Informa H1 Profit Declines, Revenues Up; Lifts Dividend - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Publishing firm Informa plc (INFMF, INF.L) reported Thursday that its first-half pre-tax profit declined to 98.9 million pounds from last year's 118.9 million pounds.

Earnings per share were 13.8 pence, lower than 15.0 pence a year ago.

Adjusted profit before tax was 184.8 million pounds, compared to 178.2 million last year. Adjusted earnings per share were 23.1 pence, compared to 22.4 pence last year.

First-half revenue increased 4.7 percent to 647.7 million pounds from 618.8 million pounds a year ago. Organic revenue growth was 2.5%.

Further, the Board has recommended an interim dividend of 6.80p per share representing a 4% increase. The interim dividend will be paid on September 9 to ordinary shareholders registered on August 12.

Looking ahead, Stephen Carter, Group Chief Executive, said: "Informa continues to deliver operational and financial progress as investment activity peaks in Year 3 of the Growth Acceleration Plan. Our focus on delivery, combined with the scale benefits of our US expansion programme, gives us confidence we can again meet our full-year targets, including a third year of revenue growth and improved adjusted earnings."

Separately, Informa announced the appointment of John Rishton as a new independent Non-Executive Director. He was Chief Executive of Rolls Royce Group plc between 2011 and 2015.