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Walker opens multimedia arm

11.10.07 Caroline Horn

Walker Books has created a new department, Walker Productions, to manage and develop multi-
media opportunities for its properties. The company will announce two television and licensing projects later this year, said UK m.d. Helen McAleer.

The announcement was made on the back of Walker's results for 2006, which showed an 11% increase in turnover, to £53m for the year to 31st December, with pretax profits up slightly to £2.9m.

Group director David Heatherwick warned, however: "It will be a bit more difficult for us this year because in all markets in which we operate, the economic situation has not been as good, but we expect reasonable growth."

During 2006, all three of the group's companies saw growth. UK sales were up 10% to £26m while US sister company Candlewick saw a 12% growth in turnover to $58m. Walker Books Australia was up by 3% to Aus$9.9m.

Heatherwick attributed the increases to strong sales of particular titles, such as Where's Wally? The Great Picture Book Hunt, which sold 700,000 copies.

Financial Caroline Horn children's Walker Books Helen McAleer

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