Bastei Lübbe confirms higher forecast with strong nine-month figures

EQS-News: Bastei Lübbe AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement
Bastei Lübbe confirms higher forecast with strong nine-month figures

08.02.2024 / 07:30 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Bastei Lübbe confirms higher forecast with strong nine-month figures

  * Group revenues in the first nine months of the 2023/2024 financial year
    increased by 15.3 percent over the previous year to EUR84.4 million
    (previous year: EUR73.2 million)

* Significant increase in Group EBIT to EUR11.7 million (previous year: EUR4.8

    million) in tandem with substantially wider EBIT margin of 13.9 percent
    (previous year: 6.6 percent)

  * Revenues driven by strong Christmas business and growth in
    community-driven business models

* Previously raised full-year 2023/2024 forecast confirmed


Cologne, 8 February 2024 - Bastei Lübbe AG, a general-interest publishing
group listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN
DE000A1X3YY0), has continued on the dynamic trajectory emerging in the first
half of the year, growing significantly again in the third quarter of its
2023/2024 financial year, while achieving further increases in
profitability. As a progressive full-range publisher with diverse
entertainment and specialist areas of interests for all age groups and a
comprehensive range of media channels, the group is benefiting from its
broad strategic orientation and successful Christmas business.

'At the beginning of January, we raised our forecast for the current
financial year and can now impressively confirm this with our nine-month
figures. I am particularly pleased with the broad basis of this very
favourable performance. Almost all of our business lines are moving jointly
in the right direction and confirming our corporate strategy,' explains
Soheil Dastyari, CEO of Bastei Lübbe AG.

Growth driven by fiction catalogue, Christmas business and community models

In the period from April to December 2023, Bastei Lübbe AG generated Group
revenues of EUR84.4 million, up from EUR73.2 million in the same period of the
previous year, equivalent to an increase of 15.3 percent. The attractive
fiction catalogue had a positive impact on Christmas business, driven by
best sellers such as 'The Weapons of Light' by Ken Follett, 'Das dritte Herz
des Oktopus' by Dirk Rossmann and Ralf Hoppe and 18th volume of 'Diaries of
a Wimpy Child' by Jeff Kinney.

Consequently, revenues in the 'Book' segment increased by 15.9 percent to
EUR78.7 million (previous year: EUR67.9 million). Other revenue drivers were the
steadily widening share of community-driven business models in the New and
Young Adult segment with its loyal readership as well as digital audio
products. With its range targeted at young adults, the LYX imprint continued
to perform very well, growing by 21.2 percent over the previous year, while
the audio segment posted an increase of 10.8 percent. New releases by Mona
Kasten ('Fallen Princess') and Hannah Grace ('Icebreaker') were particular
highlights at LYX. The Community Editions imprint, which specialises in
publications by social media artists, also made a positive contribution to
growth with the successful launch of the 'humble but bold' online D2C shop.
The cumulative share of revenues contributed by the community-driven
business models reached 35 percent in the first nine months of the 2023/2024
financial year.

The 'Novel Booklets' segment generated revenues of EUR5.6 million in the
nine-month period, up from EUR5.3 million in the previous year. The lower
volume sales in wholesale press business were offset by price increases and
the expansion of subscription and digital business. In addition, catalogue
and sales initiatives to mark the publisher's anniversary had a positive
impact.

Group EBIT rose significantly to EUR11.7 million in the first nine months of
2023/2024, up from EUR4.8 million in the previous year, while the EBIT margin
also widened to 13.9 percent (previous year: 6.6 percent). This is
particularly due to the substantially higher revenues compared to the
previous year. EBIT in the 'Book' segment rose from EUR4.6 million in the
previous year to EUR11.0 million in the period under review. At EUR0.7 million
in the period under review, EBIT from the 'Novel Booklets' segment was also
up on the previous year (EUR0.2 million). In addition to the higher revenues,
this was also due to lower paper and printing costs. Group earnings before
taxes (EBT) amounted to EUR11.2 million in the first nine months of 2023/2024
(previous year: EUR4.6 million). Consolidated net profit for the period
reached EUR9.5 million (previous year: EUR2.6 million). Accordingly, earnings
per share rose significantly to EUR0.72, up from EUR0.19 in the previous year.

As of 31 December 2023, total Group assets stood at EUR112.9 million, up from
EUR107.9 million as of 31 March 2023. At EUR62.1 million on 31 December 2023,
the share of equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent company
was EUR7.3 million higher than on 31 March 2023 (EUR54.8 million). This reflects
opposing effects from the net profit for the period on the one hand and the
dividend distribution for the 2022/2023 financial year on the other.

Higher full-year forecast confirmed

The Executive Board confirms the forecast for the 2023/2024 financial year,
which was increased on 8 January 2024, and continues to expect Group
revenues of between EUR109 and 111 million and EBIT in a range of EUR12.5 to
13.5 million.

Bastei Lübbe AG's report on the first nine months of the 2023/2024 financial
year is available at www.bastei-luebbe.de.


About Bastei Lübbe AG:

Bastei Lübbe AG is a German general-interest publisher based in Cologne,
specialising in the publication of books, audio books and e-books featuring
fiction and popular science content. The company's core business also
includes the periodically published novel booklets. With a total of fifteen
imprints, the group currently offers several thousand titles in the fields
of fiction, non-fiction and children's and young people's books. In the
growing segment of hardcover fiction, the company has been one of the market
leaders in Germany for many years. At the same time, Bastei Lübbe is a
driver of innovation in digital media and exploitation channels through the
production of thousands of audio and e-books among other things.

With annual revenues of around EUR100 million (2022/2023 financial year),
Bastei Lübbe AG is one of the largest medium-sized companies in the German
publishing industry. Its shares have been listed in the Prime Standard of
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (WKN A1X3YY, ISIN DE000A1X3YY0) since 2013.
Further information can be found at www.bastei-luebbe.de.

Contact Bastei Lübbe AG:
Barbara Fischer
Head of Press and Public Relations
Phone: +49 (0)221 8200 2850
E-Mail: barbara.fischer@luebbe.de


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08.02.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS
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   Language:       English
   Company:        Bastei Lübbe AG
                   Schanzenstraße 6 - 20
                   51063 Köln
                   Germany
   Phone:          02 21 / 82 00 - 0
   Fax:            02 21 / 82 00 - 1900
   E-mail:         investorrelations@luebbe.de
   Internet:       www.luebbe.de
   ISIN:           DE000A1X3YY0
   WKN:            A1X3YY
   Listed:         Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
                   Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf,
                   Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
   EQS News ID:    1832853

End of News EQS News Service
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1832853 08.02.2024 CET/CEST