Annual Report • Apr 23, 2020
Annual Report
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Today's rapidly changing business climate pressures your leaders to better understand your company's business model, faster. BTS works with people at all levels, developing the strong business acumen necessary for successful strategy execution. BTS's programs use highly experiential customized simulations to allow your people to run the business and practice executing the strategy as if it were their own.
We know that leadership is relentlessly contextual and immensely personal. As such, leadership development should be customized to your strategy, culture, and business environment. Our simulation-based learning programs allow your people to experience leading as if in real life, developing the skills and confidence necessary to drive strategy execution.

Building mastery of business acumen and people dynamics, we equip your salespeople to more effectively engage buyers and prioritize sales activity, inspiring better
customer decisions and driving exceptional results. We enable sales managers to optimize sales management, with the skills to lead people, develop people, and execute their plan, leveraging both business acumen and people dynamics. Not only do we focus on the salesperson and sales manager, but also on developing sales and marketing approaches for sales leaders, marketing, specialized sales sources, and channel partners.

Success in today's world requires constant innovation and an astute use of digital technology. We help leaders at all levels learn how to manage through digital disruption
and cultivate the culture and environment necessary for innovation. Through our customized business simulations, your people will bridge the gap from your company's current state to your desired future state, capturing the benefits of technology, speed, innovation, and smart risk-taking.
Faced with limited talent pools and a highly competitive market, hiring and promoting the right people can be extremely difficult. BTS Assessment helps your company gain an accurate understanding of your employees' capabilities, and designs talent selection and development initiatives that align with the strategic needs of your business. Working with leaders at all levels, our solutions make identifying, selecting, and developing the right talent more accurate and efficient.
For too long, coaching has been seen as a 'black box' focused more on individual needs than strategic business goals, and something affordable for only senior leaders. Over a decade ago, BTS Coach eliminated all of these constraints by turning coaching on its head. We partner with you to create bespoke one-to-one coaching journeys that support your initiatives, and also offer a portfolio of just in-time solutions allowing you to access high quality, globally available, scalable executive or team coaching solutions on demand.
Change has changed. At BTS, we help you turn plans to actions because we know that change and transformation can't be planned perfectly. Partnering with your company, we link transformation to your strategy by defining the outcomes and structures necessary for working in new ways. Through transformational experiences, your leaders shift their mindsets, enabling them to embrace and lead change. They execute your new strategy with new actions and behaviors in an environment where change is expected and leveraged as an opportunity.
BTS is a global professional services firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with more than 830 professionals in 35 offices located on six continents.



Operating profit (EBITA) per operating unit

We work with our clients to build commitment and capability to accelerate strategy execution and improve business results. Our vision is to be the global leader in turning strategy into action.
| ABB | Chevron | Microsoft | SAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANZ | Coca-Cola | National Australia | Tencent |
| Autodesk | EY | Bank | TMobile |
| Bancomer | DBS | Nike | Uber |
| BP | Ericsson | Petronas | Verizon |
| Cepsa | Mercado Libre | Salesforce.com | Wärtsilä |
Singapore
Sydney
Seoul Tokyo Shanghai
Taipei Bangkok


| Key ratios | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Net sales, MSEK | 1,865 | 1,598 |
| Operating profit (EBITA), MSEK | 245 | 202 |
| Operating margin (EBITA margin), % | 13 | 13 |
| Operating profit (EBIT), MSEK | 226 | 183 |
| Operating margin (EBIT margin), % | 12 | 11 |
| Profit before tax, MSEK | 216 | 180 |
| Profit after tax, MSEK | 151 | 126 |
| Profit margin, % | 8 | 8 |
| Operating capital, MSEK | 600 | 545 |
| Key ratios | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Return on operating capital, % | 39 | 35 |
| Return on equity, % | 20 | 20 |
| Equity ratio at the end of the year, % | 45 | 46 |
| Cash flow from operating activities, MSEK | 218 | 158 |
| Cash flow, MSEK | 48 | 50 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year, MSEK |
316 | 262 |
| Average number of employees | 779 | 645 |
| Number of employees at the end of the year | 832 | 701 |
| Net turnover per employee, MSEK | 2.4 | 2.5 |


*Proposed dividend

| Words from the CEO 4–5 |
|
|---|---|
| Vision, purpose, value proposition and goals. |
6–7 |
| Strategic principles 8 |
| Strategic alignment and business acumen10–11 | |
|---|---|
| Leadership development12–13 | |
| Sales and marketing | 14–15 |
| Innovation and digital transformation16–17 | |
| Assessment | 18–19 |
| Leadership Coaching | 20–21 |
| Change and transformation | 22–23 |
| Business model. 26–27 |
|---|
| Digital services28–29 |
| Our clients and industries30–31 |
| Growth, profitability and acquisitions 32–33 |
| Organization | 36 |
|---|---|
| Core values | 37 |
| Our people and culture |
38–39 |
| Advantage Performance Group40–41 |
| BTS share information | 42–43 |
|---|---|
| Five-year summary |
44–46 |
| Management report |
47–51 |
| Consolidated income statement | 52 |
| Consolidated statement of | |
| comprehensive income | 52 |
| Consolidated balance sheet |
53 |
| Changes in consolidated equity | 54 |
| Consolidated cash flow statement | 55 |
| Parent Company's income statement | 56 |
| Parent Company's statement of | |
| comprehensive income | 56 |
| Parent Company's balance sheet | 57 |
| Parent Company's cash flow statement58 | |
| Changes in Parent Company's equity | 59 |
| Notes to the annual report |
60–77 |
| Audit report 78–81 |
| Sustainability report82–87 | |
|---|---|
| Corporate governance report88–91 | |
| The Board of Directors and auditor 92–93 | |
| Senior executives and global partners 94–95 | |
| Shareholder information | 96 |
During the 34 years of our company BTS's history, we have lived through three recessions and managed to come out stronger from each one.
Recessions are the times of tough challenges, but also the times of opportunities. These are times of change, times when new moves can be made, times when we can win market share, times when we can develop new services, and times when we actually can release more energy in our organizations.
Recessions hit organizations and industries differently. This column describes recessions for BTS and how we tackle them.
We have had two main principles in each recession that we have met:
1) Protect our business and our jobs short term.
2) Think long term and come out of the recession stronger.
Principle number 1 is critical to build the cash base and the business scenario which secures the organization and creates freedom of action and of time. However, it is easy to get stuck on the first principle and become entangled in short term cost cutting, and in moves which may destroy real medium and long term value.
The principle no 2 is key. Our ambition is to have a clear view from the very beginning of how we will be stronger when we come out of the recession and what we need to do during the recession to get there.
This our fourth recession is on one hand our toughest – because it includes a pandemic which makes the physical deliveries of BTS's services many times impossible. On the other hand this fourth recession also carries a big opportunity for BTS, in the growth of virtually and digitally delivered services.
On February 19, the day after we released our Q4 report, as I worked in London, our stock price hit an all-time high and we looked into 2020 with an amazingly strong record breaking orderbook. Two days later, on February 21, as I worked in Madrid, we read of the rapidly growing covid-19 cases in northern Italy, and it became quite clear that the virus would spread and that this would have major impacts on the world economy. Never ever has a recession arrived with such speed and force.
We started to get to work immediately in our leadership team and on March, 1 our plan was set and ready to go.
Our plan had – and still has – four main areas:
Over 60 percent of our revenues come from physical deliveries to groups of over 20 people or more, quite often tied to travel. We believed that these deliveries would disappear, and that this could last for months going forward. On top of this we would see the recession's economic impact on our customers.
One alternative in this situation was to cut a significant part of our organization, through dismissals, and this way balance our costs with the revenues. We decided to not take this route, which would have been the most predictable in the short term.
We concluded that our customers would not only be cutting down, they would also be looking for new ways to deliver, and that we could support them.
Based on the organic investment we have made in our digital and virtual organization and products, as well as two acquisitions in this space we made during 2019 – of the companies SwissVBS and The Rapid Learning Institute – we decided to transform our organization's capabilities and set-up to perform virtual and digital solutions for all our customers. And – to very quickly go to market with this capability!
This way we take a leap into the future of virtual and digital together with all our customers as well as up-skill our whole organization, which we also are able to maintain – ready and stronger for when we come back to normal times. We have invested a lot to build our organization and it is valuable indeed, and to demount it would destroy value.
We are also creating positive energy in our organization, based on learning and moving towards the future.
And this positive energy is of great help to our people, concerned and in lockdown – which in its turn helps our business.
And wherever we have free resources, we use them for productive purposes improving our business and our operations.
We have covered the risk exposure by selected savings and by building more cash.
We have seen a considerable amount of cancellations and postponements, and this prediction was easy to get right.
And – during the seven weeks since we launched our global battle plan, we have won over 25 MUSD in new revenues for digital and virtual solutions from over 150 customer projects for delivery from Q2 and onwards. We are seeing new buying centers in existing customers and also totally new customers. And positive energy and progress in up-skilling across the BTS organization.
Our goal is to come out stronger in three ways:
It seems already today a long time ago. However, below some highlights of 2019.
Overall, 2019 was a good year with an operating profit increase of 21 percent. The increase in our earnings has been stable over time: operating profit has risen on average 23 percent per year over the last five years.
We are particularly pleased to have achieved a 21 percent increase in earnings in 2019 despite the weak performance in one of our three regions. While both BTS North America and BTS Europe had a strong year in 2019 with healthy growth and increased margins, earnings decreased in our second biggest region, BTS Other markets.

During 2019, our revenues grew 10 percent, of which 9 percent was organic.
Our total operating margin during 2019 increased by 0.6 percentage points to 13.2 percent. The positive trend in the EBITA margin that began in the fourth quarter of 2016 has continued.
There is now major uncertainty of how the revenues for physical, digital and virtual deliveries will develop during the year, and we do not currently have the information to provide an outlook for the year.
BTS is focused on growing stronger during the 2020 pandemic and recession and move forward with an offering with more growth potential, a larger customer base and a stronger organization.
Stockholm, April, 2020
Henrik Ekelund Founder and CEO of BTS Group AB
BTS focuses on the people side of strategy, working with leaders at all levels to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions to actions and deliver results. At our core, we believe people learn best by doing. For more than 30 years, we've been designing fun, powerful experiences that have a profound and lasting impact on people and their careers. We inspire new ways of thinking, build critical capabilities and unleash business success. It's strategy made personal.
The global leader in turning strategy into action.
We inspire and equip people to do the best work of their lives, creating better businesses and a better world.
personal and drive great execution. Our unforgettable experiences create levels of alignment,mindset, and capability that deliver better results, faster.
VALUE PROPOSITION
BTS's financial goals over time are: • A revenue growth, adjusted for changes in exchange rates, of 20 percent, primarily organic.
We focus on our world-class capability to customize and deliver discovery-based solutions that give our clients superior business results and ROI. Every new solution/service we develop shall build on the core competencies of BTS.
BTS is a global organization, providing services around the world to a client base of mainly international organizations.
BTS grows organically, building on its core competencies and customer base. Acquisitions must provide major synergies and complement new markets, new customer bases, and new areas of expertise/solutions.
BTS enters new geographic markets and new sectors through a customer-driven approach – revenues and customers first, cost second.
BTS's clients shall be predominantly high-image/large clients – and the most demanding and professional clients.
BTS establishes long-term partnerships with clients, built on delivery of top-quality and highly visible results and strong customer relations.
By leveraging our portfolio of solutions and capabilities, we build suites of solutions used throughout our clients' organizations, resulting in a recurring and growing flow of revenues over a long period of time.
BTS's services are differentiated through superior business results and ROI. Some differentiation factors for BTS are:
BTS's prices are generally fixed and are not set per unit of time.
BTS capitalizes on its IP (Intellectual Property), creating recurring revenues while striving to increase the share of total sales attributable to license revenues.
BTS continuously increases the quantity of, and improves the quality of, resources dedicated to client contacts and sales. These are key drivers of growth for BTS. Our priorities:
BTS owns and sources internally:
BTS uses independent resources and contractors – to gain access to expertise and for optimal resource planning – in order to maximize quality and productivity.
BTS builds partnerships in order to gain access to customers and to combine capabilities.
BTS has detailed processes and best practice exchanges to ensure compatible methods throughout the Group – leveraging the company's knowledge and increasing productivity. We deliver well-coordinated and integrated services across the globe.
BTS invests in development to cover the key needs of our clients and to provide the best solutions. BTS adapts existing solutions and develops new solutions in joint projects with clients to secure effective and client-needs-driven innovation.
BTS's professionals are all very visible to the client, and the company spirit is a main driver of client and employee satisfaction. BTS emphasizes a positive and professional company culture expressed in six core values.
Recruitment, development, and motivation of our people – creating business-focused high performers throughout the organization – are key drivers of our growth.

Practices
| Strategic Alignment and Business Acumen | 10–11 |
|---|---|
| Leadership Development | 12–13 |
| Sales and Marketing | 14–15 |
| Innovation and Digital Transformation | 16–17 |
| Assessment | 18–19 |
| Leadership Coaching | 20–21 |
| Change and Transformation | 22–23 |
We prepare your leaders to make better business decisions. We help them understand your business model(s) and your company's drivers of profitable growth, and then focus them on taking action to drive business results. From the individual contributor to the C-suite, we build leader readiness at all levels by developing the enterprise thinking and business acumen necessary to accelerate the execution of your strategy. Our programs use customized, team-based business simulations with a combination of pre- and post-work; live, classroom-based, and virtual workshops; as well as on-the-job application and coaching to ensure that every member of your team has the skills necessary for success. Your senior leaders are often incorporated into the design to bring practical insight and capability to the learning experiences.
Today's rapidly changing business climate pressures your leaders and employees to better understand your company's business model. Your leaders need to know how they impact value creation and the critical levers they can pull to make your business successful at a rate that keeps up with the pace of change.
Our technologically-enabled simulation experiences allow your people to run the business and practice executing the strategy as if it were their own. During our programs, your people get to work as a team, building alignment, ownership, and a deep sense of confidence, in a fun and risk-free environment.
Our Framework for turning strategy into action: Execution = Alignment x Mindset x Capability

A leading American telecom organization was in the process of implementing a strategy that generated free cash flow to fund future capital expenditures. However, a problem emerged when the company realized that 70 percent of its people did not know what Free Cash Flow was or how it could be improved.
Recognizing that this knowledge gap would only continue to create negative economic consequences for the organization, the telecom company engaged BTS to build a solution. BTS created a learning solution featuring a Free Cash Flow execution tool, which used the company's real-life numbers to allow participants to learn about Free Cash Flow and how to create it.
This tool and the experience around it helped people to define Free Cash Flow, understand levers to improve it, practice cause and effect using real-life scenarios, and identify how their function and team could drive Free Cash Flow improvements. After the program, using BTS's Power of One results assurance process, each participant implemented and tracked a Free Cash Flow "go-do," or a guided task applied on the job to extend learning from the program.
In a thorough follow-up process validated by the telecom organization and their finance department, participant go-do's added up to over \$4.7 million in Free Cash Flow impact, generating an ROI greater than 10X.
We equip leaders at all levels with the leadership skills critical for success in today's business environment. We operate on the people side of strategy, transforming leaders so that they can transform organizations. With deep customization capabilities, formidable industry know-how, and 30+ years of experience with leadership development, we provide strategic capability training through experiential simulations.
We know that leadership is relentlessly contextual and immensely personal. As such, leadership development should be customized to your strategy, culture, and business environment. To drive outstanding results, today's leaders need to be agile, purpose-driven, think at an enterprise level, and build effective, high-performing teams.
We provide custom-built and personalized business simulations—classroom-based, virtual or self-paced—that allow your people to test out new behaviors in scenarios modeled directly after the leadership moments they face on a daily basis. Our expertise provides the alignment, mindset, and capabilities your people need, ensuring strong leadership throughout your organization to drive strategy execution.
Lead in an environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous
Lead with an enterprise perspective, foster collaboration and drive organization-wide results
Connect their strengths, values, and experiences to the organization to ignite purpose

Building effective high performing teams
With the induction of a new leadership team, an American department store unveiled a novel strategy that offered an exciting vision for the future. However, they recognized that it would take the right culture to drive sustained growth.
In partnership with BTS, the organization created a series of customized, moment-based leadership simulations to embed the identified leadership behaviors that would ensure a culture shift. Addressing the top 1,200 leaders of the organization, all 20,000 salaried colleagues, and all 110,000 hourly colleagues ensured that every level of leadership would understand the new behaviors and skills necessary for success.
After going the through the program, the organization delivered 101 percent to sales plan for Q1, and 104 percent to sales plan for Q2, with every metric improving. It achieved 19 percent more inbound productivity, \$350K better than plan; and double-digit improvement from the previous month.
By building a mastery of business acumen and empathy, we help your sales and marketing teams better address their customers' true needs. This means equipping your salespeople with the skills they need to more effectively engage buyers and prioritize sales activities, as well as providing your marketers with the capabilities to leverage deep customer insights, build customer-oriented value propositions, and work in alignment with your sales team.
We partner with you to co-create the right mix of sales methods, go-to-market strategies, marketing excellence, trainings, simulations, and assessments for your sellers and marketers. Through our unique approach, solutions are tailored to fit your strategy and business, inspiring better decision making and driving results.
We know that sales cycles have gotten longer and more unpredictable – but what does this mean for your business? We uncovered that the best salespeople and marketers today sell and market by showing how their offerings help accelerate their customer's ability to see results. These leaders are Accelerator Sellers and Marketers.
To make your business successful in today's environment, we begin by codifying what your great performers already do. Then we combine these behaviors with our extensive research and experience leading sales forces and marketing teams to create "accelerators" that are unique to your company.
Our content ranges from plug-and-play training modules to deeply customized simulations, which allow your people to experience working differently — gaining the confidence and capabilities they need to change behavior on the job. From targeted behavior change, to initiative execution to sales and marketing transformation, we equip your people with the skills they need for success.

Although there has been tremendous growth in the Asian wealth management industry over the past years, many wealth managers still take a product-focused approach when consulting with their customers. As the industry has matured and customer needs have evolved, one of the largest banks in Eastern Asia knew that they needed to change how they engaged with their wealth management customers. Therefore, the retail division of the bank launched a new customer-centric sales strategy.
This was supported by a comprehensive training program designed by BTS to equip wealth managers with a deeper understanding of targeted client segments, the underlying needs driving clients' wealth management decisions, and how to take a consultative approach in meeting those needs.
Three months after the program, 91.3 percent of the participants had completed their action plans and their overall business results had increased by 25.5 percent compared to the last quarter. Amongst the initial results were an increase in new assets of USD 3.8 million, more than 30 new VIP Accounts, and over 100 new customer cases, totaling to new asset creation of USD 17 million.


We drive business results by helping leaders practice and internalize the shifts needed to make digital transformation and innovation work. We short-cut the time to business impact by working alongside your teams to do both innovation work, and to shape the culture in which innovation and digital transformation can thrive.
We define innovation as the discipline of discovering and solving problems in new ways under conditions of uncertainty, and digital transformation as innovating with the use of technology. Both disciplines are highly interrelated, emergent and critical for all companies to learn, practice and master.
Because innovation tools and digital technology are readily accessible to everyone, the technology itself affords no distinct advantage. Rather, business success depends on the human element behind technology and innovation management – ideas, strategies and ways of working.
We can build growth and innovation capabilities in your organization from end-to-end. We work with you to design and define your innovation and digital transformation objectives, execute and launch solutions in the field, and everything in between. We don't take a cookie-cutter approach to innovation but begin by identifying and honoring the capabilities that already exist, those that need to be added, and those that can be changed.
Our capability work is highly experiential and customized to ensure it is relevant to your business, not just any business. When it comes to innovation "training," our customized innovation simulations can compress months and years of high-risk innovation projects into a few hours, giving leaders hindsight in advance—and the confidence they need to face uncertain outcomes before they occur.
To enhance our workshop-based innovation experiences, we also offer a unique immersive experience through our design studio in Milan, where your people can reach beyond their typical workday mindsets and capabilities to explore innovation at a product level, through aesthetic and ergonomic innovations.

Practices

A Global Fortune 100 media company found itself in a period of rapid transition. The CEO knew that future success required a strong culture of innovation, revolving around the consumer's changing needs. Thus, the company put its senior leaders through an innovation journey designed in partnership with BTS.
The goal was to help leaders understand the role of innovation in meeting customer needs, and to convert the insights into tangible projects that would help the company to accelerate growth. One year after its completion, 11 innovation projects were being further developed and implemented, and included one major project that will be a critical piece of the organization's business moving forward.
Faced with limited talent pools and a highly competitive market, hiring and promoting the right people can be extremely difficult. BTS Assessment helps your company gain an accurate understanding of your employees' business and leadership capabilities, designing talent selection and development initiatives aligned to the strategic needs of your business. Working with leaders at all levels, our solutions make identifying, selecting and developing the right talent more accurate and efficient.
We believe that the best assessments are relentlessly contextual and designed around behaviors specific to your team, not just any team. We help your organization identify and develop great talent by focusing on great and not-yetgreat behavior.
We begin by developing customized success profiles and playbooks that are fully aligned to your business, helping your leaders understand how to be great at their job in language that resonates with them. Then, we take your customized and tailored-to-fit profiles and playbooks and use them as the foundation for your assessments.
These tools will become the basis for your external hiring and internal identification of skills and areas for development that lead to success on the job, in the role, and across the enterprise.
We build assessments that fit your business strategy and people, and then use the resulting data to help you select the very best hires or help your people change how they work. Our team has a deep background in behavioral science, advanced degrees, and decades of practical experience. We apply our understanding of what great looks like in your organization to every assessment solution, ensuring the accuracy of results you want to see.
Our assessments provide selection and development solutions that are tailored to meet the needs of your organization and people, from first-time hires to high potentials, to those being groomed for the C-suite.






A multinational software corporation needed a powerful solution to develop its first-time leaders, who were rapidly being promoted to new roles but lacked an understanding of how to lead at the company. Recognizing the need to develop this talent, the company partnered with BTS to cocreate a 14-week learning journey to provide the necessary knowledge-sharing, collaboration and support to incite change.
The journey focused on cultivating the three critical skills identified as necessary for first-time leaders in the organization: Giving feedback and coaching, achieving results through your team and leading high-performance teams.
In three four-week cycles, participants experienced three "Practice with an Expert" sessions. In the sessions, participants first experienced animated, gamified learning modules that presented each topic in a time-efficient and engaging manner. Then, they were paired with a BTS Assessment Expert who helped them practice new skills through role plays, gave them feedback and coached them on how to apply their new skills back on the job.
The entire experience was delivered in a virtual environment where participants could use their device of choice, in any location around the world, at a time most convenient for them.
Following the program, 92.5 percent of participants strongly agreed that "The overall learning experience was valuable" and 95.4 percent agreed to the statement: "I believe the skills developed in the program will help me be more effective as a leader at the company."







We provide scalable coaching to make strategy personal. As a global partner for all your coaching needs, we work with leaders at all levels, individuals and teams to support the process of shifting and sustaining mindset and behavior change for lasting impact.
We work with you in two primary ways: We leverage our expert Professional coaches around the world to support the leadership development needs of your leaders; and we provide coaching mindset training at scale, when building a coaching culture is a strategic organizational imperative.
At BTS, our coaching model is focused on both individual and organizational development needs. We believe that coaching is a hugely important tool for shifting mindset and behavior that unlocks passion, resilience and capability, and it equips your people to do the best work of their lives.
Consistently scalable and affordable across an organization, coaching is simply the best tool to turn strategy into action. Our approach provides measurable individual and organizational results to back up the investment—using worldclass technology and research to make every minute count.
To address your leader development needs through coaching, BTS partners with you to create coaching journeys linked to your business strategy and talent priorities. Every
personalized coaching journey is supported by technology, integrated with applied digital learning moments that help drive lasting behavior change to increase the effectiveness and performance of your leaders and the organization.
Our portfolio of coaching solutions provides development when leaders need it the most—just in time—and is offered in 28 languages and 37 countries.


