Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj's Interim Report 1 January-31 March 2016

Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj      Interim Report 9 May 2016, at 1:00pm

ILKKA-YHTYMÄ OYJ’S INTERIM REPORT 1 JANUARY-31 MARCH 2016

- Net sales: EUR 9,748 thousand (EUR 10,078 thousand)
- Operating profit: EUR 748 thousand (EUR 1,071 thousand)
- Operating profit excluding Alma Media Corporation and the other associated companies amounted to EUR 518 thousand (EUR 680 thousand)
- Operating profit totalled 7.7% (10.6%) of net sales, or 5.3% excluding Alma Media and other associated companies (6.7%)
- Net financial expenses were EUR 1,026 thousand (EUR 196 thousand), of which the change in the market value of interest rate swaps accounted for EUR -730 thousand (EUR -44 thousand).
- Loss before tax: EUR 278 thousand (profit before tax EUR 875 thousand)
- Earnings per share: EUR -0.01 (EUR 0.03)
- Net gearing was 59.6 % (68.4 %) and eguity ratio 52.0 % (50.0 %)

NET SALES AND PROFIT PERFORMANCE

The Group’s consolidated net sales for January–March showed a 3.3% decline. Net sales came to EUR 9,748 thousand (EUR 10,078 thousand). External net sales from the publishing business fell by 2.2%. Advertising revenues fell by 4.3% and content revenues fell by 2.2%. External net sales from the printing business decreased by 9.4%. Content income accounted for 47% of consolidated net sales, while advertising income and printing income represented 38% and 13%, respectively. Other operating income in January–March totalled EUR 49 thousand (EUR 154 thousand).

Operating expenses for January–March amounted to EUR 9,280 thousand (EUR 9,565 thousand), down by 3.0% year on year. Expenses arising from materials and services increased by 0.9%. Personnel expenses decreased by 3.0%. Other operating costs decreased by 11.3%. Depreciation contracted by 7.3%.

The share of the associated companies’ result was EUR 230 thousand (EUR 391 thousand). Consolidated operating profit amounted to EUR 748 thousand (EUR 1,071 thousand), down by 30.2 per cent year-on-year. The Group’s operating margin was 7.7 per cent (10.6%). Operating profit excluding Alma Media Corporation and the other associated companies amounted to EUR 518 thousand (EUR 680 thousand), representing 5.3% (6.7%) of net sales.  Operating profit from publishing fell by EUR 77 thousand, and operating profit from printing fell by EUR 75 thousand.

Net financial expenses for January–March amounted to EUR 1,026 thousand (EUR 196 thousand). Interest expenses excluding the fair value change in derivatives hedging them totalled EUR 303 thousand (EUR 349 thousand). In order to hedge against interest rate risk, the company has transformed some of its floating-rate liabilities into fixed-rate liabilities, by means of interest rate swaps. Given that the Group does not apply hedge accounting, unrealised changes in the market value of the interest rate swaps are recognised through profit or loss. In January–March 2016, the change in the market value of these interest rate swaps amounted to EUR -730 thousand (EUR -44 thousand). Net gain/loss on shares held for trading was EUR -6 thousand (EUR 199 thousand).

Loss before tax totalled EUR 278 thousand (profit before tax EUR 875 thousand) and the Group's loss for the period totalled EUR 175 thousand (profit for the period EUR 784 thousand).

BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCING

The consolidated balance sheet total came to EUR 133,009 thousand (EUR 137,176 thousand), with EUR 65,837 thousand (EUR 65,403 thousand) of equity. On the reporting date of 31 March 2016, the balance sheet value of the holding in the associated company Alma Media Corporation was EUR 99,242 thousand and the market value of the shares was EUR 76,478 thousand. According to the management’s estimate, write-down in this holding is unnecessary.

