RNS Number : 5050A
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
02 June 2021
BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING PLC
("Bloomsbury" or "the Company")
Audited Preliminary Results for the year ended 28 February 2021
Excellent revenue and profit performance
Third profit upgrade
Special dividend declared
Bloomsbury, the leading independent publisher, today announces audited results for the year ended 28 February 2021, ahead of expectations.
Commenting on the results, Nigel Newton, Chief Executive, said:
"The popularity of reading has been a ray of sunshine in an otherwise very dark year. In an outstanding year for Bloomsbury, we delivered record results with sales up 14% to £185.1 million compared to the industry which was up 2%1. Our profit before tax and highlighted items4 of £19.2 million showed an increase of 22% over the prior year. These results are ahead of expectations and represent our third upgrade this year. These performances demonstrate the strength and resilience of our strategy of publishing for both the general and academic market.
Our Consumer division delivered a stellar performance, with profit before tax and highlighted items4 up by 61% to £14.2 million, including excellent revenue growth of 22% across the Adult and Children's divisions. Our diverse Consumer portfolio included backlist titles which really struck a chord with readers throughout the pandemic on themes such as humanity, social inclusion, escapism, fantasy, cookery and baking.
In our Non-Consumer division, Bloomsbury Digital Resources achieved phenomenal growth of 49%, with £12.4 million revenue. Our academic digital growth also significantly outperformed the UK market, with our digital resource strategy, conceived six years ago, ahead of and benefitting from the structural shift to online learning.
In light of our strong financial position and cash generation, and the importance of delivering attractive shareholder returns in accordance with our dividend policy, the Board proposes an increase of 10% to our final dividend2. The Board greatly appreciates the support of our shareholders during such unprecedented circumstances last year, and we are also proposing a special dividend of 9.78 pence per share.
Since the year end, we have achieved another key step in the delivery of our long term growth strategy expanding our Non-Consumer business, with the acquisition of the Red Globe Press list. Acquiring these complementary lists accelerates our digital growth and our significant presence in humanities and social sciences academic publishing.
Considering the ongoing momentum and strength of our business, Bloomsbury expects revenue to be ahead and profit to be comfortably ahead of market expectations for the year ended 28 February 20223.
I would like to express my thanks to our staff, authors, illustrators, printers, distributors and suppliers for their outstanding work and profound resilience over the last year. Our ability to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions, together with the strength of our strategy supported by our strong financial position, has enabled Bloomsbury to emerge even stronger from this crisis and deliver this excellent performance."
Financial Highlights
· Revenues increased by 14% to £185.1 million (2019/20: £162.8 million)
· Profit before taxation and highlighted items4 grew by 22% to £19.2 million, up from £15.7 million in 2019/20
· Profit before taxation grew by 31% to £17.3 million (2019/20: £13.2 million)
· Diluted earnings per share, excluding highlighted items4, grew by 15% to 18.68 pence (2019/20: 16.23 pence)5
· Diluted earnings per share grew by 25% to 16.71 pence (2019/20: 13.40 pence)5
· Net cash of £54.5 million at 28 February 2021, up 74% (2020: £31.3 million)
· Cash conversion of 142% (2019/20: 111%)
· Final dividend of 7.58 pence per share (2020: bonus issue with a value equivalent to 6.89 pence per share2)
· Special dividend of 9.78 pence per share
Operational Highlights
Consumer Division
· Outstanding Consumer revenue growth of 22% to £118.3 million (2019/20: £96.8 million)
· Consumer profit before taxation and highlighted items4 increased by 61% to £14.2 million (2019/20: £8.9 million)
· Very strong Adult Trade performance, with revenue up 17% to £43.7 million (2019/20: £37.4 million) and profit before taxation and highlighted items4 up 145% to £3.9 million (2019/20: £1.6 million)
· Excellent Children's Trade performance, with revenue growth of 26% to £74.6 million (2019/20: £59.4 million) and profit before taxation and highlighted items3 up 42% to £10.4 million (2019/20: £7.3 million)
· Sales of Sarah J. Maas' titles grew by 129% and Harry Potter sales grew by 7%
· Appointment of Ian Hudson as Managing Director, Consumer Publishing, and Paul Baggaley, Editor-in-Chief, Adult Consumer Publishing; an industry leading team to drive our ambitious growth plans
Non-Consumer Division
· Resilient Non-Consumer performance, with revenue growth of 1% to £66.8 million (2019/20: £66.0 million)
· Non-Consumer profit before taxation and highlighted items4 of £5.4 million (2019/20: £6.7 million)
· Bloomsbury Digital Resources ("BDR") revenues growth of 49% to £12.4 million (2019/20: £8.3 million) and profit of £2.9 million (2019/20: £0.7 million)
· Digital format sales now comprise 33% of Non-Consumer revenues, a CAGR of 31% over four years
· Good Academic & Professional performance, with revenue growth of 3% to £44.3 million (2019/20: £43.1 million) and profit before taxation and highlighted items4 of £4.3 million (2019/20: £4.8 million)
· Acquisition of Red Globe Press' assets in April 2021 for £3.7 million, accelerating our digital growth and our significant presence in humanities and social sciences academic publishing
· Voted Academic Publisher of the Year at the 2021 British Book Awards
· BDR partnerships with Taylor & Francis and Human Kinetics launched and new partnerships with Yale University Press, Liverpool University Press and the Stratford Festival
Notes
1 Publishers Association: 2020 UK market up 2% year-on-year.
2 2019/20: bonus issue in lieu of, and with a value equivalent to, proposed final dividend of 6.89 pence per share.
