INM first-half profit down nearly 20%

The publisher said it faced "continued challenging trading conditions" and would not pay a dividend for 2017

INM chairman Leslie Buckley and chief executive Robert Pitt Pic: Fergal Phillips

Independent News & Media has reported a 19.5 per cent drop in first-half pre-tax profit to €14.9 million and said it would not propose a dividend for 2017 as it continues to deal with what it described as a "challenging" operating environment in the media industry.

The company said that despite those challenges, it expected to deliver earnings in line with revised market expectations following its July profit warning. Brokers are forecasting full-year ...