Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Modern Times Group
Financial · January 1, 2018
Published by Modern Times Group
In 2018 MTG delivered a robust financial rebound while executing a decisive strategic shift toward esports and digital‑video assets. Net sales rose 12‑13 % to SEK 19.7 billion and operating income increased 24 % to SEK 1.57 billion, lifting the operating margin to roughly 8 %. Net profit from continuing operations reached SEK 1.17 billion, yet net debt grew to SEK 2.58 billion (1.3 × EBITDA) and the board elected not to pay a dividend, resulting in a 15 % fall in B‑share price and an overall –11 % total shareholder return. Balance‑sheet strength improved, with total assets climbing to SEK 20.3 billion and equity to SEK 7.0 billion, while retained earnings stood at SEK 3.0 billion. The year culminated in the separation of MTG from Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT), whose shares were listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in March 2019. Post‑split, MTG accelerated its pivot into the esports ecosystem, acquiring ESL, DreamHack, InnoGames and Kongregate, and divesting non‑core holdings such as Trace Partners. These moves positioned the company to capture growth in online gaming and competitive entertainment. Corporate governance adhered to Swedish law and the Swedish Corporate Governance Code. The board, composed of six non‑executive directors, met 14 times and operated through remuneration, audit and risk committees. Executive remuneration remained tied to pre‑determined short‑term and long‑term performance targets, with STI capped at 100 % of fixed salary. Internal‑control and risk‑management frameworks were deemed effective and compliant with IFRS and Nasdaq requirements. Accounting practices followed IFRS, recognising goodwill on acquisitions, applying the equity method for joint ventures, and translating foreign subsidiaries into SEK. A widening deferred‑tax deficit and a tax‑loss carry‑forward of SEK 111 million were disclosed. Capital was underpinned by a SEK 4 billion syndicated facility, of which only SEK 200 million was drawn. Overall, the 2018 results illustrate MTG’s financial resilience, a clear strategic reorientation toward esports, and solid governance and risk controls across its European‑centric media operations.
Content PRD LEAGUE 2018 IN BRIEF CEO STATEMENT 1 2018 IN BRIEF 2 CEO STATEMENT 4 THE SPLIT 6 THE NEW MTG 10 BUSINESS OPERATIONS 11 SEGMENTAL PERFORMANCE 12 DIRECTOR’S REPORT 13 BUSINESS OPERATIONS 15 BUSINESS REVIEW BUSINESS SEGMENTS 17 BUSINESS SEGMENTS 19 OTHER GROUP INFORMATION 19 OTHER GROUP INFORMATION 20 THE MTG SHARE 20 THE MTG SHARE 22 FINANCIAL POLICIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT 22 FINANCIAL POLICIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT 24 GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBILITIES 29 INTERNAL CONTROL REPORT 30 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 32 GROUP MANAGEMENT 34 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 46 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 83 SIGNATURES 84 AUDIT REPORT AUDIT REPORT 88 FIVE YEAR SUMMARY 88 FIVE YEAR SUMMARY 89 ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES 89 ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES 91 DEFINITIONS ESL ESL 91 DEFINITIONS 92 FINANCIAL CALENDER 92 FINANCIAL CALENDER PRO LEAGUE PRO LEAGUE Corporate responsibility and sustainability priorities are covered in MTG’s csAGo Annual Corporate Responsibility Report, published on www.mtg.com Annual Corporate Responsibility Report, published on www.mtg.com
ESL 91 DEFINITIONS 92 FINANCIAL CALENDER 92 FINANCIAL CALENDER PRO LEAGUE PRO LEAGUE Corporate responsibility and sustainability priorities are covered in MTG’s csAGo Annual Corporate Responsibility Report, published on www.mtg.com Annual Corporate Responsibility Report, published on www.mtg.com MTG is a leading international digital entertainment group and we are shaping the future of entertainment by connecting consumers with the content that they love in as many ways as possible. Our brands span TV, radio and next generation entertainment experiences in esports, digital video content and online gaming. Born in Sweden, our shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. experiences in esports, digital video content and online gaming Born in Sweden, our shares are listed on Nasdag Stockholm.
2018 in brief Sales, SEKm Operating income before IAC, SEKm 19,742 1,571 +4% organic growth +24% growth Initiative to As in 2017, the Group’s sales, profits and margins Split all improved. The transformation continued as we stepped up our investments into ESL and Splay while exiting our Afro-urban entertainment company Trace Partners. We also worked hard to prepare for the split of MTG into two, which took place at the 1 One became two in Q1 2019 with beginning of 2019 with the distribution and listing of 1 the distribution of NENT Group NENT Group shares on Nasdaq Stockholm.