3 The Board considers current consensus market expectation for the year ending 28 February 2022 to be revenue of £177.5 million and profit before taxation and highlighted items of £17.4 million.
4 Highlighted items comprise amortisation of acquired intangible assets, legal and other professional costs relating to ongoing and completed acquisitions and restructuring costs, and a grant under the US Government Paycheck Protection Program.
5 Restatement of earnings per share due to bonus issue of shares in the year.
For further information, please contact:
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Nigel Newton, Chief Executive Penny Scott-Bayfield, Group Finance Director
Certain statements, statistics and projections in this announcement are or may be forward looking. By their nature, forward‑looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or assumptions that may or may not occur and actual results or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any particular expectation will be met and reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements contained in this announcement regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on the knowledge and information available only at the date of this announcement's preparation.
The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or keep current the information contained in this announcement, including any forward‑looking statements, or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent and any opinions expressed in it are subject to change without notice.
References in this announcement to other reports or materials, such as a website address, have been provided to direct the reader to other sources of information on Bloomsbury Publishing Plc which may be of interest. Neither the content of Bloomsbury's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks from Bloomsbury's website nor any additional materials contained or accessible thereon, are incorporated in, or form part of, this announcement.
Chief Executive's statement
Overview
The popularity of reading has been a ray of sunshine in an otherwise very dark year. The year ended 28 February 2021 saw an outstanding performance by Bloomsbury, with 14% revenue growth to £185.1 million (2019/20: £162.8 million) and a 22% increase in profit before taxation and highlighted items to £19.2 million (2019/20: £15.7 million). Profit before taxation increased by 31% to £17.3 million (2019/20: £13.2 million).
The strength of demand for our titles, in print, e-book and audio, and the surge in sales of our digital products, demonstrate the strength of our long-term growth strategy.
Our Bloomsbury Digital Resources ("BDR") strategy positioned us well to deliver further growth from the accelerated shift to digital learning, with a 73% increase in the number of Academic customers during the year. BDR delivered 49% revenue growth year-on-year and generated profit of £2.9 million (2019/20: £0.7 million).
The highlighted items of £1.8 million (2019/20: £2.5 million) consist of the amortisation of acquired intangible assets of £1.8 million (2019/20: £1.7 million), one-off legal and other professional fees relating to the acquisitions and restructuring costs of £1.3 million (2019/20: £0.6 million) and a one-off US government grant under the Paycheck Protection Program of (£1.3 million). The effective rate of tax for the year was 21% (2019/20: 21%). The adjusted effective rate of tax, excluding highlighted items, was 20% (2019/20: 19%). Diluted earnings per share, excluding highlighted items, grew 15% to 18.68 pence (2019/20: 16.23 pence). Including highlighted items, profit before tax was £17.3 million (2019/20: £13.2 million) and diluted earnings per share grew 25% to 16.71 pence (2019/20: 13.40 pence).
Strategy
Bloomsbury's long-term growth strategy is aimed at diversifying into digital channels and building quality revenues, increasing earnings and building on the success of the last six years. To achieve this, we are focused on a number of long-term strategic objectives, which include:
· Non-Consumer
o Grow Bloomsbury's portfolio in Non-Consumer publishing. Non-Consumer publishing is characterised by higher, more predictable margins and greater digital and global opportunities. 2020/21: delivered 52% growth in Non-Consumer digital.
o Achieve BDR revenue of £15 million and profit of £5 million for 2021/22. 2020/21: delivered £12.4 million revenue, up 49%, and profit of £2.9 million, up £2.2 million.
· Consumer
o Discover, nurture, champion and retain high-quality authors and illustrators, while looking at new ways to leverage existing title rights. 2020/21: Bestsellers included Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and Humankind by Rutger Bregman.
o Grow our key authors through effective publishing across all formats alongside strategic sales and marketing. 2020/21: 129% growth in sales of Sarah J. Maas title sales, with both new titles: Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood and A Court of Silver Flames reaching Number One on the New York Times bestseller list.
o As the originating publisher of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, to ensure that new children discover and read it for pleasure every year. 2020/21: 7% growth in Harry Potter title sales, 23 years after first publication.
· International Expansion
o Expand international revenues and reduce reliance on UK market: 2020/21: increased overseas revenues to 64% of Group revenue; 81% of Academic BDR sales are international.
· Employee Experience and Engagement
Our success is driven by our colleagues' expertise, passion and commitment. We understand the importance of attracting, supporting and engaging colleagues wherever they work.
o To be an attractive employer for all individuals seeking a career in publishing regardless of background or identity;
o Focus on targeted initiatives to create an environment that promotes diversity, nurtures talent, stimulates creativity and collaboration, supports well-being and is respectful of difference.
o 2020/21: Expanded our Diversity and Inclusion ("D&I") Working Groups, supported by our nine employee-led network groups;
o Appointed Baroness Young to the Board to help Bloomsbury improve our D&I practices;
o With our staff, we are working on recruitment, staff engagement, training and our networks;
o With our publishing, we seek to publish diverse voices. We intend to monitor our publishing so we can ensure our list balance is representative of the societies we live in, and partner with organisations that can help us achieve these aims;
o Continued focus on employee engagement and development initiatives, including Employee Voice Meetings, monthly online Town Halls and our apprenticeship and mentoring schemes; and
o Increased flexible working to support employees.
