FT advertising revenues were up 9% with rapid growth in online, luxury goods and corporate finance categories, all up more than 30%.
The FT and its website also saw sales rise 8% to £238 million. In addition, Pearson said that last year FT.com’s paying subscribers reached 90,000.
Pearson’s sales increased by 4% to £4.4 billion and adjusted operating profit was up 15% to a record £592 million.
In 2006 Pearson’s total investment in acquisitions was £363 million, with these acquisitions contributing £147 million of sales and £17 million of operating profit to its results.
Marjorie Scardino, chief executive, said: “This is another strong set of results. We have built market leading businesses and invested consistently in their content, technology and international expansion.
“This strategy is paying off with sustained growth in sales, margins, earnings and returns, and we expect 2007 to be another good year.”
There have recently been rumours that Pearson could be about to sell off the FT, or that there could be a buyout of the entire group (see Pearson Could Sell FT).
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