Special interest media group Future has announced that its pre-tax profit will be down by about £1 million following disruption to distribution of its newsstand magazines in the US.
It said: “In February and March, Future’s US business experienced an unexpected disruption to distribution of up to 40% of its newsstand magazines, following a dispute among wholesalers and distributors in the North American magazine market.”
It added: “This factor, together with continuing weakness in print advertising, is expected to lead to an operating loss for the US business for the first-half.
“However, assuming no other unforeseen circumstances, the US business is expected to return to profitability for the full-year to 30 September 2009.”
Future said that in the UK, results for the half-year – to be announced on May 20 – are expected to be in line with the first-half 2008.
The publisher also revealed that it has increased its investment programme in online and new magazine launches.
