STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 23, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Modern Times Group MTG AB ("MTG") (Stockholm:MTGA) (Stockholm:MTGB) (Nasdaq:MTGNY) today announced its preliminary financial results for the first nine months and the third quarter of 2002, ending September 30, 2002.
-- Net Sales Amounted to SEK 1,371 (1,415) Million for the Third Quarter, Due to Weak Economic Climate.
-- Operating Income Improved to SEK -23 (-31) Million for the Quarter.
-- Pay-TV Operating Income Almost Quadrupled During the Quarter to SEK 87 (23) Million.
-- The Number of Digital DTH Subscribers Increased During the Quarter to 589,000, and the Number of Viasat Gold Subscribers Was Stable at 426,000.
-- Head-Count Is Reduced By 10% Year-on-Year, and Total Costs Are Down by 5% or SEK 200 Million Year-to-Date.
Financial Summary
2002 2001 2002 2001 2001
Jul-Sept Jul-Sept Jan-Sept Jan-Sept FY
In SEK million
Net sales 1,371 1,415 4,293 4,550 6,402
Earnings before
depreciation and 37 25 382 323 596
amortisation
Operating income -23 -31 201 150 360
of which, non- - - 163 - -15
recurring items
Net interest and
other financial
items(1) -41 -82 -151 -139 -110
Pre tax profit -64 -113 50 11 250
Net income -20 -53 27 8 121
Earnings per
share (SEK) -0.30 -0.80 0.41 0.12 1.82
Number of
shares
out-
standing 66,375,156 66,375,156 66,375,156 66,375,156 66,375,156
Total assets 6,740 6,895 6,740 6,895 6,941
(1) Net interest and other financial items includes net interest costs and unrealised exchange rate costs, including the translation of receivables on Metro from USD to SEK and the translation of the convertible bonds from EUR to SEK.
The Group
MTG is an international media company with principal operations in eight countries in the Scandinavian and the Baltic regions. Certain subsidiaries operate globally and consequently MTG totally operates in more than 30 countries. The Group has seven business areas. TV operations are included in Viasat Broadcasting; content production and sales in Modern Studios; traditional home-shopping and e-commerce in TV Shop; subtitling and dubbing in SDI Media; printed products and financial news in MTG Publishing, commercial radio stations in MTG Radio; and businesses such as digital-TV applications and teletext services in New Media.
MTG is the largest Free-TV operator in the Nordic and Baltic regions, as well as the third largest DTH Pay-TV operator in Europe, with the largest number of DTH subscribers in the Nordic region. MTG is the global market leader when it comes to subtitling and dubbing, and the largest commercial radio operator in northern Europe. Through Strix Television, MTG is one of the leading Reality-TV producers on the international market.
It was with great sadness that MTG announced that its Founder and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Jan Hugo Stenbeck, passed away on August 19, 2002. Mr. Stenbeck was also the Founder and Chairman of Invik & Co. AB, Tele2 AB, Metro International S.A., Millicom International S.A., Transcom WorldWide S.A. and was the Chairman of Industriforvaltnings AB Kinnevik.
On August 22, 2002 the Board appointed Pelle Tornberg, former CEO of MTG AB, as new Chairman of the Board.
In May MTG reduced its shareholding in TV4 by one million shares, resulting in a capital gain of SEK 163 million. MTG's interest in TV4 is thereby decreased to 3,020,013 shares or 15,1%. As a result, MTG's participation in the earnings of TV4 has only been consolidated until the Mid May 2002. At the same time MTG subscribed to an issue of convertible notes of USD 20 million by its former subsidiary, international publishing group Metro International S.A. The bonds have a five-year yield to maturity, and the notes are convertible into Metro International S.A. B shares at a price of USD 2,01 per share and have an annual coupon of 6,25%.
During the first quarter 2002 MTG acquired 36.3% of the shares in the privately owned US company, StoryFirst Communications, Inc., which owns a majority stake in the second largest commercial TV network in Russia. MTG also acquired the remaining shares in its Estonian television and radio operations, the Lugna Favoriter radio station in Stockholm, as well as the financial newspaper Vision, which was merged with Finanstidningen into the new daily business paper Finans Vision.
Operating Review by Business Area
During the second quarter TV8 was moved from Publishing to Viasat Broadcasting and the historical figures have been re-stated accordingly.
Viasat Broadcasting
Viasat Broadcasting produces and broadcasts 21 TV channels in nine countries. The channels include the well-known brands TV3 and TV1000. From being a successful Scandinavian and Baltic broadcaster, the formats have recently been exported to new growth territories such as Viasat3 in Hungary and Darial TV and CTC in Russia.