With 51 percent of employees reporting limited opportunities for growth, and 63 percent of leaders identifying as first-time managers, a global ride-hailing app identified the need to cultivate a coaching culture to drive growth. The company partnered with BTS to create a customized, three-month blended learning journey to develop coaching capabilities.
The experience began with a live, two-day coaching workshop highly contextualized to fit the cohort's specific needs. Following the two-day program, participants experienced an individual coaching session to clarify their critical mindset and behavior shifts and three virtual, small-group coaching sessions to ensure long-term behavior change and sustained learning. The whole journey was supported by digital learning moments to reinforce the change.
In 2019, the program was implemented in eight cities, reaching almost every continent. Over five months, 376 leaders completed more than 1,070 coaching sessions and over 2,000 hours of one-to-one or small-group coaching. In feedback about the program, participants praised their ability to be vulnerable, practice coaching tools correctly and frequently, and the contextual accuracy of the experience. Ninety-four percent of participants said they would recommend this program to a colleague and ranked the program 9 out of 10 overall.
Standard "change management" produces standard results – so we take a different approach. We are biased to action because we know that you can never plan change perfectly. We help you define your outcomes and the supporting structures you need to implement change, but primarily focus on linking change to your strategy. How? We enable your leaders to embrace change by shifting their mindsets to accomplish your new strategy and focus on new actions and behaviors.
We know that change has changed. We believe that traditional change management approaches are less relevant because they can't keep up with the pace and intensity of business evolution required within today's new reality. What you need now are transformational experiences that
propel your entire organization to believe in the power of the strategy, and see themselves as a capable and necessary part of future.
Organizations and leaders are constantly moving through each of these stages of transformation. We meet you where you are and take you further than you thought you could go.
We understand that you are leading a movement, not a project plan. Our approach is people-centric and mindset driven, as well as rooted in and linked to the execution of your strategy. Our solutions increase capacity to change by focusing on mindsets, skills and capabilities of your leaders, and start where you are to build the path for moving forward—beginning with the most important people step.

After several stalled attempts to execute a Customer Experience transformation, one of the United States' largest insurance companies engaged BTS as its broader change partner to evolve the culture and accelerate the transformation. In partnership with company executives, BTS created a new cultural vision designed to enable the transformation, evolved performance management to support the new culture, and designed a multi-year leader development engagement to shift leader mindsets and behaviors.
After two years of partnership, measures of Organizational Trust and Employee Engagement are at an all-time high, and business results have improved, meeting Board of Trustee commitments made at the outset of the engagement. The CEO called the BTS leadership journey "the best leader development program we've run as a company."

Sustain Ways of Working: • Design individual and social support for critical roles and difficult shifts
run with their teams
• Create experiments and sprints for leaders to
• Analyze data to identify what is working and not; create next set of interventions and support
Practices

O rganization, C ulture and clients
| Business model | 26–27 | |
|---|---|---|
| Digital services | 28–29 | |
| Our clients and industries | 30–31 | |
| Growth, profitability and acquisitions | 32–33 |
The foundation for growth lies in BTS's ability to create long-lasting customer relationships at different levels in the customer organization. An initial BTS assignment is often designed for, and implemented with, the client's senior executives and managers. This customization process is carried out in close cooperation with the client.
Outstanding results, well over the client's expectations in an initial project, lead to customized solutions for managers and employees at different levels throughout the organization.
BTS employs a network-based marketing approach covering a number of selected industries.
The network, composed of both those executives who make strategic decisions about change and learning initiatives and those who actually purchase solutions, helps generate opportunities for new assignments and customers. When BTS
approaches a new industry, it initially focuses on a few leading companies. Once these assignments are completed, they will serve as reputation-building reference projects for new sales to other organizations in the same industry.
BTS continuously expands its business operations to new markets around the world. BTS works with multinational clients and implements projects in a large number of countries without necessarily having an established local office in every market.
Existing customer relationships make up the base when BTS starts up operations in a new market – a fact that reduces the expansion risk. In addition, BTS works hard to nurture relationships with other large corporations active in the targeted markets.
Once business has grown to sufficient volume in a new market and the future potential appears attractive, BTS can take the logical step and establish a new, local office.

generated.
BTS values its customer relations. Participants in the company's business programs are important future customers. New assignments mostly come from former buyers and program participants changing jobs or companies – and calling on BTS from their new positions.

BTS's growth strategy is primarily built on organic growth. Over the past few years, the company has made a number of acquisitions in different countries.
BTS's strategy for acquisitions is built on creating a broader base for future organic growth while at the same time finding complementary acquisitions. The goal is to offer more services to both existing and new customers. All acquisitions have resulted in cross-selling. This is a result of conscious efforts to identify new business opportunities based on needs within the extended customer base. The training of account managers and the needs-focused discussions with individual clients have played an important role in this process.
BTS's revenues originate from three areas:

Net turnover by source of revenue 2019 (2018)
BTS works continuously to develop and combine different methods of training delivery to ensure optimal, value-added customer benefits, and at the same time strengthen its own revenue streams and profitability.
In collaboration with customers, BTS customizes both the content and the form of its business programs. The company has successfully improved its profitability by increasing the efficiency of the customization process. This improvement is a result of advancements and fine-tuning of development methods as well as increased reuse of previous development work.
When BTS develops solutions for corporations in new industries, the cost of customization is initially high. With the later reuse of experience and skills, however, these costs subsequently fall.
Instructor-led live and virtual seminar programs comprise the greatest source of revenue for BTS, and they are the predominant form of business delivery. BTS consultants are very much involved throughout the whole customization process, and, during delivery, facilitate these solutions in programs.
BTS also delivers its solutions via e-Learning and CD-ROM formats, and as manual board solutions. The long-term goal is to increase license revenues. License-based business simulations are very efficient learning tools for customers; they make it possible to reach larger groups of employees in organizations, all over the world and at all levels. At the same time, they are a profitable line for BTS.
BTS Digital is a specialist team and capability that uses modern technology as an enabler to accelerate learning, spark change and drive business results. This group inside BTS creates digital learning journeys, simulations for in-person and virtual workshops, immersive digital events, and online and mobile solutions.
BTS Digital supports the design, production and deployment of these digital-enabled offerings, as well as the development of the technology and product platforms on which they run.
Turning strategy into action requires alignment, mindset shifts, learning, reinforcement and follow up. This means it's a journey. We believe that digital-enabled learning journeys achieve far more than workshops alone.
As an enabler of these journeys, we provide online resources and everyday tools that can be accessed in the moment of need. In addition, digital tools facilitate workshops, assessments, coaching and practice. Our digital journey platforms bring together formal, informal and social learning to drive action and results every day.
BTS's digital-enabled journeys, experiences and tools are critical for your organization's transformation efforts for three main reasons:
Our digital offerings have expanded significantly in recent years, reflecting the increasingly digital world. Core BTS offerings are now digitized, leveraging an upgraded set of capabilities and platforms compatible across modern devices in iOS, Android and Windows. We currently offer:
BTS's digital platforms aggregate tools for learning, reinforcement, action and results measurement. This allows for greater ease of access as well as robust data collection to provide insights on learning and strategy execution outcomes. Our platforms make it possible for thousands of people to interact, engage and learn at the same time, making deployment of strategy highly scalable and efficient.
A leading international oil services company wanted to align its top 5,000 managers on its new leadership framework. And they wanted to ensure that the top 400 executives became change leaders by facilitating sessions for their people in the flow of work.
Digital Services
Using our interactive digital meeting-in-a-box platform, we created a customized experience that senior leaders could easily facilitate after participating in the top 400 offsite. The cascade experience included discussion on the case for change, exploration of pivotal leadership moments, reveal and self-assessment on the framework, and go-dos for development.
The highly engaging and turn-key digital delivery format using single sign-on allowed the client to cascade the framework and drive behavior change rapidly, while also harnessing data to monitor and gain insights from the global deployment. After a successful pilot phase, the client expects to reach the top 5,000 within six months with a solution far more impactful than merely distributing a PDF or presenting a slide deck. Based on pilot results, participating leaders will drive tens of thousands of go-dos in their daily work to live the new culture.

BTS builds long-term customer relationships, on average six to eight years, and has deep expertise in a number of industries.
During the 1990s, BTS grew rapidly in the
Manufacturing, Telecom, and Information Technology Industries, with major global companies such as Phillips, Ericsson, and HP as valued customers. During the early 2000s, BTS expanded its positions by entering four new industries: Financial Services, Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare, Retail & Logistics, and Energy. In recent years, BTS has continued to grow across industries, especially within the rapidly expanding areas of

Verizon
Chevron
Schindler
FedEx
Despite six years of improvement, an international oil and gas corporation recognized the need for a global culture transformation towards safety. After a few serious incidents that reduced the company's Process Safety Events Rate (PSER), the organization set a goal to become the industry leader in terms of health, safety, and the environment.
Focused on driving behavioral change to improve the culture around safety, the company partnered with BTS to create a comprehensive leadership development program. This program would reach leaders at all levels, from top managers to field workers by:
Gloabl HSE Manager
One of the largest Mexican financial institutions wanted to improve its sales through building stronger relationships with clients. This meant shifting from a productfocused to a customerfocused mindset. To do so, the company recognized the need to increase its focus on Net Promoter Score (NPS), cross-selling, and market penetration. Bankers needed to be able to manage and prioritize their pipeline of current and new clients, and bring value to every interaction.
The bank partnered with BTS to cocreate a two-day program addressing their Sales Representatives, and a three-day solution for their Directors. Both programs focused on improving proactivity in prospecting, generating sales cadence, and moving towards a more client-centric mindset.
During the workshop, the salespeople experienced a simulation that had them manage five different clients and their pipeline, which helped them align their actions to what clients needed at different moments.
After the workshop, participants completed a series of follow-up activities to practice prospecting, improving client interactions and closing sales.
To align leaders with the new company strategy and cultural principles, a leading American chemical manufacturer partnered with BTS to cocreate a simulation-based experience to help leaders develop an enterprise view, gain clarity on financial objectives, and practice communicating and cascading enterprise priorities to their teams.
BTS designed a 3-day offsite, including a customized simulation intended to:
• 215 unique actions of which 54% are complete or on-track
Results reported include...
BTS has a strong position in a large, growing and fragmented market. The value of the total market is estimated to over USD 30 billion and to grow by 4–5 percent a year. It's a highly fragmented market and BTS's market share is estimated to be under 1 percent. BTS financial goals are 20 percent revenue growth per year, and 15 percent operating margin (EBITA).
BTS has delivered profit every year, and profit growth almost every year, irrespective of market conditions and despite substantial costs for acquisitions and investments in product development and market establishment around the world.
This development is a result of BTS's growth strategy, dynamic business model, and the entrepreneurial organization.
The strategy to generate growth focuses on growing revenue and share of wallet per customer account; offering innovative digital solutions and content in our programs. Furthermore, BTS aims to expand to new geographies organically or by acquisitions.
In the 1990s, BTS successfully managed to achieve continuous profitable growth. Good market conditions and new product initiatives, as well as new offices in the US, UK, Finland, and South Africa, played a major role in the company's growth during this period. When the market conditions worsened between 2001 and 2003, BTS managed to maintain a healthy level of revenues, despite the unfavorable business climate (particularly in the IT, Telecom,

and Manufacturing industries, where BTS was predominantly active) through adhering to its successful long-term strategy.
In the difficult market conditions of 2001–2003, BTS successfully managed to reinforce the business for future growth and profitability by implementing a range of new initiatives, such as expanding into new industries and geographical markets.
BTS constantly strives to improve profitability. The changes and initiatives implemented during the period of consolidation between 2001 and 2003 have, in combination with a focus on raising the proportion of revenues from licensing, led to improvements in margins.
BTS will reach its EBITA margin goal of 15 percent by constant improvements of billability, project execution, better systems and processes to reduce overhead, optimized pricing, increased licensing and adding recurring revenue services. The digital investments are expected to decline as share of revenue over time.
BTS's expansion strategy is primarily built on organic growth. During 2002 and 2003, BTS opened businesses in Australia and Spain. These initiatives have grown substantially and served as starting points for our offices in Asia and Latin America.
BTS's strategy for acquisitions aims to create a broader base for future organic growth by adding new markets, new valueadding products and services, and new talent.
BTS acquired The Strategic Management Group Learning Solutions in 2005 and The Advantage Performance Group and The Real Learning Company in 2006. The new companies have added new technologies and delivery methods, a broader customer base, and a wealth of new talent.
The recession during 2008–2009 had a significant negative impact on our industry. Most companies saw their revenues decline 20–40 percent in 2009.
Our recession strategy was based on two key factors: our low market share and our highly competitive offerings. By focusing our resources on highly prioritized accounts, we were able to maintain our revenue and profit levels.
At the same time, BTS made strategic investments and progress during the recession, creating a strong foundation for growth as of 2010 and onward.
During the years 2010–2019 BTS's revenues grew by an average of 10 percent annually (currency adjusted) with growth in all regions. We grow the average size of our projects by offering global services and more complete solutions delivering increased results for our customers.
During 2013, BTS acquired all the business operations in the Danish company Wizerize A/S. The acquisition created new opportunities to offer digital-enabled solutions that are built on current and future social and mobile IT platforms. These solutions supplement and strengthen BTS's existing offerings very well.
In 2014 BTS acquired all the businesses of the American companies Sandra Hartog Associates, Inc. and Fenestra, Inc., which will strengthen BTS's position in the fast-growing market for services and technology within assessment services.
In 2015 BTS acquired the South African company AVO Vision, which provides BTS and AVO with major opportunities in the fast-growing and important African market with an enormous need for talent development. All the business operations in the Australian company Synergy Group Pty Ltd were also acquired in 2015. This represents a significant strengthening of BTS's operations in Australia and will increase BTS's delivery capacity and create a considerably stronger and broader offering in Australia.
In 2016 BTS acquired all business operations in the Italian companies Cesim Italia and Design Innovation, which significantly strengthen BTS's position in southern Europe, through the addition of several major Italian customers, and also reinforce BTS's Italian operation by supplementing it with further expertise and innovative solutions. Furthermore, the acquisitions also provide a good opportunity to help many of the major Italian companies globally.
In 2017 BTS acquired all the businesses of the English company Coach in a Box Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries and the German company MTAC GmbH.
Coach in a Box assists leaders at all levels improve and change using a coaching approach that is virtual, affordable, scalable and fast. BTS and Coach in a Box's combined services strengthen the customer offering and make the companies a stronger partner on the market, thus creating synergies and significant growth opportunities.
MTAC works with some of the largest organizations in the German-speaking part of Europe with innovative education and simulation-based services for strategy implementation, business acumen, leadership and marketing. The acquisition

provides BTS with a base in German-speaking countries, which easily makes it the largest market in Europe. It also allows BTS to serve existing global clients better, and it creates significant growth potential. In addition, MTAC adds top knowledge in the area of marketing expertise, which is a potentially new practice area for BTS.
In 2019 BTS acquired all the businesses of the American company Polaris Assessment Systems, the company SwissVBS and its subsidiaries and the Swedish company Samsari.
Polaris offers candidate evaluation and interviewing techniques and services, as well as methods that enable customers to effectively recruit, develop and promote employees. Through the acquisition of Polaris, BTS gains two business advantages: new industry-leading services that give access to a new market segment worth approximately USD 2 billion globally, and secondly, bringing on board three influential thought leaders in this market segment.
SwissVBS provides high impact digital learning solutions for the modern corporate learner. It operates primarily in the European and North American markets, bringing thought leadership and creative solutions to clients through digital journeys as well as learning reinforcement methods. The SwissVBS team will bring world class expertise in digital learning and performance support. This means that BTS can offer clients a wider range of solutions and become even more competitive as an end-to-end talent partner. SwissVBS will also bring clients with whom the company has developed strong relationships and won awards, making BTS stronger in the Canadian and German-speaking markets.
SwissVBS was established in St. Gallen in 2001 as an offspring of the University of St. Gallen. Since then it has successfully grown into a respected provider of customized digital learning to some of the world's largest corporations.
The acquisition of Samsari brings years of experience to BTS through a strong and dynamic team with skills in change management, transformation projects and communication – skills that will become increasingly important and will thus strengthen the BTS service offering as a whole. The acquisition will also contribute to broadening the BTS customer base in the Nordic market.

G rowth, Profitability and Acquisitions
| Organization | 36 |
|---|---|
| Core values | 37 |
| Our people and culture | 38–39 |
| Advantage Performance Group | 40–41 |
BTS Group's operative activities are run through four units, and the executive management has full business and P&L responsibility for their respective geographical markets.
BTS North America consists of BTS's operations in North America, excluding APG but including SwissVBS with its operations in Canada and Switzerland.
BTS Europe consists of operations in France, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden and Germany.
BTS Other markets consists of operations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
APG operates in the US market and delivers performance improvement through sales and leadership training that results in meaningful business impact using its Advantage WaySM implementation process.
BTS has two product-specific units that work with new concepts and the production of solutions, as well as provide active sales support to the customers of the operational units.
BTS Digital Services is responsible for connected learning and online and virtual solutions.
BTS Board Simulations is responsible for manual board business simulations.
BTS has seven practices. Specialists and thought leaders have been gathered within each practice and are responsible for developing new concepts and solutions as well as ensuring the use of best practices across the BTS Group:
Group-internal functions cover Group Finance, Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, and Global Operations Development.



"Working at BTS is both wholly challenging and rewarding. I love that no two days are the same. I am so grateful for the freedom and responsibility that is foundational to our culture – I could not imagine another environment with a greater opportunity for learning or growth."
During the year, we expanded our employee base to more than 830 professionals. We work hard to develop, engage and retain our employees. Our culture is the key reason why world-leading companies do business with us and it is why our employees consider BTS a great place to work. Our success is built upon teams of highly talented and diverse professionals who develop and deliver innovative solutions to our global client base.

The very nature of our work is fun. We engage in sophisticated, bottom-lineoriented business simulations with some of the smartest people in the business world; our clients are managers and executives of leading companies across the globe. Leading 25 top executives through a two-to-three day simulation experience is an adventure that BTS'ers liken to being a tour guide on an "intellectual white water rafting trip."
eamwor
We believe that if you find the right people, and give them freedom and responsibility, they will achieve great things. Our consultants work with the top talent of world-class corporations. Whether we are on stage in front of senior executives, engaged in a client development meeting with a C-level executive or creating an innovation new simulation application, we believe in delivering excellence. With very little direction or mandate, our unique culture nurtures consultants who are highly motivated to pursue high levels of achievement and excellence.
BTS gives high levels of autonomy to our consultants. They have the independence to manage their own time when they are on the road, at client sites and in the office. The flip side of this freedom is an enormous amount of client-facing responsibility. Within weeks of beginning at BTS, new consultants lead managers and executives at world-class companies through BTS simulations and experiential learning solutions.

| KEY FIGURES, EMPLOYEES | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of employees at the end of the year |
832 | 701 | 596 | 523 | 463 |
| Of whom women, %1 | 53 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 44 |
| Net turnover per employee, KSEK |
2,393 | 2,478 | 2,268 | 2,224 | 2,394 |
1 Yearly average number
Advantage Performance Group (APG) helps organizations accelerate business results. We do this through behavioral change and competency development, work-for-hire content development, turn-key assessment programs, and curriculumbased training via standard or tailored solutions, providing a flexible, cost-effective approach to support initiatives. APG is a fully owned, North American-based BTS subsidiary that serves clients in complementary ways to traditional BTS consultants.
APG's Advantage WaySM methodology is used to both define and measure the impact of various solutions. Developed in partnership with Dr. Robert Brinkerhoff, it leverages his groundbreaking work on High Impact Learning and Success Case Methodologies to help organizations achieve documented business results and improved job performance.
APG works with several leading solution providers, including BTS, who provide assessments, coaching and learning, and development programs. Additionally, APG has a network of facilitators who deliver programs around the US and in some cases internationally. Looking ahead to the future, APG will continue to collaborate with BTS to meet client needs. This includes a renewed focus on high potential development, culture shifts within organizations, and solutions that are scalable and highly efficient at implementing strategy to develop emerging leaders at all levels.


" APG guided my team toward the right solutions and made sure all the content was relevant and completely customized to our audience. I am very glad I made the decision to work with them for this project; it made all the difference!" Associate Director, Global Leadership Development, Global Pharmaceutical
Organization
" Being a non-profit organization, we need to look very carefully at our Return on People development when making investments. APG has proven to be a true partner, providing both flexibility and, most importantly, organizational impact." CFO, North American Retail
Marketing Association
"We consider APG to be a partner, not a vendor. It never feels like they are trying to sell us something. We talk about what we need and their design team works with us to develop it. Even when they work with competing vendors for a project with us, it's always collaborative. There's a huge level of trust in our relationship."
Senior Director, Learning and Organizational Effectiveness, Global Medical Device Firm
"We sought a partner who would be hands-on, seek to know the causes of our pain, bring discernment and understanding into resolving our problem, and suggest complementary resources to meet our challenges with measurable ideas. APG delivered on all of this and more."
Director of Learning and Development, North American Food Distributor
On June 6, 2001, the BTS share was floated on Nasdaq Stockholm in connection with the issue of new stock, raising capital for the Company of SEK 78.1 million after issue expenses.
The share capital totals SEK 6,439,431, distributed among 853,800 Class A shares and 18,464,492 Class B shares, each with a quotient value of SEK 0.33. Each Class A share entitles the holder to ten votes, each Class B share one vote. All shares carry equal rights to participate in the Company's assets and profits.
At December 31, 2019, there were 4,044 (2,512) shareholders in the company, an increase by 61 percent. In the past few years BTS has increased its investor relations activities including webcasted interim report presentations in Sweden and road shows to financial centres in Europe.
The Company's goal is to distribute 40–65 percent of profit after tax in the long run.
| SEK | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share price at December 31 | 238.00 | 127.00 | 93.50 | 72.00 | 77.50 |
| Earnings per share | 7.84 | 6.67 | 5.20 | 3.96 | 3.89 |
| Price/earnings ratio, December 31 | 30.3 | 19.0 | 18.0 | 18.2 | 19.9 |
| Cash and cash equivalents per share, December 31 | 16.38 | 13.80 | 10.58 | 7.26 | 7.48 |
| Equity per share, December 31 | 43.47 | 37.04 | 30.74 | 29.13 | 25.92 |
| Dividend per share | 0.001 | 3.60 | 2.80 | 2.50 | 2.35 |
| 1 Proposed dividend. |
Share price quotes cover opening price first day of trading 2015 to closing price last day of trading 2019.

