20/03/2006

In its 2005 financial report, Scandinavian media group Egmont announced that its 2005 revenue reached €1.17bn, up 9.6% compared to 2004, thanks primarily to higher sales generated by its film division Nordisk Film, and in particular in the area of interactive games.

The group’s gross intake was €67.5 million, a “satisfactory” result according to CEO Steffen Kragh: “Despite constant pressure on circulation figures and margins in the media industry, our earnings remained on a par with last year’s high level”, he said. “We also stepped up investments in new launches and digital media in 2005. Egmont has established a good platform for new investments in the form of organic growth and acquisitions”.

Sputnik Film, the Internet debut of Egmont Nordisk Film’s video-on-demand project, and its new portable entertainment system PSP were the group’s two major digital launches of 2005. But other investments on the film side included a 20% stake in Finland’s biggest film production company, Matila Röhr Productions, which increased both film companies’ international co-production activities.

Founded in 1878, Egmont, one of Scandinavia’s leading media group, produces weeklies, magazines, comics, games, books, films, TV programmes, music and runs cinemas and TV channels such as the TV 2 group in Norway. It has four big divisions in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as in another 17 companies outside of Scandinavia and employs a total of 3,621 people.