Companies: CAU   

Business publisher Centaur Media has increased interim revenues, but pre-tax profits are 22 per cent down at £3.8 million.

Turnover at fully listed Centaur rose 12 per cent to £37.7 million in the six months to December, and the acquisitive group lifted earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation, excluding exceptional items, by 37 per cent to £5.6 million. Chaired by Graham Sherren, the company, which ended the six months to December 2005 with £10.2 million cash and closed the 2005-06 financial year with £7.8 million in the kitty, had £5.4 million at the end of last December.

Advertising revenues grew 19 per cent, helped by acquisitions, the increasing strength of the company’s online products and its legal and financial division. Since last June, Centaur has launched five new events and nine new online channels, together with Web TV, and has agreed a joint venture with YouGov.

Geoff Wilmot, promoted last November from chief financial officer to chief executive officer, proclaims: ‘The outlook for the second half is positive and we remain confident about the outcome for the full year.’ Recommended by Growth Company Investor at 111p last July, the shares now stand at 150p and could make progress over the long term.

Centaur Media	LSE	£64.72m	45.50p	-0.25p
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