THE entertainment company that owns the rights to children's TV favourites Bob the Builder and Pingu saw pre-tax profits soar 67 per cent in the past six months.
Hit Entertainment, which brought Thomas the Tank Engine and Guinness World Records into its portfolio by integrating with Gullane, said revenues grew by 102 per cent in the UK, by 35 per cent in the US and 229 per cent in the rest of the world.
Hit also underwent an organisational restructuring to focus on global brand management.
Pre-tax profits before one-off items rose to £25.5m from £15.3m in 2001.
Bottom line pre-tax profits almost doubled to £21.5m in the six month period to January 31 from £11.5m last time.
Chief executive Rob Lawes said: "The nature of the business means we are more resistant to recession."
Bob the Builder, already a success in Britain, has transferred to the US and 150 overseas markets.
The brand grew by three per cent during the six months to January 31 but US revenues for Bob were down 2.5 per cent.
Guinness World Records is also poised for expansion as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2005. The book will sell its 100 millionth copy this year, achieving its own record as the best-selling copyright book in the world.
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