Group revenues at Independent News and Media (IN&M) for the year-to-date are estimated to be 14 per cent behind the same period in 2008.
In a trading statement issued this morning IN&M said tgroup advertising revenue up to October 23rd are down 19 per cent while circulation revenue is down 2 per cent.
Group operating profit before exceptional items for the year-to-date is estimated to be approximately 37 per cent behind last year, compared to 44.8 per cent down in the 1st half of 2009. The group attributed the improved performance to stabilisation in ad revenue and cost management.
Year to date operating costs are forecast to be down 9 per cent on the same period last year.
The group said it believed advertising trends were stabilising.
IN&M forecast that full-year operating profit before exceptionals for fiscal 2009 will be in the range of €170 million to €190 million.
The company said it believed it is well positioned to benefit from any forthcoming economic recovery.
"The group’s strong operating leverage, as a result of significant operating cost reductions over the past two years and continuing business process improvements, should facilitate incremental revenue growth substantially translating into a much improved operating profit performance as markets improve," it said.
In August, the company announced that revenues fell by 14.9 per cent during the first six months of 2009 on the back of a 19.6 per cent decline in advertising revenues.