BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Clarin S.A. ("Grupo Clarin" or the "Company" - LSE: GCLA; BCBA: GCLA), the largest media company in Argentina, announced today its nine months and third quarter results for 2009. Figures in this report have been prepared in accordance with Argentine GAAP as of September 30, 2009 and are stated in Argentine Pesos, unless otherwise indicated.

Highlights (9M09 vs. 9M08):

• Net Sales totaled Ps. 4,895.4 million, an increase of 19.1% from 9M08, mainly due to ARPU and subscriber growth in the Cable TV and Internet access segment and, to a lesser extent, to higher advertising and programming sales in Broadcasting and Programming, and higher sales in the Printing and Publishing segments.
• Adjusted EBITDA (1) reached Ps. 1,467.0 million, an increase of 20.6% from 9M08, mainly driven by higher sales in the Cable and Internet access and Broadcasting and Programming segments.
• Grupo Clarin's Adjusted EBITDA Margin (2) was 30.0% for 9M09, compared to 29.6% of 9M08.
• Net Income totaled Ps. 194.3 million, a decrease of 29.8% from Ps. 276.9 million reported in 9M08.
  

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

                  9M09     9M08   %Ch.    3Q09    2Q09    3Q08    QoQ    YoY
    (In millions ------   ------ ------  ------  ------  ------  -----  -----
     of Ps.)

    Net
     Sales      4,895.4  4,110.8  19.1% 1,668.3 1,717.4  1,506.0  (2.9%) 10.8%
    Adjusted
     EBITDA (1) 1,467.0  1,216.5  20.6%   504.1   527.3    451.8  (4.4%) 11.6%
    Adjusted
     EBITDA
     Margin (2)    30.0%    29.6%  1.3%    30.2%   30.7%    30.0% (1.6%)  0.7%
    Net Income    194.3    276.9 (29.8%)  103.4   125.7     60.1 (17.8%) 72.1%


    (1) We define Adjusted EBITDA as net sales minus cost of sales (excluding
        depreciation and amortization) and selling and administrative expenses
        (excluding depreciation and amortization). We believe that Adjusted
        EBITDA is a meaningful measure of our performance.  It is commonly
        used to analyze and compare media companies on the basis of operating
        performance, leverage and liquidity. Nonetheless, Adjusted EBITDA is
        not a measure of net income or cash flow from operations and should
        not be considered as an alternative to net income, an indication of
        our financial performance, an alternative to cash flow from operating
        activities or a measure of liquidity. Because Adjusted EBITDA is not
        an Argentine GAAP measure, other companies may compute Adjusted EBITDA
        in a different manner. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA as reported by other
        companies may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA as we report it.

    (2) We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA over Net Sales.

Grupo Clarin S.A. will host a conference call and webcast presentation on Today, November 11, 2009 at 10:00am Eastern Time (12:00pm Buenos Aires time) to discuss its results for the third quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009.

Those interested in connecting via conference call are invited to please dial (0800) 092-3582 toll free from the U.K., 1 (800) 311-9401 toll free from the U.S., (0800) 333-0050 from Argentina, or 1 (334) 323-7224 from elsewhere 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. The Conference ID is #6118.

The webcast presentation will be available at http://www.grupoclarin.com.ar/ir

There will be a 60-day replay available starting one hour after the conclusion of the conference call. To access the replay, please dial (877) 919-4059 toll free from the U.S., or 1 (334) 323-7226 from anywhere outside the U.S. The replay passcode is: 75104650. The webcast presentation will be archived at http://www.grupoclarin.com.ar/ir

    Investor Relations Contacts


    In Buenos Aires:          In London:                  In New York:

    Alfredo Marin             Alex Money                  Melanie Carpenter
    M. Julia Diaz Ardaya/     Lorna Ellen                 Pete Majeski
     Alejandro Yu

    Grupo Clarin S.A.         Temple Bar Advisory Ltd.    I-advize Corporate
                                                            Communications
    Tel: +54 11 4309 7215     Tel: +44 20 7002 1080       Tel: +1 212 406 3692
    Email:                    E-mail:                     E-mail:
    investors@grupoclarin.com info@templebaradvisory.com  clarin@i-advize.com

SOURCE Grupo Clarin S.A.

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.grupoclarin.com.ar/ir