Yell says should meet guidance; sees leverage down

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - UK-based directories group Yell (YELL.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is on track to meet its full-year guidance for core profit but sees sales roughly flat this quarter as slowing economies bite, it said on Thursday.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 11.7 percent to 160.8 million pounds ($321.2 million) in the April-June quarter, above the 148.8 million consensus of five analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

Sales rose 6.2 percent to 468.4 million pounds, slightly above the Reuters Estimates consensus of 463.2 million.

Yell, which operates in Britain, the United States, Spain and Latin America, said it expected to continue reducing its leverage over the year. It said it had bank facilities until 2011 and that it was operating within its covenant headroom. (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan)