UPDATE 2-Daily Mail profits helped by cost cuts, currency

* Cost cuts, currency help 2009 profits

* Events attendance up, regional ad decline slows

* Pension deficit rises to 430 mln pounds from 41 mln

(Adds comments by executive, analyst; share price, background)

By Georgina Prodhan

LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - British newspaper group Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGOa.L) beat its forecast with a 23 percent drop in profits as consumer media advertising showed little improvement but business-to-business publishing held up.

The group, which owns trade publications, events and top UK mid-market tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail, said attendances were up at its events, but that would translate into sales by attracting more exhibitors only next year, and declines in regional advertising were slowing thanks to a better property market.

Adjusted revenue for the year to end-September fell 8 percent to 2.118 billion pounds ($3.53 billion), but all divisions except regional newspaper unit Northcliffe Media kept or increased profit margins on cost cuts and currency effects.

The company maintained its dividend of 14.7 pence per share.