Accounts filed at Companies House show the rise was offset by a 4.8% decline in circulation revenues to £151.1m.
The publisher had a relatively quiet year in 2010, with no major consumer launches or closures. It invested in the one-off men's weekly concept Gaz7eta, which was distributed with Grazia in October, and the expansion of Grazia into online TV.
Despite the overall dip in revenues, the company's pre-tax profits increased by 21.9% to £63.3m.
The average number of employees was reduced from 78 in 2009 to 64 in 2010. Bauer , though a spokesperson clarified: "Headcount is disclosed in a number of subsidiary entities whose figures combine into BCM on trading. The reduction in BCM headcount was not related to any editorial or commercial changes."
Diminished cost of sales and headcount helped the company keep the decline in operating profits to just 1.5% to £52.7m.
There was a lot going on beyond the operating level, notably the payment of a £224m dividend to parent company Bauer Consumer Media Holdings.
In turn Bauer Consumer Media Holdings paid a £230m dividend to its German parent company Bauer UK Magazine Gmbh, which is part of the privately-owned media empire of the Bauer family.
Bauer Consumer Media came into being in February 2008 after the German group Bauer completed the acquisition of Emap's consumer magazine assets for £718m.
Bauer Consumer Media did not pay a dividend last year and a company spokesperson said this year's dividend included a contribution from reserves prior to the Emap acquisition.
The company's healthier bottom line resulted from a number of positive factors unrelated to its core business, including receiving £8.6m in dividends itself.
Bauer Pop, a 100% non-trading subsidiary, contributed £5m, up from zero last year, and Box Television, Bauer's 50:50 music television joint venture with Channel 4, contributed £3.7m, up from £1.5m last year.
In addition, the amount of interest the company paid on its loans fell to £254,000 from £6.3m. This year's payment was on an inter-company loan.
The company invested £4.8m in acquisitions, including £1.7m for the company behind the Horse Deals magazine and website, and new product development, including apps and migrating existing brands onto new platforms.
Paul Keenan, CEO of Bauer Consumer Media, said: "Our magazine results are a solid testament to the consistent quality of our influential brands and great work by everyone in the business.
"Our trusted magazine brands continue to engage deeply with millions of UK consumers through the consistent delivery of quality products rich in editorial and commercial innovation."
A Bauer Media Group spokesperson directed enquiries to Bauer Consumer Media.
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