Total revenues for the group rose to £184m, up from £154m the previous year. This increase was bolstered by £29m in new revenue generated by Meadowside Insurance, a subsidiary established during the year to reinsure the group’s defined benefit pension liability. Excluding this one-off insurance activity, like-for-like trading revenues remained steady at approximately £134m.

The Dundee-headquartered company, which owns heritage brands including The Press and Journal, The Courier, Beano, and Stylist, reported that its strategy to diversify income is taking effect. While newsstand revenues saw a small decline, this was offset by price increases and a strong performance in the Puzzler range, with physical print sales proving resilient. Concurrently, growth in digital subscriptions is helping to compensate for print volume reductions, and advertising revenue held up well despite competitive market conditions.

Beyond publishing, the group’s cloud computing division, Brightsolid, increased its year-on-year revenue by 12% and expanded its capabilities. Following the year-end, the division acquired Synergi Software, a north-east England IT services business, to further augment its offering. The group continues to invest significantly in data, AI, and technology to support its transformation.

Christopher Thomson, chairman of DC Thomson, said: “These results demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of our business in a rapidly changing market. We are investing in data, technology and talent to ensure our purpose-driven brands remain trusted and relevant for generations to come.

“Our strategy is clear: build sustainable growth by diversifying revenues, protecting profitability and creating new opportunities in digital and B2B markets. At the same time, we continue to deliver efficiency in print and maintain the quality our audiences expect.”