February 28, 2012updated 12 Sep 2012 7:46pm

UBM reports revenue and profit boost in 2011

Business publisher UBM saw revenues rise 9.3 per cent in 2011 £972.3m coupled with a 17.5 per cent hike in operating profit to £201.9m, according to figures released this morning.

Revenue at the company's data services section, which includes magazines such as Building and Property Week, was up 1.2 per cent to £184.7m but adjusted operating profit fell 11.1 per cent to £34.1m

Its healthcare section saw revenue up 1 per cent to £71.1m while built environment was also up 0.8 per cent to £12.8m. The company expects revenue from data services to be stable in 2012 'reflecting the continuing shifts in its business mix, with margin improvement of around 1 per cent".

Events profits were up 44.6 per cent to £135.2m and emerging market revenue was up 24.4 per cent to £207.1m

UBM's chief executive officer David Levin said: 'An outstanding performance from our Q4 biennial events capped off a year of consistent delivery in which all our businesses met or exceeded their targets for the year.

'On the back of these results, the Board has declared a final dividend of 20p, up 1p over 2010, resulting in a record dividend for the year. These results are the fruit of our consistent strategy to focus on providing marketing, communications and data services, in winning formats, to thriving business communities.

'Our Emerging Markets revenues grew by more than 24% during 2011 and contributed just under a third of our overall profits: in 2011 we generated more revenue in China than in Europe for the first time.

He added: 'We anticipate continued underlying growth and a positive performance across the business whilst recognising the continuing uncertainties of the global economy."

UBM has been reducing the size of its print portfolio recently. Earlier this month it announced the sale of agriculture and medical portfolios, including Farmers Guardian and Pulse, for £10m to the founders of the Media Briefing.

In June UBM sold its entertainment and technology portfolio to independent publisher Intent Media for £2.4m, which included titles such as Mobile Entertainment, Bikebiz and Musical Instrument Professional, Music Week and Pro Sound News Europe.