Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj's Interim Report 1 January - 30 September

Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj      Interim Report 7 November 2016, at 3:00pm ILKKA-YHTYMÄ OYJ’S INTERIM REPORT 1 JANUARY - 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2016 - Net sales: EUR 29,386 thousand (EUR 30,460 thousand) - Operating profit: EUR 5,728 thousand (EUR 7,699 thousand) - Adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations amounted to EUR 2,262 thousand (EUR 3,209 thousand) - Operating profit was 19.5% (25.3%) of net sales and the adjusted operating margin of the Group’s own operations was 7.7 (10.5) - Net financial items were EUR -1,556 thousand (EUR -775 thousand), of which the change in the market value of interest rate swaps accounted for EUR -1,162 thousand (EUR +13 thousand). - Profit before tax: EUR 4,172 thousand (EUR 6,923 thousand) - Earnings per share: EUR 0.16 (EUR 0.24) - Net gearing was 62.4% (66.0%) and eguity ratio 54.8% (52.6%) JULY-SEPTEMBER 2016 - Net sales: EUR 9,469 thousand (EUR 9,748 thousand) - Operating profit: EUR 2,504 thousand (EUR 3,658 thousand) - Adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations amounted to EUR 958 thousand (EUR 1,261 thousand) - Operating profit was 26.4% (37.5%) of net sales and the adjusted operating margin of the Group’s own operations was 10.1 (12.9) - Net financial items were EUR -65 thousand (EUR -876 thousand), of which the change in the market value of interest rate swaps accounted for EUR -73 thousand (EUR -393 thousand). - Profit before tax: EUR 2,439 thousand (EUR 2,782 thousand) - Earnings per share: EUR 0.09 (EUR 0.10)   

NET SALES AND PROFIT PERFORMANCE The Group’s consolidated net sales for January–September showed a 3.5% decline. Net sales came to EUR 29,386 thousand (EUR 30,460 thousand). External net sales from the publishing business fell by 2.3%. Advertising revenues fell by 4.6% and content revenues fell by 1.0%. The decrease in net sales from the publishing business was mainly caused by the income from parliamentary election advertisements included in the comparative figure for 2015. External net sales from the printing business fell by 10.7%. Content income accounted for 48% of consolidated net sales, while advertising income and printing income represented 38% and 13%, respectively. For Q3, net sales decreased by 2.9% and totalled EUR 9,469 thousand (EUR 9,748 thousand). External net sales from the publishing business fell by 1.1%. Advertising revenues fell by 0.6% and content revenues fell by 1.5%. External net sales from the printing business fell by 13.4%. Content income accounted for 51% of consolidated net sales, while advertising income and printing income represented 36% and 13%, respectively. Other operating income in January–September totalled EUR 160 thousand (EUR 1,722 thousand) and in July–September EUR 44 thousand (EUR 1,493 thousand). Other operating income for the third quarter of 2015 includes a capital gain of EUR 1,421 thousand from the sale of the property company’s shares. Operating expenses for January–September amounted to EUR 27,291 thousand (EUR 27,555 thousand), down by 1.0% year on year. For July–September, operating expenses amounted to EUR 8,563 thousand (EUR 8,567 thousand). For January–September, expenses arising from materials and services increased by 2.7%. Personnel expenses decreased by 1.6%. Other operating costs decreased by 4.9%. Depreciation decreased by 12.0%. The share of the associated companies’ result for January–September was EUR 3,466 thousand (EUR 3,068 thousand). Consolidated operating profit amounted to EUR 5,728 thousand (EUR 7,699 thousand), down by 25.6 per cent year-on-year. The Group’s operating margin was 19.5 per cent (25.3%). Adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations amounted to EUR 2,262 thousand (EUR 3,209 thousand), representing 7.7% (10.5%) of net sales.  Operating profit from publishing fell by EUR 539 thousand, and operating profit from printing fell by EUR 383 thousand. For July–September, the share of the associated companies’ result was EUR 1,546 thousand (EUR 976 thousand). Consolidated operating profit amounted to EUR 2,504 thousand (EUR 3,658 thousand), down by 31.5 per cent year-on-year. The Group’s operating margin was 26.4% (37.5%) in July–September. Adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations amounted to EUR 958 thousand (EUR 1,261 thousand), representing 10.1% (12.9%) of net sales. For the third quarter, operating profit from publishing fell by EUR 163 thousand, and operating profit from printing fell by EUR 115 thousand. Net financial items for January–September amounted to EUR -1,556 thousand (EUR -775 thousand). Interest expenses excluding the fair value change in derivatives hedging them totalled EUR 922 thousand (EUR 1,004 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–September 2016, the change in the market value of these interest rate swaps amounted to EUR -1,162 thousand (EUR +13 thousand). Net gain/loss on shares held for trading was EUR 388 thousand (EUR -44 thousand). Net financial items for July–September amounted to EUR -65 thousand (EUR -876 thousand). For the third quarter, interest expenses excluding the fair value change in derivatives hedging them totalled EUR 314 thousand (EUR 341 thousand). In July–September 2016, the change in the market value of interest rate swaps was EUR -73 thousand (EUR -393 thousand). Net gain/loss on shares held for trading was EUR 306 thousand (EUR -156 thousand). Profit before tax for January-September totalled EUR 4,172 thousand (EUR 6,923 thousand) and the Group's profit for the period totalled EUR 4,051 thousand (EUR 6,276 thousand). The Group's profit for the third quarter totalled EUR 2,258 thousand (EUR 2,510 thousand). BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCING The consolidated balance sheet total came to EUR 127,051 thousand (EUR 134,113 thousand), with