Hipgnosis Songs profit improves; ups dividend target

Archived article

Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.

Music rights investor Hipgnosis Songs Fund booked a 7.3% rise in annual profit after it boosted royalty income from a rapidly expanding song catalogue.

Pre-tax profit for the year through March increased to $44.5 million, up from $41.5 million year-on-year.

The company's statutory net profit rose by 22% to $38.9 million, owing to a lower tax bill.

Revenue jumped 66% to $138.4 million and the company's operative net asset value per share, excluding dividends, increased 11.3% to $1.6829p.

Hipgnosis Songs Fund declared total dividends for the year of 5.125p per share and upped its annual dividend target 5% to 5.25p per share.

'We are delighted to announce a strong set of annual results which reports on a remarkable year for Hipgnosis,' chief executive Merck Mercuriadis said.

'Whilst we would never have wished for a pandemic, it has not only demonstrated the predictable, reliable and uncorrelated nature of the income of proven Songs, but also accelerated the change in consumer behaviour to consuming music by streaming.'