Bristol United Press Benefits From Wessex Acquisition

Regional newspaper group, Bristol United Press (BUP) has made £2.2 million from Wessex Newspapers, which it bought in October last year, in the six months ending 30 September 1998.

BUP has also reported pre-tax profits of £11.4 million, up 64% on the same period last year. Turnover at the publisher stood at £36.7 million of which £5.8 million was contributed by the Wessex papers.

Chairman, James Evans, said that advertising revenue was up by 43.2% including the contribution from Wessex and 11.6% without it. However, there has been a slowing in the pace of advertising growth since the end of the half-year. “It is patchy and the trends are not yet clear,” said Evans.

Bristol United Press: 0171 623 8000