Ten Alps takes to the buy trail

Ten Alps, the multimedia company partly owned by Bob Geldof, is on the acquisition trail to add to its growing TV and magazine portfolio.

Chief executive Alex Connock said: "Some potential targets have already been isolated: these are significant in size and reasonably priced, making finance the only real constraint."

In the last year, the group has produced major factual programmes and series for the BBC and Channel Four as well as being re-awarded the contract to produce Teachers' TV for the Department of Children Schools and Families for another five years. Connock said: "This year has already begun more strongly than the one just ended, with robust order books at our TV production companies and three docudrama commissions for the US market."

He also expects further consolidation in the trade press, where the group now manages or owns 758 titles.

Pre-tax profits rose 15% to £3.15 million in the year to the end of March, on revenues 18% higher at £81.4 million.