· Sustainability
o Continue to switch to renewable energy across all sites, with the goal of Net Zero emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
o 2020/2021: Measured scope 1 and 2 emissions, our operational footprint, and set reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement. Measured scope 3 emissions for the first time and set targets; we are committed to working with our suppliers to make further significant emissions reductions across our supply chain. Our scope 1, 2 and 3 targets have been submitted to the SBTi for validation;
o Bloomsbury was recognised by the Financial Times' 'Europe's Climate Leaders 2021' - the 300 companies that achieved the greatest reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions intensity between 2014 and 2019, aligned with revenue growth;
o Supporting the Woodland Trust and Reforest'Action for three years.
Consumer Division
The Consumer division consists of Adult and Children's trade publishing. The Consumer division generated outstanding revenue growth of 22% to £118.3 million (2019/20: £96.8 million). Profit before taxation and highlighted items increased by 61% to £14.2 million (2019/20: £8.9 million). Profit before taxation increased to £14.2 million (2019/20: £8.8 million). The excellent performance was from both the Adult and Children's divisions, across front and backlist titles.
Bloomsbury's Consumer growth outperformed the rest of the UK market, in both print and digital formats; the Publishers Association reported Consumer growth of 7% for 2020.
Adult Trade
The Adult division achieved very strong growth with a 17% increase in revenue to £43.7 million (2019/20: £37.4 million) and profit before taxation and highlighted items increasing by 145% to £3.9 million (2019/20: £1.6 million). This was driven by bestsellers from our front and backlist.
Bestsellers in the year from our backlist included the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, the Sunday Times bestsellers Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, Lose Weight and Get Fit by Tom Kerridge and Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. New York Times bestsellers included White Rage by Carol Anderson and Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher. Further backlist bestsellers included Dishoom: From Bombay with Love by Shamil Thakrar, Kavi Thakrar and Naved Nasir and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
Frontlist success came from new titles including Humankind by Rutger Bregman, the New York Times bestsellers Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and Outlawed by Anna North, The Book of Trespass by Nick Hayes, We Are Bellingcat by Eliot Higgins and The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon.
Children's Trade
Children's sales also delivered excellent growth, with a 26% increase to £74.6 million (2019/20: £59.4 million). Profit before taxation and highlighted items increased by 42% to £10.4 million (2019/20: £7.3 million). Sales of the Harry Potter titles were 7% ahead of last year. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was the third bestselling children's book of the year on UK Nielsen Bookscan. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were all Sunday Times bestsellers in the year, showing the reach of this classic series, twenty three years after it first began.
Sarah J. Maas' sales grew by 129% compared to last year, with two new New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling titles published during the year: Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood, in March 2020, and A Court of Silver Flames, in February 2021, and strong backlist sales. Other highlights on the Children's list included the third in Brigid Kemmerer's Cursebreaker trilogy, A Vow So Bold and Deadly, Skysteppers by Katherine Rundell, Cinderella is Dead by Kaylynn Bayron, The World Made a Rainbow by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Emily Hamilton, and Ways to Make Sunshine and Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson.
Non-Consumer Division
The Non-Consumer division consists of Academic & Professional, including Bloomsbury Digital Resources, and Special Interest. Revenues in the division increased by 1% to £66.8 million (2019/20: £66.0 million). Profit before taxation and highlighted items for the Non-Consumer division was £5.4 million (2019/20: £6.7 million). Profit before taxation was £3.6 million (2019/20: £5.0 million).
Academic & Professional revenues increased by 3% to £44.3 million (2019/20: £43.1 million) and profit before taxation and highlighted items was £4.3 million (2019/20: £4.8 million). The accelerated demand for digital products and swift adoption of digital learning by academic institutions helped drive excellent performance of BDR and accelerated demand for e-books, which offset reduced print sales. Our Academic digital growth outperformed the rest of the UK market, with our BDR digital strategy, conceived six years ago, ahead of and benefitting from the market changes. Our achievements were recognised at the 2021 British Book Awards, winning Academic Publisher of the Year.
We are focused on delivering further digital growth from accelerating our established and most successful digital products, including the award-winning Drama Online, building partnerships and launching new products. Key achievements during the year, demonstrating the opportunities to further leverage our digital platforms and content, were:
o 73% increase in the number of Academic customers during the year;
o Maintaining our customer renewal rate above 90%;
o Growth of Bloomsbury Collections to over 13,000 front and backlist Bloomsbury Academic titles; over 40% higher than last year. These include titles from our acquisitions of Oberon and Zed;
o Launch of the new content partnerships with Taylor & Francis and Human Kinetics;
o New partnerships with Yale University Press, Liverpool University Press and the Stratford Festival.
Special Interest revenue was £22.5 million (2019/20: £22.9 million), and profit before taxation and highlighted items was £1.1 million (2019/20: £1.9 million), with resilient demand for wildlife titles, Wisden and Osprey games during the year.
Acquisitions
In March 2020, we acquired certain assets of Zed Books Limited, the academic and non-fiction publisher. The consideration was £1.7 million, of which £1.5 million was satisfied in cash on completion and during the year and the remainder paid in March 2021. Zed has been integrated into Bloomsbury's Academic & Professional division.
During the year we also integrated Oberon Books Ltd ("Oberon"), acquired in December 2019, into the Academic & Professional division, and included its key titles in Drama Online.
