Bastei Luebbe AG, a leading independent publishing group in Germany, has announced a revenue increase for the first quarter of its 2026/2027 fiscal year, despite challenging conditions in the German book market. The company reported group revenues of EUR 24.6 million for the period from April to June 2026, up from the previous year's figure. Group EBIT reached EUR 1.1 million, translating to an EBIT margin of 4.4%.
Soheil Dastyari, CEO of Bastei Luebbe AG, commented on the results: "Once again, we were able to boost our revenues and also make significant progress in terms of profitability compared to the previous quarter. We will be systematically continuing on this trajectory as the year progresses." The company's performance was bolstered by strong sales in its book segment, particularly under the new "Pfaueninsel" imprint and the classic "Luebbe" imprint.
The "Pfaueninsel" imprint saw notable success with the release of "Traeume aus Feuer" by Florian Illies, which became a SPIEGEL bestseller and frequently topped the charts. Meanwhile, the "Luebbe" imprint benefited from the continued success of Lucy Astner's novel "Kein Sommer ohne August" and the paperback edition of Ken Follett's "The Armour of Light." Additionally, Eva Almstadt's crime thriller "Akte Nordsee – Die letzte Predigt" contributed to the segment's strong performance. Segment revenues in the Book segment increased to EUR 22.9 million, up from EUR 21.4 million in the same quarter last year, although segment EBIT declined slightly to EUR 1.0 million from EUR 1.2 million.
In the "Novel Booklets" segment, revenues rose modestly to EUR 1.7 million from EUR 1.6 million, with segment EBIT improving to EUR 0.1 million. The company noted that the proportion of revenues from community-driven business models decreased to 24% in the first quarter, down from 31% in the prior-year period, while digital products accounted for 35% of revenues, compared to 38% previously.
Despite the revenue growth, higher costs impacted earnings. Material costs increased to EUR 12.4 million from EUR 10.6 million, primarily due to higher printing costs ahead of upcoming releases. Personnel expenses also rose to EUR 6.1 million from EUR 5.7 million, reflecting salary adjustments and a higher number of employees. Consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT) stood at EUR 1.0 million, down from EUR 1.2 million in the previous year. Net profit attributable to shareholders was EUR 0.7 million, with earnings per share at EUR 0.05.
The company's total assets as of June 30, 2026, were EUR 107.2 million, slightly down from EUR 109.0 million at the end of March 2026. Equity attributable to shareholders increased to EUR 66.4 million from EUR 65.7 million. Bastei Luebbe AG has confirmed its full-year forecast for 2026/2027, expecting revenues between EUR 118 million and EUR 122 million and EBIT between EUR 10.0 million and EUR 12.0 million. The company's interim statement for the first quarter is available on its website at www.bastei-luebbe.de.
This news matters as it indicates resilience in the German book market, which has been described as persistently muted. Bastei Luebbe's ability to grow revenues through successful titles and new imprints demonstrates the potential for publishers to thrive even in challenging conditions. The confirmed forecast provides stability for investors and signals confidence in the company's strategic direction.
