Holtzbrinck's North America Sales Fell in '07

While publicly traded publishers are using the first quarter of 2009 to announce their 2008 results, privately held Holtzbrinck has quietly disclosed its 2007 figures on its Web site. Total revenue at the German-based media conglomerate rose 10.9%, to 2.49 billion euros ($3.17 billion at current exchange rates), and operating EBITDA rose 7% to 222.1 million euros. The increase included acquisitions plus organic growth of 6%.

Sales in North America fell 3% in 2007, to 521.1 million euros, representing 20.9% of Holtzbrinck's revenue. The company's North American presence includes Macmillan's trade and college operations as well as Scientific American. Sales to all other regions rose in 2007. Within its consumer book segment, sales slipped 0.5%, to 630.6 million euros, while sales in the education and science segment rose 9%, to 750.5 million euros, led by gains in the U.S. college group. Digital media (the electronic media and services group) had the biggest gain in the year, with sales jumping 532%, to 177.3 million euros, a figure that represents about 1% of total revenue.