IPC posts 1.5% revenue increase

IPC Media posted a 12% increase in operating profits to £51.3 million last year, with revenues up 1.5% to £356 million.

The group’s pre-tax profits slumped by a quarter to £37 million after it took a £20 million one-off hit related to its pension fun.

IPC, Britain’s biggest magazine publisher, saw revenues bounce back slightly following its decision to sell off non-core titles, including lad mag Loaded.

However, its UK sales growth failed to keep up with Hearst, which posted an annual revenue increase of 4.3% earlier this week.

In the last ABC Consumer Magazine release, for January to June 2011, our ‘by publisher‘ analysis gives an idea of the headline figures:

IPC Media Ltd

Total Average Circulation per issue (June End 2011): 5,550,003
Year on Year % change: -2.4%
Winners: Essentials and What’s On TV (up 9.9% and 5.4% YoY respectively)
Losers: Good to Know Recipes and Nuts (down 29.2% and 22.5% YoY respectively)

Hearst Magazines UK (formerly The National Magazine Company and Hachette Filipacchi UK Ltd)

Total average Circulation per issue (June End 2011): 3,629,221
Year on Year % change: -4.2%
Winner: Elle Decoration and Good Housekeeping (up 4.6% and 2.0% YoY respectively)
Loser: Prima Baby and Company (down 22.2% and 17.1% YoY respectively)