/ 25 June 2008

Naspers lifts headline earnings by 38%

Naspers, Africa’s biggest media company, lifted annual core headline earnings by 38% to R3,9-billion, the company said on Wednesday.

Naspers, which owns the continent’s biggest pay-TV network, DStv, said revenue rose 19% to R20,5-billion.

The media group said its revenue growth has been largely driven by its pay-TV and internet units.

The pay-TV unit increased its sales by 22%, benefiting from 246 000 additional subscribers and the internet unit’s revenue rose 42% to R1,6-billion.

Naspers’s operating profit before amortisation and other gains and losses grew by 15% to R4,2-billion.

”Geographically, our attention remains mostly on the emerging markets, as these still offer good opportunities for growth,” the group said in a statement.

”The group has made some substantial investments over the past two years and these will be further developed.”

Shares in Naspers were trading 2,59% higher at R158,50 by 7.31am GMT, while the Top-40 index was down 0,5% – Reuters