Alma Media, Keskisuomalainen and Ilkka start joint printing material purchases

Alma Media Corporation   Stock Exchange Release   4 December 2009 at 9:00am

 

ALMA MEDIA, KESKISUOMALAINEN AND ILKKA START JOINT PRINTING MATERIAL PURCHASES

 

Alma Media has made an agreement with Lehtisepät Oy, part of the Keskisuomalainen Group, and I-Print Oy, part of Ilkka-yhtymä, on joint purchases of the most important printing materials. At the moment, the scope of the agreement covers printing papers, printing ink and printing plates. On average, Alma Media purchases these materials for 20 million euro annually.

 

– The importance of cooperation between newspaper publishers is increasing amidst the revolution of the media business. Joint purchases are a good form of cooperation. Our goal is to make the purchase processes more efficient and further raise the quality of the materials. At best, the cooperation will also give a boost to the development of materials made in Finland, such as newsprint and printing inks, says Ms Helvi Liukkaala, Director of Aamulehti’s newspaper printing house and head of Alma Media’s printing chain.

 

On November 4, 2009 Alma Media announced that the Group’s printing and distribution operations will be reorganised by combining them into a new group-level service unit. The change affects Alma Media’s three newspaper printing houses and the early-morning delivery company Aamujakelu Oy. The new unit is scheduled to begin operations on January 1, 2010.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Alma Media, Helvi Liukkaala, tel. +358 40 567 7069

 

 

Alma Media in brief

 

Alma Media is a profitable and internationally expanding company that invests in the future of newspapers and online media. Its best known products are the Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com.

 

Net sales in 2008 totalled EUR 341 million and the operating margin was over 14%. The company’s share is listed in the Mid Cap segment of the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Please visit www.almamedia.com for further information.