| Year | Transaction | Increase in share capital, SEK |
Share capital, SEK |
Class A shares | Class B shares | Total no. of shares |
Par value per share, SEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formation of | |||||||
| 1999 | the Company | 100,000 | 100,000 | 439,900 | 560,100 | 1,000,000 | 00:10 |
| 1999 | New issue | 8,200 | 108,200 | 82,000 | 1,082,000 | 00:10 | |
| 2001 | Stock dividend issue |
4,219,800 | 4,328,000 | 1,082,000 | 04:00 | ||
| 2001 | 4:1 split | 4,328,000 | 1,319,700 | 1,926,300 | 4,328,000 | 01:00 | |
| Conversion of Class A to |
|||||||
| 2001 | Class B shares | –1,475,000 | 1,475,000 | 4,328,000 | 01:00 | ||
| 2001 | New issue | 1,500,000 | 5,828,000 | 1,500,000 | 5,828,000 | 01:00 | |
| 2002 | New issue | 69,300 | 5,897,300 | 69,300 | 5,897,300 | 01:00 | |
| 2006 | 3:1 split | 5,897,300 | 569,200 | 11,225,400 | 17,691,900 | 00:33 | |
| 2006 | New issue | 118,800 | 6,016,100 | 356,400 | 18,048,300 | 00:33 | |
| 2012 | New issue | 5,922 | 6,022,022 | 17,765 | 18,066,065 | 00:33 | |
| 2013 | New issue | 174,601 | 6,196,623 | 523,805 | 18,589,870 | 00:33 | |
| 2014 | New issue | 18,834 | 6,215,457 | 56,500 | 18,646,370 | 00:33 | |
| 2017 | New issue | 80,227 | 6,295,684 | 240,681 | 18,887,051 | 00:33 | |
| 2018 | New issue | 42,288 | 6,337,972 | 126,865 | 19,013,916 | 00:33 | |
| 2019 | New issue | 101,459 | 6,439,431 | 304,376 | 19,318,292 | 00:33 |
| Name | No. of Class A shares |
No. of Class B shares |
Holding | Pctg. holding | Pctg. votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrik Ekelund incl. companies | 816,000 | 3,189,034 | 4,005,034 | 20.7% | 42.0% |
| Nordea funds | 2,457,640 | 2,457,640 | 12.7% | 9.1% | |
| Stefan af Petersens incl. companies | 37,800 | 2,292,095 | 2,329,895 | 12.1% | 9.9% |
| Lannebo funds | 2,224,845 | 2,224,845 | 11.5% | 8.2% | |
| Swedbank Robur funds | 1,538,092 | 1,538,092 | 8.0% | 5.7% | |
| Third Swedish National Pension Fund (AP3) | 947,803 | 947,803 | 4.9% | 3.5% | |
| SEB funds | 780,706 | 780,706 | 4.0% | 2.9% | |
| Stefan Hellberg incl. companies | 612,797 | 612,797 | 3.2% | 2.3% | |
| AMF funds | 364,007 | 364,007 | 1.9% | 1.3% | |
| Canaccord Genuity (HSBC trustee) | 252,516 | 252,516 | 1.3% | 0.9% | |
| Total for 10 largerst shareholders | 853,800 | 14,659,535 | 15,513,335 | 80.3% | 85.9% |
| Other shareholders | 3,804,957 | 3,804,957 | 19.7% | 14.1% | |
| Total | 853,800 | 18,464,492 | 19,318,292 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Consolidated income statements in summary
| SEK millions | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | 1,865 | 1,598 | 1,243 | 1,108 | 1,044 |
| Operating expenses | –1,554 | –1,384 | –1,092 | –982 | –922 |
| Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment | –66 | –12 | –10 | –8 | –8 |
| Amortization of intangible assets | –20 | –19 | –9 | –6 | –4 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 226 | 183 | 132 | 112 | 109 |
| SEK millions | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTS North America | 877 | 714 | 574 | 535 | 529 |
| BTS Europe | 386 | 316 | 204 | 192 | 179 |
| BTS Other markets | 490 | 460 | 351 | 271 | 223 |
| APG | 112 | 109 | 114 | 111 | 114 |
| Total | 1,865 | 1,598 | 1,243 | 1,108 | 1,044 |
| SEK millions | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTS North America | 118.6 | 93.4 | 73.7 | 58.9 | 60.6 |
| BTS Europe | 63.3 | 44.9 | 17.9 | 25.0 | 23.3 |
| BTS Other markets | 57.2 | 62.8 | 47.6 | 32.9 | 27.3 |
| APG | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 2.6 |
| Total | 240.5 | 202.1 | 140.9 | 117.5 | 113.8 |
BTS North America consists of BTS's operations in North America, excluding APG but including SwissVBS with its operations in Canada and Switzerland.
BTS Europe consists of operations in France, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden and Germany.
BTS Other markets consists of operations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
APG consists of operations in Advantage Performance Group in North America.
Consolidated balance sheets in summary
| SEK millions | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | |||||
| Non-current assets | 851 | 581 | 549 | 346 | 279 |
| Accounts receivable | 514 | 512 | 335 | 361 | 277 |
| Other current assets | 187 | 172 | 141 | 101 | 116 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 316 | 262 | 200 | 135 | 140 |
| Total assets | 1,869 | 1,528 | 1,226 | 944 | 811 |
| Equity and liabilities | |||||
| Equity | 840 | 704 | 581 | 543 | 483 |
| Interest-bearing liabilities | 76 | 103 | 126 | 25 | 17 |
| Non-interest-bearing liabilities | 953 | 721 | 519 | 375 | 311 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 1,869 | 1,528 | 1,226 | 944 | 811 |
Consolidated cash flow in summary
| SEK millions | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash flow from operating activities | 218 | 158 | 98 | 47 | 58 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | –38 | –37 | –80 | –26 | –19 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | –132 | –71 | 55 | –36 | –16 |
| Cash flow for the year | 48 | 50 | 73 | –15 | 23 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, start of year | 262 | 200 | 135 | 140 | 114 |
| Translation differences in cash and cash equivalents | 6 | 12 | –8 | 11 | 3 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 316 | 262 | 200 | 135 | 140 |
| SEK millions | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | 1,865 | 1,598 | 1,243 | 1,108 | 1,044 |
| Operating profit (EBITA) | 245 | 202 | 141 | 118 | 114 |
| Operating margin (EBITA margin), % | 13.2% | 12.6% | 11.3% | 10.6% | 10.9% |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 226 | 183 | 132 | 112 | 109 |
| Operating margin (EBIT margin), % | 12.1% | 11.5% | 10.6% | 10.1% | 10.5% |
| Profit margin, % | 8.1% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.7% | 7.0% |
| Earnings per share, SEK | 7.84 | 6.67 | 5.20 | 3.96 | 3.89 |
| Operating capital | 600 | 545 | 506 | 433 | 360 |
| Return on operating capital, % | 39% | 35% | 28% | 28% | 32% |
| Equity | 840 | 704 | 581 | 543 | 483 |
| Return on equity, % | 20% | 20% | 17% | 14% | 16% |
| Equity per share, SEK | 43.47 | 37.04 | 30.74 | 29.13 | 25.92 |
| Equity/assets ratio, % | 45 | 46 | 47 | 58 | 60 |
| Dividend per share, SEK | 0.001 | 3.60 | 2.80 | 2.50 | 2.35 |
| Cash flow | 48 | 50 | 73 | -15 | 23 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 316 | 262 | 200 | 135 | 140 |
| Number of employees at year-end | 832 | 701 | 596 | 523 | 463 |
| Average number of employees | 779 | 645 | 548 | 498 | 436 |
| Annual net turnover per employee | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
1 Proposed dividend.
Operating profit before amortization of intangible assets as a percentage of net sales.
Operating profit after amortization/ depreciation as a percentage of net sales.
Profit for the period as a percentage of net sales.
Earnings attributable to the Parent Company's shareholders divided by the number of shares before delution.
Balance sheet total less cash and cash equivalents, other interestbearing assets, and non-interestbearing liabilities.
Operating profit as a percentage of average operating capital.
Profit after tax on an annual basis as a percentage of average equity.
Equity excluding non-controlling interests divided by the number of shares at the end of the year.
Equity as a percentage of the balance sheet total.
Dividends proposed or adopted, divided by the number of shares at year-end.
Net sales for the whole year, divided by the average number of employees.
Price per share divided by earnings per share.
Interest-bearing long-term and shortterm liabilities excluding lease liabilities decreased with interest-bearing assets and cash and cash equivalents.
The Board of Directors and CEO of BTS Group AB (publ), Corporate identity number 556566-7119, hereby submit their annual accounts and consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year 2019. The consolidated income statement and balance sheet as well as the Parent Company's income statement and balance sheet will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting for adoption.
BTS Group AB is an international consulting and education firm which focuses on the individuals when organizations are executing strategic changes and works with leaders at all levels to help them make better decisions, progress from decision to action and deliver results. For more than 30 years, BTS has been creating motivational and effective programs which make a profound and lasting impact on the participants and their careers by inspiring new ways of thinking and enhancing the critical capabilities that employees and leaders need to achieve improved corporate performance.
BTS has a broad range of services which meet needs within strategy execution and talent development with services that monitor the employee from evaluation for selection and development, to strategic consensus and strategy implementation. This is achieved through programs in business acumen, leadership and sales and include the aid of business simulations and other forms of experiential learning and implementation tools. Most BTS clients are major corporations.
BTS's net sales increased by 17% during the year, to SEK 1,865 million (1,598). Adjusted for changes in exchange rates, revenues increased by 10%.
Operating profit (EBITA) increased by 21% during the year, to SEK 245 million (202). The operating margin (EBITA margin) was 13.2% (12.6). IFRS 16 has a positive effect of MSEK 4.8 on EBITA. If IFRS 16 had not been applied, EBITA would have amounted to MSEK 241 (202).
Operating profit (EBIT) increased by 23% to SEK 226 million (183). The operating margin (EBIT margin) was 12.1% (11.5). Operating profit was charged with SEK 19.7 million (18.7) for amortization of intangible assets attributable to acquisitions. Operating profit (EBIT) increased by 23% to SEK 226 million (183).
Consolidated profit before tax for the year increased by 20%, to SEK 216 million (180). IFRS 16 resulted in a higher interest expense of MSEK 8.0. If IFRS 16 had not been applied, the Group's profit before tax would have amounted to MSEK 220 (180).
Net sales for BTS's operations in North America totaled SEK 877 million (714) in 2019. Adjusted for changes in exchange rates, revenues increased by 13%. Operating profit (EBITA) totaled SEK 119 million (93) for the year. The operating margin (EBITA margin) was 13.5% (13.1).
Net sales for BTS Europe totaled SEK 386 million (316) in 2019. Adjusted for changes in exchange rates, revenues increased by 18%. Operating profit (EBITA) totaled SEK 63 million (45) for the year. The operating margin (EBITA margin) was 16.4% (14.2).
Net sales for BTS Other markets totaled SEK 490 million (460) in 2019. Adjusted for changes in exchange rates, revenues increased by 4%. Operating profit (EBITA) totaled SEK 57 million (63) for the year. The operating margin (EBITA margin) was 11.7% (13.7).
Net sales for APG reached SEK 112 million (109) in 2019. Adjusted for changes in exchange rates, revenues decreased by 5%. Operating profit (EBITA) totaled SEK 1.5 million (0.9) for the year. The operating margin (EBITA margin) was 1.4% (0.9).
At the end of the period, cash and cash equivalents were SEK 316 million (262). The Group's interest-bearing loans, attributable to previously completed acquisitions, totaled SEK 76 million (103) at the end of the period. Equity totaled SEK 840 million (704) at year-end, and the equity/assets ratio was 45% (46). BTS's cash flow from operating activities for the year was SEK 218 million (158).
During 2019 BTS acquired Polaris Assessment Systems. Through the acquisition of Polaris, BTS gains two business advantages: new industry-leading services that give access to a new market segment worth approximately USD 2 billion globally, and secondly, bringing on board three influential thought leaders in this market segment.
In 2019, the shares of Swiss Virtual Business School VBS AG were also acquired. SwissVBS provides high impact digital learning solutions for the modern corporate learner. The acquisition means that BTS can offer clients a wider range of solutions and become even more competitive as an end-to-end talent partner. SwissVBS has developed strong relationships with its clients and won awards with them, which strengthen BTS in the Canadian and German-speaking markets.
In 2019, the shares of Samsari AB were also acquired. The acquisition of Samsari brings years of experience to BTS through a strong and dynamic team with skills in change management, transformation projects and communication – skills that will become increasingly important and will thus strengthen the BTS service offering as a whole. The acquisition will also contribute to broadening the BTS customer base in the Nordic market.
For a more detailed description, see Note 22 Business acquisitions.
The preliminary acquisition analyses for the acquisitions of Polaris Assessment Systems, Swiss Virtual Business School VBS AG and Samsari AB have been adopted. The effect was an increase in goodwill and a provision for deferred tax liabilities of MSEK 3.4.
The board of directors proposes that the AGM 2020 decide, for the time until the AGM 2021, that the following principles for remuneration for senior executives shall be applied.
These guidelines cover the President and other senior executives. The guidelines shall apply to renumerations to senior executives that are agreed upon, and any changes made to already agreed renumeration, once the guidelines have been adopted by the 2020 AGM.
The guidelines do not cover renumerations decided by the AGM.
Information on the company's business strategies and longterm interests, including sustainability, is available on the company's website www.bts.com.
Successful implementation of the company's business strategies and safeguarding the company's long-term interests, including sustainability, rely on the company recruiting and retaining highly skilled employees. The company must be able to offer competitive renumeration, these guidelines enable senior executives the ability to offer such renumeration.
Renumeration for senior executives shall be market-related and may consist of fixed basic salary, variable renumeration, pension and other benefits. In addition to, and independent of these guidelines, the AGM can for example decide on share and share price related renumeration.
Fixed basic salary shall be individual for each executive and shall be reviewed regularly (usually annually) and be based on the executive's position, responsibilities, competence, experience and performance.
Variable renumeration shall be based on predetermined and measurable criteria, designed to promote long-term value creation. The variable renumeration may not exceed 100 percent of the yearly fixed basic salary. The variable renumeration shall not be included in pension calculations, unless otherwise stated in forced collective agreements.
Pension benefits shall be defined contribution so long as the executive is not covered by other defined benefit pensions under forced collective agreements. The ordinary retirement age follows the retirement age determined by law. The Presidents pension benefits shall not exceed 35 percent of the annual salary. For other senior executives the pension benefits shall not exceed 30 percent of their annual salary.
Other benefits may include car benefits, company healthcare, life and health insurance as well as other similar benefits. Other benefits shall represent a smaller proportion of the total renumeration and may not exceed 10 percent of the executive's annual salary.
Adaptation to foreign regulations. For employment conditions that are governed by rules other than Swedish, in so far as pension benefits and other benefits are concerned, appropriate adjustments are made to comply with such rules or firm local practice, whereby the general purpose of these guidelines, as far as possible, shall be met. Deviation from these guidelines shall be included in the board of directors' annual report on paid and outstanding renumeration covered by the guidelines.
The criteria for payment of variable renumeration shall be determined yearly by the board of directors to ensure the criteria are in line with the company's current business strategies and performance. The criteria shall be individual or common, financial or non-financial and shall be outlined in such way that they promote the company's business strategies, sustainability strategies and long-term interests.
Financial criteria for possible variable renumeration shall be based on relevant financial ratio and its composition may vary depending on what phase the board of directors deems the company to be in.
Non-financial criteria for possible variable renumeration shall be linked to clear and measurable company related goals, such as the conclusion of agreements that are important to the company, completion of activities related to the business plan, expansion/establishment as well as achieved goals within the frame of the companies sustainability work.
The period forming the basis for assessing if the criteria has been achieved or not shall amount to no less than a quarter. The assessment shall be undertaken after the agreed period has expired. The Board of Directors is responsible for the assessment regarding the President. The President is responsible for the assessment regarding other senior executives. The assessment whether financial criteria have been achieved will be decided by the accounting and the latest official information from the company.
In preparing the Board of directors' proposal for these remuneration guidelines, salaries and terms of employment for the company's employees have been taken into account by the fact that information on employees' total remuneration, the components of the remuneration and the increase and rate of remuneration over time formed part of the Board of directors' decision basis when evaluating the reasonableness of the guidelines and the limitations of the guidelines. The development of the distance between the remuneration of the senior executives and the remuneration of other employees will be reported in the remuneration report.
The period of notice, if served by the company, shall be no more than 12 months for senior executives, and no more than 6 months if served by the senior executive. Severance pay is only paid to the President and for a maximum of 12 months.
The Board of directors decides on guidelines for remuneration to senior executives. The Board of directors shall also monitor and evaluate ongoing and completed programs for variable remuneration for senior management during the respective fiscal years, the application of guidelines for remuneration to senior executives and applicable remuneration structures and remuneration levels in the company.
The Board of directors shall annually prepare proposals for new guidelines and submit the proposal for resolution at the AGM. The guidelines shall apply until new guidelines have been adopted by the AGM.
When the Board of directors is deciding on matters relating to remuneration in accordance with these guidelines, the President or other senior executives are not present, if affected by these matters.
The board of directors may decide to temporarily deviate from the guidelines (in whole or in part), if there are special reasons in an individual case and a deviation is necessary to meet the company's long-term interests and sustainability or to ensure the Group's financial viability.
The number of employees in BTS Group AB at December 31, 2019 was 832 (701). The average number of employees during the year was 779 (645).
The total number of shares outstanding at December 31, 2019 was 19,318,292, consisting of 853,800 Class A and 18,464,492 Class B shares. Each Class A share entitles the holder to 10 votes per share, each Class B one vote per share.
In 2019, 26,132 Series B shares were newly issued as partial payment of additional purchase price for acquisitions completed. Also in 2019, 278,244 Series B shares were newly issued as a result of holders of employee stock options, according to BTS Group's employee stock option program 2015/2019, utilized them to acquire shares.
The Company's articles of association contain no restrictions on the transfer of shares. The Company has three shareholders, Henrik Ekelund, Nordea Fonder and Stefan af Petersens, whose holdings each exceeded 10% of votes at year-end 2019. Some employees own shares in the Company, but the employees as a whole have no investment through any pension fund or the like. The Company is not aware of any agreements between shareholders that would restrict the right to transfer shares. Neither is there any agreement to which the Company is a party that would take effect, be changed, or cease to apply if control of the Company changed as a result of a public takeover bid.
The activities of the Parent Company, BTS Group AB, consist exclusively of tasks internal to the Group. The assets of the Parent Company consist primarily of shares in subsidiaries and cash and cash equivalents. The Company's net sales totaled SEK 2.9 million (3.0), and profit after financial items SEK 41.9 million (68.9). Cash and cash equivalents were SEK 1.9 million (4.5).
The market continued to grow rapidly. The rate of change in the global business sector is high, which is favorable for demand. BTS holds a strong competitive position through our global organization, our digital services and our track record on creating earnings for our customers. We can see an increase in inquiries into major projects and an increased win ratio for BTS.
After the end of the year, a new coronavirus, Covid-19, has triggered a global pandemic. Management and the Board closely monitor developments in the pandemic and take measures to reduce any negative impact that the pandemic may have directly or indirectly on the company. It is currently too
early to say how big the impact of the pandemic may have on BTS's financial position.
In accordance with the Annual Accounts Act, BTS has chosen to establish the statutory Sustainability Report (Chapter 6, paragraph 11) and the statutory Corporate Governance Report (Chapter 6, paragraph 8) as two reports separated from the Annual Report.
The Sustainability Report and the Corporate Governance Report have been submitted to the auditor at the same time as the annual report. The description of the sustainability work and the corporate governance can be found on the pages 82–91 of the Annual Report.
Demand for training is sensitive to economic fluctuations. Slower growth and costcutting programs affect corporate training budgets negatively. Similarly, economic recovery increases willingness to invest in training.
BTS's ten largest customers accounted for 25% (23) of its sales in 2019. By striving for a broad customer base, BTS limits its dependence on individual customers.
BTS customers are mainly active in nine business sectors: IT Equipment & Software, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Energy, Telecommunications, Professional Services, and Retail. The global distribution of its customers' operations helps reduce BTS's exposure to cyclical fluctuations in specific industries.
47% (44) of BTS's sales in 2019 were in the operating unit BTS North America, BTS Other markets represented 26% (29), BTS Europe accounted for 21% (20) and APG 6% (7).
The market for corporate training and management is fragmented. BTS encounters different competitors in different markets and has no global competitor.
BTS builds its marketing on network-based sales developed over the years by good customer relationships, which are brought about by high demands on the quality of BTS deliveries. BTS minimizes the risk of dissatisfied customers by recruiting and cultivating qualified consultants and by ensuring that all development and all deliveries adhere to established processes. BTS also follows up on quality in every project.
BTS owns all rights to the business simulations it develops for clients, thus retaining the right to reuse general intellectual property, such as software and adaptations, when developing new simulations. For license-based products and solutions, the client purchases the number of licenses needed for the employees participating.
Rapid growth requires intensive recruiting and training of employees. At the same time, it is essential to retain competent personnel. To meet these requirements, BTS follows an established model for recruiting and skills development.
Performance for the past five fiscal years is presented below.
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 1,865,499 | 1,598,399 | 1,242,591 | 1,107,644 | 1,043,900 |
| Operating expenses | –1,554,314 | –1,384,450 | –1,091,837 | –982,121 | –922,473 |
| Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment | –65,855 | –11,835 | –9,887 | –8,016 | –7,688 |
| Amortization of intangible assets | –19,670 | –18,713 | –8,574 | –5,808 | –4,286 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 225,660 | 183,401 | 132,292 | 111,699 | 109,452 |
| Operating margin (EBIT margin) % | 12.1 | 11.5 | 10.6 | 10.1 | 10.5 |
| Number of employees at year-end | 832 | 701 | 596 | 523 | 463 |
| Average number of employees | 779 | 645 | 548 | 498 | 436 |
| Net sales per employee | 2,393 | 2,478 | 2,268 | 2,224 | 2,394 |
To reduce dependence on individual employees and to insure the long-term quality of BTS training courses, methods, technologies, and business simulations are well documented.
Effective and systematic assessments of financial and commercial risks are vital to BTS. The Group's financial policy specifies guidelines and objectives for managing financial risks within the Group. Financing and risk management have been gathered under the Group finance function. The subsidiaries manage all foreign exchange dealings and credit to clients within the framework of the policy. For details, see Note 2, Significant accounting policies, and Note 18, Financial instruments and financial risk management.
The currencies with the greatest impact on BTS's earnings are the U.S. dollar (USD), the euro (EUR), and the pound Sterling (GBP). The day- to-day exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates is limited, as revenues and expenses are primarily in the same currency in each market. BTS does not normally hedge its foreign exchange exposure. The sensitivity analysis below shows the effects on operating profits of changes in the value of USD, EUR, and GBP in relation to the Swedish krona (SEK).
| Percentage change |
Change* KSEK |
|
|---|---|---|
| SEK/USD | +/–10% | 15,225 |
| SEK/EUR | +/–10% | 3,499 |
| SEK/GBP | +/–10% | 5,001 |
* Based on 2019 figures
BTS only accepts creditworthy counterparties. BTS's accounts receivable are distributed among a large number of companies operating in different sectors. The maximum credit risk at year-end was SEK 20,273 thousand (13,648), which corresponds to the largest credit exposure to any single group.
BTS manages liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash and cash equivalents and a reserve in the form of an approved overdraft facility. BTS may borrow funds only with the approval of the Board of Directors. Any excess liquidity in subsidiaries is initially to be used to repay loans. Interest rates on the Group's financial assets and liabilities are usually fixed for short periods. Interest rate risk refers to changes in market rates that could adversely affect BTS, either through increased costs of borrowing for the Company or through fluctuations in returns on the funds invested at variable interest rates.
To further strengthen its digital customer offerings, BTS signed an agreement in January 2020 regarding the acquisition of the Rapid Learning Institute in the US. Details regarding the acquisition were communicated in a press release on January 6, 2020.
After the end of the year, a new coronavirus, Covid-19, has triggered a global pandemic. The outbreak of the virus has led to an increased health risk in society, which also has a significant impact on parts of the economy. At this stage, it is too early to comment on the impact of the Corona outbreak may have on BTS's financial position and BTS intends to return with more information in the company's interim report for the first quarter of 2020 or in separate press releases.
The development that BTS has conducted during the year is essentially related to customer-specific product development, which has been expensed directly. Any research has not occurred. For a more detailed description, see Note 2 Accounting principles.
The following funds are at the disposal of the Annual General Meeting:
| SEK | |
|---|---|
| Profit brought forward | 107,866,965 |
| Profit for the year | 40,983,164 |
| Total | 148,850,129 |
The Board of Directors proposes that earnings be appropriated as follows:
| To be carried forward | 148,850,129 |
|---|---|
| Total | 148,850,129 |
The Board of Directors proposes, with amendment of the dividend proposal published in the 2019 year-end report, and in light of the general uncertainty and concern caused by the global spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), and to ensure the company has a continued good financial preparedness and liquidity, that no dividend is to be paid for the 2019 financial year.
However, the Board of Directors intends to, once it has greater clarity on earnings in 2020, revisit this topic and if required call for another AGM during the autumn 2020 to decide on dividend payments for the 2019 financial year.
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | 9 | 1,865,499 | 1,598,399 |
| Operating expenses | |||
| Other external expenses | 3, 4, 5 | –604,667 | –625,030 |
| Employee benefit expenses | 6 | –949,648 | –759,420 |
| Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment and amortization of intangible assets | 5, 7, 8 | –85,525 | –30,548 |
| Total operating expenses | –1,639,840 | –1,414,998 | |
| OPERATING PROFIT | 9 | 225,660 | 183,401 |
| Financial items | 10 | ||
| Financial income | 1,111 | 684 | |
| Financial expenses | –10,881 | –3,814 | |
| Total gain/loss on financial items | –9,771 | –3,130 | |
| Affiliated companies, profit after tax | 585 | –477 | |
| PROFIT BEFORE TAX | 216,475 | 179,794 | |
| Tax on profit for the year | 11 | –65,726 | –53,660 |
| PROFIT FOR THE YEAR | |||
| Profit for the year attributable to: Parent Company's shareholders | 150,748 | 126,134 | |
| Earnings per share (profit for the year attributable to Parent Company shareholders) | 12 | ||
| Earnings per share, before dilution, SEK | 7.84 | 6.67 | |
| No. of shares at year-end | 19,318,292 | 19,013,916 | |
| Dividend per share, SEK | 13 | 0.001 | 3.60 |
1 Proposed dividend
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFIT FOR THE YEAR | 150,748 | 126,134 | |
| Other comprehensive income | |||
| Items that later could be reclassified to profit or loss | |||
| Translation differences in equity | 17 | 26,111 | 39,747 |
| Other comprehensive income for the year, net after tax | 26,111 | 39,747 | |
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR | 176,859 | 165,881 | |
| portion attributable to Parent Company shareholders | 176,859 | 165,881 |
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||
| Non-current assets | |||
| Intangible assets | |||
| Goodwill | 7 | 535,916 | 455,268 |
| Other intangible assets | 7 | 82,467 | 72,026 |
| Total intangible assets | 618,383 | 527,294 | |
| Property, plant, and equipment | |||
| Equipment | 8 | 42,471 | 38,803 |
| Right-of-use assets | 5 | 177,308 | – |
| Total property, plant and equiment | 219,778 | 38,803 | |
| Financial assets | |||
| Deferred tax assets | 15 | 4,143 | 4,496 |
| Other non-current receivables | 18 | 9,004 | 10,586 |
| Total financial assets | 13,147 | 15,082 | |
| Total non-current assets | 851,308 | 581,179 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Current receivables | |||
| Accounts receivable | 18 | 514,132 | 512,468 |
| Other receivables | 18 | 21,113 | 11,569 |
| Prepaid expenses and accrued income | 16 | 165,870 | 160,438 |
| Total current receivables | 701,115 | 684,474 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 316,388 | 262,357 | |
| Total current assets | 1,017,503 | 946,831 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 1,868,812 | 1,528,010 | |
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | |||
| Equity | 17 | ||
| Share capital | 6,439 | 6,338 | |
| Other paid-in capital | 5,063 | 4,908 | |
| Reserves | 58,637 | 32,681 | |
| Retained earnings, including profit for the year | 769,539 | 660,276 | |
| Total equity | 839,678 | 704,203 | |
| Provisions | |||
| Accrued tax liabilities | 15, 18 | – | 47,945 |
| Other provisions | 18 | 134,052 | 172,663 |
| Total provisions | 134,052 | 220,608 | |
| Non-current liabilities | |||
| Other non-current liabilities | 18, 19 | 44,601 | 62,893 |
| Deferred non-current tax liability | 15 | 55,420 | – |
| Non-current lease liabilities | 5 | 130,224 | – |
| Total non-current liabilities | 230,245 | 62,893 | |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Accounts payable | 18 | 42,220 | 35,555 |
| Tax liabilities | 2,914 | 8,098 | |
| Deferred current tax liability | 15 | 5,308 | – |
| Other current liabilities | 18, 20 | 176,061 | 97,742 |
| Accrued expenses and prepaid income | 21 | 390,226 | 398,912 |
| Current lease liabilities | 5 | 48,109 | – |
| Total current liabilities | 664,838 | 540,307 | |
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | 1,868,812 | 1,528,010 |
Information on pledged assets and contingent liabilities in notes 23 and 24.
Financial information
Attributable to Parent Company
| SEK thousands | NOTE 17 | Share capital |
Other paid-in capital |
Reserves | Retained earnings including profit for the year |
Total equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance at January 1, 2018 | 6,296 | 46,102 | –6,870 | 535,028 | 580,555 | |
| Comprehensive income | ||||||
| Profit for the year | 126,134 | 126,134 | ||||
| Reduction of the statutory reserve | –41,390 | 41,390 | ||||
| Other comprehensive income | ||||||
| Translation differences | 196 | 39,551 | 39,747 | |||
| Total comprehensive income | 0 | –41,194 | 39,551 | 167,524 | 165,881 | |
| Transactions with shareholders | ||||||
| New issue | 42 | 10,901 | 10,943 | |||
| Share-based payment according to IFRS 2 | 311 | 311 | ||||
| Dividends to shareholders | –53,010 | –53,010 | ||||
| Other | –477 | –477 | ||||
| Total transactions with shareholders | 42 | 0 | 0 | –42,275 | –42,233 | |
| Closing balance at December 31, 2018 | 6,338 | 4,908 | 32,681 | 660,276 | 704,203 | |
| Opening balance at January 1, 2019 | 6,338 | 4,908 | 32,681 | 660,276 | 704,203 | |
| Comprehensive income | ||||||
| Profit for the year | 150,748 | 150,748 | ||||
| Other comprehensive income | ||||||
| Translation differences | 155 | 25,956 | 26,111 | |||
| Total comprehensive income | 0 | 155 | 25,956 | 150,748 | 176,859 | |
| Transactions with shareholders | ||||||
| New issue | 101 | 26,555 | 26,657 | |||
| Share-based payment according to IFRS 2 | 128 | 128 | ||||
| Dividends to shareholders | –69,231 | –69,231 | ||||
| Other | 1,063 | 1,063 | ||||
| Total transactions with shareholders | 101 | 0 | 0 | –41,486 | –41,384 | |
| Closing balance at December 31, 2019 | 6,439 | 5,063 | 58,637 | 769,539 | 839,678 | |
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | |||
| Operating profit | 230,460 | 183,401 | |
| Adjustments for non-cash items | |||
| Depreciation and amortization | 5 | 85,525 | 30,548 |
| Financial items | 10 | –9,186 | –3,572 |
| Tax paid for the year | –70,991 | –50,280 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital | 235,808 | 160,097 | |
| Cash flow from changes in working capital | |||
| Change in accounts receivable | 19,873 | –154,188 | |
| Change in other operating receivables | –10,476 | –26,357 | |
| Change in accounts payables and other operating liabilities | –27,493 | 178,611 | |
| Cash flow from changes in working capital | –18,096 | –1,934 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 217,712 | 158,163 | |
| Investing activities | |||
| Acquisition of property, plant, and equipment | 8 | –16,238 | –19,233 |
| Acquisition of intangible assets | 7 | –9,545 | – |
| Acquisitions of companies after deduction of cash and cash equivalents | –14,260 | –15,055 | |
| Change in other financial assets | 2,377 | –3,033 | |
| Cash flow from investing activities | –37,665 | –37,321 | |
| Financing activities | |||
| Repayment of loan | –32,297 | –24,394 | |
| Borrowings | –5,884 | 1,028 | |
| Dividends to shareholders | 13 | –69,231 | –53,010 |
| Amortization lease liabilities | 5 | –47,561 | – |
| New issue | 22,899 | 5,800 | |
| Cash flow from financing activities | –132,074 | –70,576 | |
| Cash flow for the year | 47,973 | 50,266 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, start of year | 262,357 | 199,876 | |
| Translation differences in cash and cash equivalents | 6,058 | 12,215 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 316,388 | 262,357 |
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net turnover | 3 | 2,930 | 2,955 |
| Operating expenses | |||
| Other external expenses | 3, 4 | 569 | –133 |
| Employee benefit expenses | 6 | –1,715 | –1,623 |
| Total operating expenses | –1,146 | –1,756 | |
| OPERATING PROFIT | 1,784 | 1,199 | |
| Financial items | 10 | ||
| Gains/losses from participations in Group companies | 51,898 | 69,981 | |
| Interest income and similar profit/loss items | 553 | 772 | |
| Interest expenses and similar profit/loss items | –12,374 | –3,014 | |
| Total gain/loss on financial items | 40,077 | 67,739 | |
| PROFIT BEFORE TAX | 41,861 | 68,939 | |
| Tax on profit for the year | 11 | –878 | –827 |
| PROFIT FOR THE YEAR | 40,983 | 68,112 |
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFIT FOR THE YEAR | 40,983 | 68,112 | |
| Other comprehensive income | – | – | |
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 40,983 | 68,112 | |
| Attributable to Parent Company shareholders | 40,983 | 68,112 |
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||
| Non-current assets | |||
| Financial assets | |||
| Participations in Group companies | 14 | 279,378 | 279,378 |
| Receivables from Group companies | 22,954 | 22,606 | |
| Total non-current assets | 302,332 | 301,983 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Current receivables | |||
| Receivables from Group companies | 21,314 | 40,300 | |
| Other receivables | – | 1 | |
| Prepaid expenses and accrued income | 591 | 1,216 | |
| Total current receivables | 21,905 | 41,517 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,883 | 4,509 | |
| Total current assets | 23,788 | 46,027 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 326,120 | 348,010 | |
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | |||
| Equity | 17 | ||
| Restricted equity | |||
| Share capital | 6,439 | 6,338 | |
| Statutory reserve | – | – | |
| Total restricted equity | 6,439 | 6,338 | |
| Non-restricted equity | |||
| Retained earnings | 107,867 | 82,431 | |
| Profit for the year | 40,983 | 68,112 | |
| Total non-restricted equity | 148,850 | 150,543 | |
| Total equity | 155,290 | 156,881 | |
| Provisions | 18 | – | 87,802 |
| Non-current liabilities | 18, 19 | 40,000 | 60,000 |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Accounts payable | 150 | 94 | |
| Tax liabilities | 54 | 74 | |
| Other current liabilities | 18, 20 | 130,197 | 42,844 |
| Accrued expenses and prepaid income | 21 | 430 | 316 |
| Total current liabilities | 130,830 | 43,327 | |
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | 326,120 | 348,010 |
Information on pledged assets and contingent liabilities in notes 23 and 24.
| SEK thousands | NOTE | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | |||
| Operating profit | 1,784 | 1,199 | |
| Financial income and expense | 10 | –1,907 | –2,206 |
| Tax paid for the year | –898 | –824 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital | –1,021 | –1,830 | |
| Cash flow from changes in working capital | |||
| Change in operating receivables | 17,357 | 8,547 | |
| Change in accounts payables and other operating liabilities | 6,224 | 8,058 | |
| Cash flow from changes in working capital | 23,581 | 16,605 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 22,560 | 14,775 | |
| Investing activities | |||
| Dividends received from subsidiaries | 47,673 | 65,181 | |
| Acquisition of companies after deduction of cash and cash equivalents | – | –9,918 | |
| Cash flow from investing activities | 47,673 | 55,264 | |
| Financing activities | |||
| Group contributions | 4,225 | 4,800 | |
| Repayment of loan | –24,869 | –24,394 | |
| Borrowings | –5,884 | 1,028 | |
| Dividends to shareholders | 13 | –69,231 | –53,010 |
| New issue | 22,899 | 5,800 | |
| Cash flow from financing activities | –72,859 | –65,776 | |
| Cash flow for the year | –2,626 | 4,263 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, start of year | 4,509 | 246 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 1,883 | 4,509 |
| SEK thousands | NOTE 17 | Share capital |
Statutory reserve |
Retained earnings |
Profit for the year |
Total equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance at January 1, 2018 | 6,296 | 41,390 | 36,061 | 47,089 | 130,836 | |
| By AGM proposed appropriation: | ||||||
| Transfer to retained earnings | 47,089 | –47,089 | – | |||
| Reduction of the statutory reserve | –41,390 | 41,390 | – | |||
| Comprehensive income for the period | 68,112 | 68,112 | ||||
| Transactions with shareholders | ||||||
| Dividends to shareholders | –53,010 | –53,010 | ||||
| New issue | 42 | 10,901 | 10,943 | |||
| Closing balance at December 31, 2018 | 6,338 | – | 82,431 | 68,112 | 156,881 | |
| Opening balance at January 1, 2019 | 6,338 | – | 82,431 | 68,112 | 156,881 | |
| By AGM proposed appropriation: | – | |||||
| Transfer to retained earnings | 68,112 | –68,112 | – | |||
| Comprehensive income for the period | 40,983 | 40,983 | ||||
| Transactions with shareholders | – | |||||
| Dividends to shareholders | –69,231 | –69,231 | ||||
| New issue | 101 | 26,555 | 26,657 | |||
| Closing balance at December 31, 2019 | 6,439 | – | 107,867 | 40,983 | 155,290 |
The Parent Company is a public limited liability company registered and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, at Grevgatan 34, SE-114 53 Stockholm. The Parent Company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. BTS is an international consulting and education firm which focuses on individuals when organizations are executing strategic changes and works with leaders at all levels to help them make better decisions, progress from decision to action and deliver results. BTS has a broad range of services which meet needs within both strategy execution and talent development with services that monitor the employee from evaluation for selection and development, to strategic consensus and strategy implementation. This is achieved through programs in business acumen, leadership and sales with the aid of business simulations and other forms of experiential learning and implementation tools. Most BTS clients are major corporations.
The annual report and consolidated financial statements were approved for publication by the Board of Directors on April 22, 2020.
Amounts are stated in SEK thousands unless otherwise stated. BTS prepares its consolidated financial statements in compliance with the Annual Accounts Act (ÅRL), the Swedish Financial Reporting Board's recommendation RFR 1, Supplementary Accounting Regulations for Groups, and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) as approved by the European Union. Unless otherwise stated, these principles were also applied for the multiple year reviews presented.
The Parent Company has followed the provisions of the Annual Accounts Act (ÅRL) and RFR 2, Accounting for Legal Entities. The Parent Company's shareholdings in subsidiaries are reported using the cost method.
The Parent Company recognizes group contributions in the income statement which deviates from the accounting policies applied in the Group.
The most important accounting principles applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are described below. These policies were applied consistently for all years presented, unless otherwise stated.
The following standards are applied by the Group for the first time for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019:
IFRS 16, Leases applies from January 1, 2019, and is applied by BTS from this date.
IFRS 16, Leasing Agreement applies from January 1, 2019, and is applied by BTS from that date. IFRS 16 is applied retroactively without recalculating comparative figures. Thus, the opening balance for 2019 has been restated in accordance with the new
standard. The standard has affected BTS's reporting of the Group's operating leases, where the majority of them relate to premises.
In accounting for right-of-use assets and leases, BTS has chosen to apply the relief rules in IFRS 16: Leases with a leasing period of twelve months or less, and leases for which the underlying asset has a low value, less than USD 5,000, have not been included in the liability and the right-of-use asset. The cost of exempt leases has been expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease period.
The Group recognizes a right of use in the balance sheet as well as a lease liability at the present value of future lease payments, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued payments attributable to the lease agreement. The leased asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease period or over the useful life of the underlying asset if it is considered probable that the Group will take over ownership at the end of the lease period. Leasing costs are reported as depreciation in operating profit and interest expense in net financial items.
Implementation of the new leasing standard will result in increased assets and interest-bearing liabilities in the balance sheet, thus affecting the net financial position. The implementation will also have a positive impact on operating income in the income statement based on the fact that part of the leasing costs is reported as interest expense within the financial net. In the cash flow analysis, leasing payments are divided between interest paid on operating cash flow and amortization of leasing liabilities within the financing operations. As the main payment is reported as financing operations, cash flow from financing operations decreases with a corresponding increase in cash flow from operating activities.
The average interest rate used for the transition calculation is 3.5 percent. The Group applies the exception with a simplified transition, which means that the asset is reported at the same amount as the lease debt, thus no transition effect is presented in equity. Comparative information is reported in accordance with IAS 17 Leasing Agreement.
Subsidiaries are all companies (including structured entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls a company when it is exposed to or entitled to variable returns from its holding in the company and is able to influence returns through its influence in the company. Subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from and including the date control was transferred to the Group. They are excluded from the consolidated financial statements from and including the date control ceases.
The Group's annual accounts have been prepared according to the acquisition method. A subsidiary's purchase price consists of the fair value of the transferred assets, liabilities and the shares issued by the Group. The purchase price also includes the fair value of all the assets or liabilities that result from a contingent purchase price agreement. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as they occur. Identifiable acquired assets and assumed liabilities in a business combination are initially valued at fair value on the acquisition date, based on a market evaluation performed at the time of the acquisition. The acquired subsidiaries' equity is completely eliminated, which means that only the portion of the subsidiary's equity that was gained after the acquisition is included in Group equity.
If the consolidated acquisition value of the subsidiary's shares exceed the net value of identified acquired assets and assumed
liabilities recorded in an acquisition analysis, the difference is recognized as goodwill.
Companies acquired during the fiscal year are included in the consolidated financial statements beginning on the date the Group began to exercise control over the company, with the amounts referring to the period after this date.
When the Group no longer has control each remaining holding is measured at fair value on the date control no longer applies. Change in carrying amount is recognized in profit or loss. Fair value is used as the initial recognized value and provides the basis for continued recognition of the remaining holding as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. All amounts relating to the disposed unit previously recognized in other comprehensive income are recognized as if the Group had directly disposed of the attributable assets or liabilities. This can result in amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income being reclassified to profit or loss.
Intra-group transactions and balance sheet items, as well as intra-group profits or intra-group losses are eliminated in full.
All transactions with non-controlling interests are recognized in equity as long as they do not cause any change in control. These transactions do not create goodwill or gains or losses.
The accounting principles for subsidiaries have been amended where appropriate in order to guarantee the consistent application of the Group's principles.
| Exchange rates for currencies most relevant to the Group: |
|---|
| ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Average 2019 |
31-12-19 | Average 2018 |
31-12-18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 9.46 | 9.32 | 8.69 | 8.97 |
| EUR | 10.59 | 10.43 | 10.26 | 10.28 |
| GBP | 12.07 | 12.21 | 11.59 | 11.35 |
| AUD | 6.57 | 6.51 | 6.49 | 6.32 |
| SGD | 6.93 | 6.90 | 6.44 | 6.56 |
| ZAR | 0.65 | 0.67 | 0.66 | 0.62 |
| MXN | 0.49 | 0.50 | 0.45 | 0.46 |
Other currencies have not had a material impact on the consolidated balance sheets or income statements.
Revenue is recognized on delivery of services to clients based on agreements signed.
Income from completed customization/development assignments and the expenses attributable to the assignment are recognized as revenue and expenses, respectively, in proportion to the degree of completion of the assignment at the end of the reporting period (percentage of completion method). The degree of completion of an assignment is determined by comparing the expenses paid up to the end of the reporting period with estimated total expenditure for the assignment. If the outcome of a service assignment cannot be reliably calculated, the revenue from that assignment is recognized only to the extent corresponding to the assignment expenses incurred that are likely to be covered by the client. Anticipated losses on assignments are recognized directly as expenses.
When educational services, "programs", are delivered to a client, they are recognized as revenue immediately after the implementation.
Revenues for licenses, i.e. the customer's right to independently use the materials and solutions for a certain period and/or a certain number of occasions, are recognized when a binding agreement has been reached and BTS has fulfilled its obligations to the client, and the amount of the revenue is known.
Expenditure for customer-specific product development is expensed directly. Expenditure related to development projects (attributable to the development and testing of new or improved products) is capitalized as an intangible asset to the extent such expenditure can be expected to generate future economic benefits. The company has not conducted any research. The development normally conducted by BTS is customer-specific.
The Group has different pension plans in different countries. All are defined-contribution plans, and the assets are managed by external parties. The Company pays fixed fees and has thereby fulfilled its obligations. The costs are charged to consolidated earnings as pension rights are vested.
BTS Group AB issued employee stock options to the Group's employees in 2015. The program enables employees to acquire stock in the company. The fair value of the allocated stock options is recognized as an employee benefit expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value of the allocated stock options is calculated using the Black-Scholes model and taking into consideration the conditions prevailing at the time of allocation. The cost recognized corresponds to the fair value of the estimated number of stock options and shares expected to be vested. Social security contributions attributable to share-based payments to employees as compensation for purchased services are expensed and distributed over the periods during which the services are performed. Provisions for social security contributions are based on the stock options' fair value at the time of the report. The fair value is calculated using the same valuation model and parameter values used when the stock options were issued.
During the first quarter of 2017, some of the major shareholders of BTS issued a total of 50,000 call options on market terms to Jessica Parisi, CEO of BTS North America. Utilization of the options requires employment and may occur after the options have been exercised February 19, 2020 through April 13, 2020 at an exercise price of SEK 80.00 per share. The accounting fair value of these is reported over the term up to the first quarter of 2020 according to IRFS2, and has been calculated using the Black-Scholes model taking into account the conditions prevailing at the time of the issue. The accounting cost according to IFRS2 has amounted to SEK 128 thousand in 2019.
Borrowing expenses are charged to earnings for the period to which they refer.
Borrowings are recognized initially at the amount received less transaction costs. After the date of acquisition, the loan is measured at amortized cost as per the effective interest method. The effective interest method distributes interest income and expenses over the relevant period. The effective interest is the interest rate that exactly discounts the estimated future disbursements to the financial liability's net carrying amount.
Non-current liabilities are liabilities with an anticipated duration longer than 12 months. All others are current liabilities
Income taxes recognized comprise taxes for the current year that are to be paid or received as well as changes in deferred tax. All tax liabilities and claims are measured at their nominal amounts according to the tax rules and tax rates that have been decided or announced and that most probably will be adopted. Tax effects associated with items recognized in the income statement are also recognized in the income statement. Tax effects associated with items recognized in equity are also recognized in equity.
Current tax is the tax to be paid or received for the current year. This includes adjustments of current tax attributable to prior periods. According to the balance sheet method, deferred tax is calculated on all temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax base of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets relating to loss carryforwards or other future tax-effective deductions are recognized to the extent that it is likely they can be used to offset profits for future taxation.
Operating segments are reported in a manner that agrees with internal reporting that is provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker is the function responsible for allocation of resources and assessment of operating segments' earnings. In the Group it is the Parent Company's CEO who makes strategic decisions. BTS's operating segments consist of the Group's operating units BTS North America, BTS Europe, BTS Other markets and APG. Each subsidiary's share of consolidated sales is used as a weight for allocation of Group wide overhead.
When a lease entitles the Company as lessee to all financial Benefits and risks attributable to the leased asset, the asset is recognized as a non-current asset in the balance sheet. The corresponding obligation to pay lease charges in the future is recognized as a liability. Assets are depreciated at a rate corresponding to their expected useful life.
A lease in which a significant portion of the risks and benefits associated with ownership are retained by the lessor is classified as an operating lease. Payments made during the term of the lease are expensed in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
The Group reports a right of use in the balance sheet as well as a lease liability. The leased asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leasing costs are reported as depreciation in operating profit and interest expense in net financial items. A detailed description of the accounting principle IFRS 16 is presented on page 60 and the effects on the consolidated financial statements are presented in Note 5.
Property, plant and equipment are recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, if any. The acquisition cost includes expenses directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. Planned depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis based on the acquisition cost and the estimated useful life. The following depreciation periods apply for existing assets: • Equipment and installations, 3–6 years
The residual value and useful life are tested annually and adjusted as necessary.
Goodwill is initially valued as the amount by which a total purchase price of the acquired net assets exceed the fair value of the identifiable acquired assets and assumed liabilities. If the purchase price is lower than the fair value of acquired net assets, the difference is recorded directly in the income statement.
Impairment tests are conducted annually or more frequently if there are indications of a decline in value.
Acquired franchise contracts have a limited useful life and are recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated amortization and any impairment losses. Amortization is charged on a straight-line basis during the estimated period of use (15 years).
Acquired products, technology, and software have a limited useful life and are recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated amortization and any impairment losses. Amortization is charged on a straight-line basis during the estimated useful life (2–9 years).
Acquired customer contracts have a limited useful life and are Recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated amortization and any impairment losses. Amortization is charged on a straight-line basis during the estimated useful life (2–15 years).
Acquired brands with an indefinite useful life are recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated impairment losses as required. Impairment tests are performed annually or more frequently if impairment is indicated.
Acquired brands with a limited useful life are recognized at acquisition cost less accumulated amortization and any impairment losses. Amortization is charged on a straight-line basis during the estimated useful life (10 years).
When there are indications that the carrying amount of any property, plant, equipment, or intangible asset, exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment test is performed. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's net realizable value and value in use. If it cannot be determined for an individual asset, the recoverable amount of the smallest cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs is calculated.
Each year the Group performs impairment tests on goodwill according to the following principle:
The recoverable amounts are based on value in use, calculated as the present value of future growth and earnings forecasts during multiple years, taking into account extrapolated cash flows beyond this multiyear period. Impairment tests are carried out on the operating segment level, which is the lowest level in the company at which goodwill is monitored.
Any impairment is recognized immediately as an expense and not reversed.
To prepare the financial statements in accordance with IFRS, executive management must make judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the application of the accounting policies and the amounts recognized as assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. The estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that appear reasonable in the prevailing circumstances. The results of these estimates and assumptions are then used to judge the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that would not be evident from other sources. Actual outcomes may deviate from these estimates and judgments. Estimates and judgments are periodically reviewed. Changes in estimates are recognized in the period in which the change is made if the change affected only that period.
Each year the Group performs impairment tests on goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life in accordance with the principle described above. Recoverable amounts for cashgenerating units have been determined by calculating the value in use. Certain estimates must be made for these calculations; please see Note 7.
To determine anticipated additional consideration, the Group makes realistic estimates of future growth and earnings for multiple years, separately for each subsidiary acquired.
The Group classifies its financial assets and liabilities in the following categories: financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss, financial assets measured at amortized cost, financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss and financial liabilities valued at amortized cost. The classification is dependent on for what purpose and under which business model the financial asset or liability was acquired.
BTS has no financial assets that are valued at fair value through profit or loss as of the closing date.
Financial assets valued at amortized cost are financial instruments that are held within the framework of a business model whose purpose is to collect contractual cash flows. The contractual cash flows consist solely of principal amounts and interest and are valued at amortized cost in accordance with the effective interest method.
An example of BTS financial assets that are valued at amortized cost are accounts receivable.
Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss are limited to additional purchase prices attributable to company acquisitions.
Financial liabilities valued at amortized cost are all other financial instruments, such as liabilities to credit institutions and accounts payable.
Financial assets are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs for all financial assets that are not reported at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets recognized at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value and transaction costs are expensed in the income statement. Financial assets are recognized in the balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual terms of the instrument. Usual purchases and sales of financial assets are reported on the settlement date. Financial assets are removed from the balance sheet when the right to receive cash flows from the instrument has expired or been transferred and the Group has transferred virtually all risks and benefits associated with ownership. Financial liabilities are recognized when the Group becomes bound by the contractual obligations attributable to the instrument. Financial liabilities are removed from the balance sheet when the obligation in the agreement has been fulfilled or otherwise extinguished. Loan receivables and accounts receivable as well as other financial liabilities are reported after the acquisition date at amortized cost using the effective interest method.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and reported with a net amount in the balance sheet, only when there is a legal right to offset the reported amounts and an intention to settle them with a net amount or to simultaneously realize the asset and settle the debt.
At each financial year-end, the financial assets valued at impairment tests are valued at amortized cost according to the model for expected loan losses. Expected credit losses represent the difference between all contractual cash flows that fall due in accordance with the contract and all cash flows that the Group expects to receive are valued at present value using the original effective interest rate. Write-downs of accounts receivable are always the same as the expected credit loss for the entire term.
Items in the financial statements for the various units in the Group are measured in the currency used in the economic environment in which the company conducts its main business activities (functional currency). Swedish krona (SEK), which is the Group's presentation currency, is used in the consolidated financial statements.
Transactions in foreign currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rate prevailing on the transaction date or the date the items are remeasured. Currency gains and currency losses that arise from payment of such transactions or translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currency at the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period, are recognized in profit or loss.
Profit or loss and financial position for all Group companies whose functional currency is different from the presentation currency are translated to the Group's presentation currency as follows:
Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising at acquisition of foreign operations are treated as assets and liabilities of those operations and translated at the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period. Exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income.
The cash flow statement is prepared according to the indirect method. The reported cash flow comprises only transactions that entail incoming and outgoing payments, with the exception of items related to IFRS 16, see Note 5. Cash flow is reported divided into continuing operations, investing activities and financing activities.
Cash and cash equivalents are cash and demand deposits at banks and similar institutions, plus current liquid investments with a duration less than three months from the date of acquisition.
The Parent Company has a close relationship with its subsidiaries, see Note 14. Except for transactions between Group companies, related-party (the Board, the CEO and other senior executives) transactions took place as shown in Note 6.
The subsidiary in the UK has also acquired services from a related party with a value of SEK 22.8 (19.8) million on market terms and conditions.
Market terms and conditions apply to the supply of services between subsidiaries. The value of these are shown in Note 9.
Receivables and liabilities between Group companies are attributable exclusively to selling and purchasing transactions between the companies. The value of these is specified in Note 9. The liabilities are interest-free.
Of the Parent Company's total purchasing expenses and sales income, 0% (0) of purchases and 100% (100) of sales refer to other Group companies.
| Group | Parent Company | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 |
| PwC | ||||
| Audit assignments | 772 | 825 | 712 | 775 |
| Other assignments | 666 | – | – | – |
| Other auditors | ||||
| Audit assignments | 1,534 | 2,272 | – | – |
| Other assignments | 249 | 934 | – | – |
| 3,221 | 4,031 | 712 | 775 |
Of audit assignments, 772 refers to PwC Sweden. Of the fees relating to other assignments in 2019, 545 refers to PwC Sweden, and concern assistance with Due Diligence services for acquisitions during the year, and 121 PwC UK for tax advice.
The effect of the transition to IFRS 16 on the Group's leases is described in Note 2 Accounting policies. The approach that the Group has chosen to apply for the transition to IFRS 16 means that comparative figures are not restated to reflect the new requirements. Leases with a leasing period of twelve months or less, and leases for which the underlying asset has a low value, less than USD 5,000, have not been included in the liability and the right-of-use asset. The cost of exempted leases is non-material and has been expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease period.
Liabilities are measured at the present value of minimum lease payments discounted by the average incremental borrowing rate, which was 3.5 percent on the transition date.
| SEK thousands | 01-01-19 |
|---|---|
| Lease liability at January 1, 2019 | |
| Operational leases recognized according to IAS 17 at Decem-ber 31, 2018 |
188,622 |
| Discounting effect of the incremental borrowing rate on the transition date |
–22,695 |
| Adjustments for short-term leases, low-value leases and other leases not recognized as liabilities |
–2,365 |
| Total lease payments | 163,562 |
| Prepaid leases | –2,620 |
| Lease liability at January 1, 2019 | 160,943 |
| 160,943 |
|---|
| 40,113 |
| 120,829 |
Right-of-use assets
The majority (96%) of BTS's operating leases relate to premises. The following table presents the right-of-use assets per lease category.
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 01-01-19 |
|---|---|---|
| Right-of-use assets | ||
| Premises | 170,881 | 156,550 |
| Other leased assets | 6,427 | 7,012 |
| Total | 177,308 | 163,562 |
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 |
|---|---|
| Right-of-use assets | |
| Opening acquisition value | 163,562 |
| Additional right-of-use assets | 55,607 |
| Disposals concluded contracts | –9,287 |
| Translation differences | 8,863 |
| At December 31 | 218,745 |
| Right-of-use assets at December 31, 2019 | 177,308 |
|---|---|
| At December 31 | 41,437 |
| Disposals concluded contracts | –9,287 |
| Depreciations for the year | 50,724 |
| Opening acquisition value | – |
Lease liabilities
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 01-01-19 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-current lease liabilities | 130,224 | 120,829 |
| Current lease liabilities | 48,109 | 40,113 |
| Total | 178,333 | 160,943 |
| SEK thousands | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Within 1 year | 43,124 |
| 1–2 years | 37,845 |
| 2–3 years | 27,747 |
| 3–4 years | 17,469 |
| 4–5 years | 13,404 |
| Later than 5 years | 38,745 |
| Total | 178,333 |
| SEK thousands | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Premises | 47,944 |
| Other leased assets | 3,274 |
| Total | 51,218 |
Interest expenses related to leases for 2019 are included in the item financial expenses with SEK 7,995 thousand.
| Recognized costs for operating leases SEK thousands |
2019 |
|---|---|
| Lease expenses for the year | 39,545 |
| Total | 188,622 |
|---|---|
| Thereafter | 47,432 |
| 2023 | 16,457 |
| 2022 | 22,293 |
| 2021 | 30,219 |
| 2020 | 32,564 |
| 2019 | 39,658 |
Excerpt from Group income statement
| IFRS 16 | IAS 17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | Jan–Dec 2019 |
Change | Jan–Dec 2019 |
Jan–Dec 2018 |
| EBITDA | 311,185 | 56,018 | 255,167 | 213,949 |
| Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment |
–65,855 | –51,218 | –14,637 | –11,835 |
| EBITA | 245,330 | 4,800 | 240,530 | 202,114 |
| Amortization of intangible assets |
–19,670 | – | –19,670 | –18,713 |
| EBIT | 225,660 | 4,800 | 220,860 | 183,401 |
| Net financial items | –9,771 | –7,995 | –1,776 | –3,130 |
| Associated company, profit after tax |
585 | – | 585 | –477 |
| EBT | 216,475 | –3,195 | 219,669 | 179,794 |
| Estimated tax | –65,726 | 946 | –66,672 | –53,660 |
