Profits rise at major publishing houses

Profits Rise at RH Despite Sales Decline
After Penguin Group reported a strong first half of 2013 in its last financial report before the merger with Random House became official, RH parent company Bertelsmann reported this morning that profits at RH rose to 117 million euros from 113 million euros in the first half of 2012 despite a 3.4% sales decline to 915 million euros. The decline in sales was expected, given the strong performance of the Fifty Shades trilogy that began in RH’s North American markets last April. more »

Sales, Profits Up at Lagardere Publishing
Total sales at Lagardere Publishing rose 1.4% in the first half of 2013, to 917 million euros, while EBIT increased 24.6% to 71 million euros. The company attributed the gains to strong trade sales in France, the U.K., and the U.S. Sales in Lagardere’s U.S. subsidiary, Hachette Book Group, rose 7% driven by higher sales of Nicholas Sparks’ titles plus higher e-book sales. E-books accounted for 34% of adult trade sales in the U.S. in the first six months of 2013. more »