UPDATE 2-Informa says trading in line; shares rise
* Full-year profit margins seen at 2008 levels
* Annualised savings estimated at 20 million pounds
* Shares rise 7 percent
(Adds shares, analyst comment)
LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - British publishing and events group Informa (INF.L) is trading in line with its expectations for the full year despite very challenging business conditions, it said in a statement on Monday, lifting its shares 7 percent.
The company, which is due to report half-year results on July 28, said it expected to be able to maintain full-year adjusted operating profit margins at 2008 levels thanks to cost-cutting.
Informa said restructuring costs relating to savings measures incurred this year to date were expected to be about 10 million pounds ($17 million), with annualised savings estimated at about 20 million pounds.
The company owns a range of academic and professional publications and runs conferences and training courses.
It said on Monday it was reducing volume in its events and training business to protect profitability in the face of weak demand, while academic information and professional and commercial publishing continued to grow.
By 1015 GMT, Informa shares were up 7.2 percent at 227 pence, the biggest gainers in a 0.8 percent-higher European media sector .SXMP.
"It's a good, solid trading update," said analyst Paul Richards of brokerage Numis, pointing out the shares' 29 percent slide since early May.
Informa said last month it planned a two-for-five rights issue to raise about 242 million pounds to cut debt, and said first-quarter revenues rose, mainly due to positive currency effects.
The company also proposed last month a new corporate structure, under which it would remain listed in London but would be incorporated in Jersey and tax-resident in Switzerland, to protect its historic tax rate of about 26-27 percent.
(Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; editing by John Stonestreet and Mariam Karouny)
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