| Profit for the period | 150,748 | –2,249 | 152,997 | 126,134 |
| IFRS 16 | IAS 17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | Change | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| ASSETS | ||||
| Goodwill | 535,916 | – | 535,916 | 455,268 |
| Other intangible assets | 82,467 | – | 82,467 | 72,026 |
| Tangible assets | 219,778 | 177,308 | 42,471 | 38,803 |
| Financial assets | 13,147 | – | 13,147 | 15,082 |
| Total non-current assets | 851,308 | 177,308 | 674,000 | 581,179 |
| Trade receivables | 514,132 | – | 514,132 | 512,468 |
| Other current assets | 186,983 | –2,138 | 189,120 | 172,006 |
| Cash and cash equivalents |
316,388 | – | 316,388 | 262,357 |
| Total current assets | 1,017,503 | –2,138 | 1,019,641 | 946,831 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 1,868,812 | 175,170 | 1,693,642 | 1,528,010 |
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
||||
| Equity | 839,678 | –2,216 | 841,894 | 704,203 |
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
1,868,812 | 175,170 | 1,693,642 | 1,528,010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total liabilities | 1,029,134 | 177,387 | 851,747 | 823,807 |
| Current liabilities | 664,838 | 47,163 | 617,675 | 540,307 |
| Non-current liabilities | 230,245 | 130,224 | 100,021 | 62,893 |
| Provisions | 134,052 | – | 134,052 | 220,608 |
Group cash flow statement
| IFRS 16 | IAS 17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | Jan–Dec 2019 |
Change | Jan–Dec 2019 |
Jan–Dec 2018 |
| Cash flow before changes in working capital |
235,809 | 48,023 | 187,786 | 160,097 |
| Cash flow from changes in working capital |
–18,096 | –462 | –17,635 | –1,934 |
| Cash flow from operating activities |
217,712 | 47,561 | 170,151 | 158,163 |
| Cash flow from investing activities |
–37,665 | – | –37,665 | –37,321 |
| Cash flow from financing activities |
–132,074 | –47,561 | –84,513 | –70,576 |
| Cash flow for the period | 47,973 | 47,973 | 50,266 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, opening balance |
262,357 | 262,357 | 199,876 | |
| Translation differences in cash and cash equivalents |
6,058 | 6,058 | 12,215 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, closing balance |
316,388 | 316,388 | 262,357 |
| Group | 2019 | 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of employees |
Of which men |
Number of employees |
Of which men |
||
| Subsidiaries | |||||
| Argentina | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Australia | 31 | 12 | 29 | 11 | |
| Brazil | 12 | 5 | 10 | 5 | |
| Canada | 9 | 7 | – | – | |
| China | 16 | 8 | 12 | 6 | |
| Costa Rica | 4 | – | 4 | – | |
| France | 7 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| Germany | 26 | 11 | 21 | 12 | |
| India | 79 | 37 | 51 | 26 | |
| Italy | 38 | 21 | 38 | 20 | |
| Japan | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | |
| Mexico | 14 | 7 | 13 | 7 | |
| Singapore | 33 | 17 | 31 | 16 | |
| South Africa | 23 | 8 | 25 | 9 | |
| South Korea | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | |
| Spain | 50 | 25 | 42 | 22 | |
| Sweden | 26 | 14 | 26 | 16 | |
| Switzerland | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Taiwan | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Thailand | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| The Netherlands | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | |
| United Arab Emirates |
8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| United Kingdom | 97 | 47 | 86 | 38 | |
| United States | 269 | 123 | 218 | 109 | |
| Total for the Group | 779 | 368 | 645 | 318 |
| 2019 | 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | Women | Men | |
| CEO and other senior executives (excl. the Board) |
20 | 80 | 20 | 80 |
| Board Parent Company | 33 | 67 | 33 | 67 |
| Board Group | 10 | 90 | 10 | 90 |
In this context, "other senior executives" refers to the person (the two persons) who, together with the CEO, have constituted the Group management team.
The Parent Company had no employees in 2019.
| Group | 2019 | 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social security contributions of which |
Social security contributions of which |
|||
| SEK | Salaries and | pension | Salaries and | pension |
| thousands | compensation | expenses | compensation | expenses |
| Subsidiaries | 784,190 | 95,491 | 636,447 | 88,494 |
| 26,028 | 20,058 |
Pension expenses for employees who are president of or a member of the board of a Group company totaled 3,668 (3,339). All pension plans are defined-contribution plans.
The CEO is a member of the Board but receives no Board fee. Other members of the Board in the Parent Company have received compensation only in the form of Board fees.
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reinhold Geijer | Chairman of the Board | 450 | 425 |
| Mariana Burenstam Linder |
Member | 200 | 194 |
| Stefan Gardefjord | Member | 260* | 254* |
| Dag Sehlin | Member | 200 | 254* |
| Anna Söderblom | Member | 260* | 194 |
| Total | 1,370 | 1,320 | |
* of which committee fee 60 (60)
For the CEO, see the figures for compensation to senior executives below.
| Group | 2019 | 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | Board and CEO |
Other employees |
Board and CEO |
Other employees |
|
| In Sweden | |||||
| Parent Company | 1,370 | – | 1,320 | – | |
| Subsidiaries | 3,157 | 23,605 | 2,834 | 20,367 | |
| Total Sweden | 4,527 | 23,605 | 4,154 | 20,367 | |
| Outside Sweden | |||||
| United States | 14,649 | 413,326 | 12,273 | 320,367 | |
| Europe | 22,343 | 106,429 | 20,811 | 75,088 | |
| Other | 19,222 | 180,089 | 18,374 | 165,014 | |
| Total outside Sweden | 56,215 | 699,843 | 51,458 | 560,468 | |
| Total for the Group | 60,742 | 723,448 | 55,612 | 580,835 |
Guidelines for compensation and other terms of employment for senior executives
The Company shall employ persons under conditions and at salaries commensurate with the market to be able to recruit and retain employees with excellent skills and of a high caliber to reach the Company's objectives. When employing persons outside Sweden, the Company shall comply with each country's generally accepted terms of employment and good practice.
Forms of compensation are intended to achieve a consensus on the long-term view of operations by rewarding performance that benefits the Company and thus the shareholders. Compensation paid to individual employees will be based on their position and
tasks, performance, skills, and experience. Compensation will normally consist of a fixed basic salary and defined-contribution pension benefits, the latter no more than 35% of the fixed basic salary for the CEO of the Parent Company and no more than 30% of the fixed basic salary for other senior executives. When deemed appropriate, the basic salary and pension benefit can be augmented by variable compensation, other benefits, and participation in incentive programs.
The Board is entitled to deviate from the above policies in individual cases under special circumstances. The Board intends to propose to the AGM new policies for 2020, described on pages 48–49.
Compensation includes basic salary, other benefits, variable compensation, and pension expenses.
Other benefits consist exclusively of company cars. The total sum of compensation paid to senior executives was 12,685 (11,428), of which pension expenses were 2,339 (2,263). All pension plans are defined-contribution plans.
The CEO Henrik Ekelund was paid salary and other benefits totaling 7,109 (6,250), including 2,227 (1,582) in variable compensation. Variable compensation is calculated using a model that triggers payment when Group earnings exceed predefined profitability targets. The CEO has a defined-contribution pension entitlement equal to 35% (35) of his fixed salary, paid in the form of pension insurance entitling the CEO to a pension from the age of 65.
The CEO's employment contract states a mutual period of notice of six months. In addition, if the Company terminates the CEO's employment contract, the CEO is entitled to a severance package corresponding to 12 months' salary. None of the other senior executives is entitled to a severance package.
Other senior executives have been paid salaries and other benefits totaling 3,228 (2,916), of which variable remuneration was 1,113 (791). Variable compensation is based on targets achieved by the Company and the individual. Provisions to pensions are made with 30% of the fixed salary and paid in the form of pension insurance entitling the executive to a pension from the age of 65.
The 2015 Annual General Meeting resolved on an employee stock option program 2015/2019. Allocation to be a maximum of 40,000 stock options per employee. A maximum total of 150 people could be allocated stock options. Board members elected by the Annual General Meeting and who are not also employees of the company or another group company or the Parent Company's CEO, are not allocated any stock options.
The 2015/2019 employee stock option program comprises a maximum total of 840,000 stock options, entitling to acquisition of a corresponding number of Class B shares in BTS Group AB.
Each stock option allocated to an employee entitles the holder to acquire one Class B share in BTS at an exercise price of SEK 82.30. Each stock option is valid for four years. The options have vesting conditions such that they can be exercised successively for three years after the allocation, with normally 1/3 of the total number of allocated stock options per year, provided certain financial targets set by the Board are attained. The Company's Board has set as a target that the operating margin before amortization of intangible assets (EBITA margin) for each year shall amount to at least 12% for all the stock options for each year to be exercised. If the EBITA margin is less than 12%, the number of options available for exercise is reduced. If the EBITA margin is less than 10%, no exercise of the options will be allowed. Stock options that cannot be exercised are forfeited.
Exercise of stock options is contingent on continued employment on the exercise date and can take place after the options are exercisable between September 1, 2016 and June 30, 2019, both dates inclusive.
| 2019 | 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average exercise in SEK per share |
Stock options (thousands) |
Average exercise in SEK per share |
Stock options (thousands) |
|
| Per January 1 | 82.30 | 361 | 82.30 | 398 |
| Excercised | 82.30 | –278 | 82.30 | –37 |
| Forfeited | 82.30 | –83 | – | – |
| Per December 31 | – | 0 | 82.30 | 361 |
The value of employee stock options has been calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the share price and other market conditions on July 6, 2015, without taking vesting limitations into account. Considering performance conditions and assuming an annual employee turnover of 5%, the compensation expense is estimated to total SEK 2.9 million which according to IFRS 2 is recognized in installments over the vesting period. The expense for the fiscal year amounted to SEK 183 (851) thousands. Other key parameters in the model were the volume-weighted average price paid during the 10 trading days prior to allocation of SEK 64.12, the above exercise price, volatility of 30%, anticipated dividend of SEK 2.0, as well as a risk-free interest of –0.35% for maturities of 2.5 years, –0.25% for 3.0 years and –0.15% for 3.5 years.
Social security contributions are recognized as an expense during the vesting period and a provision for these is accumulated as necessary during the vesting period. The value of this provision and thus the expense recognized are remeasured continuously based on changes in the value of the employee stock options. Employee stock options allocated to American employees may be ISO options, which means that this, according to current legislation, do not incur social security contributions.
To be able to carry out the employee stock option plan in a cost-effective and flexible manner and to cover future expenses, mainly social security contributions, the Annual General Meeting held on May 7, 2015, also resolved on a private placement of warrants with the wholly owned Swedish subsidiary BTS Sverige AB, reg. no. 556566-7127, carrying entitlement to subscribe for a maximum total of 966,000 Class B shares with a right and obligation for BTS Sverige AB to transfer or otherwise dispose of the warrants in order to fulfill the commitments of the Company or another employer company in the Group and to cover future costs resulting from the employee stock option plan.
Assuming that all warrants as above are exercised for subscription of new shares, the Company's share capital will increased by SEK 322,000 and result in a dilution equivalent to approximately 5% of the share capital and a maximum of approximately 4% of the voting rights for all shares.
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Goodwill | ||
| Accumulated acquisition cost, | ||
| opening balance | 458,994 | 425,100 |
| Acquisitions | 58,318 | – |
| Established acquisition analyses | 3,3931) | 10,2381) |
| Translation difference | 18,938 | 23,656 |
| Accumulated acquisition cost, closing balance |
539,642 | 458,994 |
| Accumulated impairments, opening balance | –3,726 | –3,726 |
| Accumulated impairments, closing balance | –3,726 | –3,726 |
| Carrying amount, closing balance | 535,916 | 455,268 |
| 1)Effect of established acquisition analyses. | ||
| Other intangible assets | ||
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Franchise contracts | ||
| Accumulated acquisition cost, | ||
| opening balance | 11,092 | 10,179 |
| Translation difference | 428 | 913 |
| Accumulated acquisition cost, closing balance |
11,520 | 11,092 |
| Accumulated amortization, opening balance | 9,073 | 7,648 |
| Amortization for the year | 780 | 716 |
| Translation difference | 340 | 709 |
| Accumulated amortization, closing balance | 10,193 | 9,073 |
| Carrying amount, closing balance | 1,329 | 2,019 |
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Technology, products & software | ||
| Accumulated acquisition cost, | ||
| opening balance | 93,082 | 87,348 |
| Purchases | 19,052 | – |
| Translation difference | 2,451 | 5,735 |
| Accumulated acquisition cost, closing balance |
114,586 | 93,082 |
| Accumulated amortization, opening balance | 56,733 | 44,644 |
| Amortization for the year | 9,433 | 8,228 |
| Translation difference | 194 | 3,862 |
| Accumulated amortization, closing balance | 66,360 | 56,733 |
| Carrying amount, closing balance | 48,226 | 36,349 |
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Customer contracts | ||
| Accumulated acquisition cost, opening balance |
35,060 | 33,532 |
| Purchases | 4,576 | – |
| Translation difference | 1,111 | 1,528 |
| Accumulated acquisition cost, closing balance |
40,747 | 35,060 |
| Accumulated amortization, opening balance | 14,455 | 7,757 |
| Amortization for the year | 6,471 | 6,188 |
| Translation difference | 87 | 510 |
| Accumulated amortization, closing balance | 21,014 | 14,455 |
Carrying amount, closing balance 19,733 20,604
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Brands | ||
| Accumulated acquisition cost, opening balance |
29,707 | 27,933 |
| Purchases | 2,457 | – |
| Translation difference | 721 | 1,773 |
| Accumulated acquisition cost, closing balance |
32,885 | 29,707 |
| Accumulated amortization, opening balance | 16,654 | 12,044 |
| Amortization for the year | 2,987 | 3,582 |
| Translation difference | 66 | 1,028 |
| Accumulated amortization, closing balance | 19,706 | 16,654 |
| Carrying amount, closing balance | 13,179 | 13,053 |
| Total closing balance, carrying amount of other intangible assets |
82,467 | 72,026 |
The value of goodwill is tested through an impairment test annually and more often if there are indications of impairment. Goodwill is distributed among the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies in acquisitions and are consistent with the Group's operating units / operating segments, which is the lowest level in the company on which goodwill is monitored. Impairment tests therefore occur for each operating entity and are BTS North America, BTS Europe, BTS Other markets and APG.
Recovery values for the units are determined by calculating the value in use. These calculations are based on estimated future cash flows based on the present values of future growth and profit forecasts over a four-year period and extrapolated cash flows beyond the four-year period. Significant assumptions used to calculate values in use:
• Forecast of operating margin
The forecast operating margin has been determined based on past performance and expectations of future market developments in each unit. In order to extrapolate cash flows beyond the budget period, a growth rate of 1.5–3 (1.5–3) percent has been used, which is considered a conservative estimate. In addition, a discount rate in local currency before tax has been used in the calculations for each operating unit. The discount rate – the weighted average capital cost (WACC) – consists of risk-free interest, the market risk premium and a company-specific risk premium, as well as for each unit, a market capital structure. The discount rates used are for BTS North America 10.0 (10.0) percent, BTS Europe 10.8 (10.8) percent and BTS Other markets 10.5 (10.5) percent. After impairment tests, it has been established that no impairment loss exists on 12-31-19.
At the impairment tests, sensitivity analyzes have also been made for each operating unit:
| BTS North America | BTS Europe | BTS Other markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% lower operating margin | –10.7 (–10.6) | –8.5 (–10.5) | –9.4 (–10.3) |
| 10% lower long term growth | –2.9 (–3.0) | –0.7 (–2.7) | –1.3 (–1.4) |
| 10% higher discount rate | –13.0 (–13.0) | –10.9 (–12.7) | –11.2 (–11.3) |
None of the cases above should lead to an impairment in a single operational unit. The calculations are hypothetical and should not be seen as an indication that these factors are more or less likely to change. The sensitivity analysis should therefore be interpreted with caution.
| Group | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-31-19 SEK thousands |
BTS North America |
BTS Europe |
BTS Other markets |
APG | Total | 12-31-18 SEK thousands |
BTS North America |
BTS Europe |
BTS Other markets |
APG | Total |
| Goodwill | 292,800 | 196,970 | 46,146 | – 535,916 | Goodwill | 226,150 | 183,518 | 45,600 | – 455,268 | ||
| Franchise contracts | – | – | – | 1,329 | 1,329 | Franchise contracts | – | – | – | 2,019 | 2,019 |
| Technology, Products & Software |
24,281 | 20,711 | 3,234 | – | 48,226 | Technology, Products & Software |
2,001 | 15,237 | 3,367 | – | 20,604 |
| Customer contracts | 5,150 | 12,506 | 2,077 | – | 19,733 | Customer contracts | 10,892 | 21,515 | 3,943 | – | 36,349 |
| Brands | 5,604 | 5,980 | 1,596 | – | 13,179 | Brands | 3,633 | 7,471 | 1,951 | – | 13,053 |
| Total | 327,835 | 236,167 | 53,052 | 1,329 618,383 | Total | 242,675 | 227,740 | 54,860 | 2,019 527,294 |
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 12-31-18 | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | ||
| Accumulated acquisition cost, opening balance | 82,326 | 91,220 |
| Purchases | 16,238 | 19,233 |
| Disposals | –1,843 | –34,006 |
| Translation difference | 4,880 | 5,880 |
| Accumulated acquisition cost, closing balance | 101,600 | 82,326 |
| Accumulated depreciation, opening balance | 43,523 | 61,582 |
| Depreciation for the year | 14,637 | 11,835 |
| Disposals | –825 | –33,112 |
| Translation difference | 1,795 | 3,218 |
| Accumulated depreciation, closing balance | 59,130 | 43,523 |
| Carrying amount, closing balance | 42,471 | 38,803 |
The Group's operations are managed and reported by the operating units BTS North America, BTS Europe, BTS Other markets, and APG, who are the Group's segments.
BTS North America consists of BTS's operations in North America, excluding APG but including SwissVBS with its operations in Canada and Switzerland. BTS Europe consists of operations in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK.
BTS Other markets consists of operations in in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates. APG has operations in North America.
Operating units invoice one another for services based on time expended and on market terms.
Group-wide costs are invoiced and amortization of intangible assets is allocated to tha operating units.
| Eliminations | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Europe | Other markets | APG | & unallocated | Group | |||||||
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Income | ||||||||||||
| External sales | 876,865 | 714,176 | 386,477 | 315,673 | 489,782 | 459,925 | 112,375 | 108,624 | 1,865,499 1,598,399 | |||
| Internal sales | 85,955 | 67,692 | 69,109 | 61,892 | 62,862 | 26,793 | 1,277 | 1,018 | –219,203 | –157,394 | – | – |
| Total income | 962,821 | 781,869 | 455,586 | 377,565 | 552,644 | 486,718 | 113,652 | 109,641 | –219,203 | –157,394 | 1,865,499 1,598,399 | |
| Operating profit | 111,771 | 88,193 | 55,776 | 37,394 | 52,560 | 57,602 | 753 | 212 | 4,800 | 225,660 | 183,401 | |
| Financial income | 1,111 | 684 | 1,111 | 684 | ||||||||
| Financial expenses | –10,881 | –3,814 | –10,881 | –3,814 | ||||||||
| Affiliated companies, profit after tax |
585 | –477 | 585 | –477 | ||||||||
| Tax on profit for the year |
–65,726 | –53,660 | –65,726 | –53,660 | ||||||||
| Profit for the year | 150,748 | 126,134 | ||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||
| Assets | 832,860 | 676,070 | 569,904 | 569,517 | 457,895 | 316,315 | 32,828 | 31,235 | –24,675 | –65,127 | 1,868,812 1,528,010 | |
| Liabilities | 370,175 | 284,530 | 447,327 | 456,909 | 210,032 | 121,796 | 26,275 | 25,700 | –24,675 | –65,127 | 1,029,134 | 823,807 |
| Investments | 26,242 | 13,538 | 5,678 | 1,838 | 6,142 | 6,868 | 41 | 22 | 38,104 | 22,266 | ||
| Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment |
–8,222 | –6,332 | –2,513 | –2,467 | –3,862 | –2,990 | –41 | –45 | –51,218 | –65,855 | –11,835 | |
| Amortization of intangible assets |
–4,115 | –3,580 | –12,230 | –11,804 | –2,546 | –2,613 | –780 | –716 | –19,670 | –18,713 |
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTS North | America BTS Europe | BTS Other markets |
APG | TOTAL | BTS North | America BTS Europe | BTS Other markets |
APG | TOTAL | |
| Programs | 453 | 230 | 357 | 89 | 1,129 | 398 | 190 | 333 | 87 | 1,008 |
| Development | 279 | 106 | 79 | – | 464 | 190 | 79 | 75 | – | 344 |
| Licenses | 88 | 27 | 32 | 23 | 170 | 78 | 24 | 27 | 22 | 150 |
| Other revenues | 57 | 24 | 22 | – | 103 | 48 | 23 | 25 | – | 96 |
| TOTAL | 877 | 386 | 490 | 112 | 1,865 | 714 | 316 | 460 | 109 | 1,598 |
The BTS business model is divided into four categories of revenue; Development, Programs, Licenses and Other Revenue.
For performed Development, the income and expenses attributable to the assignment are reported as revenue or cost in relation to the degree of completion of the assignment on the balance sheet date (progressive profit calculation). The degree of completion of an assignment is determined by comparing expenses incurred on the balance sheet date with estimated total expenses for the assignment. Normally invoicing takes place as the work proceeds in accordance with agreed terms.
Upon delivery of Programs, training services, these are recognized and invoiced directly after implementation.
Revenue for Licenses, that is, the customer's right to use BTS's material and solutions for a certain time and / or number of occasions, is reported when binding agreement has been reached and BTS has fulfilled its obligations towards the customer and when the revenue size is known. Invoicing takes place in accordance with agreed terms.
Other income mainly relates to invoiced expenses in connection with Development and Programs. These are invoiced and recognized as revenue simultaneously with each project.
The majority of the individual customer contracts do not exceed 12 months. The payment terms are usually between 45 and 75 days and do not exceed one year in any case. The compensation is usually set at a fixed price. In the rare case of a complaint, individual compensation can be agreed.
Of the Group's total revenue, 39,663 (37,776) refers to the country of residence Sweden. The value of the Group's fixed assets in Sweden amounted to 769 (1,026).
The Group's reported contract assets and contract liabilities are shown in notes 16 and 21.
| Group's financial items | ||
|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 |
| Interest income | 1,111 | 684 |
| Total financial income | 1,111 | 684 |
| Foreign exchange losses | –3 | –10 |
| Interest expenses | –2,884 | –3,804 |
| Interest expenses leases | –7,995 | – |
| Total financial expenses | –10,881 | –3,814 |
| Total gain/loss on financial items | –9,771 | –3,130 |
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Total gain/loss on finacial items | –9,771 | –3,130 |
| Accrued interest | – | 36 |
| Affiliated companies, profit after tax | 585 | –477 |
| Total | –9,186 | –3,572 |
| Parent Company's financial items | ||
|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 |
| Gains/Losses on other securities and receivables held as non-current assets |
||
| Dividends from subsidiaries | 47,673 | 65,181 |
| Group contributions | 4,225 | 4,800 |
| Currency losses | –9,9141) | – |
| Total | 41,984 | 69,981 |
| Interest income | 553 | 772 |
| Interest expenses | –2,460 | –3,014 |
| Total gain/loss on financial items | 40,077 | 67,739 |
1)Effect of revaluation of current liabilities relating to previously completed acquisitions.
| Group SEK thousands |
2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax as recognized in the income statement |
–65,726 | –53,660 |
| Current tax expense | –60,815 | –53,918 |
| Current tax attributable to previous years | –3,666 | –1,080 |
| Postponed tax income/expense (+/–) | –1,245 | 1,338 |
| Tax for the year | –65,726 | –53,660 |
| Parent Company SEK thousands |
2019 | 2018 |
| Current tax for the year | –878 | –827 |
| Group SEK thousands |
2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit before tax | 216,475 | 179,794 |
| Tax expense based on Swedish income tax rates, 21.4% (22%) |
–46,326 | –39,555 |
| Effects of different tax rates | –5,137 | –2,232 |
| Non-deductible expenses | –11,321 | –11,533 |
| Non-taxable income | 723 | 739 |
| Tax attributable to previous years | –3,666 | –1,080 |
| Effective tax recognized | –65,726 | –53,660 |
| Effective tax rate | 30.4% | 29.8% |
| SEK thousands | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit before tax | 41,861 | 68,939 |
| Tax expense based on Swedish income tax rates, 22% |
–8,958 | –15,167 |
| Dividends from subsidiaries | 10,202 | 14,340 |
| Non-deductible expenses | –2,122 | – |
| Effective tax recognized | –878 | –827 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.1% | 1.2% |
Earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit attributable to Parent Company shareholders with the weighted average number of common stock on issue during the period.
| 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Profit for the year attributable to Parent Company shareholders, SEK thousands |
150,748 | 126,134 |
| Earnings per share, before dilution, SEK | 7.84 | 6.67 |
| Total no. of shares, before dilution, (thousands) |
19,221 | 18,905 |
| Earnings per share, after dilution, SEK | 7.84 | 6.56 |
| Total no. of shares, after dilution, (thousands) | 19,221 | 19,232 |
Dividends paid in 2019 totaled SEK 69,231 thousand (SEK 3.60 per share). Dividends paid 2018 totaled SEK 53,010 thousand (SEK 2.80 per share).
To the AGM on May 14, 2020 the Board of Directors proposes, with amendment of the dividend proposal published in the 2019 year-end report, and in light of the general uncertainty and concern caused by the global spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), and to ensure the company has a continued good financial
Participations in Group companies
SEK thousands No. of shares Pctg. equity Carrying amount 12-31-19 Carrying amount 12-31-18 Parent Company holdings BTS Sverige AB 5,000 100 7,456 7,456 Corp. id. no. 556566-7127 Domicile: Stockholm BTS USA, Inc. 1,000 100 77,430 77,430 Corp. id. no. 06-1356708 Domicile: Connecticut BTS in London Ltd. 5,000 100 6,833 6,833 Corp. id. no. 577 1376 13 Domicile: London Business Training Systems AS 100 100 94 94 Corp. id. no. 957 694 187 Domicile: Oslo Catalysts for profitability and growth Ltd 1,000 100 1 1 Corp. id. no. 1998/010779/07 Domicile: Centurion BTS Finland AB 1,000 100 100 100 Corp. id. no. 556583-1673 Domicile: Stockholm BTS Asia Pacific PTE Ltd 50,000 100 237 237 Corp. id. no. 200811464Z Domicile: Singapore Business Training Solutions S.L. 1,031 100 7,911 7,911 Corp. id. no. B95138160 Domicile: Bilbao BTS Management SA 1,000 100 673 673 Corp. id. no. 01 73.802 11 Domicile: Geneva Business Game Factory Oy 90,750 100 654 654 Corp. id. no. 1807788-2 Domicile: Helsinki BTS Brussels NV 620,000 100 587 587 Corp. id. no. 878.155.648 Domicile: Brussels BTS Coach in a box Holdings Ltd 56,000 100 177,402 177,402 Corp. id. no. 5379864 Domicile: Portsmouth Total shares in subsidiaries 279,378 279,378
preparedness and liquidity, that no dividend is to be paid for the 2019 financial year.
However, the Board of Directors intends to, once it has greater clarity on earnings in 2020, revisit this topic and if required call for another AGM during the autumn 2020 to decide on dividend payments for the 2019 financial year.
| Group | ||
|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Opening balance, net | 4,496 | 3,694 |
| Recognized change in profit for the year | –527 | 799 |
| Translation differences | 173 | 3 |
| Closing balance, net | 4,143 | 4,496 |
The amount concerns unused loss carry-forwards in subsidiaries which are expected to be utilized during upcoming years.
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening balance, net | 47,945 | 32,860 |
| Recognized change in profit for the year | 10,827 | 12,136 |
| Translation differences | 1,955 | 2,949 |
| Closing balance, net | 60,727 | 47,945 |
| Group | ||
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Non-current tax liability | 55,420 | 42,577 |
|---|---|---|
| Current tax liability | 5,308 | 5,368 |
| Total | 60,727 | 47,945 |
The preliminary acquisition analyses for the acquisitions of Polaris Assessment Systems, Swiss Virtual Business School VBS AG and Samsari AB have been adopted. The effect was an increase in goodwill and a provision for deferred tax liabilities of MSEK 3.4.
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued income (current contract assets attributable to consulting services) |
107,198 | 103,619 |
| Prepaid rent | 78 | 2,620 |
| Other items | 58,594 | 54,200 |
| Total | 165,870 | 160,438 |
As of December 31, 2019, the share capital consists of 853,800 Class A shares and 18,464,492 Class B shares, totaling 19,318,292 shares with a total value of SEK 6,439,431. Each share has a quotient value of SEK 0.33. Each Class A share entitles the holder to ten votes per share, each Class B one vote per share.
The equity in all Group companies that have a functional currency different from the reporting currency is translated into the reporting currency (SEK). Translation differences arise if the SEK exchange rate for a functional currency at the end of the period is different from its rate at the start of the period. These translation differences have no effect on taxes. Closing accumulated translation differences recognized directly in equity totaled 58,551. Opening accumulated differences totaled 32,440.
The Board of Directors proposes, with amendment of the dividend proposal published in the 2019 year-end report, and in light of the general uncertainty and concern caused by the global spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), and to ensure the company has a continued good financial preparedness and liquidity, that no dividend is to be paid for the 2019 financial year.
However, the Board of Directors intends to, once it has greater clarity on earnings in 2020, revisit this topic and if required call for another AGM during the autumn 2020 to decide on dividend payments for the 2019 financial year.
The Board of Directors proposes that earnings be appropriated as follows:
| Total 148,850,129 |
|---|
| To be carried forward 148,850,129 |
The Board directs and monitors BTS's financing activities and financial risks. Financing and risk management are gathered under the Group finance function and conducted in compliance with a financial policy adopted by the Board of Directors that stresses low risk. The aim of the Company's risk management is to optimize the Group's cost of capital and, in a deliberate manner, to manage and control the Group's financial risks. Hedging instruments may be used within given parameters. Future payments are not normally hedged. Cash and cash equivalents may be invested in interest-bearing accounts or in interest-bearing securities carrying low credit risk. The duration of the investment portfolio must not exceed nine months.
During the year, BTS's holdings of financial instruments were limited to primary instruments such as accounts receivable, trade payables, and the like. Customer contracts contain no currency clauses or anything that could be considered embedded derivatives. No hedging instruments are held or have been purchased or sold during the year, the same applies for the previous year.
| Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 | |
| Other non-current receivables | 9,004 | 10,586 | |
| Accounts receivable | 514,132 | 512,468 | |
| Other current receivables | 21,113 | 11,569 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 316,388 | 262,357 | |
| Total financial assets | 860,638 | 796,979 | |
| Provisions | 134,052 | 172,663 | |
| Other non-current liabilities | 44,601 | 62,893 | |
| Lease liabilities | 178,333 | – | |
| Accounts payable | 42,220 | 35,555 | |
| Other current liabilities | 176,061 | 97,742 | |
| Total financial liabilities | 575,267 | 368,852 |
Financial assets valued at amortized cost
Other non-current receivables chiefly consist of rental deposits and interest-bearing financial claims on various counterparts.
Rental deposits have a maturity corresponding to their respective leases.
Reported value is deemed equivalent to the fair value.
Accounts receivable denominated in foreign currencies are measured at the closing rate. Accounts receivable in the BTS North America operating unit constitute 40% (39) of the Group's total accounts receivable. The table below shows the distribution of accounts receivable by currency.
| Group | ||
|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| SEK | 22,902 | 21,546 |
| USD | 229,147 | 225,718 |
| GBP | 105,771 | 74,152 |
| EUR | 69,524 | 75,909 |
| Other currencies | 86,788 | 115,143 |
| Total accounts receivable | 514,132 | 512,468 |
Historically the Group has had very low credit losses on accounts receivable. The spread of risk is good among companies, sectors and geographic markets. Fair value agrees with carrying amount and no significant impairment of accounts receivable has been recognized during the year, same principle as in the previous year. The Group applies the simplified method for calculating expected loan losses. The method means that expected losses during the entire term of the loan are used as a basis for accounts receivable and contract assets. Expected credit loss is based on the customers' payment and loss history.
At December 31, 2019, accounts receivable totaling 72,041 (80,740) were more than 30 days past due.
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Total accounts receivable | 514,132 | 512,468 |
| 1–30 days overdue | 87,844 | 82,206 |
| more than 30 days overdue | 29,619 | 32,554 |
| more than 60 days overdue | 42,422 | 48,186 |
At the end of the reporting period, there was only cash in hand and bank balances.
Financial liabilities valued at amortized cost
Financial liabilities held during the year are measured at the amortized cost using the effective interest method. At year-end 2019 the financial liabilities consisted of accounts payable and non-current liabilities.
Accounts payable are deemed reasonably approximate to their fair value. All accounts payable fall due within 12 months, of which most are due within a month, why they are not discounted to present value.
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss BTS only has contingent purchase consideration attributable to business combinations that are measured at fair value through profit or loss.
When the fair value of an asset or liability is to be determined, the Group uses observable data to the greatest extent possible. Real values are categorized at different levels in a real value hierarchy based on input data used in the valuation technique as follows:
Level 1: according to prices quoted on an active market for identical instruments.
Level 2: based on directly or indirectly observable market data that is not included in level 1.
Level 3: based on input data that are not observable on the market. The fair value corresponds to the carrying amount, with the exception of the bond loan. The following summarizes the methods and assumptions that were mainly used to determine fair value of the Group's financial instruments.
Contingent consideration is valued at market value according to level 3, ie fair value based on input data that is not observable on the market. The calculation of contingent consideration depends on the parameters in each agreement. These parameters are mainly linked to expected results for the acquired companies over the next three years. An increase in the expected results means a higher liability for contingent consideration. However, usually there is a ceiling for each conditional purchase price that limits how large the debt can be. The maximum payment for contingent consideration was SEK 287.6 (224.9) million at the balance sheet date.
Reported items regarding conditional additional purchases (level 3) is as follows:
| KSEK | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | 172,663 | 186,859 |
| Paid price | –4,743 | –20,193 |
| Translation differences | 8,898 | 5,996 |
| Additional consideration | 55,728 | – |
| Closing balance | 232,546 | 172,663 |
The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risks associated with the translation of foreign subsidiaries, thus influencing profit and equity in the Group. The currencies that have the greatest influence are USD, EUR, and GBP. Transaction exposure is limited, because revenues and expenses are primarily denominated in the same currency in each market. BTS does not normally hedge its foreign exchange exposure. The sensitivity analysis below shows the effects on operating profits based on BTS's 2019 income statement and should only be seen as an indication of the significance of the different currencies.
| Percentage change |
Change in profit, 2019 |
Change in profit, 2018 |
Change in equity, 2019 |
Change in equity, 2018 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEK/USD | +/–10% | 15,225 | 13,121 | 44,797 | 40,954 |
| SEK/EUR | +/–10% | 3,499 | 4,080 | 7,834 | 7,854 |
| SEK/GBP | +/–10% | 5,001 | 3,626 | 10,402 | 5,426 |
Credit risk refers to companies not getting paid, fully or partly, for their accounts receivable from customers. BTS only accepts creditworthy counterparties in financial transactions, and the limit is determined individually for each customer. Creditworthy refers to companies that have undergone customary credit checks with satisfactory results. The intention is for credit limits to reflect the solvency of each customer. BTS has sufficiently diversified risk. BTS's accounts receivable and sales are spread among a large number of companies operating in a variety of sectors.
The maximum credit risk exposure on accounts receivable at year end was 514,132 (512,468). Fair value agrees with book value.
BTS manages liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash and cash equivalents including unutilized part of approved overdraft facility. Interest rates on the Group's financial assets and liabilities are usually fixed for short periods. Interest rate risk refers to changes in the market interest rate that affect BTS's results negatively.
| Percentage change in market interest rate |
Change in interest expense, SEK thousands, 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Interest bearing liabilities | +/–10% | 288 |
BTS's policy is to allow borrowing with the Board's approval. Any surplus cash in subsidiaries should first of all be used to repay loans, which was done during the year. Interest risk for interest income is limited to the fluctuating return on cash and cash equivalents invested at variable rates.
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 316,388 | 262,357 |
| Unutilized portion of bank overdraft facility | 44,517 | 38,373 |
| Cash and cash equivalents available | 360,905 | 300,731 |
BTS's goal for its capital structure is to safeguard the Group's ability to continue and expand its operations, so that they continue to generate a return for shareholders and benefit other stakeholders, at the same time as the cost of capital is kept at a reasonable level.
To maintain or change the capital structure, the dividends can be raised or lowered, shares can be issued or repurchased, and assets can be bought or sold.
BTS's financial objective – and a measure of its capital risk – is that its equity/assets ratio never remains less than 50% over extended periods. At year-end, the Group's equity/assets ratio was 45 (46) .
| Reconcilation net liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 316,388 | 262,357 |
| Non-current loans | –40,000 | –60,000 |
| Current loans | –36,398 | –42,840 |
| Net liabilities | 239,9911 | 159,517 |
| 1 Excluding leases |
Change net liabilities 2018
| SEK thousands | Cash and cash equivalents |
Current loans |
Non-current loans |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net liabilities 01-01-18 | 199,876 | 41,443 | 84,116 | 74,318 |
| Through acquisitions | – | – | – | – |
| Translation differencies | 12,215 | 278 | 369 | 11,567 |
| Cash flow | 50,266 –23,366 | – | 73,632 | |
| Non cash flow impact | – | 24,486 | –24,486 | – |
| Net liabilities 12-31-18 | 262,357 | 42,840 | 60,000 | 159,517 |
| SEK thousands | Cash and cash equivalents |
Current loans |
Non-current loans |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net liabilities 01-01-19 | 262,357 | 42,840 | 60,000 | 159,517 |
| Through acquisitions | 1,217 | 7,429 | – | –6,212 |
| Translation differencies | 6,058 | 383 | – | 5,674 |
| Cash flow | 46,756 –38,181 | – | 84,937 | |
| Non cash flow impact | – | 23,926 | –20,000 | –3,926 |
| Net liabilities 12-31-19 | 316,388 | 36,398 | 40,000 | 239,991 |
| SEK thousands | Cash and cash equivalents |
Current loans |
Non-current loans |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net liabilities 01-01-19 | 262,357 | 42,840 | 60,000 | 159,517 |
| Through acquisitions | 1,217 | 7,429 | – | –6,212 |
| Translation differencies | 6,058 | 383 | – | 5,674 |
| Cash flow | 46,756 –38,181 | – | 84,937 | |
| Leases | – | 48,109 | 130,224 | –178,333 |
| Non cash flow impact | – | 23,926 | –20,000 | –3,926 |
| Net liabilities 12-31-19 | 316,388 | 84,507 | 170,224 | 61,658 |
Non-current liabilities refer to interest-bearing loans from credit institutions which will be repaid as follows. The amounts include the agreed interest rate.
| Total | 41,566 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 20,547 |
| 2021 | 21,019 |
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Approved credit limit | 56,988 | 56,728 |
| Unutilized portion | –44,517 | –38,373 |
| Credit utilized | 12,471 | 18,355 |
| SEK thousands | 12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Approved credit limit | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| Unutilized portion | –27,529 | –21,645 |
| Credit utilized | 12,471 | 18,355 |
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Accrued salaries incl. social security contributions |
164,466 | 159,727 |
| Accrued income (current contract assets attributable to consulting services) |
174,821 | 188,478 |
| Other items | 50,939 | 50,707 |
| Total | 390,226 | 398,912 |
| Parent Company SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
| Other items | 430 | 316 |
As previously communicated in a press release on the same day, BTS acquired Polaris Assessment Systems on February 28, 2019. The acquisition encompasses a small cash remuneration and newly issued BTS shares equivalent to MUSD 0.1 in exchange for the rights to all of Polaris's operations including employees, technology, intellectual property, customer relations, brands and equipment.
Through the acquisition of Polaris, BTS gains two business advantages: new industry-leading services that give access to a new market segment worth approximately USD 2 billion globally, and secondly, bringing on board three influential thought leaders in this market segment.
As previously communicated in a press release on the same day, BTS acquired shares in Swiss Virtual Business School VBS AG on July 15, 2019, at which point 100 percent of the voting rights had been acquired. The acquisition encompasses all operations including talent, technology, intellectual property, customer relations, brands and equipment.
Of the initial purchase price, approximately 10 percent was paid in new BTS shares. An additional payment will be paid out in 2021 provided the business meets specific targets 2019-2021 based on the entire measurement period.
SwissVBS provides high impact digital learning solutions for the modern corporate learner. It operates primarily in the European and North American markets, bringing thought leadership and creative solutions to clients through digital journeys as well as learning reinforcement methods. The SwissVBS team will bring world class expertise in digital learning and performance support. This means that BTS can offer clients a wider range of solutions and become even more competitive as an end-to-end talent partner. SwissVBS will also bring clients with whom the company has developed strong relationships and won awards, making BTS stronger in the Canadian and German-speaking markets.
SwissVBS was established in St. Gallen in 2001 as an offspring of the University of St. Gallen. Since then it has successfully grown into a respected provider of customized digital learning to some of the world's largest corporations.
As previously communicated in a press release on the same day, BTS acquired shares in Samsari AB on September 2, 2019, at which point 100 percent of the voting rights were acquired. The acquisition encompasses all operations including talent, technology, intellectual property, customer relations, brands and equipment.
The acquisition of Samsari brings years of experience to BTS through a strong and dynamic team with skills in change management, transformation projects and communication – skills that will become increasingly important and will thus strengthen the BTS service offering as a whole. The acquisition will also contribute to broadening the BTS customer base in the Nordic market.
The preliminary acquisition analyses regarding the year's acquisitions of Polaris Assessment Systems, Swiss Virtual Business School VBS AG and Samsari AB have been ratified. The effect of the ratification is an increase in goodwill and a provision for deferred tax liability of MSEK 3.4.
The acquisition calculations ratified at the date of acquisition translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date at December 31, 2019:
| KSEK | SwissVBS | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible assets | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Intangible assets | 16.0 | 0.9 | 16.9 |
| Financial assets | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Receivables | 5.5 | 0.3 | 5.7 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Current liabilities | –5.7 | –0.2 | –5.8 |
| Non-current liabilities | –9.7 | –0.2 | –9.8 |
| Identifiable assets | 6.4 | 2.0 | 8.4 |
| Goodwill | 54.2 | 7.5 | 61.7 |
| Total purchase prices | 60.6 | 9.5 | 70.1 |
| Fair value of issued shares | –0.7 | –0.9 | –1.6 |
| Estimated additional cash purchase price |
– | –0.8 | –0.8 |
| Provision for conditional purchase prices |
–53.0 | –2.0 | –55.0 |
| Purchase prices paid in cash for 2019 acquisitions |
6.9 | 5.8 | 12.7 |
Goodwill consists of expected future synergy effects in the form of an expanded product range and services. Alongside synergy effects, the addition of qualified employees and future profitability components are included in the goodwill item.
The provisions for conditional earnouts is included in the balance sheet under Provisions in the amount of MSEK 55.0. These earnouts can amount to anywhere between MSEK 0 and a maximum of MSEK 58.5.
No acquisition costs were capitalized, but were instead expensed in their entirety. Expenses for completing the acquisitions including issue costs are included in the Group's operating expenses for 2019 in the amount of MSEK 2.8.
Acquisitions in 2019 contributed MSEK 19.5 to the Group's net sales and MSEK 2.3 to the Group's profit after tax. If the acquisitions had been completed on January 1, 2019, they would have contributed approximately MSEK 38.6 to net sales and approximately MSEK 4.3 to profit after tax.
| Group SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Assets pledged for debts to credit institutions |
||
| Company mortgages | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Parent Company SEK thousands |
12-31-19 | 12-31-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantee commitments on behalf of subsidiaries |
5,241 | 5,046 |
To further strengthen its digital customer offerings, BTS signed an agreement in January 2020 regarding the acquisition of the Rapid Learning Institute in the US. Details regarding the acquisition were communicated in a press release on January 6, 2020.
After the end of the year, a new coronavirus, Covid-19, has triggered a global pandemic. The outbreak of the virus has led to an increased health risk in society, which also has a significant impact on parts of the economy. At this stage, it is too early to comment on the impact of the Corona outbreak may have on BTS's financial position and BTS intends to return with more information in the company's interim report for the first quarter of 2020 or in separate press releases.
The Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer affirm that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and that the annual report was prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Sweden. The annual report and consolidated financial statements, respectively, provide a true and fair view of the Parent Company's and the Group's financial positions and earnings.
The management report for the Parent Company and the Group provides a fair review of developments in the Parent Company's and the Group's operations, financial position, and earnings and describes the material risks and uncertainties facing the Parent Company and the companies that are part of the Group.
The consolidated income statement and balance sheet as well as the Parent Company's income statement and balance sheet will be submitted for adoption to the Annual General Meeting of May 15, 2019.
Stockholm, Sweden, April 22, 2020
Reinhold Geijer Chairman of the Board
Stefan Gardefjord Member of the Board
Mariana Burenstam Linder Member of the Board
Dag Sehlin Member of the Board
Anna Söderblom Member of the Board
Henrik Ekelund Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board
Our audit report was submitted on April 23, 2020. Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Magnus Thorling Authorized Public Accountant
Unofficial translation
To the general meeting of the shareholders of BTS Group AB, corporate identity number 556566-7119
We have audited the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of BTS Group AB (publ) for the year 2019. The annual accounts and consolidated accounts of the company are included on pages 47–77 in this document.
In our opinion, the annual accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of parent company and the group as of 31 December 2019 and its financial performance and cash flow for the year then ended in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act. The consolidated accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the group as of 31 December 2019 and their financial performance and cash flow for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as adopted by the EU, and the Annual Accounts Act. The statutory administration report is consistent with the other parts of the annual accounts and consolidated accounts.
We therefore recommend that the general meeting of shareholders adopts the income statement and balance sheet for the parent company and the group.
Our opinions in this report on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts are consistent with the content of the additional report that has been submitted to the parent company's Board of Directors in accordance with the Audit Regulation (537/2014) Article 11.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities section. We are independent of the parent company and the group in accordance with professional ethics for accountants in Sweden and have otherwise fulfilled our ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. This includes that, based on the best of our knowledge and belief, no prohibited services referred to in the Audit Regulation (537/2014) Article
5.1 have been provided to the audited company or, where applicable, its parent company or its controlled companies within the EU.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinions.
We designed our audit by determining materiality and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the consolidated financial statements. In particular, we considered where management made subjective judgements; for example, in respect of significant accounting estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain. As in all of our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including among other matters consideration of whether there was evidence of bias that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
We tailored the scope of our audit in order to perform sufficient work to enable us to provide an opinion on the consolidated financial statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the Group, the accounting processes and controls, and the industry in which the group operates.
The BTS group is comprised of approximately 35 units whereof a number of these are limited in size. All of the units in Sweden and both of the units in the US, two of the units in England, and all of the units in Australia and Singapore have been audited. The audit of the units in Sweden and in the US has been performed by the central team. Where work has been executed by unit auditors, the central team in Sweden has determined the level of our required involvement in their audit work. We have done this to be able to conclude as to whether sufficient and appropriate audit evidence has been obtained in order to provide an opinion on the group's financial reports in their entirety. As a part of our work, we have obtained written reports from the subsidiaries' auditors. During the year, we also visited the subsidiary, APG, in the US and discussed significant accounting issues and observations from the audit with company management and with the local auditors.
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. An audit is designed to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are considered material if individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the consolidated financial statements.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined certain quantitative thresholds for materiality, including the overall group materiality for the consolidated financial statements as a whole as set out in the table below. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.
Key audit matters of the audit are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of, and in forming our opinion thereon, the annual accounts and consolidated accounts as a whole, but we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
See also note 2 (Accounting principles), note 9 and note 16, respective note 21.
We decided to focus on revenues as the group's revenues are primarily generated through various projects based on client agreements and these agreements can have either short or longer tenors. In order to secure a correct view of the group's results for the year, the reporting of work in progress must be be reliable. Revenue recognition is also dependent on management's assessments as to the progress of the respective projects at point of reporting, that is, in conjunction with book closing. The group's balance sheet includes accrued revenue of TSEK 107,198 and deferred income of TSEK 174,821.
Key audit matter How our audit addressed the Key audit matter
In our audit, we have performed a number of audit measures to assess the reporting of revenue in the income statement and of work in progress in the balance sheet. Our audit has included a review of the routines and processes for revenue recognition, of selected controls, of selected projects against agreements, of internal delivery evidence supporting the reported degree of completion, and of invoices and payments received.
We examined a selection of items in the bookkeeping against client invoices in order to verify that these items were reported in the correct year. With the aim of verifying the reasonability of the company's model for calculating degree of completion and in order to ensure that shorter assignments have been invoiced at the right time, we executed a trend analysis of the allocation of revenue over the year to identify any possible unexplained peaks and dips in the revenue flow during the year.
See also Note 2 (Accounting principles) and Note 7.
The group's balance sheet includes goodwill totalling TSEK 535,916.
We focused our audit on goodwill related to the North American operations, TSEK 292,800, as this amount comprises a significant portion of total goodwill and of the group's balance sheet total. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test. The valuation of goodwill is based on company management's subjective assessments regarding future cash flows and on assumptions regarding the yield requirement, etc. which implies that the valuation is in its nature characterized by uncertainty, since it might be affected by unexpected future events.
The company's impairment testing has not resulted in a write-down.
Our audit of goodwill related to the American operations has taken place through our examination of company management's impairment testing and we verified that that the testing is documented and executed in accordance with the applicable accounting principles and generally accepted valuation models.
We have examined the manner in which the valuation model has been determined and have studied the budgets and forecasts for future cash flows. We have verified that these agree with company management's plans and intentions.
We studied company management's significant assumptions in determining, for example, sales growth in the forecasts and the yield requirement applied in discounting the cash flows (WACC). We also examined the prepared sensitivity analyses.
We compared the values produced according to the above with the operating capital for the segment.
This document also contains other information than the annual accounts and consolidated accounts and is found on pages 1–46 and 94–96. Additional other information can be found on page 1–6 and 52–56 in "Annual Report 2019 -Swedish" which can be found on the company web page. The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for this other information.
Our opinion on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts does not cover this other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion regarding this other information.
In connection with our audit of the annual accounts and consolidated accounts, our responsibility is to read the information identified above and consider whether the information is materially inconsistent with the annual accounts and consolidated accounts. In this procedure we also take into account our knowledge otherwise obtained in the audit and assess whether the information otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If we, based on the work performed concerning this information, conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for the preparation of the annual accounts and consolidated accounts and that they give a fair presentation in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act and, concerning the consolidated accounts, in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU. The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are also responsible for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of annual accounts and consolidated accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the annual accounts and consolidated accounts, The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for the assessment of the company's and the group's ability to continue as a going concern. They disclose, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting. The going concern basis of accounting is however not applied if the Board of Directors and the Managing Director intend to liquidate the company, to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the annual accounts and consolidated accounts as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinions. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs and generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these annual accounts and consolidated accounts.
A further description of our responsibility for the audit of the annual accounts and consolidated accounts is available on Revisorsinspektionen's website: www.revisorsinspektionen.se/ revisornsansvar. This description is part of the auditor's report.
In addition to our audit of the annual accounts and consolidated accounts, we have also audited the administration of the Board of Director's and the Managing Director of BTS Group AB (publ) for the year 2019 and the proposed appropriations of the company's profit or loss.
We recommend to the general meeting of shareholders that the profit be appropriated in accordance with the proposal in the statutory administration report and that the members of the Board of Director's and the Managing Director be discharged from liability for the financial year.
We conducted the audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities section. We are independent of the parent company and the group in accordance with professional ethics for accountants in Sweden and have otherwise fulfilled our ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinions.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the proposal for appropriations of the company's profit or loss. At the proposal of a dividend, this includes an assessment of whether the dividend is justifiable considering the requirements which the company's and the group's type of operations, size and risks place on the size of the parent company's and the group' equity, consolidation requirements, liquidity and position in general.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the company's organization and the administration of the company's affairs. This includes among other things continuous assessment of the company's and the group's financial situation and ensuring that the company´s organization is designed so that the accounting, management of assets and the company's financial affairs otherwise are controlled in a reassuring manner. The Managing Director shall manage the ongoing administration according to the Board of Directors' guidelines and
instructions and among other matters take measures that are necessary to fulfill the company's accounting in accordance with law and handle the management of assets in a reassuring manner.
Our objective concerning the audit of the administration, and thereby our opinion about discharge from liability, is to obtain audit evidence to assess with a reasonable degree of assurance whether any member of the Board of Directors or the Managing Director in any material respect:
Our objective concerning the audit of the proposed appropriations of the company's profit or loss, and thereby our opinion about this, is to assess with reasonable degree of assurance whether the proposal is in accordance with the Companies Act.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden will always detect actions or omissions that can give rise to liability to the company, or that the proposed appropriations of the company's profit or loss are not in accordance with the Companies Act.
A further description of our responsibility for the audit of the administration is available on Revisorsinspektionen's website: www.revisorsinspektionen.se/revisornsansvar. This description is part of the auditor's report.
Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB, 113 97 Stockholm, was appointed auditor of BTS Group AB (publ) by the general meeting of the shareholders on May 15, 2019 and has been the company's auditor since the February 22, 1999.
Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Authorized Public Accountant
The Sustainability Report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Chapters 6 and 7 of the Swedish Annual Accounts Act and encompasses the BTS Group in its entirety. BTS Board of Directors is responsible for this Sustainability report.
BTS is a global professional services company founded 1986 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with over 830 professionals in 35 offices located on six continents. BTS is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
BTS focus on the people side of strategy, working during strategy implementation with leaders at all levels to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions to actions and deliver results. At BTS core, the company believes people learn best by doing. For over 30 years, we've been designing fun, powerful experiences that have a profound and lasting impact on people and their careers. BTS inspire new ways of thinking, to build critical capabilities and unleash business success. It is strategy made personal.
In addition to helping clients and employees achieve success, BTS aim to contribute to a better society. BTS sustainability work comprises efforts to improve environmental, economic, and social responsibility. Sustainability efforts extend beyond social impact to include employees, clients, owners and members of the Board, suppliers and other stakeholders. "Employees" in this context includes cooperating partners and subcontractors.
BTS Sustainability Policy, vision and values form the basis for our sustainability work and positive social impact.
BTS employees are characterized by strong business ethics, observing generally accepted business customs and practices. Every assignment that BTS undertake aligns to these standards. If the company believes that it cannot implement an assignment or fulfill a customer requirement, the assignment will not be accepted.
Employees cannot accept payments from third parties who might influence, or be perceived to influence, objectivity when making business decisions. Potential risks include partnerships that require the purchase of material or services from vendors, clients' expectation to be compensated for attending client events, and the benefits BTS sales organization offers when a client is evaluating suppliers. The processes followed by local leadership and management ensure that these risks are eliminated. BTS has not had any reported cases of corruption during the year.
Linking decisions to outcomes is a prerequisite for long-term, sustainable success for BTS clients. BTS customized programs expose BTS clients' people to various situations where they explore the trade-offs between short- and long-term gains, which include environmental and safety impact. These engaging and effective programs create a lasting impact by inspiring new ways of thinking and strengthening critical capabilities. Leaders and employees also gain a better understanding of the importance of developing sustainable business practices to ensure long-term success.
BTS has also been engaged to support the implementation of clients' sustainability strategies, e.g. including an innovation project replacing plastics with more sustainable (recyclable) material.
People make the difference: Within all enterprises, people create value. Attracting talent, as well as developing and retaining high-performing employees is critical for us to deliver favorable results and achieve long-term success. This is especially important in the professional services industry where the quality of employees has a direct positive correlation with customer satisfaction and profitability. As a result, BTS offers many benefits and maintains a sound company culture to ensure that the company remains an attractive employer.
Today's labor market is significantly more mobile than ever before. Employees are more focused on individual development, demanding better support, training, and a good work environment. As a result, employers must make a strong effort to attract and retain the right people. The company's global recruitment process helps match BTS business expectations with employee expectations, so that potential new hires understand how the company works as a company and how the company support BTS clients.
One of the greatest risks in business today is overworking employees, pushing themselves over the limit. Through BTS global planning teams and strong local leadership, this risk is reduced by acting early when BTS sees patterns of excess working hours beginning to develop.
The nature of BTS work can influence the work-life balance as many assignments require travel, sometimes to other regions. To reduce this risk, projects are planned so that more resources can be used locally, rather than flying personnel from one continent to another, and BTS also schedule projects more carefully for individuals and offices.
To be an attractive employer, BTS leaders listen to their employees. Management conducts an employee survey every year to analyze the current attitudes of employees, the culture, the work environment, as well as development opportunities. From this information, leaders formulate action plans to ensure that BTS maintains engaged employees.
BTS believes it is fundamental that all employees – without discrimination are given the same opportunities for personal development and job satisfaction, enjoyment at work, and understanding of their role in the organization. BTS offers a workplace in a safe and healthy environment characterized by equality, pluralism and respect for the individual. BTS seeks continuous improvement and compliance with relevant legislation based on the following principles:
During 2019 BTS Code of Business Conduct was established and signed by all employees. A workshop piloted in Asia will be delivered across BTS business globally during 2020.
All employees have a personal responsibility for the practical application of these principles in their day-to-day activities and must report if they have an experience that contradicts these principles. Non-compliance with policy will not be tolerated and is acted on accordingly by senior local management. BTS has not had any reported cases of violation during the year.
For BTS long-term sustainability and dynamic operations gender balance is an issue with high priority for BTS and is considered in the recruitment and selection process. The percentage of women has increased and the share of female employees was 52,8 percent for 2019:

| Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 368 | 412 | 779 |
| 47.2% | 52.8% | 100% |
Over the last several years BTS has analyzed the gender mix among consultants. BTS realized that the gender balance was about equal at lower and mid-levels, but that there were very few women in the higher levels of consultants. One of the measures has been to offer more flexible working solutions.
Addressing low representation of women at leading positions the USC Marshall School of business has in partnership with BTS USA launched a unique program to accelerate women to executive levels.
During 2019 BTS offered each employee, on average, 11–12 hours of organized training and development in the following areas:
Additional training for specific job roles has been delivered where needed.
For people at pivotal levels of leadership BTS has mandatory development programs, supporting personal development and the company culture intact. These programs have been designed to make sure that leaders lead according to BTS values and ensure that the culture evolves sustainably.
During BTS two-week onboarding program, delivered twice during 2019, new employees are introduced to BTS vision, mission, and ways of working within the company's seven practices. They gain a better understanding of BTS responsibility to its clients, fellow employees, and the environment. Senior leaders deliver these onboarding programs, allowing them to connect with the new hires by listening and discussing.
At the director level, consultants' responsibilities increase, and they are tasked with leading and managing individuals and teams. At a one-week director boot camp Directors learn the new personal and leadership skills they need to be successful in developing a sound and sustainable business. Working with their peers, the new directors learn how coaching and employee development will help them to achieve this goal.
BTS' core values are designed to maintain the unique culture of respect and trust. They play a critical role in employee development, evaluating the yearly performance of leaders and employees, as well as in appraisal discussions at the end of the year.

At BTS a number of shifts and trends are analyzed, such as the number of consultants growing in their career roadmap and following the attrition rate among consultants at different levels. The number of consultants promoted to the next level in their career during 2019 was 86 (15% of all consultants).
BTS always follows the United Nation's declaration of human rights and does not see any risks in BTS operations violating those.

BTS supports the environment in two ways – by thinking about how the company can impact on the environment through daily work, and how BTS can support organizations working to improve the environment.
As a professional services organization without production or manufacturing functions, BTS environmental impact is mainly limited to keeping offices and doing business travel. Nevertheless, BTS works to actively minimize its environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable society by optimizing energy consumption and using environmentally friendly products and services.
In service of this, whenever possible, video-conferencing is increasingly used and other technology to connect virtually rather than physically travelling, and by helping BTS clients to do more digital conferencing. This, together with using regional and local resources, reduces travelling and reduces BTS carbon footprint.
An estimate of BTS flight footprint is somewhere around 21,000 ton emissions of carbon dioxide from flying to BTS client engagements around the world (based on the average yearly travel of 550 consultants in a regional and intercontinental flight mix). A way of offsetting BTS flight footprint is through investments in preserving the rain forests (please see the section below "Reducing carbon emissions".
BTS also focuses on recycling consumable supplies used in the business. In addition, operations at BTS comply with the principles of efficient resource usage (optimized use of non-renewable resources) and adopt an eco-cycle approach (recycling of resources).
Due to the nature of the business, the company has decided not to set specific environmental targets for indicators such as energy consumption, water consumption, hazardous
waste, and non-hazardous waste since these are not material factors of sustainability for us.
In BTS ambition to become carbon negative BTS have, since 2010, invested to protect BTS planet's most endangered species and the threatened forests they rely on by supporting the Rainforest Trust*), which helps protect endangered rainforest areas in South America, Asia, and Africa. BTS provide both funding to acquire acres of rainforest and digital engagement to support fundraising and generate awareness.
To support the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions BTS is driving a number of different initiatives:
Out of the activities mentioned above, it is BTS investments in the Rainforest Trust which have had the strongest impact.
Based on some rough assumptions BTS flight footprint is estimated at in emissions up to ~21,000 metric ton carbon dioxide per year (based on an estimate of 550 consultants with a regional and intercontinental flight mix).
The total impact of BTS direct investments and the SAVES Challenge program to date has contributed to preventing 34.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide being emitted, yearly.
*) Rainforest Trust purchases and protects the most threatened tropical forests, saving endangered wildlife through partnerships and community engagement.
Social responsibility is at the core of the BTS identity. In 2019, the company expanded the engagement so much that BTS outgrew the term "Corporate Social Responsibility." BTS strives to do more to create a lasting impact. By investing in people and societies across the globe to improve lives, BTS is working to create a better world. This is why BTS has branded earlier corporate social responsibility work under the name "BTS Social Impact".
Through stronger focus on creating impact, BTS provides skills training for entrepreneurs, underserved populations, students and teachers. The company equips education and nonprofit leaders to drive bigger impact in their work and thus invest in our planet for a sustainable future.
BTS partners with a number of important stakeholders to help them reach their target audiences. These include:
BTS Clients: BTS partners to support the clients' selected CSR efforts.
Educational Institutions: Together, we develop school leaders and administrators.
CSR Institutes: Together, BTS develops school leaders and administrators.
Non-Profit Organizations: BTS offers education programs that improve leadership.
Communities: BTS develops selected populations and increases citizens' quality of life.
Non-Profit Divisions of Banks: BTS develops small business owners who receive micro-finance loans.
For every paid client participant at a BTS program, another participant is offered free or highly subsidized learning. Thereby BTS supports training for entrepreneurs, students,