Since the year end, in April 2021, we have achieved another key step in the delivery of our strategic growth strategy and driving our Non-Consumer business, with the acquisition of certain assets of Red Globe Press ("RGP"), the academic imprint, from Springer Nature Group as previously announced. The consideration was £3.7 million, £1.8 million of which was satisfied in cash on completion in June 2021. The acquired RGP titles are a good strategic fit, strengthen Bloomsbury's existing academic publishing, and establish new areas of academic publishing in Business and Management, Study Skills and Psychology. RGP's three digital products will be migrated to BDR's own platform and its content added to Bloomsbury Collections.
Bloomsbury has a strong and successful track record in strategic acquisitions, with 17 acquisitions completed since 2008. We are actively targeting further acquisition opportunities in line with our long-term growth strategy.
Cash and financing
Bloomsbury's cash generation was strong with cash at the year end of £54.5 million, up £23.1 million, and cash conversion of 142% (2019/20: 111%). During the year we invested £1.1 million of capital expenditure in BDR and £1.5 million of the £1.7 million cash consideration for the acquisition of Zed Books Limited.
The Group has an unsecured revolving credit facility with Lloyds Bank Plc. The facility comprises a committed revolving loan facility of £8 million in the first half and an additional £4 million in the second half, totalling £12 million, to match Bloomsbury's cashflow cycle, and an uncommitted incremental term loan facility of up to £6 million. At 28 February 2021, the Group had no draw down (2020: £nil) of this facility.
Dividend
The Group has a progressive dividend policy aiming to keep dividend earnings cover in excess of two times, supported by strong cash cover. The Board is recommending a final dividend of 7.58 pence per share, totalling £6.2 million. Together with the interim dividend, this makes a total dividend for the year ended 28 February 2021 of 8.86 pence per share, an 8% increase on the 8.17 pence value of the dividend for the year ended 29 February 2020.
The Board greatly appreciates the support of our shareholders during such unprecedented circumstances last year and we are also proposing a special dividend of 9.78 pence per share, totalling £8.0 million.
Subject to Shareholder approval at our AGM on 21 July 2021, the final and special dividend will be paid on 27 August 2021 to Shareholders on the register on the record date of 30 July 2021.
Including the proposed 2020/21 final dividend, over the past ten years, the dividend has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%.
Social Initiatives
As part of Bloomsbury's ongoing commitment to our wider communities, and in addition to our focus on promoting literature, literacy and education, we actively support numerous organisations worldwide. We published The Book of Hopes: Words and Picture to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children, edited by Katherine Rundell, with contributions from more than 110 children's writers and illustrators. A donation from the sale of each book is made to NHS Charities Together. We also published The World Made a Rainbow, by Michelle Robinson and Emily Hamilton, with a donation from the sale of each book being made to Save the Children. In addition to our donation to Black Lives Matter, in partnership with Waterstones in July 2020, we donated 10% of profits of sales of Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race to BTEG and Inquest.
We also supported the Society of Authors emergency appeal fund and The Trussell Trust's network of foodbanks. These initiatives are in addition to our three-year partnership with the National Literacy Trust, which included our financial support for their emergency appeal to help support children, parents, teachers and schools through the pandemic, our educational resources and activity ideas made available through their website and donation of over 60,000 books. In addition, for every copy of Dishoom: From Bombay with Love sold, we donate towards the price of a meal for a hungry child to both of Dishoom's chosen charities, Magic Breakfast and The Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Coronavirus Victims
We also share the sad news of the loss of two colleagues in India from coronavirus. Yogesh Sharma, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, who passed away in May, was a founding member of Bloomsbury India and his contribution to the growth of the company was vital. Aravind Murthy, Bloomsbury's India's Regional Sales Manager-South, passed away in April. Aravind was an amazing sales manager, very dependable, hardworking, focused, and passionate about his work. We will miss them deeply and send our sympathy and support to the families of Aravind and Yogesh and to our colleagues in India.
Board Changes
As announced in December 2020, Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 1 January 2021. Baroness Young also became a member of the Nomination Committee.
In addition, John Warren will step down from the Board at the conclusion of Bloomsbury's 2021 AGM taking place on 21 July 2021. John joined the Board in 2015 and is the Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee. It is intended that John will be succeeded by Leslie-Ann Reed as Chair of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director.
Sir Richard Lambert, Chairman of Bloomsbury, said: "On behalf of myself, the Chief Executive, Nigel Newton, and the Board, I would like to thank John for his tremendous contribution to Bloomsbury during his six-year tenure. John has been a wonderful colleague - rigorous, shrewd and good humoured. He will be much missed."
Future Publishing
Our BDR strategic initiatives include the launch of a new Drama Online collection from the market-leading US drama publisher Theatre Communications Group, expanding Bloomsbury Collections to include more than 7,000 Red Globe Press titles and the migration of Red Globe Press' three digital products to BDR's own platform.
Our strong Consumer publishing list for 2021/22 includes Tom Kerridge's Outdoor Cooking: The Ultimate Modern Barbeque Bible, Lost Focus by Johan Hari, Gino's Italian Family Adventure by Gino D'Acampo and Animal by Lisa Taddeo.
We will be publishing the Sarah J. Maas' second Crescent City title, House of Sky and Breath, in January 2022. Our Children's frontlist for 2021/22 includes Harry Potter - A Magical Year: The Illustrations of Jim Kay, a beautiful new gift book with a moment for every day of the year, Defy the Night, the much-anticipated new series from Brigid Kemmerer, and Renée Watson's new book Ways To Grow Love.
