Momentum and Optimisation: Future announce 2015 Full Year Results

Today Future announced its preliminary results for the 2015 financial year to the London Stock Exchange.

The headlines were that Future has successfully completed an 18-month transformation period, is building momentum thanks to an ongoing ‘Content that Connects’ strategy, and optimising for growth by creating distinct Media and Magazine divisions.

In particular, the decision to structure around Media and Magazine has been endorsed by shareholders from whom Future has raised £3m. This will be invested in rapidly-growing revenue streams including e-commerce, events and digital advertising to accelerate growth and profit generation.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, Future’s Chief Executive, said: “We have completed a substantial transformation of the business over the last 18 months, with 2015 being a year of building momentum. All territories are now profitable and we are seeing the acceleration of our growing digital and diversified revenue streams.

“We are splitting the business into two separately managed brand-led divisions, Media and Magazine. The Media division is focused on global brands that are at the forefront of digital innovation, particularly within the high growth technology and games markets. The Magazine division will continue to deliver specialist market-leading content through a number of premier print brands.

“The funds raised will enable us to invest in the rapid growth of the Media division. We look forwards with increasing confidence, and expect to continue to grow the Group’s profitability in the current financial year.”

A detailed full year statement can be found here.

Half Year Market Update: Future confirm positive start to year

On Thursday 7 April Future released a trading update for the six months to 31 March 2016 that confirms a positive start to the year.

The Media division has seen particularly strong growth in new revenue streams with e-commerce growth of +250% particularly impressive. TechRadar has been the key driver of this strong performance. Elsewhere in the division the Group has successfully launched its new gaming event, The PC Gamer Weekender, and hosted another highly successful Photography Show.

The magazine division report an increase in market share. The magazine portfolio continues to be managed tightly with key titles showing year on year ABC growth.

Future also used the Half Year update to confirm the acquisition of Noble House Media, a multi-platform publisher specialising in the tech sector. Noble House publish consumer mobile magazine, Mobile Choice, as well as trade magazines Wireless and Mobile, and complementing websites. They also run the prestigious Mobile Choice Awards and Mobile Industry Awards. With areas in common – particularly a track record in the tech sector – Future’s acquisition of Noble House presents mutually beneficial opportunities in print, online and events for both businesses. There should be opportunities for further similar bolt-ons to take advantage of a market that remains fragmented.

Ultimately Future confirmed that management expectations for both the half year and full year remain unchanged.

The 3-page detailed market update can be viewed here.

Future acquires Net Communities Ltd

FUTURE DOUBLES ITS TECHNOLOGY AUDIENCE TO BECOME THE UK’S LEADING TECHNOLOGY MEDIA PUBLISHER

On 6 July Future announced the acquisition of Net Communities, an award-winning digital company that specialises in advertising solutions and publishing for a range of market leading, global media partners.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, further strengthens Future’s digital reach in the UK, particularly within the technology and games markets.

Future currently has a UK online audience of 8m monthly users across its technology, games, film, music, photography and creative portfolio.  Net Communities has a UK online audience of over 10m monthly users across a renowned portfolio of sites from publishers such as Vox Media, Purch and Digital Trends.

In technology, the deal solidifies Future’s market leading technology portfolio and brands such as TechRadar, T3 and Gizmodo UK will now be joined by Net Communities renowned portfolio.

These partnerships grow Future’s tech-loving audience to a combined reach of over 15 million engaged users and confirms Future’s Games reach as the biggest in the UK.

Not only will the acquisition see Future double its online reach in the UK, and thus provide clients with even more ways to connect with an influential audience, but it will also accelerate the company’s Business Technology proposition with the acquisition of Net Communities’ sites ITProportal, ITReviews and ITWhitePapers which, combined with Future’s B2B sites TechradarPro and Lifehacker UK, deliver an audience of over 2m IT Decision Makers.

Zillah Byng-Maddick, CEO of Future, says,

“This acquisition of Net Communities is a great opportunity for us to leverage the synergies and specialism between the two businesses. Future has a strong track record in the tech sector connecting audiences with technology and lifestyle brands.  Our combined audience reach will now ensure we are able to unlock the best commercial deals in the UK market place.”

Andy Evans, Net Communities CEO and Founder, says,

“There has been a long-standing mutual admiration between Net Communities and Future, so this opportunity  was an obvious fit for both business.  As a result, this acquisition came together very naturally enabling Future to deliver exceptional market reach across some of the most admired web properties consumer and B2B technology. The Net Communities team and I are very excited about the opportunities that can be created as we move forward in unison”