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The EBITDA margin was 14.5%.

In the 4th quarter, the EBITDA increased by 37% to EUR 2.8 million, the net profit was 53% higher amounting to EUR 1.6 million. The EBITDA margin of the year’s final quarter amounted to 16.4%.

The media segment, which includes 50% joint ventures, achieved EBITDA growth of 42% compared to last year, totalling EUR 4.0 million. In the 4th quarter, EBITDA was 19% higher, totalling EUR 1.4 million. In the media segment, the biggest EBITDA growth was achieved by Delfi Estonia, exceeding last year’s result by 95% and amounting to EUR 0.6 million. This included fourth-quarter EBITDA in the amount of EUR 0.2 million which is 36% higher than a year earlier.

Although Delfi Latvia saw the EBITDA decrease 32% compared to year ago, it still earned a profit of EUR 0.1 million. In the 4th quarter, the result remained the level of previous year. In all three Baltic States, the competition in Latvia is the toughest.

EBITDA of Delfi Lithuania increased 23% in a year to EUR 1.3 million. Fourth-quarter EBITDA remained on the same level as year before. The result of Delfi Lithuania was most affected by the merger with other group company Ekspress Leidyba, the Lithuanian magazine publisher, as a result of which we managed to optimise the organisational structure, while creating better possibilities for selling online and print advertising together.

It was also a good year for publishers. Although advertising income was largely in a downward trend, subscription income increased. AS Eesti Ajalehed that publishes newspapers Eesti Ekspress, Eesti Päevaleht and Maaleht improved its result by 46% and earned EUR 0.5 million in EBITDA. At the same time the fourth-quarter result was 19% weaker than a year earlier and the profit was only EUR 0.15 million.

AS SL Õhtuleht increased its EBITDA result by 61% in a year to EUR 0.7 million. Fourth-quarter profit, at the same time, was 142% higher. The EBITDA result of AS Ajakirjade Kirjastus also improved, increasing by 49% and totalling EUR 0.5 million by the end of the year. In the 4th quarter, the result was 39% better. The result of both AS SL Õhtuleht and AS Ajakirjade Kirjastus was influenced positively by smaller printing costs resulting from entering into new printing contracts with AS Kroonpress and AS Printall. Express Post, a home delivery service provider, grew its EBITDA by 33% in a year, earning EUR 0.7 million. Fourth-quarter result improved 57% year-on-year.

The printing services segment increased its revenues by 5% and EBITDA by 1% last year and earned approximately EUR 6 million EBITDA.

Ekspress Grupp said that in 2015, it expects the group’s business to gather pace and financial capability increase. It expects to increase the consolidated revenue by 5% and the EBITDA by 7% at least. This includes 50% of the results of joint ventures.