Four in five printers working under capacity in disappointing quarter
Caitlin Fitzsimmons, printweek.com, 22 June 2007
The print industry had a tough start to the year, with spring failing to deliver the expected recovery in demand, a new report suggests.
Directions, the BPIF survey of industry trading trends, shows many respondents became too enthusiastic about the outlook for the industry after generally encouraging results in the autumn and winter.
Many respondents reported that the March-May quarter failed to meet expectations, while the proportion of firms working below capacity increased to nearly four in five (78%) from just over three in five (62%) the previous quarter.
Nearly one in four (24%) respondents said order books were worse than normal for the time of year, compared with one in five (21%) last quarter, while the proportion of firms reporting order books better than normal fell from 38% to 31%.
However, printers remain optimistic about the upcoming trading period and predict that ongoing consolidation in the industry - through both acquisition and weaker firms going into liquidation - will relieve the competitive pressure.
BPIF corporate affairs director Andrew Brown said the pace of change in the industry provided opportunities for progressive management.
"Although the results this time around were disappointing compared with the last two quarters, it is encouraging to see that printers are reasonably optimistic about the period ahead," he said.
"It is clear that rationalisation continues to take its toll on the industry, creating further opportunities for companies seeking mergers or acquisitions."
Many small to medium-sized general commercial printers signalled their plans to acquire other businesses, recognising that organic growth is difficult, but growth and economies of scale can be achieved through strategic acquisition.
Printers also plan to increase capital expenditure on plant and machinery in the coming year, with many companies either investing in digital for the first time or enhancing their digital capacity.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Ziff Davis Sheds Enterprise Group, Revamps as Web-Focused Publisher
Ziff Davis Sheds Enterprise Group, Revamps as Web-Focused Publisher
by Erik Sass, Monday, Jun 25, 2007 8:00 AM ET
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY PUBLISHER ZIFF Davis is continuing to divest itself of some titles, with the sale of its Enterprise Group. In addition to print properties eWeek, CIO and Baseline magazine, it also sold online ones: eweek.com, webbuyersguide.com, cioinsight.com, baselinemag.com, Microsoft-watch.com, channelinsider.com and deviceforge.com. Plus, it included a valuable database of 3.5 million business technology users in the sale.
The Enterprise Group is being sold to an affiliate of Insight Venture Partners, a private-equity and venture-capital firm, for about $150 million. Ziff Davis CEO Robert Callahan observed: "Insight Venture Partners has exciting plans to continue to pursue growth opportunities in this rapidly transforming technology media environment."
The sale of the division is, in part, a continuation of earlier sales and closures of print and online properties Ziff Davis deemed less profitable or peripheral to its mission.
During the last five years, the company has cut costs and reformulated itself as a Web-focused publisher. In the last year, it has finally returned to profitability after enduring a several-year slump. The Internet's impact on publishing hit the company earlier than many consumer magazines because of its tech-savvy audience.
In the first quarter of 2007, Ziff Davis saw a 15% increase in earnings to $3.1 million. Earnings increased despite a total revenue decline of 12%, or $4.3 million, as the company wrapped up a period when it shed a number of unprofitable print publications. This is the fourth quarter in which revenue fell, but profitability increased.
The curious phenomenon of falling revenues paired with increasing earnings may be indicative of a general trend. Magazine companies that move aggressively to online-centered business models are likely to be smaller, but also more profitable, after the transition.
by Erik Sass, Monday, Jun 25, 2007 8:00 AM ET
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY PUBLISHER ZIFF Davis is continuing to divest itself of some titles, with the sale of its Enterprise Group. In addition to print properties eWeek, CIO and Baseline magazine, it also sold online ones: eweek.com, webbuyersguide.com, cioinsight.com, baselinemag.com, Microsoft-watch.com, channelinsider.com and deviceforge.com. Plus, it included a valuable database of 3.5 million business technology users in the sale.
The Enterprise Group is being sold to an affiliate of Insight Venture Partners, a private-equity and venture-capital firm, for about $150 million. Ziff Davis CEO Robert Callahan observed: "Insight Venture Partners has exciting plans to continue to pursue growth opportunities in this rapidly transforming technology media environment."
The sale of the division is, in part, a continuation of earlier sales and closures of print and online properties Ziff Davis deemed less profitable or peripheral to its mission.
During the last five years, the company has cut costs and reformulated itself as a Web-focused publisher. In the last year, it has finally returned to profitability after enduring a several-year slump. The Internet's impact on publishing hit the company earlier than many consumer magazines because of its tech-savvy audience.
In the first quarter of 2007, Ziff Davis saw a 15% increase in earnings to $3.1 million. Earnings increased despite a total revenue decline of 12%, or $4.3 million, as the company wrapped up a period when it shed a number of unprofitable print publications. This is the fourth quarter in which revenue fell, but profitability increased.
The curious phenomenon of falling revenues paired with increasing earnings may be indicative of a general trend. Magazine companies that move aggressively to online-centered business models are likely to be smaller, but also more profitable, after the transition.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