Outlook
The start of our 2021/22 has seen a continuation of strong trading. Whilst the Board remains mindful of the external environment, the outstanding performance in 2020/21 increases our confidence in the strength of the business and long-term strategy.
At this early stage of the new financial year, and considering the ongoing momentum and strength of our business, Bloomsbury expects revenue to be ahead and profit to be comfortably ahead of market expectations for the year ended 28 February 2022.*
* The Board considers current consensus market expectation for the year ending 28 February 2022 to be revenue of £177.5 million and profit before taxation and highlighted items of £17.4 million.
Audited Consolidated Income Statement
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2021
Year ended
Year ended
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
Notes
£'000
£'000
Revenue
2
185,136
162,772
Cost of sales
(85,533)
(74,978)
Gross profit
99,603
87,794
Marketing and distribution costs
(23,393)
(21,373)
Administrative expenses
(58,267)
(52,949)
Share of result of joint venture
(110)
-
Operating profit before highlighted items
19,637
15,947
Highlighted items
3
(1,804)
(2,475)
Operating profit
17,833
13,472
Finance income
120
270
Finance costs
(604)
(513)
Profit before taxation and highlighted items
19,153
15,704
Highlighted items
3
(1,804)
(2,475)
Profit before taxation
17,349
13,229
Taxation
4
(3,652)
(2,728)
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company
13,697
10,501
Earnings per share attributable to owners of the Company
Basic earnings per share
6
16.94p
13.58p
Diluted earnings per share
6
16.71p
13.40p
Audited Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2021
Year ended
Year ended
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
Profit for the year
13,697
10,501
Other comprehensive income
Items that may be reclassified to the income statement:
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
(2,877)
856
Items that may not be reclassified to the income statement:
Remeasurements on the defined benefit pension scheme
89
(115)
Other comprehensive income for the year net of tax
(2,788)
741
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the owners of the Company
10,909
11,242
Items in the statement above are disclosed net of tax.
Audited Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2021
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
Notes
£'000
£'000
Assets
Goodwill
44,688
45,030
Other intangible assets Investments
21,337 162
21,630 516
Property, plant and equipment
1,846
1,914
Right-of-use assets
11,433
13,343
Deferred tax assets
3,904
2,756
Trade and other receivables
7
1,005
1,237
Total non-current assets
84,375
86,426
Inventories
26,774
27,164
Trade and other receivables
7
93,542
84,805
Cash and cash equivalents
54,466
31,345
Total current assets
174,782
143,314
Total assets
259,157
229,740
Liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations
14
185
Deferred tax liabilities
2,386
2,347
Lease liabilities
11,135
12,945
Provisions
232
182
Total non-current liabilities
13,767
15,659
Trade and other liabilities
74,341
61,844
Lease liabilities
1,808
1,585
Current tax liabilities
456
328
Provisions
536
651
Total current liabilities
77,141
64,408
Total liabilities
90,908
80,067
Net assets
168,249
149,673
Equity
Share capital
1,020
942
Share premium
47,319
39,388
Translation reserve
6,630
9,507
Other reserves
9,623
7,778
Retained earnings
103,657
92,058
Total equity attributable to owners of the Company
168,249
149,673
Audited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2021
Share capital £'000
Share premium £'000
Translation reserve £'000
Merger reserve £'000
Capital redemption reserve £'000
Share-based payment reserve £'000
Own shares held by EBT £'000
Retained earnings £'000
Total equity £'000
At 28 February 2019
942
39,388
8,651
1,803
22
6,095
(802)
87,639
143,738
Profit for the year
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,501
10,501
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
-
-
856
-
-
-
-
-
856
Remeasurements on the defined benefit pension scheme
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(115)
(115)
Total comprehensive income for the year
-
-
856
-
-
-
-
10,386
11,242
Transactions with owners
Dividends to equity holders of the Company Share options exercised
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- 31
(6,009) (4)
(6,009) 27
Deferred tax on share-based payment transactions
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
46
46
Share-based payment transactions
-
-
-
-
-
629
-
-
629
Total transactions with owners of the Company
-
-
-
-
-
629
31
(5,967)
(5,307)
At 29 February 2020
942
39,388
9,507
1,803
22
6,724
(771)
92,058
149,673
Profit for the year
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,697
13,697
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
-
-
(2,877)
-
-
-
-
-
(2,877)
Remeasurements on the defined benefit pension scheme
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
89
89
Total comprehensive income for the year
-
-
(2,877)
-
-
-
-
13,786
10,909
Transactions with owners
Issue of share capital
47
7,931
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,978
Bonus issue of share capital
31
-
-
-
-
-
-
(31)
-
Dividends to equity holders of the Company Purchase of shares by the Employee Benefit Trust
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- (674)
(1,045) -
(1,045) (674)
Share options exercised
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,298
(1,114)
184
Deferred tax on share-based payment transactions
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
Share-based payment transactions
-
-
-
-
-
1,221
-
-
1,221
Total transactions with owners of the Company
78
7,931
-
-
-
1,221
624
(2,187)
7,667
At 28 February 2021
1,020
47,319
6,630
1,803
22
7,945
(147)
103,657
168,249
Audited Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2021
Year ended 28 February 2021 £'000
Year ended 29 February 2020 £'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit for the year
13,697
10,501
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
473
502
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
1,806
1,775
Amortisation of intangible assets
5,485
4,301
Impairment of investments