Revenues for Viasat's total free TV businesses showed growth in the third quarter for the first time this year, and increased to SEK 526 (507) million for the period. TV3 has invested in new successful programme formats from Strix such as Fame Factory, which is showing strong growth in weekly share of viewing since launch, and is outperforming the international format Popstars on the competing channel. Another successful new format from Strix is Insider on TV3 Sweden, which has recorded all time high ratings for an own produced documentary on TV3 Sweden with 635,000 viewers, or 40% commercial share of viewing. The Survivor format has continued to achieve exceptional ratings on TV3 Denmark and TV3 Norway. The Baltic, Hungarian and Russian TV advertising markets have continued to show strong growth, which in combination with Viasat's increased commercial share of viewing in each of these territories has enabled the Group to more than double its sales in the areas.
Net sales for the pay-TV operations amounted to SEK 523 (558) millionfor the period, and premium ARPU increased by 21% quarter-on-quarter.Operating income for the pay-TV operations almost quadrupled during thequarter to 87 (23) MSEK, reflecting increased margins. Viasat's digitalsubscriber base grew in the seasonally weaker third quarter with the netaddition of 12,000 new digital subscribers. The number of Viasat Goldsubscribers stayed at the same level during the third quarter, which isusually negatively impacted by summer churn. Viasat is increasing itspackage prices during the fall and is further strengthening itscompetitive offer by adding the Disney Channel exclusively to itspremium package offerings.
(Thousand subscribers) Sept 2002 June 2002 Cardholders 1,017 1,045 of which, digital subscribers 589 577 Viasat Gold package premium subscribers 426 426 Other premium package subscribers 27 30 TV1000 484 488
Net sales: SEK 956 (981) million for the third quarter and SEK 3,101 (3,161) million year-to-date; Operating income: SEK 9 (17) million for the third quarter and SEK 335 (277) million year-to-date.
Modern Studios
Modern Studios includes MTG's content production companies, with the leading production house of Reality TV formats -- Strix Television, the market leader of Swedish cinema distribution -- Sonet, the international movie rights company -- Modern Entertainment, and the boxing promotion company Modern Sports and Events.
Strix's operating margin was 18% in the third quarter, and it is currently producing or co-producing ten formats in 20 countries, and has now sold 78 options or licenses for its formats in 37 countries around the world. One of its most successfull formats, 'Harem,' reached 29% share of viewing in France on the final show on the leading French TV channel M6, doubling M6's average viewing numbers during prime time.
Sonet's fall line-up has been highly successful, with box office successes such as 'Grabben i graven bredvid,' 'Lilja 4-ever' and the 'Best European Film' award winner in the Hollywood Film Festival in October 'Everyone Loves Alice.'
Net sales: SEK 145 (142) million for the third quarter and SEK 419 (466) million year-to-date; Operating income: SEK 24 (18) million for the third quarter and SEK 37 (55) million year-to-date.
TV-Shop
The TV-Shop division includes TV-Shop -- Europe's largest TV home shopping business for both analogue and digital TV-networks, CDON -- Scandinavia's second largest internet retailer of CDs, DVDs and electronic games, and ECL -- a pan-European logistics company.
TV-Shop reaches more than 100 million people in Europe, including its 24-hour shopping channel PIN24 in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia. The company improved its operating income by SEK 20 million during the quarter due to a significantly lower cost structure.
CDON increased its revenues by 47% year to date and the company has been profitable since fifteen months, reflecting the strong brand and high level of repeat ordering.
Net sales: SEK 158 (164) million for the third quarter and SEK 481 (564) million year-to-date; Operating income: SEK -2 (-29) million for the third quarter and SEK 10 (-30) million year-to-date.
SDI Media
SDI Media operates in 19 countries and is the global market leader in the field of translating, subtitling and dubbing for TV, Video, Film and DVD, with more than 60% of the world market share in DVD feature subtitling. SDI Media has contracts with all of the major Hollywood Studios as well as international TV channels such as The Discovery Channel.
SDI's operating margin increased to 18% (12%) in the third quarter, as DVD subtitling reached 51% (46%) of sales. SDI also pioneered the next generation of subtitling by providing integrated digital subtitling for the 'D' (digital) Cinema preview of the latest motion picture in the Star Wars series. Net sales: SEK 94 (109) million for the third quarter and SEK 286 (288) million year to date Operating income: SEK 16 (13) million for the third quarter and SEK 39 (27) million year to date Publishing The Publishing division comprises news and information providers in the financial market segment, such as Finans Vision, the largest daily pink business paper in Stockholm, and Brombergs -- the successful publishing house.
Finans Vision is progressing according to plan, and was re-launched as a free hand distribution model and is now the largest pink business paper in Stockholm with more than 100,000 distributed copies per day, which is more than double that of its closest competitor. Sales were impacted in the third quarter due to a summer break, and operating costs were reduced by 20% quarter-on-quarter. The response amongst advertisers and readers to the new format and editorial style has been positive.
Net sales: SEK 26 (33) million for the third quarter and SEK 96 (128) million year-to-date; Operating income: SEK -21 (-19) million for the third quarter and SEK -71 (-45) million year-to-date.
