Q4 & Full Year 2011 Report

Q4 & Full Year 2011 Report

Stockholm
February 9, 2012
13.00 CET
9 February 2012 – Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.) (“MTG” or “the Group”) (Nasdaq OMX Stockholm Large Cap Market: MTGA, MTGB) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended 31 December 2011. Record Sales, Increase in Net Cash Flow from Operations and Higher Annual Dividend

Fourth quarter Highlights [1]

  • Net sales up 3% year on year at constant and reported exchange rates to SEK 3,711 (3,618) million
  • Operating income of SEK 551 (653) million when excluding associated company income and non-recurring items
  • SEK -3,182 (-) million of non-recurring items, primarily relating to Bulgarian broadcasting goodwill impairment
  • Total operating income of SEK -2,517 (746) million including SEK 114 (93) million of associated company income and SEK -3,182 (-) million of non-recurring items
  • Income before tax of SEK -2,519 (741) million
  • Net income from continuing operations of SEK -2,564 (634) million and total net income of
  • SEK -2,564 (2,359) million
  • Basic earnings per share from continuing operations of SEK -38.87 (9.40) and total basic earnings per share of SEK -38.87 (35.43)
  • Net cash flow from operations up 10% year on year to SEK 1,107 (1,009) million including receipt of SEK 174 (131) million (USD 26 (19) million) of dividend payments from associated company CTC Media

Full Year Highlights [1]

  • Net sales up 6% year on year at constant exchange rates and up 3% year on year at reported exchange rates to SEK 13,473 (13,101) million
  • Operating income of SEK 1,933 (1,941) million when excluding associated company income and non-recurring items
  • Total operating income of SEK -637 (2,355) million when including SEK 611 (413) million of associated company income and SEK -3,182 (-) million of non-recurring items
  • Income before tax of SEK -727 (2,321) million
  • Net income from continuing operations of SEK -1,289 (1,750) million and total net income of SEK -1,289 (3,541) million
  • Basic earnings per share from continuing operations of SEK -19.98 (26.22) and total basic earnings per share of SEK -19.98 (53.34)
  • Net cash flow from operations up 17% year on year to SEK 1,797 (1,533) million including receipt of SEK 319 (216) million (USD 49 (31) million) of dividend payments from associated company CTC Media
  • Board of Directors to propose 20% increase in annual cash dividend to SEK 9.00 (7.50) per share to AGM in May 2012 and has adopted dividend policy to distribute at least 30% of recurring net profit to shareholders as an annual ordinary dividend

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “All four of our broadcasting businesses reported growing revenues in the quarter and for the full year, as we reported record sales for both periods despite the broader economic uncertainty that has prevailed during the year. Our net cash flow from operations was up 17% year on year in 2011 and we ended the year with substantially reduced borrowings, which is why the Board is proposing an increased dividend and adopting a dividend policy moving forward. We are a growth company and are investing in our existing operations, as well as seeking opportunities to establish and acquire new businesses.”

“Sales for our Scandinavian free-TV operations were up year on year as the advertising markets continued to grow. We have some ratings issues, which are being addressed, and our 2012 Spring schedules are now being launched. Our Nordic pay-TV subscriber base continues to grow and our Viaplay online service is developing according to plan. The emerging market free-TV operations have taken share and outperformed in advertising markets that are still lagging the recovery in western Europe, whilst our emerging market pay-TV operations are reporting continued strong subscriber intake. Our businesses have some of the highest margins in the European broadcasting industry despite the fact that we are continuing to invest in programming content, new technologies and subscriber acquisition.”

“Our fourth quarter results were impacted by a number of non-recurring and primarily non-cash items following our year-end impairment tests, but our underlying profitability and cash flows remain healthy and we are continuing to explore new growth opportunities.”

* * *

Conference CallThe company will host a conference call today at 15.00 Stockholm local time, 14.00 London local time and 09.00 New York local time. To participate in the conference call, please dial:

Sweden:         +46 (0)8 5876 9445UK:                +44 (0)20 7136 2051US:                +1 646 254 3367

The access pin code for the call is 6818049

To listen to the conference call online and for further information please go to www.mtg.se.

For further information, please visit www.mtg.se, or contact:

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President & Chief Executive OfficerMathias Hermansson, Chief Financial OfficerTel:     +46 (0) 8 562 000 50

Matthew Hooper, Head of Corporate CommunicationsTel:      +44 (0) 7768 440 414Email: investor.relations@mtg.se / press@mtg.se

London, 9 February 2012

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and CEOModern Times Group MTG ABSkeppsbron 18P.O. Box 2094SE-103 13 Stockholm, SwedenRegistration number: 556309-9158

Modern Times Group is an international entertainment broadcasting Group with the largest geographical broadcast footprint in Europe. MTG's Viasat Broadcasting operates 29 free-TV channels in 11 countries and 38 pay-tv channels in 34 countries. The pay-tv channels are distributed on Viasat’s own satellite platforms in 9 countries, as well as on third party broadcast networks (including cable, satellite and IPTV) and over the open internet. MTG is also the largest shareholder in Russia’s leading independent television broadcaster (CTC Media – Nasdaq: CTCM).

Modern Times Group is a growth company and generated SEK 13.5 billion of sales and SEK 2.5 billion of operating income excluding non-recurring items in 2011. MTG’s Class A and B shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm’s Large Cap index under the symbols ‘MTGA’ and ‘MTGB’.

The information in this Full Year 2011 report is that which Modern Times Group MTG AB is required to disclose under the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. It was released for publication at 13.00 CET on 9 February 2012.

[1] This financial report includes the effects of the demerger and distribution of former MTG subsidiary CDON Group in December 2010. CDON Group’s results have been excluded from MTG’s operating results and cash flows for 2010, with the exception of the reported net income from discontinued operations in the Group’s income statements and the net cash flow to financing activities in the Group’s cash flow statements.

Download the press files:
wkr0001.pdf