300
-
Finance income
(120)
(270)
Finance costs
604
513
Share of loss of Joint Venture
110
7
Share-based payment charges
1,416
761
Tax expense
3,652
2,728
27,423
20,818
Increase in inventories
(357)
(620)
Increase in trade and other receivables
(11,281)
(4,385)
Increase in trade and other liabilities
13,789
2,489
Cash generated from operating activities
29,574
18,302
Income taxes paid
(4,406)
(1,706)
Net cash generated from operating activities
25,168
16,596
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(422)
(294)
Purchase of intangible assets Purchase of business, net of cash acquired
(3,804) -
(3,137) (310)
Purchase of rights to assets
(1,547)
(1,213)
Purchase of joint ventures Interest received
(56)
(223)
110
254
Net cash used in investing activities
(5,719)
(4,923)
Cash flows from financing activities
Equity dividends paid Purchase of shares by the Employee Benefit Trust Proceeds from exercise of share options
(1,045) (674) 184
(6,009) - 27
Proceeds from share issue
7,978
-
Repayment of lease liabilities
(1,451)
(1,531)
Lease liability interest paid
(442)
(492)
Interest paid
(149)
(3)
Net cash from/ (used) in financing activities
4,401
(8,008)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
23,850
3,665
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
31,345
27,580
Exchange (loss)/gain on cash and cash equivalents
(729)
100
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
54,466
31,345
NOTES
1. Accounting policies
a) Basis of Preparation
The financial information set out above does not constitute the company's statutory accounts for the years ended 28 February 2021 or 29 February 2020 but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2020 have been delivered to the registrar of companies, and those for 2021 will be delivered in due course. The auditor has reported on those accounts; their reports were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
The Group financial statements were prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Group financial statements were also prepared in accordance with international financial reporting standards ("IFRS") adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union. Except as described below, the accounting policies applied in the year ended 28 February 2021 are consistent with those applied in the financial statements for year ended 29 February 2020 with the exception of a number of new accounting standards and amendments which have not had a material impact on the Group's results.
b) Going concern
The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence at least 12 months from the date of this preliminary announcement, being the period of the detailed going concern assessment reviewed by the Board, and therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The Board has modelled a severe but plausible downside scenario, including the impact of coronavirus. This assumes:
· Print revenues are reduced by 25% - 50% during 2021/22, with recovery during 2022/23;
· Downside assumptions about extended debtor days during 2021/22, with recovery during 2022/23;
· Cash preservation measures implemented and variable costs reduced.
Under this severe but plausible downside scenario, the Group has sufficient liquidity to be able to manage these downside assumptions.
The Group has an unsecured revolving credit facility with Lloyds Bank Plc. The facility comprises a committed revolving loan facility of £8 million in the first half and an additional £4 million in the second half, totalling £12 million, to match Bloomsbury's cashflow cycle, and an uncommitted incremental term loan facility of up to £6 million. The facilities are subject to two covenants, being a maximum net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.5x and a minimum interest cover covenant of 4x. The agreement is to May 2022.
At 28 February 2021, the Group had no draw down of this facility.
2. Revenue and segmental analysis
The Group is comprised of two worldwide publishing divisions: Consumer and Non-Consumer, reflecting the core customers for our different operations. The Consumer division is split into two operating segments: Children's Trade and Adult Trade, and Non-Consumer is split into two operating segments: Academic & Professional and Special Interest.
Each reportable segment represents a cash-generating unit for the purpose of impairment testing. We have allocated goodwill between reportable segments. These divisions are the basis on which the Group primarily reports its segment information. Segments derive their revenue from book publishing, sale of publishing and distribution rights, management and other publishing services.
The analysis by segment is shown below:
Operating profit before highlighted items/ segment results
7,400
1,667
9,067
4,906
1,974
6,880
-
15,947
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets
-
(18)
(18)
(1,504)
(214)
(1,718)
-
(1,736)
Other highlighted items
-
-
-
-
-
-
(739)
(739)
Operating profit/(loss)
7,400
1,649
9,049
3,402
1,760
5,162
(739)
13,472
Finance income
-
-
-
116
-
116
154
270
Finance costs
(110)
(94)
(204)
(201)
(88)
(289)
(20)
(513)
Profit before taxation and highlighted items
7,290
1,573
8,863
4,821
1,886
6,707
134
15,704
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets
-
(18)
(18)
(1,504)
(214)
(1,718)
-
(1,736)
Other highlighted items
-
-
-
-
-
-
(739)
(739)
Profit/(loss) before taxation
7,290
1,555
8,845
3,317
1,672
4,989
(605)
13,229
Taxation
-
-
-
-
-
-
(2,728)
(2,728)
Profit/(loss) for the year
7,290
1,555
8,845
3,317
1,672
4,989
(3,333)
10,501
Operating profit before highlighted items/ segment results
7,400
1,667
9,067
4,906
1,974
6,880
-
15,947
Depreciation
821
515
1,336
626
315
941
-
2,277
Amortisation of internally generated intangibles
360
210
570
1,817
178
1,995
-
2,565
EBITDA before highlighted items
8,581
2,392
10,973
7,349
2,467
9,816
-
20,789
External revenue by source
United Kingdom £'000
North America £'000
Australia £'000
India £'000
Total £'000
Year ended 28 February 2021
117,429
53,872
11,084
2,751
185,136
Year ended 29 February 2020
104,440
42,415
11,107
4,810
162,772
During the year sales to one customer exceeded 10% of Group revenue (2020: one customer). The value of these sales was £68,597,000 (2020: £43,405,000).