EUR 67,378 thousand (EUR 68,348 thousand) of equity. On the reporting date of 30 September 2016, the balance sheet value of the holding in the associated company Alma Media Corporation was EUR 102,211 thousand and the market value of the shares was EUR 108,419 thousand. Interest-bearing liabilities totalled EUR 47,791 thousand (EUR 54,588 thousand). The equity ratio was 54.8 per cent (52.6%), and shareholders’ equity per share was EUR 2.63 (EUR 2.66). The decrease in financial assets for the period totalled EUR 2,179 thousand (the increase in financial assets in the corresponding period of the previous year EUR 2,964 thousand), with liquid assets at the end of the period totalling EUR 4,321 thousand (EUR 8,497 thousand). Cash flow from operations for the period came to EUR 2,712 thousand (EUR 3,761 thousand). Cash flow from investments totalled EUR 2,065 thousand (EUR 4,102 thousand), including capital repayment from Alma Media Corporation in the amount of EUR 2,699 thousand (EUR 2,699 thousand). Cash flow from investments for the comparison period includes EUR 1,651 thousand of proceeds from the sale of the property company’s shares. In June, Ilkka-Yhtymä concluded two new five-year loan agreements, preparing for the repayment of a EUR 20 million convertible bond that would mature in November. The loan agreements totalled EUR 25 million, and were meant to partially replace existing loan agreements. After the reporting period, Ilkka-Yhtymä has drawn down the remainder of the loans, EUR 20 million in all, and repaid in full the EUR 20 million convertible bond that matured on 5 November 2016. PERSONNEL The Group had an average of 298 (303) 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. As a result of the negotiations, one person retired 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–September, 126,342 series-I shares of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj were traded, accounting for 2.9 per cent of the total number of series-I shares. The total value of the shares exchanged was EUR 333 thousand. In total, 2,496,375 series-II shares were traded, corresponding to 11.7 per cent of the total number of series II shares. The total value of the shares traded was EUR 5,652 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 3.57. The lowest price at which series-II shares were traded was EUR 1.87 and the highest EUR 3.05. The market value of the share capital at the closing rate for the reporting period was EUR 72,990 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. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 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. On 9 May 2016, the Supervisory Board re-elected Timo Aukia, whose term had come to an end, to the Board of Directors of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj. Lasse Hautala will continue as chairman of the Supervisory Board. Minna Sillanpää was elected vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board. At its membership meeting, the Board of Directors re-elected Timo Aukia as its chairman, while Esa Lager will continue as vice-chairman. The Board of Directors of Ilkka-Yhtymä Oyj now has the following membership: chairman Timo Aukia, vice-chairman Esa Lager, members Markku Hautanen, Sari Mutka, Tapio Savola, and Riitta Viitala. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD After the reporting period, Ilkka-Yhtymä has repaid in full the EUR 20 million convertible bond that matured on 5 November 2016. OUTLOOK FOR 2016 In the current uncertain economic climate and competitive environment, forecasting net sales in the newspaper business involves still major uncertainties. The overall media advertising market in Finland is estimated to remain roughly unchanged from the previous year, while circulation income is predicted to fall slightly. In the beginning of the year, printing business volumes decreased and delivery costs rose more than expected. The net sales of Ilkka-Yhtymä Group are estimated to decline from the 2015 level. Adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations is expected to decline clearly from the 2015 level. 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. Ilkka-Yhtymä has adopted the Guidelines on Alternative Performance Measures published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). In addition to operating profit, Ilkka-Yhtymä reports adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations, with a view to describing the development of the Group’s actual operations and improving the comparability of the operating profit indicator between periods. The indicator in question is essentially the same as the previously used indicator Operating profit from the Group’s own operations, excluding non-recurring items and the share of Alma Media’s and other associated companies’ results. Adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations is determined by adjusting the operating profit shown on the income statement with the share of the associated companies’ profit and other adjusted items. Examples of these other adjusted items include capital gains and losses from the sale of operations or assets, impairment, the costs of discontinuing significant operations and the costs arising from the reorganisation of operations. Items that have affected the adjusted operating profit from the Group’s own operations in the periods under review and comparative periods are listed in the table of key figures of the interim report. The company also publishes certain other commonly used key figures, which can mainly be derived from the income statement and balance sheet. In the view of the company, the key figures presented clarify the picture of the company’s results and financial position given on the income statement and balance sheet. 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 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 9/2015), 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