Centaur back in black

Centaur Media, the publisher of trade magazines including Marketing Week and the Lawyer, has returned to growth reporting a 5% year-on-year rise in ad revenues at its publishing operation for the four months to the end of April. The company, which saw a 24% decline in revenues in the second half of 2009, said its publishing operation had a 20% increase in recruitment advertising, while online advertising grew by 11% year-on-year. Online advertising now represents 27% of total revenue for the division. Overall at the division the "rate of [advertising] growth accelerating progressively through the period" for its embattled business publications. Centaur's events operation saw revenues come in below the same period last year, but the company said that the division was "benefiting from the improving trading environment". "The group remains well positioned to benefit as our markets recover," it said. "Trading for the remainder of the financial year is expected to be in line with the board's expectations." • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".