Alma Media revises its guidance

Alma Media Corporation               Stock Exchange Release 17 June 2015, at 1:00 p.m (EEST)

ALMA MEDIA REVISES ITS GUIDANCE

Alma Media is revising its guidance and outlook for the first half of the year. Contrary to the previously issued guidance, operating profit excluding non-recurring items is expected to remain at, or increase from, the level reported for the first half of 2014. The company maintains its previously stated expectation that revenue will decrease compared to the first half of 2014.

The previous guidance issued on 30 April 2015 stated that both revenue and operating profit excluding non-recurring items are expected to decrease.

The improvement in operating profit is attributable to the continued strong sales of Alma Media’s international recruitment business as well as cost adaptation measures implemented in the Group’s Finnish operations. Alma Media estimates that the market conditions will remain challenging in Finland. The factors behind the expected decline in the Group’s total revenue include divestments carried out in spring 2015 and the contraction of the print media business in Finland. 

Outlook for 2015 / 17 June 2015

Low interest rates, a weaker euro and lower oil price improve the chances for growth in the long run. However, in 2015, economic growth is still expected to remain weak in Europe and, in particular, in Finland. The weak overall economic growth has an impact on advertising volume, which Alma Media expects to remain unchanged or increase only slightly in Finland in 2015.

In the first half of 2015, Alma Media expects its revenue to decrease from the 2014 level. The company expects its operating profit excluding non-recurring items to remain at the previous year’s level or to increase. The revenue for the first half of 2014 was MEUR 148.4, and operating profit excluding non-recurring items MEUR 8.8.

ALMA MEDIA CORPORATION
Rauno Heinonen
Vice President, Corporate Communications and IR

Distribution: NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, main media, www.almamedia.com

For more information, please contact:
Juha Nuutinen, CFO, telephone +358 10 665 3873

Alma Media in brief

Alma Media is a media company focusing on digital services and publishing. In addition to news services, the company’s products provide useful information related to lifestyle, career and business development. The services of Alma Media have expanded from Finland to the Nordic countries, the Baltics and Central Europe. In 2014, the company employed an average of 1,830 professionals (excluding deliverers), of whom approximately one quarter worked outside Finland. Alma Media’s revenue in 2014 totalled approximately EUR 295 million. Alma Media’s share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Read more at www.almamedia.com.

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