FUTURE PLC HAS EYES FIRMLY ON US SUCCESS WITH NEW CONTENT HUB FOLLOWING ACQUISITION SPREE

Future Plc, the global platform for specialist media, is to open a new content hub in Atlanta, USA as it pushes forward with its ambitions to reach 1 in 2 Americans every month.

Future, which ended the year as one of the top three performing stocks on the FTSE250, will focus its video content from the new office, as well as some editorial and sales roles.

CEO Zillah Byng-Thorne, who has steered the company to stellar success since 2014, said: “Just ten years ago, we were announcing that we would be back in profit in the US. Now we’ve a market cap there of £4bn. We have huge plans for the States and following some key acquisitions, this new hub puts us in position to capitalize on them. 

“We were the number one destination for tech content towards the end of last year. We want to repeat that success across womens lifestyle, B2B and video. Atlanta is a thriving media hub, where creators are pushing the boundaries in what they produce. We want to be where the talent is so that we can continue to deliver original content, expertly produced to our global audiences.

Over the last five years, Future has acquired businesses and brands worth £1.4bn creating a business worth over £4bn.

Last year it continued its acquisition spree, snapping up the licence to publish MarieClaire.com, TV and film destination Cinemablend, and ten key brands from Dennis Publishing, all of which extended its foothold in the states. 

As its fiscal year 2021 ended on Sept. 30, Future’s annual revenue grew 79% to £606.8m and operating profit grew to £195.8 million. The company has already stated that earnings for FY22 will be ahead of expectations.