families in developing countries and underserved populations in developed countries.
Solutions include customized business simulations for entrepreneurs starting a business, managing a small agriculture business, and business simulations for families and students around household economy.
In 2019 BTS One-for-One programs reached an accumulated audience of 121,082 participants, with an increase of 24,000 participants in 2019.
BTS Spark – a non-profit organization – leverages strong coaching capabilities within BTS Coach to offer personalized leadership development for education leaders. BTS Spark works to unlock natural leadership learning in schools and education systems to give students the best start in life. BTS Spark offers flexible learning opportunities at a low cost, including one-to-one coaching, group coaching, webinars, online learning, and workshops. The three main areas BTS Spark works with are:
In 2019 BTS Spark reached an accumulated audience of 10,599 leaders in educational institutions, with an increase of 3,241 leaders in 2019.
Through a joint-venture with BTS 49% owned company Avocado Vision, BTS provides subsidized training for local communities through education programs for entrepreneurs, families, students, immigrants or other disadvantaged groups, primarily in South Africa. BTS programs are directed towards citizens, addressing various development initiatives such as housing, financial literacy, water sourcing, and energy. To make better decisions for "bigger lives".
In 2019 Avocado Vision reached an accumulated audience of 349,853 participants, with an increase of 24,808 participants in 2019.
BTS Spark reached more than 10,000 education leaders in 2019 BTS Spark is dedicated to leveraging BTS' strong coaching
capabilities to offer personalized leadership development for school leaders. 2019 was a record year for BTS Spark, with coaching and workshop programs serving education directors, school principals and teachers in Australia, UK and US. Programs are typically customized to meet local needs; this year BTS major programs included training 400 tutors at Anglia Ruskin University (GB) in coaching skills, coaching 500 Australian literacy and numeracy teachers and supporting education directors to have powerful conversations with the school principals they line manage. Spark Partners attached to each BTS office in the US are active with local schools in championing a more personalized approach to school leadership development. BTS have also opened up access for schools to request 'ready to go' programs on demand, through BTS Spark's website and marketing activities – providing a much-needed service to the most isolated schools.
BTS has during 2019 been collaborating with the Spanish Red Cross program "Plan Empleo". The objective of the program is to increase access to the labor market for vulnerable groups at risk of social exclusion.
In order to accelerate participants' labor market insertion, BTS are currently working in 2 different areas:
Throughout the past 10 months, BTS was able to have a direct impact in the lives of these participants, helping them better understand key moments and behaviors when interacting with a customer. Examples of results:
Avocado Vision is engaged in a program for uMastandi, a real estate developing company, with a focus on the South African economy in building small businesses at the bottom of the pyramid. Avocado Vision supports the uMastandi programme by building business acumen and decision-making skills in prospective landlords through world class simulation technology from BTS. It's potential scalability and wide reach across both
urban and rural communities can Increase self-employment and – Create 1–3 services jobs per small rental business created.
To the annual meeting of the shareholders of BTS Group AB, Corp. Reg. No.: 556566-7119
The board of directors is responsible for the Sustainability Report for 2019 on pages 82–87 and that it has been prepared in accordance with the Swedish Annual Accounts Act.
BTS examination of the statutory Sustainability Report has been conducted in accordance with FAR's auditing standard RevR 12 – Auditor's report on statutory Sustainability Report. This means that BTS examination of the statutory Sustainability Report is different and substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and generally accepted auditing in Sweden. BTS believe that the examination provides us with a sufficient basis for BTS opinion.
A Sustainability Report has been prepared.
Stockholm, April 23, 2020 Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Magnus Thorling Authorized Public Accountant
BTS Group AB is a public limited liability company based in Stockholm, Sweden, and listed on NASDAQ Stockholm AB. Consequently the BTS Group's corporate governance is based on Swedish legislation and regulations such as the Companies Act, the set of rules for issuers on NASDAQ Stockholm, the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance (the Code) and the Company's own articles of association.
Since 2008, BTS Group follows the Code in all essential parts with few deviations. In 2019, the Code was applied with a deviation. For 2019, the company's auditors have not reviewed BTS's half-year or nine-month report.
The corporate bodies of BTS Group AB comprise the following: Annual General Meeting (AGM) – highest decision-making body
| Board of Directors | – has ultimate responsibility for |
|---|---|
| the Company's organization | |
| and management | |
| Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – has responsibility for | |
| day-to-day management | |
| Auditors | – audit the Board of Directors' and |
| CEO's management at the | |
| request of the shareholders/ | |
| Annual General Meeting. | |
The total number of shares outstanding is 19,318,292, consisting of 853,800 Class A and 18,464,492 Class B shares. Each Class A share entitles the holder to ten votes per share, each Class B one vote per share.
At December 31, 2019, BTS Group AB had 4,044 shareholders. The ten largest shareholders had total shareholdings corresponding to 80.3% of shares and 85.9% of votes. A list of the largest shareholders is found on page 43 in the Annual Report.
BTS's highest decision-making body is the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Notice of the AGM shall be published no earlier than six weeks and no later than four weeks before the AGM and shall appear in Post- och Inrikestidningar and Svenska Dagbladet. All shareholders entered in the share register on the record date who have notified the Company in time of their intention to participate in the AGM may do so. Shareholders unable to attend can be represented by proxy.
The AGM elects the Company's Board and the Chairman of the Board. The business of the AGM includes
The 2019 AGM was held on Wednesday, May 15, at the Company's offices in Stockholm. 28 shareholders attended, representing 75.5% of the number of shares outstanding and 82.5% of the votes. Decisions made included the following.
The nominating committee has the task of preparing and submitting proposals to the AGM concerning the following, when relevant.
A nominating committee for BTS Group AB was appointed on October 23, 2019. BTS's three largest shareholders in consultation with Reinhold Geijer, Chairman of the Board, appointed Anders Dahl (representing Henrik Ekelund), Erik Durhan (appointed by Nordea Funds), Stefan af Petersens (own holdings) and Reinhold Geijer to the committee. Anders Dahl was appointed chairman of the nominating committee.
Shareholders in BTS Group AB have been able to contact the nominating committee to propose candidates to the Board.
All of the nominating committee's candidates based on the above will be announced in the notice for the 2020 AGM. The nominating committee's statement supporting its proposal for the Board of Directors of BTS Group AB as well as the information about the candidates recruited by the committee will be published on BTS's web site when the proposal is announced.
The Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility for the Company's organization and management and is appointed by the shareholders at each AGM for the period from that AGM until the end of the next. BTS's Board decides on issues such as strategic direction, acquisitions, investments, financing, and Group-wide policies. BTS's Board shall also insure proper disclosure to BTS's various stakeholders.
The articles of association specify that BTS's Board shall consist of no fewer than three and no more than eight members. The AGM held on May 15, 2019, decided that for the period until the next AGM the Board would consist of six members and no deputy members.
Once each fiscal year, the work of the Board is assessed, either by the Board alone or with external assistance, providing a basis for the Board's procedures in the future.
The Board is deemed to comply with the NASDAQ Stockholm marketplace rules and the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance regarding requirements on independence of members of the Board in relation to the Company, Company management and large shareholders.
Information about the Board of Directors is to be found on pages 92–93 in the Annual Report.
In addition to legislation and recommendations, a written set of procedures adopted annually governs the work of the Board. The Board's set of procedures is intended to clarify and regulate the Board's tasks and how it works as well as the division of responsibilities among the Chairman, other Board members, and the CEO. According to these procedures, the Board shall normally hold a minimum of four ordinary meetings. At each of these meetings, the Board deals with issues of material significance to the Company. In addition, the Board receives reports from senior management about current business conditions in the Group's market segments.
Board meetings are held periodically in connection with the Company's financial reports, and otherwise as required. The Board deals with the year-end report and proposed appropriation of earnings in February, interim reports in April, August, and October–November, and the budget for the coming year in December. Occasionally, an issue is delegated to the Chairman of the Board and the CEO for joint deliberation. The Company's CFO serves as Board secretary. During the past year, ten meetings were held.
Every year the Board makes an evaluation of the work of the Board. The purpose of the evaluation is to get an opinion on the Board members' views on how the board work is conducted, and what measures can be taken to streamline the board work. The Nomination Committee has been informed of the content of the 2019 evaluation.
The Board evaluates the ongoing CEO's work by following the development of the business towards set goals as well as through an annual CEO's evaluation.
The AGM held on May 15, 2019, approved a total of SEK 1,370,000 in fees to be paid to those Board members who receive no salary from the Company or any of its subsidiaries, such that SEK 450,000 be paid to the Chairman and SEK 200,000 each to the members. The AGM also approved a total of SEK 120,000 in fees for work on Board committees.
The AGM also determined that auditors' fees will be paid based on approved invoices.
Members of the Board in the Parent Company have received compensation only in the form of Board fees and Committee fees, with the exception of the CEO who is not renumerated for the Board work. The Members of the Board are not included in any incentive programs for Group employees that are based on shares or share prices.
| Member Position Elected Committee work Independent |
attendence |
|---|---|
| Reinhold Geijer Chairman of the Board 2016 Yes |
10/10 |
| Mariana Burenstam Linder Member 2004 Yes |
9/10 |
| Henrik Ekelund Member 1986 No1 |
10/10 |
| Stefan Gardefjord Member 2003 Audit committe Yes |
10/10 |
| Dag Sehlin Member 2003 Audit committe2 Yes |
10/10 |
| Anna Söderblom Member 2017 Audit committe3 Yes |
10/10 |
1 Henrik Ekelund is the largest shareholder and is President and CEO of BTS Group. 2 Until the AGM 2019
3 From the AGM 2019
The compensation committee has the task of reviewing and recommending to the Board policies for compensation for the Company's senior executives, including performance-based payments and pension benefits. Issues concerning the CEO's terms of employment, compensation, and benefits are prepared by the compensation committee and decided by the Board. The duties of the compensation committee were performed during the year by the Board as a whole excluding the CEO.
The Board will propose policies for compensation and other terms of employment for the Company's senior executives for the approval of the AGM on May 14, 2020.
The Board has appointed an audit committee. The purpose of the committee is to facilitate and streamline the Board's work, strengthen internal control and facilitate communication between the Board and the auditors. The committee's tasks include, among other things, preparation of the Board's work on quality assurance of financial and operational reporting, monitoring the effectiveness of BTS's internal control and risk management and evaluation of the ongoing audit efforts. Furthermore, the audit committee shall establish guidelines for which services other than auditing the Company may purchase from the Company's auditors. The committee also has the task of giving its evaluation of the audit work to the nomination committee and to assist the nomination committee in preparing the nomination committee's proposal for the Annual General Meeting regarding the election of auditors and the size of the audit fees. The audit committee has two members and consists of Stefan Gardefjord (Chairman of the Committee) and Anna Söderblom who replaced Dag Sehlin at the 2019 Annual General Meeting. The company's CFO participates in all committee meetings and prepares questions. The audit committee held three meetings in 2019.
The auditors examine the management of the Company by the Board and CEO and the quality of the Company's accounts and they report the results of their audit to the shareholders through the audit report, which is submitted at the AGM. In addition, the auditor participates in the Board meeting when the financial accounts are presented and submits a report on the audit of the Company's earnings, financial position, and internal control. The Company's auditor may also submit a statement of his findings directly to the Chairman of the Board, if deemed necessary. The Board shall at least once a year, without the presence of the CEO or other members of management, meet the Company's auditor. During the year, the auditor participated in one board meeting, and on this occasion also reported the audit in writing.
The auditor is elected by the AGM for a period of one year. The 2019 AGM re-elected the registered public accounting firm Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers with Magnus Thorling as managing auditor for the period until the end of 2020 AGM.
More information about compensation to auditors is found in Note 4 of the annual report.
For 2019, the Company's auditors did not review BTS's semiannual report or the nine-month interim report, which deviates from the Code. The Board has so far determined that the company does not need further review, as the financial reporting is considered to be of high quality and that the internal control is deemed to be good and therefore the additional cost for such an audit cannot be justified. The Board continuously monitors the issue and, if it feels justified, will reconsider its decision.
BTS's senior executives include: Henrik Ekelund, President & CEO of BTS Group AB, and Stefan Brown, CFO and Vice President of BTS Group AB.
More information about senior executives is found on page 94 of the annual report which is published on BTS's website.
The AGM held on May 15, 2019, adopted policies for compensation to senior executives. These mean that BTS shall employ persons on terms and at salaries commensurate with the market to be able to recruit and retain employees with excellent skills and of a high caliber to reach the Company's goals. When employing persons in different countries, the Company shall comply with each country's generally accepted forms of employment and good practice.
Forms of compensation are intended to achieve a consensus on the long-term view of operations by rewarding performance that benefits the Company and thus the shareholders. Compensation paid to individual employees will be based on their position and tasks, performance, skills, and experience. Compensation will normally consist of a fixed basic salary and defined-contribution pension benefits, the latter no more than 35% of the fixed basic salary for the CEO of the Parent Company and no more than 30% of the fixed basic salary for other senior executives. When deemed appropriate, the basic salary and pension benefit can be augmented by variable compensation, other benefits, and participation in incentive programs. Only the CEO in the Parent Company is entitled to a severance package, corresponding to 12 months' salary if the Company terminates his employment contract.
The Board is entitled to deviate from the principles above in individual cases under special circumstances.
The overall goal of BTS's communication is to provide shareholders and employees, actors in the market, and other stakeholders with an up-to-date, true, and fair view of the Company and its business operations. Communication shall be correct, credible, characterized by good relevance to the Company's stakeholders, and based on on-going contacts, clarity, and good ethics. BTS believes that high-quality communication efforts actively help bolster confidence in the Company and the management, making it easier to achieve business objectives.
BTS publishes up-to-date information about the Company on its web site. Interim reports and annual reports are published in Swedish and English. Events that could be expected to affect the share price are announced in press releases. In addition, the Company communicates with mass media, capital markets,
and shareholders when interim reports are published and also participates in other activities on an ongoing basis.
Good corporate governance is about organization and routine in a good control environment, the proper handling of financial information, and minimizing risk. A good control environment is also based on an organizational structure with explicit and documented delegation of decision-making authority, straightforward policies and guidelines, and a corporate culture with good common values.
Internal control at BTS is based on a control environment embracing the organization, lines of decision-making, authority, and responsibility. The Board of Directors has a written set of procedures that clarifies the Board's responsibility and regulates how Board tasks are delegated. The set of procedures also specifies which issues are submitted to the Board for a decision. How roles are divided between the Board and the CEO is established in the Board's set of procedures and its instructions to the CEO. The Board and the CEO also manage the business with reference to the Companies Act, other laws and regulations, rules and regulations for stock market companies, and the Code, etc.
The Company has established policies in areas such as financial reporting, IT and IT security, human resources (compensation to senior executives), sustainability etc. The Board's instructions to the CEO specify financial responsibilities and authority, as do procedures adopted for signing off. To limit and control financial risk, the Board has adopted a financial policy.
The Company's operating organization is adopted and communicated through an organization chart augmented by the assignment of roles and responsibilities.
The Board of Directors follows up to insure that policies adopted for financial reporting and internal control are adhered to and maintains appropriate relationships with the Company's auditors. Company management is responsible for the system of internal controls required for managing significant risks in operating activities.
The Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility for risk management. A well-defined organization and decisionmaking procedure are intended to foster prudent risk taking and good awareness of risk among employees. To insure that internal routines and controls have worked adequately and uniformly, the most important processes have procedural descriptions. Built-in checkpoints also minimize the risk of errors in accounting. Likewise, procedures for the Company's accounting and consolidation systems have been documented. Ongoing activities aim at maintaining good internal control, thus avoiding and detecting risks.
Significant guidelines, manuals, and such that govern financial reporting are updated and communicated on an ongoing basis to personnel affected in the Group. Formal as well as informal channels to Company management and the Board exist to transmit significant information from employees. For external communication, the Company follows the governing regulations discussed above.
The Board of Directors continuously evaluates the information provided by Company management. The work of the Board includes insuring that actions are taken concerning any deficiencies or proposals for corrective action arising from external audits.
BTS has no internal audit unit of its own, based on the assessment that there are no special circumstances in operating activities according to Group size, organization and reporting structure or other conditions to justify such a unit. The follow-up performed by the Board and management is considered to meet the need.
To the general meeting of shareholders in BTS Group AB (publ), corporate identity number 556566-7119
It is the Board of Directors who is responsible for the corporate governance statement for the financial year 2019 found on pages 88–91 and that it has been prepared in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act.
Our examination has been conducted in accordance with FAR's auditing standard RevU 16 The auditor's examination of the corporate governance statement. This means that our examination of the corporate governance statement is different and substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. We believe that the examination has provided us with a sufficient basis for our opinions.
A corporate governance statement has been prepared. Disclosures in accordance with chapter 6, section 6, second paragraph, points 2–6 of the Annual Accounts Act and chapter 7, section 31, second paragraph of the same law are consistent with the annual accounts and the consolidated accounts and are in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act.
Stockholm, April 23, 2020 Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB
Magnus Thorling Authorized Public Accountant