External revenue by product type
Year ended 28 February 2021
Children's Trade £'000
Adult Trade £'000
Consumer £'000
Academic & Professional £'000
Special Interest £'000
Non-Consumer £'000
Total £'000
Print
63,708
34,644
98,352
23,267
18,200
41,467
139,819
Digital
7,636
8,298
15,934
19,015
2,730
21,745
37,679
Rights and Services1
3,255
819
4,074
2,025
1,539
3,564
7,638
Total
74,599
43,761
118,360
44,307
22,469
66,776
185,136
Year ended 29 February 2020
Children's Trade £'000
Adult Trade £'000
Consumer £'000
Academic & Professional £'000
Special Interest £'000
Non-Consumer £'000
Total £'000
Print
52,646
29,460
82,106
28,438
18,571
47,009
129,115
Digital
3,029
6,772
9,801
12,099
2,235
14,334
24,135
Rights and Services1
3,679
1,184
4,863
2,586
2,073
4,659
9,522
Total
59,354
37,416
96,770
43,123
22,879
66,002
162,772
1 Rights and Services revenue includes revenue from copyright and trademark licences, management contracts, advertising and publishing services.
Total assets
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
Children's Trade
10,361
11,016
Adult Trade
7,495
6,747
Academic & Professional
58,527
59,128
Special Interest
12,773
13,492
Unallocated
170,001
139,357
Total assets
259,157
229,740
Unallocated primarily represents centrally held assets including system development, property plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, receivables and cash.
Analysis of non-current assets (excluding deferred tax assets) by geographic location
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
United Kingdom (country of domicile)
73,711
75,839
North America
6,633
7,638
Other
127
193
Total
80,471
83,670
3. Highlighted items
Year ended
Year ended
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
Legal and other professional fees
203
461
Coronavirus onerous costs
-
180
Restructuring costs
1,076
98
Paycheck Protection Program grant
(1,284)
-
Other highlighted items
(5)
739
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets
1,809
1,736
Total highlighted items
1,804
2,475
Highlighted items charged to operating profit comprise significant non-cash charges and major one-off initiatives which are highlighted in the income statement because, in the opinion of the Directors, separate disclosure is helpful in understanding the underlying performance and future profitability of the business.
All highlighted items are included in administrative expenses in the income statement.
For the year ended 28 February 2021, legal and other professional fees of £203,000 were incurred as a result of the Group's ongoing and completed acquisitions, including certain assets of Red Globe Press and Zed Books Limited. Restructuring costs primarily relate to restructuring in both divisions. The Paycheck Protection Program grant was received from the US Government's Small Business Administration.
For the year ended 29 February 2020 Legal and other professional fees of £461,000 were incurred as a result of the Group's ongoing and completed acquisitions, including those of Oberon Books Limited and our joint venture, Beijing CYP & Gakken Education Development Co., Ltd. Coronavirus onerous costs of £180,000 are irrecoverable costs crystallised in the year associated with book fairs and conferences that have been cancelled due to the coronavirus. Restructuring costs relate to the acquisition of Oberon Books Limited and I.B. Tauris & Co. Limited.
4. Taxation
Factors affecting tax charge for the year
The tax on the Group's profit before tax differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 19.00% (2020: 19.00%). The reasons for this are explained below:
Year ended
Year ended
28 February 2021
29 February 2020
£'000
%
£'000
%
Profit before taxation
17,349
100.0
13,229
100.0
Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.00% (2020: 19.00%)
3,296
19.0
2,514
19.0
Effects of:
Non-deductible revenue expenditure
80
0.5
153
1.1
Non-taxable income
(131)
(0.8)
-
-
Movement in unrecognised temporary differences
(52)
(0.3)
47
0.4
Different rates of tax in foreign jurisdictions
444
2.6
142
1.1
Tax losses
217
1.2
(124)
(0.9)
Movement in deferred tax rate
132
0.8
-
-
Adjustment to tax charge in respect of prior years
Current tax
289
1.7
(33)
(0.3)
Deferred tax
(391)
(2.3)
(57)
(0.4)
Tax charge for the year before disallowable costs on highlighted items
3,884
22.4
2,642
20.0
Highlighted items:
Disallowable costs
38
0.2
86
0.6
Disallowable credits
(270)
(1.6)
-
-
Tax charge for the year
3,652
21.0
2,728
20.6
Different rates of tax in foreign jurisdictions is where we are paying tax at higher rates in the US and Australia as well as paying state taxes in the US.
Adjustments to prior periods primarily arise where an outcome is obtained on certain tax matters which differs from expectations held when the related provision was made. Where the outcome is more favourable than the provision made, the difference is released, lowering the current year tax charge. Where the outcome is less favourable than our provision, an additional charge to current year tax will occur.
The disallowable credits relate to the US Government Paycheck Protection Program grant.
We are not aware of any significant unprovided exposures that are considered likely to materialise.
5. Dividends
Year ended
Year ended
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
Amounts paid in the year
Prior period final dividend per share (2020: 6.75p)
-
5,051
Interim 1.28p dividend per share (2020: 1.28p)
1,045
958
Total dividend payments in the year
1,045
6,009
Amounts arising in respect of the year
Interim 1.28p dividend per share for the year (2020: 1.28p)
1,045
958
Proposed 7.58p final dividend per share for the year (2020: nil)
6,182
-
Proposed 9.78p special dividend per share for the year (2020: nil)
7,976
-
Total dividend 18.64p per share for the year (2020: 1.28p)
15,203
958
The Directors are recommending a final dividend of 7.58 pence per share and a special dividend of 9.78 pence per share, which, subject to Shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting, will be paid on 27 August 2021 to Shareholders on the register on the record date of 30 July 2021.
