In a stable market, Editis posted net sales of
€760 million in 2007, outperforming its market.
Editis’ operating income once again increased
signifi cantly, by 16%, leading to profi tability of
12.2%.
GOOD ORGANIC GROWTH.
Organic growth
totaled 2.5%, comparable to that of 2006, driven
by three business segments: Literature, where
2007 bestsellers performed well and the paperback
format continued to expand, Education,
where performance was favorable and books
for young people sold well, and Distribution,
which benefi ted from new contracts signed with
outside publishers, strengthening Interforum’s
business.
MOMENTUM IN ACQUISITIONS.
In 2007, Editis
pursued an active investment policy, acquiring
Belgian group De Boeck, publishing house
Gründ and the educational company Paraschool.
Alongside DNL, acquired in 2006, these
acquisitions contributed to growth in consolidated
net sales (up 9%) and offset the impact of
discontinuing the university distribution contract,
which was transferred to the Lagardčre group as
of January 1, 2007 (down 10%).
With the acquisition of the Belgian group De
Boeck (2006 sales of 40 million), Editis has
expanded its Education division and strengthened
its presence in Belgium. De Boeck is the
leader in French-language schoolbooks in Belgium,
and is present at the university, graduate
and professional levels, as well as in the legal
field, in French and in Dutch.
Through the acquisition of Gründ, Editis has
strengthened its presence in practical books
and books for young people in France. Founded
in 1880, Gründ publishes books on art, nature,
practical guides and books for young people.
Exports account for 20% of its sales.
With Paraschool, Editis has entered the interactive
content area as it relates to professional
training and school tutoring. Paraschool has
seen steady, rapid growth in sales since it was
created in 2000.
NEW CHALLENGE: DIGITAL PUBLISHING.
In
2007, Editis brought new skills and resources
on board to meet the challenge of the digital
economy and make itself competitive at every
level of the publishing value chain, from the
author to the reader. A new organization was
implemented with three main orientations: a
director of digital publishing was hired to defi ne
new business models, an ambitious project to
digitize the company’s entire catalog was
launched and an e-commerce distribution
channel was created.
HIGHLIGHTS.
In early 2008, publishers within
the Editis group merged, based on their complementary
nature of the material they publish,
so as to attain the size and level of resources
necessary for further expansion. Gründ and
First were combined, then Perrin and Presses
de la Renaissance. In addition, Hemma has
joined Place des éditeurs and its new young
people’s division.
OUTLOOK
In 2008, Editis intends
to pursue its organic growth
by expanding into new
publishing segments, signing
new distribution contracts
and seizing opportunities in
digital publishing.
Editis also plans to take
advantage of any acquisition
opportunities that would allow
it to strengthen its business.