A record year and a successful split CEO Statement | 2018 was a successful and eventful year for MTG. We delivered higher sales, profits and margins, while at the same time preparing for the split of MTG, which marks the latest chapter in our transformation story. One became two on 28 March 2019 when all the shares that we distributed in NENT Group were successfully listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Both companies have a bright future ahead of them with attractive offerings and equity stories. 2018 was an eventful year for MTG The transformation journey that we have been on during the past four years acceler - ated even further in 2018. We started the year with the proposed merger of our Nordic businesses with TDC Group, in order to create a scale consumer cham - pion providing unique benefits for customers and significant synergies. This combi - nation was later terminated following the take-over of TDC Group by a financial con - sortium. This was followed by the Board of Directors’ decision to initiate a process to prepare for the split of MTG into two listed companies by distributing all of the shares in Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) to MTG’s shareholders. We have also continued to actively align our portfolio to the new strategy, which included the divestment of Trace Partners and acquisi - tions of further shares in ESL, Zoomin.TV and Splay Networks. The February 2019 Extraordinary General Meeting of MTG shareholders voted in favour of the split, and NENT Group was successfully dis - tributed to our shareholders and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm on March 28 2019. and NE tributed Nasdaq Continued operational performance The transformation has not been without
2019 Extraordinary General Meeting of MTG shareholders voted in favour of the split, and NENT Group was successfully dis - tributed to our shareholders and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm on March 28 2019. and NE tributed Nasdaq Continued operational performance The transformation has not been without challenges, so I am proud to report that we again delivered on our profitable growth ambition in 2018. Net sales were up 13% and operating income before items affecting comparability was up 24%, despite being burdened by significant transaction costs related to the TDC deal and split of MTG. The Nordic Entertain - ment segment continued to perform well in 2018, with the growth in our streaming platforms more than compensating for the headwind from falling linear viewing and subscriber erosion in our satellite platform. MTG Studios reported falling sales and profits, which primarily reflected timing differences in our drama productions, but we did see a positive trend shift at the end of 2018. MTGx sales were up significantly and boosted by the consolidation of InnoGames and Kongre - gate, and profitable on a full year basis for the first time. Nova, our Bulgarian busi - ness and the only remaining asset in the International Entertainment segment, continued its very healthy performance
The operational with significantly increased sales and prof - its. We signed an agreement at the begin - ning of the year to sell Nova to PPF Group, which was later disallowed by the Bulgar - ian Competition Commission. We have subsequently announced the sale of Nova to Advance Media Group and have now received local regulatory approval. Nova will remain part of MTG until the sale is completed in April 2019. Being at the forefront of the industry MTG is well-known not only for its inno - vation but also for being brave enough to challenge and disrupt itself. We always aim to invest our time, energy and money in those areas where our customers spend most of theirs. The adoption of subscrip - tion-based streaming services has been very fast, and Nordic penetration levels are now close to 50%. We expect that this level will reach near to 100% in the com - ing years with multiple subscriptions per household. I am happy that we took the bold decision many years ago to disrupt our business by aggressively promoting our streaming businesses, and this is a key reason why we now not only have leadership positions in the streaming market, but also have higher online market shares than offline. NENT Group is the home of sports in the Nordic region and we have over the past years increased our invest - ments into original content to further dif - ferentiate and strengthen our position in this highly competitive but fast-growing market. Our investments into esports and online gaming are further evidence of our ability to adapt to changing consumer behaviours.
Modern Times Group delivered its strongest results to date in 2017, posting net sales of SEK 17.5 billion—a rise of 8 % on an organic basis and 16.9 % reported—while operating income before items affecting comparability increased 19 % to SEK 1.264 billion. The performance generated a total shareholder return of 33 % and a record cash dividend of SEK 12.50 per share, representing roughly 95 % of net income. Core earnings were driven by the Nordic Entertainment segment, which contributed SEK 11.96 billion in sales with a 13.2 % operating margin, and a 19 % profit jump in International Entertainment, largely from the Nova/Trace businesses. The MTGx gaming division doubled its revenue to SEK 2.96 billion, reflecting 37 % organic growth, whereas MTG Studios saw modest top‑line growth but a 16 % decline in operating income. A goodwill impairment of SEK 688 million, primarily linked to Zoomin.TV, reduced operating income after comparability items to SEK 923 million. The balance sheet strengthened after divesting Czech, Baltic and African operations, with total assets rising to SEK 19.3 billion and equity to SEK 5.18 billion; non‑controlling interests increased to SEK 1.39 billion following reclassifications. Financial ratios improved markedly, with the interest‑coverage ratio climbing to 19 times and the net‑debt/EBITDA ratio falling to 1.1 times. Acquisitions in 2017—51 % of InnoGames for SEK 801 million and 100 % of Kongregate for SEK 463 million—added SEK 1.24 billion of
