EBITDA for the period was £4.7m, this figure includes a £2.2m goodwill charge that will be negated through changes to financial regulations. Finance director Rick Taylor said: "Under new accounting standards, this will be written back to profit," he said.

Turnover for 2009 was £50.1m, compared with £35.1m for the nine months to 31 December 2008.

Direct marketing arm Howitt's pre-tax profit went up 50% from £1m to £1.5m, while Kent-based Dialogue Solutions' increased from £114,000 to £472,000. Howitt achieved an EBITDA of £3.3m in 2009, compared to £3.2m in 2008, a 1% increase. Dialogue Solutions recorded an EBITDA of £635,000 in 2009, up from £314.000 the previous year.

Data Lateral recorded the largest percentage increase in pre-tax profit, up 159% from £279,000 to £724,000. Its EBITDA was £798,000, up from £419,000 in 2008.

Group executive chairman Nick Dixon said: "This has been a tough period for the whole industry and to have continued to deliver growth in one of the harshest economic environments ever experienced is an achievement that cannot be under estimated."

For more on Lateral Group see the Profile page in this week's PrintWeek.