Born 1953.
Chairman of the Board of directors of BTS Group AB since 2016.
Other assignments: Board member of Skandia, The Swedish Export Credit Corporation, Eterna Invest, Zacco A/S and Edsbyn Senab AB.
Shareholdings in BTS Group AB: 10 000 class B shares.
Reinhold Geijer was CEO of The Royal Bank of Scotland´s Nordic branch 2003–2015, and also CEO of Nordisk Renting AB 2001– 2015. He has also served as CFO of Telia, CEO of Foreningssparbanken (now Swedbank), worked within Ericsson, SSAB Swedish Steel and Weyerhaeuser Company in the United States. Reinhold Geijer graduated in business administration at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Independent of the Company and its major shareholders.
Born 1957.
Member of the Board of BTS Group AB since 2004.
Other assignments: Member of the board of Latour AB and Resurs Holding AB, CEO of ProactiveMedicine AB.
Shareholdings in BTS Group AB: 22,100 Class B shares.
Mariana Burenstam Linder has extensive experience from management positions in several Swedish companies. Former positions include founder and CEO of Burenstam & Partners, CEO of Ainax, Head of Enskilda Banken with global responsibility for Private Banking, deputy CEO of SEB, CIO of Trygg-Hansa and later the SEB group, CEO of ABB Financial Consulting and CEO of Nordic Management AB. Mariana Burenstam Linder graduated in business administration at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Independent of the Company and its major shareholders.
Born 1958.
Member of the Board of BTS Group AB since 2003.
President and CEO of Swedish Space Corporation.
Other assignments: Member of the board of Knowit AB.
Shareholdings in BTS Group AB: 20,000 Class B shares.
Stefan Gardefjord has been CEO of Logica Sverige AB and member of the executive management of Logica. He has since 1987 held several senior positions in the WM-data group, including CEO of different subsidiaries, business area head, and group director of marketing, sales, and information. Stefan Gardefjord graduated upper secondary school in business.
Independent of the Company and its major shareholders.



Born 1945.
Member of the Board of BTS Group AB since 2003, Chairman of the Board 2003– 2008.
Shareholdings in BTS Group AB: 16,000 Class B shares.
Dag Sehlin has long-term experience in senior positions in the Swedish financial sector. Previous positions include CFO and deputy CEO of Posten AB, deputy CEO of the OM Group, and prior to that various positions in accounting and finance at several Swedish companies. He also has long-term experience from work as an independent consultant and member of the board of various listed companies and other enterprises. Dag Sehlin graduated in business administration at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Independent of the Company and its major shareholders.
Born 1963.
Member of the Board of BTS Group AB since 2017.
Teacher and researcher at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Other assignments: Chairwoman of Advenica AB and member of the board of directors of Poolia AB, Almi Företagspartner AB, Länsförsäkringar Liv Försäkringsaktiebolag, Midway Holding AB and Cabonline Holding AB.
Shareholdings in BTS Group AB: 500 class B shares.
Anna Söderblom has earlier among other things been operational as the head of technical support and marketing director at Microsoft Nordic, marketing director at Sweden Post, Letter Division, and investment manager at Industrifonden. Anna Söderblom has a university degree in mathematics from Lund University and a PhD in business administration from Stockholm School of Economics.
Independent of the Company and its major shareholders.
Born 1955.
President and CEO of BTS Group AB.
Shareholdings in BTS Group AB (including companies): 816,000 Class A shares, 3,189,034 Class B shares, totally 4,005,034 shares.
Henrik Ekelund is the founder of BTS and has been its CEO since its inception in 1986. Henrik Ekelund has comprehensive experience as a board member and owner of high-growth enterprises. Henrik Ekelund graduated in business administration at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Not independent of the Company or its major shareholders.
Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB. Managing Auditor: Magnus Thorling, Authorized Public Accountant.
The above information on shareholdings was correct at December 31, 2019.

Henrik Ekelund Born 1955. Global Partner. Founder, President and CEO of BTS Group AB. See Board of Directors on the preceding page for more information.

Jessica Parisi Born 1977. Global Partner. Executive Vice President, President and CEO of BTS North America. Employee of BTS since 1999.

David Ackley Born 1969. Global Partner. Executive Vice President, Global Head of BTS Digital Services. Employee of BTS since 1996.

Stefan Brown Born 1963. CFO and Executive Vice President of BTS Group AB. Employee of BTS since 1990.

Joel Sigrist Born 1972. Global Partner. Executive Vice President, President and CEO of BTS Europe. Employee of BTS since 2003.

Philios Andreou Born 1967. Global Partner. Executive Vice President, President and CEO of BTS Other markets. Employee of BTS since 2003.

Rommin Adl Born 1964. Global Partner. Executive Vice President. Employee of BTS since 1994.

Todd Ehrlich Born 1968. Global Partner. Executive Vice President, Global Head of Development Process and COO BTS North America. Employee of BTS since 1995.

Patrick Fei Born 1974. Global Partner. Executive Vice President. Employee of BTS since 2000.

Stefan Hellberg Born 1957. Global Partner. Executive Vice President. Employee of BTS since 1986.

Dan Parisi Born 1968. Global Partner. Executive Vice President. Employee of BTS since 1995.

Lou Schachter Born 1964. Global Partner. Executive Vice President and Global Head of the BTS Sales Practice. Employee of BTS since 2006.

Steve Toomey Born 1963. Global Partner. Executive Vice President Employee of BTS since 1995.

Marta Zaragoza Born 1971. Global Partner. Executive Vice President. Employee of BTS since 2006.

Peter Mulford Born 1968. Global Partner. Executive Vice President, Head of Innovation Practice. Employee of BTS since 1997.

Fredrik Schuller Born 1978. Global Partner. Executive Vice President. Employee of BTS since 2004.
Advantage Performance Group Inc.

Jonathan Hodge Born 1972. President and CEO of APG. Employee of BTS since 2006.
Shareholders in BTS Group AB (publ) are invited to the AGM on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 14.00 p.m. at the Company's premises, Grevgatan 34, 5th floor, Stockholm.
Shareholders wishing to participate must be entered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than Friday May 8, 2020, and must have notified BTS Group AB no later than Friday May 8, 2020.
Shareholders may notify the Company by phone at +46 8 58 70 70 00, fax +46 8 58 70 70 01, or e-mail at [email protected].
The notification should include the shareholder's name, personal identification number or corporate identification number, address, phone number, and the number of shares held.
To participate in the AGM, shareholders who have registered their shares under the name of a trustee must temporarily register them with Euroclear Sweden AB under their own name. Any such re-registration request should be made well in advance of Friday May 8, 2020.
Shareholders can exercise their right to vote at the AGM by voting in advance, by so called postal vote according to 3 § the law (2020:198) of temporary exceptions to facilitate AGMs.
A special form must be used when voting in advance, the form is available on the company's website (www.bts.com). Shareholders that exercise their right to vote by voting in advance do not need to notify BTS Group AB separately, their completed form acts as notification. The completed form must be with BTS Group AB no later than Friday May 8, 2020, and should be sent to BTS Group AB, Grevgatan 34, SE-114 53 Stockholm, or electronically via e-mail to [email protected]. If the shareholder is a legal entity, the certificate of registration or other authorization documents must be attached. This also applies if the shareholder votes in advance by proxy. Shareholders may not include any instructions or terms when voting in advance, any such votes will not be valid. Further instructions and conditions can be found on the form.
Due to the continued spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), special measures are put in place to limit the number of persons attending the AGM. Only a limited number of the board of directors' members will attend. Persons who are not shareholders, shareholders power of attorney or shareholders proxies will not be allowed to attend the AGM. No refreshments or food will be served.
BTS Group encourage shareholders to vote in advance to further limit the number of persons attending the AGM, thus contributing to reducing the risk of spreading the coronavirus (Covid-19).
The Board of Directors proposes, with amendment of the dividend proposal published in the 2019 year-end report, and in light of the general uncertainty and concern caused by the global spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), and to ensure the company has a continued good financial preparedness and liquidity, that no dividend is to be paid for the 2019 financial year.
However, the Board of Directors intends to, once it has greater clarity on earnings in 2020, revisit this topic and if required call for another AGM during the autumn 2020 to decide on dividend payments for the 2019 financial year.
| Interim reports: | |
|---|---|
| January–March M | ay 14, 2020 |
| April–June | August 18, 2020 |
| July–September | November 11, 2020 |
| Year-end report | February 2021 |
The above reports can be ordered from BTS Group AB, Grevgatan 34, SE-114 53 Stockholm, phone +46 8 58 70 70 00 or e-mail [email protected]. Financial information from BTS Group AB is also published on www.bts.com.
BTS Group AB, BTS Group AB (publ), BTS, the Company BTS Group AB with or without the Group's subsidiaries (unless otherwise indicated by the context).
Every care has been taken in the translation of this Annual Report. In the event of discrepancies, however, the Swedish original will supersede the English translation.


Production: BTS Group AB. Images used under license from Shutterstock and employees of BTS Group. Printer: Exakta, Sweden, April 2020.
Head Office Grevgatan 34 114 53 Stockholm SWEDEN Tel. 08 58 70 70 00
Reconquista 657 PB 3 CP1003 CABA. Buenos Aires Tel. +54 1157955721
198 Harbour Esplanade, Suite 404 Docklands VIC 3008 Tel. +61 3 9670 9850
Level 6 10 Barrack St Sydney NSW 2000 Tel. +61 02 8243 0900
Rua Geraldo Flausino Gomes, 85, cj 42 04575-060 São Paulo – SP Tel. +55 (11) 5505 2070
SwissVBS 460 Richmond Street West Suite 700 Toronto, ON M5V 1Y1 Tel. +1 416 848 3744
1376 West Nanjing Road Suite 531, East Office Tower Shanghai Centre Shanghai 200040 Tel. +86 21 6289 8688
Office 203 Prisma Business Center San Jose Tel: +506 22 88 48 19
57 Rue de Seine 75006 Paris Tel. +33 1 40 15 07 43
Ritterstraße 12 D-50668 Cologne Tel +49 221 270 70 763
Vatika Business Center Divyashree Chambers, 2nd Floor, Wing A O'Shaugnessy Road, Langford Town Bangalore 560025 Tel. +91 80 4291 1111 Ext 116
801, 8th Floor, DHL Park Opposite MTNL, Staff quarters, S.V. Road, Goregaon (West). Mumbai - 400062 Maharashtra, Tel. +91 22 6196 6800
Viale Fulvio Testi 223 20162 Milan Tel. +39 02 6611 6364
BTS Design Innovation Viale Abruzzi, 13 20131 Milan Tel. +39 02 69015719
TS Kojimachi Bldg. 3F 6-4-6 Kojimachi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 102-0083 Tel. +81 (3) 6272 9973
Edificio Torre Moliere Calle Moliere 13 – PH Col Chapultepec Polanco C.P. 11560 México, D.F. Tel. +52 (55) 52 81 69 72
Barbara Strozzilaan 201 1083 HN Amsterdam Tel: + 31 (0)20 615 15 14
1 Finlayson Green Suite 16-01 Singapore 049246 Tel. +65 6304 3032
Simon Bolivar 27-1, Office No. 4 Bilbao 48013 Tel. +34 94 423 5594
Calle José Abascal 55, piso 3ºDcha 28003 Madrid Tel. +34 91 417 5327
267 West Avenue, 1st Floor Centurion 0046, Gauteng Tel. +27 12 663 6909
Room 103, 1st Floor Wonseo Building 13, Changdeokgung 1-gil Jongnogu Seoul 03058 Tel. +82 2 539 7676
SwissVBS Winkelriedstrasse 35 9000 St. Gallen Tel: +41 71 845 5936
7 F, No. 307, Dun-Hua, North Road Taipei 105 Tel. +886 2 8712 3665
128/27 Phyathai Plaza Building (4th Floor) Phyathai Rd. Kwaeng Thung Phyathai Khet Ratchathewi Bangkok 10400 Tel. +66 2 216 5974
1 Queen Caroline Street London W6 9YN Tel: +44 20 7368 4180
Holbrook Court, Cumberland Business Centre, Hampshire, PO5 1DS Portsmouth Tel: +44 2393 162686
10th Floor, Swiss Tower Jumeirah Lakes Towers Dubai Tel. +971 4 279 8341
Frost Bank Building 401 Congress Avenue Suite 2740 Austin, Texas 78701 Tel. +1 512 474 1416
200 South Wacker Drive Suite 925 Chicago, IL 60606 Tel. +1 312 509 4750
101 West Elm Street Suite 310 Conshohocken, PA 19428 Tel. (toll free) +1 800 445 7089 Tel. +1 484 391 2900
350 Fifth Avenue Suite 5020 New York, NY 10118 Tel. +1 646 378 3730
4742 North 24th Street Suite 120 Phoenix, AZ 85016 Tel. +1 480 948 2777
222 Kearny Street Suite 1000 San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel. +1 415 362 4200
100 Smith Ranch Road, Suite 306 San Rafael, CA 94903 USA Tel. +1 800 494 6646

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