Radio
MTG Radio is the largest commercial radio operator in northern Europe, and owns or holds stakes in the leading commercial radio networks in Sweden (Rix FM), Norway (P4 Radio Hele Norge) and Finland (Radio Nova). In addition to this the Group owns the Star FM radio stations in Estonia and Latvia, and Power Hit Radio in Tallinn. MTG Radio acquired Lugna Favoriter during the first quarter and is thereby the owner of the two highest rated commercial radio stations in Stockholm, Lugna Favoriter and Power Hit Radio.
The division's sales increased year-on-year on the back of the acquisition of Lugna Favoriter. The Nordic advertising markets remained weak through the third quarter, resulting in decreased operating income. However, MTG Radio continued to gain market shares in the weak advertising market, and increased the share of listening. According to the most recent quarterly survey by the independent Swedish research company RUAB, RIX FM reaches 755,000 daily listeners. Lugna Favoriter, which was launched in Gothenburg at the beginning of 2002, is already the largest commercial radio station in the territory. Lugna Favoriter and Power Hit Radio have maintained their positions as the two largest stations in Stockholm, with a combined total of 265,000 daily listeners.
Net sales: SEK 36 (26) million for the third quarter and SEK 112 (94) million year-to-date; Operating income: SEK -7 (5) million for the third quarter and SEK -36 (13) million year-to-date.
New Media
New Media includes MTG's teletext operations in Scandinavia and in Spain, the new services on the digital-TV platform and mobile Internet services. The division also includes MTG's 50% share of the Nordic operations of Everyday.com.
The operating margin on the wholly owned businesses amounted to 43%, with an operating profit of SEK 10 (4) million for the third quarter. The Spanish teletext operation has expanded during the year, and is now supplying its teletext services to 14 TV stations in Spain. Everyday.com has been downscaled during the year, which improved the results to SEK -12 (-45) million during the first nine months of 2002.
Net sales: SEK 25 (28) million for the third quarter and SEK 80 (71) million year-to-date; Operating income: SEK 9 (-5) million for the third quarter and SEK 13 (-52) million year-to-date.
Financial Review
Group Net Sales amounted to SEK 4,293 million in the first nine months of 2002 and to SEK 1,371 million for the third quarter. EBITDA increased by 18% to SEK 382 million for the first nine months and by 48% to SEK 37 million during the third quarter. The Group's EBIT increased by 34% to SEK 201 million for the first nine months, and improved the result during the third quarter to SEK -23 (-31) million.
Pre-tax profit improved year-on-year to SEK 50 (11) million for the first nine months, and to SEK -64 (-113) million in the third quarter.
Equity/Assets Ratio
The Group's equity to assets ratio was 45% (44%) at September 30, 2002. The ratio is defined as the sum of consolidated equity and minority interests, including the EUR 120 million of subordinated convertible debentures, as a percentage of total assets.
The Group holds minority interests in marketable shares in TV4 AB and P4 Radio Hele Norge ASA, as well as shares in, and convertible loans to, Metro International S.A. These holdings are treated as fixed assets. The aggregate market value of these securities amounted to SEK 958 (1,825) million at 30 September 2002. The combined book value of these securities amounts to SEK 649 (576) million. After adjusting for differences between the market values and book values, the equity to assets ratio at 30 September 2002 was 47% (51%).
Liquid Funds
The Group's liquid funds, including available credit facilities, amounted to SEK 441 (828) million at September 30, 2002.
Net Debt
The Group's net debt amounted to SEK 1,084 (889) million at the close of the reporting period. The Group's net debt is defined as interest-bearing liabilities, including the convertible debentures, less interest-bearing assets. Excluding the convertible debentures, MTG's net debt amounted to SEK -11 (-242) million.
Capital Expenditure
The Group's capital expenditure during the first nine months of the year amounted to SEK 69 (76) million. In addition to this the group invested 281 (76) million in shares and 204 million in convertible bonds in Metro International S.A.
Depreciation
The Group's depreciation and amortisation for the nine months of 2002 amounted to SEK 182 (172) million.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share for the third quarter improved to SEK -0.30 (-0.80) and amounted to SEK 0.41 (0.12) for the first nine months of 2002.
Other Information
MTG's financial results for the forth quarter and full year of 2002 will be released in February 2003.
This interim report has not been subject to review by the Company's auditors.
For further information, please visit www.mtg.se, email info@mtg.se, orcontact:
Hans-Holger Albrecht, President & CEO tel: +46 (0) 8 562 000 50 Mia Brunell, Chief Financial Officer tel: +46 (0) 8 562 000 50 Matthew Hooper, Investor & Press Relations tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 5010
Modern Times Group MTG AB has seven business areas: Viasat Broadcasting(free-to-air and pay TV channels in nine countries), New Media (text-TV,interactive digital-TV, and mobile Internet), Radio (seven networks infive countries), Publishing (financial news and information services),TV Shop (home shopping, e-commerce and logistics), SDI Media(subtitling and dubbing services) and Modern Studios (contentproduction and rights library).
Modern Times Group MTG AB's class A and B shares are listed on theStockholmsborsen O-list (symbols: MTGA and MTGB) and ADRs are listed onthe Nasdaq National Market in New York (symbol: MTGNY).
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