Sales of SEK 3,819m (3,669) and operating income of SEK 240m (221) including M&A transaction costs and adverse currency effects, but before non-recurring items
Total non-recurring items of SEK -652m (0), comprising SEK -700m of net restructuring charges and net SEK 48m related to the revaluations of Paprika & Splay
Net income from continuing operations of SEK -365m (163) and basic earnings per share of SEK -5.44 (2.67)
Net income from discontinued operations (CTC Media) of SEK -18m (73)
Total net income of SEK -384m (236) and total basic earnings per share of SEK -5.71 (3.76)
Cash flow from operations of SEK 278m (238)
Net debt of SEK 2,134m (928) equivalent to 1.4x trailing 12 month recurring EBITDA
Strategic investments in three digital businesses and extension of key international sports rights
Financial Overview
(SEKm)
2015 Jul-Sep
2014 Jul-Sep
2015 Jan-Sep
2014 Jan-Sep
2014 Jan-Dec
Net sales
3,819
3,669
11,674
11,375
15,746
Growth at constant FX
5%
12%
2%
13%
11%
Organic growth at constant FX
3%
5%
1%
4%
4%
EBIT before non-recurring items
240
221
835
812
1,290
Margin before non-recurring items
6.3%
6.0%
7.1%
7.1%
8.2%
Non-recurring items (NRI)*
-652
0
-575
-155
-155
Total EBIT
-412
221
260
658
1,135
Net income, continuing operations
-365
163
158
436
816
Basic earnings per share, continuing operations (SEK)
-5.44
2.67
2.15
6.41
11.75
Net income, discontinued operations **
-18
73
-282
266
357
Total net income
-384
236
-124
702
1,172
Total basic earnings per share (SEK)
-5.71
3.76
-2.08
10.40
17.10
Net debt
2,134
928
2,134
928
362
Cash flow from operations, continuing operations
278
238
762
784
1,040
SCROLL FOR MORE
* Comprising the SEK 77m capital gain from the sale of Swedish cable TV company Sappa in Q1 2015; and the SEK -700m of net restructuring charges and net SEK 48m related to revaluations of Paprika & Splay in Q3 2015. Comprising in Q2 2014 the SEK -159m non-cash net impairment charge related to MTG’s interest in the Ukrainian satellite pay-TV platform; the SEK -70m of organisational restructuring charges and other costs; and the SEK 76m capital gain from the sale of Zitius in Sweden. ** CTC Media has been reclassified from an ‘equity participation’ to a ‘discontinued operation’ as MTG’s shareholding in CTC Media is expected to be sold. Comparable figures for prior periods of 2014 and 2015 have been provided accordingly on www.mtg.com.
President & CEO’s comments
Profitable Growth We are reporting record Q3 sales on the back of higher viewing levels, healthy customer intake and rising market shares, as well as the addition of a number of exciting new digital businesses. Profits were also up despite the substantial currency headwinds that we continue to face, and we delivered another quarter of profitable growth for the Group.
Accelerating Transformation Our strategic transformation has now accelerated. We are implementing a large scale restructuring programme to bring our local operating businesses closer to the customer, and over time yield SEK 600 million of savings that we will mostly reinvest. We have made significant steps to resolve the position in Russia before the year-end deadline. CTC Media has signed a definitive agreement to sell 75% of its operations, and we are also working with our advisers on solutions for our Russian pay-TV channels business. We have then invested SEK 1.2 billion in three market leading digital businesses in high growth online video categories, and we have also invested to secure key sports rights and studio deals for years to come. This will enable us to develop our brands and products to deliver even more premium content across even more screens and platforms.
Positive Momentum The performance of our Nordic businesses during this period of transition underlines the quality and popularity of our entertainment products, as our Scandinavian media houses delivered higher audience shares in each market for the first time in two years, and Viaplay continued to drive the growth in our subscriber bases. This has been complemented by very positive momentum in our CEE markets, and by the 42% organic growth in group-wide digital revenues.
Sharpening Focus We will continue to execute on our transformation plan and review the portfolio, in order to ensure that we sharpen the focus on the products and businesses that offer the greatest potential for MTG. We are a more efficient and effective group today, and relevance and execution remain at the centre of all that we do.
Jørgen Madsen Lindemann President & Chief Executive Officer
“We are shaping the future of entertainment by creating and growing communities around brands, content and services that consumers love.”
Conference call The company will host a conference call today at 09.00 Stockholm local time, 08.00 London local time and 03.00 New York local time. To participate in the conference call, please dial:
Sweden:
+46 (0) 8 5033 6539
UK:
+44 (0) 20 3427 1901
US:
+1 646 254 3361
SCROLL FOR MORE
The access pin code for the call is 9248214. To listen to the conference call online and for further information, please visit www.mtg.com.
* * *
Any questions? www.mtg.com Facebook: facebook.com/MTGAB Twitter: @mtgab press@mtg.com (or Per Lorentz +46 73 699 27 09) investors@mtg.com (or Matthew Hooper +44 7768 440 414)
Stockholm, 22 October 2015
Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, President & Chief Executive Officer
Modern Times Group MTG AB Skeppsbron 18 P.O. Box 2094 SE-103 13 Stockholm, Sweden Registration number: 556309-9158
MTG (Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.)) is an international entertainment group. Our operations span six continents and include TV channels and platforms, online services, content production businesses and radio stations. We are also the largest shareholder in CTC Media, which is Russia’s leading independent media company. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘MTGA’ and ‘MTGB’).
The information in this announcement is that which MTG is required to disclose according to the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act, and was released at 07:30 CET on 22 October 2015.