Interest-bearing liabilities totalled EUR 52,220 thousand (EUR 56,938 thousand). The equity ratio was 52.0 per cent (50.0%), and shareholders’ equity per share was EUR 2.57 (EUR 2.55). The increase in financial assets for the period totalled EUR 5,467 thousand (EUR 5,405 thousand), with liquid assets at the end of the period totalling EUR 11,967 thousand (EUR 10,939 thousand).

Cash flow from operations for the period came to EUR 2,840 thousand (EUR 2,832 thousand). Cash flow from investments totalled EUR 2,626 thousand (EUR 2,573 thousand), including capital repayment from Alma Media Corporation in the amount of EUR 2,699 thousand (EUR 2,699 thousand).

PERSONNEL

The Group had an average of 285 (294) employees during the period.

Ilkka-Yhtymä announced on 29 February 2016 that it would initiate negotiations at its printing house I-print Oy in accordance with the Act on Co-operation within Undertakings. The negotiations concerned the production personnel of I-print Oy’s newspaper printing press. The objective was to adjust the operations and the amount of personnel to the reduced volumes. The negotiations affected the production personnel of the newspaper printing press, excluding service staff, 26 persons in all.

The negotiations ended on 27 April 2016. As a result, one person will retire and three persons will be made redundant. Additionally, part of the personnel will be laid off for up to 38 working days per person and some full-time jobs will be turned into part-time jobs.

SHARE PERFORMANCE

The Series I shares of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj were listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange in 1981 and have remained listed ever since. The Series II shares have been listed since their issue in 1988, and on 10 June 2002 they were transferred from the I List of the Helsinki Stock Exchange to the Main List. At present, the Series II shares of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki List, in the Consumer Services sector, the company’s market value being classified as Small Cap. The Series I shares are listed on the Pre List.

In January–March, 27,373 series-I shares of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj were traded, accounting for 0.6 per cent of the total number of series-I shares. The total value of the shares exchanged was EUR 65 thousand. In total, 530,719 series-II shares were traded, corresponding to 2.5 per cent of the total number of series II shares. The total value of the shares traded was EUR 1,065 thousand. The lowest price at which series-I shares of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj were traded during the period under review was EUR 2.20, and the highest per-share price was EUR 2.59. The lowest price at which series-II shares were traded was EUR 1.95 and the highest EUR 2.12. The market value of the share capital at the closing rate for the reporting period was EUR 54,506 thousand.

RISKS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

In the current economic climate, the forecasting of both net sales and operating profit involve uncertainties. Ilkka-Yhtymä’s most significant short-term risks are related to the development of media advertising, in particular, as well as circulation and printing volumes, which affect the industry in general. The risks in the industry are due to its digitalisation and the continuing poor economic conditions. Other risks associated with the Group's own operations and its holding in associated company Alma Media Corporation are described in more detail in the Annual Report 2015.

The Group’s major financial risks include credit risk of the Group’s operative business, the risk associated with the price of shares held for trading, the risk of changes in market interest rates applied to the loan portfolio and liquidity risk. In order to hedge against interest rate risk, the company has transformed some of its floating-rate liabilities to a fixed rate, by means of interest rate swaps. Given that the Group does not apply hedge accounting, changes in the market value of the interest rate swap are recognised through profit and loss. Other financial risks are discussed in more detail in the 2015 Annual Report.

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORT PERIOD

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING DECISIONS

On 20 April 2016, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj approved the financial statements, discharged the members of the Supervisory Board and the Board of Directors and the Managing Director from liability and decided that a per-share dividend of EUR 0.10 be paid for the year 2015.

The number of members on the Supervisory Board for 2016 was confirmed to be 23. Of the Supervisory Board members whose term had come to an end, the following were re-elected for the term ending in 2020: Vesa-Pekka Kangaskorpi, Kimmo Simberg and Jyrki Viitala. Raimo Puustinen, Managing Director, Pohjois-Karjalan Kirjapaino Oyj, was elected as a new member for the term ending in 2020.

