WHAT IS BLOOMSBURY GOING TO DO NOW?

By Mark Leftly writing in The Independent on Sunday, 30 March 2008

The future of Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury will be under City scrutiny this week, despite what should be a bumper set of results.
Analysts at Numis and Evolution have predicted at least a 200 per cent surge in pre-tax profit, to £17.5m and £16.8m respectively. Numis also forecast turnover of £131.6m, up from 74.8m last year. However, both houses are concerned about the future given that the final Harry Potter book was published last year.

A spokesperson for JK Rowling would not confirm whether she would continue writing for Bloomsbury, a cause for concern as the publisher's profits have soared every year she has completed a novel. Numis forecasts pre-tax profit of just £10m next year.

Evolution analyst Roddy Davidson said: "This is a watershed year. What are they going to do now? They're no longer going to get the Potter bonanza."
Bloomsbury is thought to have £42m in cash and the City is watching to see how it will spend it.