Alma Media’s Interim Report January–March 2015


Revenue and operating profit decreased as expected, the strong growth of
international business operations continued
Alma Media Corporation       Interim Report       30 April 2015 at 9:00 a.m.
(EEST)

Alma Media’s Interim Report January–March 2015:

REVENUE AND OPERATING PROFIT DECREASED AS EXPECTED, THE STRONG GROWTH OF
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS CONTINUED

Financial performance January–March 2015:

– Revenue was MEUR 71.9 (72.7), down 1.1%.

– Online sales increased by 0.3% to MEUR 23.8 (23.7).

– EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation)
excluding non-recurring items MEUR 5.3 (6.1), down 12.2%.

– EBITDA was MEUR 6.1 (6.8), down 10.6%.

– Operating profit excluding non-recurring items was MEUR 1.9 (2.5), or 2.7%
(3.4%) of revenue,down 22.6%.

– Operating profit MEUR 2.7 (3.2) or 3.7% (4.4%) of revenue, down 16.9%.

– Profit for the period was MEUR 1.8 (2.2), down 14.7%.

– The operating profit for January–March includes non-recurring items of MEUR
0.8 (0.7).

– Earnings per share EUR 0.02 (0.02).

KEY FIGURES                                       2015  2014  Change       2014
MEUR                                              Q1    Q1          %      Q1–Q4
Revenue                                           71.9  72.7  -0.8  -1.1   295.4
Content revenue                                   26.0  27.4  -1.4  -5.1   110.1
 Content revenue, print                           24.5  26.1  -1.6  -6.0   104.6
 Content revenue, online                          1.4   1.3   0.2   14.7   5.6
Advertising revenue                               35.2  35.1  0.1   0.2    146.4
 Advertising revenue, print                       16.7  16.9  -0.2  -1.3   73.7
 Advertising revenue, online                      18.4  18.1  0.4   2.1    72.7
Service revenue                                   10.8  10.2  0.5   5.2    38.8
Total expenses   excluding non-recurring items    70.0  70.4  -0.3  -0.5   274.6
EBITDA excluding   non-recurring items            5.3   6.1   -0.7  -12.2  35.1
EBITDA                                            6.1   6.8   -0.7  -10.6  36.4
Operating profit   excluding non-recurring items  1.9   2.5   -0.6  -22.6  21.4
 % of revenue                                     2.7   3.4                7.2
Operating profit   (loss)                         2.7   3.2   -0.5  -16.9  20.7
 % of revenue                                     3.7   4.4                7.0
Profit for the   period                           1.8   2.2   -0.3  -14.7  15.7
Earnings per   share, EUR (basic)                 0.02  0.02  0.00  -20.0  0.19
Earnings per   share, EUR (diluted)               0.02  0.02  0.00  -20.0  0.19

Online sales                                      23.8  23.7  0.1   0.3    94.5
Online sales, %   of revenue                      33.1  32.6               32.0

Outlook for 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 is not expected to increase in
Finland in 2015.

In the first half of 2015, Alma Media expects its revenue and operating profit
excluding non-recurring items to decrease from the 2014 level. The revenue for
the first half of 2014 was MEUR 148.4, and operating profit excluding non
-recurring items MEUR 8.8.

Kai Telanne, President and CEO:

The first quarter of 2015 was another subdued period for the media industry. The
weak economic situation and the poor development of the Finnish advertising
market had a negative impact on the business operations of media companies.
According to TNS Media Intelligence, advertising volume decreased in Finland in
the first quarter by 2.8% year-on-year.

Alma Media’s first quarter revenue remained almost at the previous year’s level.
The recruitment service business continued to see strong growth in Eastern
Central Europe. In the first quarter of 2015, recruitment business outside
Finland grew by more than 18%.

Alma Media’s revenue from domestic business operations declined due to the
general economic situation in Finland. The difficult market situation weighed
down the result of businesses such as IL-Media and domestic digital services.
However, the Financial Media and Business Services segment’s performance showed
positive development. Digital content revenue increased in that segment by 14.5%
and partly covered the decline in content revenue for print media. Kauppalehti
saw its visitor numbers increase after a content renewal implemented in January
2015. The segment’s print and online advertising sales also grew, with sales
performance being particularly positive in March.

At the beginning of 2015, Alma Media acquired the entire share capital of JM
Tieto Oy, which builds marketing and sales concepts for B2B companies. The
acquisition strengthens Alma Media’s information service business and supports
the company’s strategy of expanding its media business towards a greater
emphasis on services.

In the first quarter, Alma Media implemented structural reforms in order to
improve the profitability of the publishing business. The company sold its
newspaper business in Kainuu to SLP Kustannus Oy in March. Alma Media is also
planning to implement significant changes in the production of its two daily
newspapers published in Lapland, namely Lapin Kansa and Pohjolan Sanomat.

In response to changes in the media sector, Alma Media has implemented a
significant structural transformation in recent years that has led to the
digital business growing to account for a third of its revenue. At the same
time, the company has become more international through acquisitions. Faced with
ongoing uncertainty in its business environment, Alma Media will continue to
focus on renewal and invest in new digital business operations. Alma Media wants
to be a digital trailblazer in its industry and to continue the implementation
of its long-term growth strategy to increase its digital business.

For more information, please contact:

Kai Telanne, President and CEO, telephone +358 10 665 3500

Juha Nuutinen, CFO, telephone +358 10 665 3873

Disclosure procedure:

Alma Media Corporation follows the disclosure procedure enabled by Standard 5.2b
published by the Finnish Financial Supervision Authority. This stock exchange
release is a summary of Alma Media Corporation's Interim Report January – March
2015. The complete report is attached to this release in pdf format. The Interim
Report is also available on Alma Media's website at
www.almamedia.com/investors/.

Conference, webcast and conference call:

A conference for Finnish media, investors and analysts will be held on the same
day at 10.30-11.30 EEST in the Alma House (address: Alvar Aallon katu 3 C,
Helsinki). In addition to the presentations held by President & CEO Kai Telanne
and CFO Juha Nuutinen, participants will have an opportunity to discuss with
other members of the company's management. Please note that the conference will
be held in Finnish. The presentation material in English will be available on
www.almamedia.com/press_room/downloads/presentations/ at 10.30 EEST.

To participate in the conference, kindly register beforehand by e-mail,
kutsut@almamedia.fi.

An international conference call and audio webcast concerning the financial
result of January-March 2015 will begin at 12.00 EEST. You can participate in
the conference by calling +44(0)20 3427 1916 (confirmation code: 3093752) or
follow the direct transmission at
www.almamedia.com/press_room/downloads/presentations/.

ALMA MEDIA CORPORATION

Rauno Heinonen

Vice President, Corporate Communications and IR

Distribution: NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, main media

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.

Attachments

04305204.pdf