Bauer Media has reported a 2015 sales turnover of €2.316 billion, with the company’s magazine business the biggest contributor.
Magazine sales accounted for €1.292b while the company’s digital division continued to grow, up 16.2% to €122m.
Following acquisitions in Scandinavia and the UK, Bauer’s radio business achieved the strongest growth posting sales of €320m and year-on-year growth of 38.5%.
While the company does not have any ties to radio in the Australian market, the proposed media reforms could open the market to more M&A activity. Bauer has previously been linked with moves for Southern Cross and Nova Entertainment Company.
Publisher Yvonne Bauer says: “Our growth is based on innovative products and the constant nurturing of our brands. Print is the platform for our success. In addition we will continue to expand the pillars of radio and digital and make further strategic investments in all our business fields.”
Bauer says the results were the second-highest turnover in the company’s history. The financials were not broken down by country, meaning no figures for the Australian business are available. Sales outside Germany accounted for 65.6% of total turnover – a slight increase on the previous year (64.9%).
Bauer Media also reported an increase in headcount with 11,500 now working for the group, up 6.5% on the previous year.
In the local market, Bauer recently named Christian Fricke as the head of its digital arm, replacing Carl Hammerschmidt. In his first move earlier this month, Fricke cut three roles from the publisher including former video manager Dallas Baird, audience management director and corporate counsel Sarla Fernando and head of product Anna Almedia.
Fricke spoke to AdNews about the biggest challenges facing publishers in the global market. Read more here.
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