For the year ended 29 February 2020, Bloomsbury made a bonus issue to Shareholders in lieu of, and with a value equivalent to, it's proposed final cash dividend of 6.89 pence per ordinary share.
6. Earnings per share
The basic earnings per share for the year ended 28 February 2021 is calculated using a weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue of 80,867,938 (2020: 77,344,388) after deducting shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust.
The diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of Ordinary shares to take account of all dilutive potential Ordinary shares, which are in respect of unexercised share options and the Performance Share Plan.
Year ended
Year ended
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
Number
Number Restated*
Weighted average shares in issue
80,867,938
77,344,388
Dilution
1,082,577
1,026,939
Diluted weighted average shares in issue
81,950,515
78,371,327
£'000
£'000
Profit after tax attributable to owners of the Company
13,697
10,501
Basic earnings per share
16.94p
13.58p
Diluted earnings per share
16.71p
13.40p
£'000
£'000
Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Company
15,310
12,720
Adjusted basic earnings per share
18.93p
16.45p
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
18.68p
16.23p
Adjusted profit is derived as follows:
Year ended
Year ended
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
Profit before taxation
17,349
13,229
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets
1,809
1,736
Other highlighted items
(5)
739
Adjusted profit before tax
19,153
15,704
Tax expense
3,652
2,728
Deferred tax movements on goodwill and acquired intangible assets
(41)
202
Tax expense on other highlighted items
232
54
Adjusted tax
3,843
2,984
Adjusted profit
15,310
12,720
The Group includes the benefit of tax amortisation of intangible assets in the calculation of adjusted
tax as this more accurately aligns the adjusted tax charge with the expected cash tax payments.
*Restatement of earnings per share due to the bonus issue of shares (note 8).
7. Trade and other receivables
28 February
29 February
2021
2020
£'000
£'000
Non-current
Accrued income
1,005
1,237
Current
Gross trade receivables
61,897
54,252
Less: loss allowance
(3,230)
(1,832)
Net trade receivables
58,667
52,420
Income tax recoverable
171
481
Other receivables
3,623
1,510
Prepayments
1,072
1,350
Accrued income
5,219
4,201
Royalty advances
24,790
24,843
Total current trade and other receivables
93,542
84,805
Total trade and other receivables
94,547
86,042
Non-current receivables relate to accrued income on long-term rights deals.
Trade receivables principally comprise amounts receivable from the sale of books due from distributors. The majority of trade debtors are secured by credit insurance and in certain territories by third party distributors.
A provision is held against gross advances payable in respect of published title advances which may not be fully earned down by anticipated future sales. As at 28 February 2021, £7,786,000 (2020: £5,604,000) of royalty advances are expected to be recovered after more than 12 months.
8. Restatement of earnings per share due to the bonus issue of shares in the year
On 28 August 2020 a bonus issue in lieu of final dividend of 2,513,674 Ordinary Shares of 1.25 pence
each, were provided to Shareholders on the register on the record date of 31 July 2020. This bonus
issue was made to Shareholders in lieu of, and with a value equivalent to, the final dividend
Bloomsbury would have declared in the absence of coronavirus.
Year ended 29 February 2020 Restated
Year ended 29 February 2020
Basic earnings per share
13.58p
14.03p
Diluted earnings per share
13.40p
13.84p
Adjusted basic earnings per share
16.45p
17.00p
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
16.23p
16.77p
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share calculation
77,344,388
74,830,714
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share calculation
78,371,327
75,857,653
9. Post Balance Sheet Events
On 23 April 2021, the Group announced the acquisition of certain assets of Red Globe Press ("RGP"), the academic imprint, from Macmillan Education Limited, a part of Springer Nature Group. The transaction completed on 1 June 2021. The consideration is £3.7 million, of which £1.8 million was satisfied in cash at completion and up to £1.9 million will be paid post-completion, subject to assignment of certain contracts.
RGP specialises in high-quality publishing for Higher Education students globally in Humanities and Social Sciences, Business and Management, and Study Skills. RGP has a backlist of more than 7,000 titles and publishes more than 100 new titles per year, with content including digital platforms, textbooks, research-driven materials and general academic publishing. The acquired RGP titles are a good strategic fit, strengthen Bloomsbury's existing academic publishing, and establish new areas of academic publishing in Business and Management, Study Skills and Psychology. RGP's three digital products will be migrated to Bloomsbury Digital Resources' own platform and its content added to Bloomsbury Collections. The business will operate within Bloomsbury's Academic & Professional division. There are opportunities for profit enhancements following the integration of the business into Bloomsbury.
The Group will take on inventories, advances and intangible assets associated with taking on the titles, imprint and digital products. No cash or trade receivables will transfer as part of the acquisition. Given the timing of the acquisition in relation to the date these accounts were signed no further information is available for disclosure.
10. Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 21 July 2021.
11. Report and Accounts
Copies of the Annual Report and Financial Statements will be circulated to shareholders in July and can be viewed after the posting date on the Bloomsbury website.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
END
FR UPUBCQUPGPWG