Modern Times Group (MTG) used 2019 to reposition itself as a pure‑play esports and gaming company, executing a split that created a dedicated esports business and preparing a subsequent separation into two listed entities. The strategic review outlined a seven‑point plan focused on organic growth, partnership scaling, ecosystem dominance, long‑term game‑as‑a‑service models, cross‑portfolio synergies, continuous innovation and disciplined capital allocation. This transformation was financed by the sale of Nova for SEK 1.8 billion, the divestment of Zoomin, and the capital gain generated by distributing shares of the newly listed Nordic Entertainment Group. Financially, the year marked a dramatic turnaround. Net sales rose 10 % overall, with esports sales increasing 13 %, while net income surged to SEK 2,285 million from SEK 471 million the prior year. Shareholders’ equity climbed to SEK 5.565 billion, and the group eliminated all external borrowings, reducing debt from SEK 3.68 billion to zero. Asset levels contracted sharply, with equipment falling from SEK 859 million to SEK 212 million, and the net financial position shifted to a SEK ‑28 million deficit after a previous surplus. The board adopted a zero‑dividend policy and reinforced a “buy‑and‑build” approach, taking majority stakes in esports firms while retaining founders as minority shareholders. Corporate governance remained robust, with full compliance to Swedish legislation and Nasdaq Stockholm rules. The board, composed of five re‑elected non‑executive directors, met twelve times and oversaw the split, the gaming review and risk management through dedicated committees and a GRC function. Executive remuneration was benchmarked against independent advisors, capped at 125 % of base salary for short‑term incentives and 200 % for long‑term incentives, and incorporated claw‑back provisions and ESG metrics. Overall, the 2019 period reflects MTG’s decisive shift toward an esports‑centric model, underpinned by strong financial performance, disciplined capital management, and rigorous governance.
Modern Times Group recorded a landmark fiscal year in 2008, delivering a 16 percent increase in net sales to SEK 13.2 billion and a 28 percent rise in underlying operating profit to SEK 2.6 billion, lifting the operating margin to 20 percent. Diluted earnings per share more than doubled to SEK 43.25, supporting a proposed cash dividend of SEK 5 per share, although the Class B share price fell sharply during the same period. The Group’s four core segments—Viasat Broadcasting, Radio, Online and Modern Studios—generated the bulk of the revenue and operating income, with external sales of SEK 13.2 billion and operating income of SEK 3.7 billion, both markedly higher than the prior year. Governance structures were reinforced through the re‑election of most non‑executive directors and the addition of two new members, while the board’s remuneration and audit committees oversaw investment approvals, acquisitions and major programming spend. A noted breach of the corporate‑governance code involved the appointment of a committee chair, prompting heightened oversight. The report also highlighted a suite of operational risks, including the continual need for attractive programming, limited control over associated companies, reliance on satellite and third‑party cable networks, and challenges in attracting and retaining skilled personnel. Financial reporting adhered to IFRS, employing the purchase method for consolidation and rigorous impairment testing of tangible and intangible assets. Financial assets were classified as available‑for‑sale, with foreign‑exchange exposure hedged via forward contracts under IAS 39. Cash‑flow analysis revealed a substantial non‑operating adjustment of –SEK 1,009 million, offset by a one‑off divestment gain of SEK 1,905 million and a corresponding cash influx of SEK 1,948
Modern Times Group’s 2016 annual report presents a comprehensive overview of the company’s transition toward a digital‑entertainment model and its financial outcomes for the fiscal year. The narrative emphasizes a strategic shift driven by aggressive acquisitions in esports and online video, which underpinned a 7 % increase in total net sales to SEK 17.3 billion and a rise in operating profit to SEK 1.35 billion, despite a modest decline in traditional profitability metrics such as return on equity, which fell to –2 %. Key performance highlights include a 194 % surge in net sales for the MTGx digital‑video unit after acquiring Turtle Entertainment, Zoomin.TV, Splay and DreamHack, lifting its operating margin from 0.2 % to 4.4 %. Organic growth turned positive at +2.2 % following a –14.2 % contraction the prior year, driven by rapid expansion of esports events and leagues. The company recorded a SEK 95 million goodwill impairment on Zoomin.TV, while intangible assets grew by SEK 111 million. Credit‑risk exposure stood at SEK 3.1 billion, with all counterparties holding at least an S&P A rating and 85‑100 % of foreign‑currency programme cash flows hedged. Governance disclosures detail a four‑member, unpaid Nomination Committee and a six‑member Board, alongside an Audit Committee that reviews all accounting estimates annually. Senior‑executive remuneration rose to SEK 84.5 billion, and the Board proposed a dividend of SEK 12.00 per share, representing 93 % of net income. Auditors affirmed that the consolidated statements present a fair view under IFRS, noting significant goodwill and intangible‑asset balances but no material uncertainties regarding the group’s ability to continue as a going concern. The report covers MTG’s global operations, primarily in TV/radio advertising, pay‑TV subscriptions, cable fees, merchandise, and programme‑rights licensing, for the 2016 calendar year.