FT.com has further numbers concerning BBC Worldwide’s acquisition of 75 percent of the Lonely Planet travel guides publisher (see earlier post). Supposedly, the buy cost “in the region of £100 ($204.3 million)”, with funds coming from £60 in cash and its £350 million borrowing facility. CEO John Smith told Media Guardian he would set aside Lonely Planet’s concerns about cannibalising print revenue to put all of its travel guides online. He will invest “tens of millions” to bring the site up to scratch for an audience that, nowadays, prefers to use sites like TripAdvisor.

And, in a statement: “This deal fits well with our strategy to create one of the world’s leading content businesses, to grow our portfolio of content brands online and to increase our operations in Australia and America.” BBC Worldwide looks flush after posting 24 percent better annual profits in June and embarking on a digital acquisition strategy. Revealing more about BBC Worldwide’s online strategy, Smith (via FT.com) said he wanted to double profits to £222 million in five years. The company aims to create 15, “passion-based” social networking sites for motoring, gardening and ecology enthusiasts among others; there will be a commercial version of the iPlayer and more licensing of material to YouTube.

• BBC Worldwide Buys Travel Guide Company Lonely Planet
• BBC Worldwide Targets Digital Acquisitions After Strong Profit Year
• BBC Can Spend $680 Million On M&A, Including Social Networking, But Will It?
• MocoInterview: Bob Hitching On Lonely Planet’s Mobile Plans