850 
 Other receivables                          1,961         1,354 
 Prepayments and accrued income             5,472         7,784 
 Royalty advances                          24,805        22,229 
 Total current trade and other 
  receivables                              75,808        71,461 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total trade and other receivables         77,759        72,472 
-----------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Trade receivables principally comprise amounts receivable from the sale of books due from distributors. The majority of trade debtors are secured by credit insurance and in certain territories by third party distributors.

A provision for the return of books by customers is made with reference to the historic rate of returns.

Royalty advances have been separated out from prepayments and accrued income to enable a user to get a better understanding of the business. A provision is held against gross advances payable in respect of published titles advances which may not be fully earned down by anticipated future sales. As at 28 February 2017 GBP6,371,000 (2016: GBP5,530,000) of royalty advances are expected to be recovered after more than 12 months.

8. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held on 18 July 2017.

9. Report and Accounts

Copies of the Annual Report and Financial Statements will be circulated to shareholders in July and can be viewed after the posting date on the Bloomsbury website.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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