At the Annual General Meeting it was decided to maintain the payments made to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and the board members at their current level: the Chairman will receive a retainer of EUR 1,500 per month and a fee of EUR 400 per meeting, and the board members will be paid a fee of EUR 400 per meeting attended. The board members’ travel expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the current maximum level specified by the tax authorities.

Ernst & Young Oy, Authorised Public Accountants, was elected as the auditor, with Authorised Public Accountant, M.Sc.(Econ.) Harri Pärssinen as the principal auditor. It was decided that the auditors would be reimbursed per the invoice.

The AGM authorised the Board of Directors to decide upon a donation to be put toward charitable causes or similar, totalling, at maximum, EUR 50,000, as well as to decide upon the recipients, purposes of use, schedules and other terms of these donations.

OUTLOOK FOR 2016

In the current uncertain economic climate and competitive environment, forecasting net sales in the newspaper business involves major uncertainties. Media advertising in Finland is expected to remain roughly at the previous year’s level and newspaper circulation income is forecast to decline slightly. Printing business volumes are expected to decline further.

The net sales of Ilkka-Yhtymä Group are estimated to remain almost at the 2015 level. Operating profit from the Group’s own operations, excluding non-recurring items and the share of Alma Media’s and other associated companies’ results, is expected to fall slightly.

The associated company Alma Media Corporation (Group ownership 27.30%) will have a significant impact on Group operating profit and profit.


SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES

DRAFTING PRINCIPLES

Ilkka-Yhtymä Group's interim report was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting standard.

The interim report has been prepared according to the same principles as the 2015 financial statements. Annual improvements to IFRS and IFRIC interpretations (Annual Improvements 2012–2014) that become effective in 2016 have also been complied with. These changes have not affected the reported figures. The principles and formulae for the calculation of the indicators, presented on page 63 of the 2015 annual report, remain unchanged.

All the figures in the interim report are rounded, so the sum of separate figures may differ from that presented in the report.

The figures in the interim report have been presented unaudited.


CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

*)  As a result of the dilution of ownership in the associated company Alma Media Corporation, a non-recurring loss of EUR 3,533 thousand was recorded in the financial expenses for Q4/2015.
**) There are no factor diluting the figure.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 

SEGMENT INFORMATION

NET SALES BY SEGMENT
 

OPERATING PROFIT/ LOSS BY SEGMENT
 

ASSETS BY SEGMENT
 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
 

GROUP KEY FIGURES
 

*) Includes investments in tangible and intangible assets and shares in associated companies and in available-for-sale financial assets.
Taxes included in the income statement are taxes corresponding to the profit for the period under review.


STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (EUR 1,000)
 

GROUP CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
 

CHANGES IN PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Ilkka-Yhtymä Group’s related parties include associated companies, members of the Board of Directors, members of the Supervisory Board, the Managing Director and the Group Executive Team.

THE FOLLOWING RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT:
 

Transactions with related parties are conducted at fair market prices.


EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TO MANAGEMENT
 

Management comprises the Board of Directors, Supervisory Board, Managing Director and Group Executive Team. The stated figures based on the cash method do not differ significantly from those based on the accrual method.


FAIR VALUE HIERARCHY OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE

 

Available-for-sale assets also include EUR 1,420 thousand for unlisted shares (EUR 1,420 thousand in 3/2015), which are measured at cost since no reliable fair value was available for them.

At Level 1 of the hierarchy, fair value is based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

At Level 2, the instruments’ fair value is based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).

At Level 3, the instruments’ fair value is based on inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data.




General statement

This report contains certain statements that are estimates based on the management's best knowledge at the time they were made. For this reason, they involve a certain amount of inherent risk and uncertainty. The estimates may change in the event of significant changes in general economic and business conditions.



ILKKA-YHTYMÄ OYJ

Board of Directors


Matti Korkiatupa
Managing Director



For more information:
Matti Korkiatupa, Managing Director, Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj
Tel. +358 (0)500 162 015

DISTRIBUTION
Nasdaq Helsinki
The main media
www.ilkka-yhtyma.fi