The Quarto Group (LSE: QRT) is the leading global illustrated book publisher and distribution group and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Our mission is to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of our readers, putting books in their hands, wherever, however and whenever they choose. Quarto creates more than 1,500 adult and children's books a year. These books are sold into 35 countries and in 25 languages. Subjects range from Art 'How-To', Graphic Design, and Home Improvement, to Cooking, Gardening, Motoring, and Crafts. In fact, we cover any subject that can be better explained with photographs or illustrations. Put another way, we love making great books and we love selling lots of them to readers as passionate about our subjects as we are.

http://www.quartoknows.com/Corporate/about-us/

Half-year Report

RNS


RNS Number : 5829G

Quarto Group Inc

09 August 2016




THE QUARTO GROUP, INC.

("Quarto" or the "Company" or the "Group")



Half-Year Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 2016



The Quarto Group, Inc. (LSE: QRT), the leading global illustrated book publisher and distribution group announces its unaudited half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.



Financial Highlights




·

Revenue of $73.3m up 8% in the period (H1 2015: $67.7m1)


·

Publishing revenue of $57.8m up 16% (H1 2015: $49.9m)


·

Adjusted2 group operating profit of $0.4m (H1 2015: $0.7m1)


·

Core publishing adjusted operating profit up by $1.2m


·

Adjusted loss before tax of $1.1m (H1 2015: $0.8m1)



·

Loss before tax of $1.4m (H1 2015: $1.6m1)


·

Continued focus on reducing net debt: $8.5m reduction to $72.5m (H1 2015: $81.0m)


·

Interim dividend maintained at 5.13c/3.93p3 (H1 2015: 5.13c/3.35p) 3




Operational Highlights




·

Continued strength in the US market with revenue up by 17% and adjusted operating profit up by 39%. Harvard Common Press, acquired in February, has been successfully integrated.


·

Acquisition of becker&mayer, announced on 8 August 2016, adds another creative hub in the US with a sizeable children's publishing element to it.


·

Disappointing result from Books & Gifts Direct, with adjusted operating profit down $1.1m but with recovery expected in the second half, based on order book visibility.


·

Children's and foreign rights revenues also growing, with Children's revenues up 36%.





[1]

Restated as set out in Note 1.


2

Throughout this document, adjusted measures are stated before amortisation of acquired intangible assets and exceptional items.


3

Dividend per share is declared in cents per share and paid in sterling translated at the spot rate at the time of payment. For the purpose of illustration above, we have used the closing spot rate on Friday 5 August of $1 : £1.306.




Commenting on the results, Chief Executive, Marcus Leaver said:



"It has been another six months of progress for the Group. Importantly, the acquisition of becker&mayer adds another creative hub in the US and continues to build long-term shareholder value.



As we have highlighted before, we are increasingly second-half weighted. Trading remains on track, with healthy order book visibility, and we remain confident of both reducing debt and delivering growth for a fourth successive year."



- ENDS

Director/PDMR Shareholding

RNS


RNS Number : 6057H

Quarto Group Inc

19 August 2016






19 August 2016



The Quarto Group, Inc.



("Quarto", "the Group" or "the Company")



NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS, PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY ("PDMR") OR PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM ("PCA")





In accordance with Disclosure Rule 3.1.4R(1), Quarto announces that it received notice yesterday that Marcus Leaver, Chief Executive Officer, acquired 5,494 shares of common stock of $0.10 each ("Shares") in Quarto at a weighted average price of 275.1 pence per Share on 18 August 2016.



Following this transaction, Marcus Leaver holds 383,383 Shares representing 1.88% of Quarto's issued share capital.



The Company has also received notice that Anna Leaver, Marcus Leaver's wife, acquired 5117 Shares at a weighted average price of 277 pence per Share on 18 August 2016.



Following this transaction, Anna Leaver holds 5117 Shares representing 0.025% of Quarto's issued share capital and therefore Marcus Leaver, and persons closely associated with him, hold, in aggregate, 388,500 Share representing 1.90% of the Company's issued share capital.