Grupa Agora (Agora Group) has conducted operations on the Polish media market since 1989, with complementary media businesses sharing Agora brands and values. Agora S.A. has been listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange since 1999. The company’s main business are:

As at 31 December 2019, the capital group consisted of 23 consolidated companies, four co-subsidiaries and one unconsolidated and not reported under equity method.

The list of companies within the Group - % of shares held (effectively)

The condensed interim consolidated financial statements of the Agora Group for 2019 includes: Agora S.A. and 23 subsidiaries, which operate principally in the internet, cinema, radio, gastronomy and outdoor segments.
Additionally, as at 31 December 2019 the Group held shares in jointly controlled entity Instytut Badan Outdooru IBO Sp. z o.o., as well as in associated companies Hash.fm Sp. z o.o, ROI Hunter a.s. and Eurozet Sp. z o.o.

Source: consolidated financial statements according to IFRS, 4Q2019. 

(1) particular sales positions, apart from ticket and concession sales in cinemas and printing services, include sales of Publishing House division and film activities (functioning within the Movies and Books segment);

(2) includes costs of restructuring (including group lay-offs) in Print segment and in Agora’s support divisions in the first quarter of 2019; in 2018 includes costs related to group lay-offs executed in Print segment in the first quarter of 2018 and costs of restructuring in Magazines division in the 2Q of 2018;

(3) the line item includes the gain achieved by Agora S.A. on sale of properties located in Gdansk and Warsaw in the 1Q of 2018;

(4) the amount includes an impairment allowance for receivables from Ruch S.A., which are covered under the accelerated arrangement procedure (a.a.p.);

(5) the amounts include impairment losses on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets; in 2019 impairment losses relate mainly to intangible assets of Goldenline, in 2018 imparirment losses relate mainly to Goldenline domain and the monthly Ladny Dom;

(6) the amount of the operating result – EBIT, EBITDA and net loss excluding impact of International Financial Reporting Standard no. 16 Leases;

(7) relates to gain on sale of shares in Stopklatka S.A. in the 2Q of 2018.;

(8) remeasurement of equity interest at the acquisition date is related to the acquisition of HRlink Sp. z o.o. (formerly: Online Technologies HR Sp. z o.o.) in the third quarter of 2019;

(9) relates to revaluation of put option liabilities granted to non-controlling shareholders of Helios S.A. and Goldenline Sp. z o.o. Detailed information on revaluation of put option liabilities are presented in note 35 of consolidated financial statements;

(10) the performance measure “EBITDA” is defined as EBIT increased by depreciation and amortization and impairment losses of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. Detailed information on definitions of financial ratios are presented in the Notes to part IV of this MD&A.

Selected subsidiaries in the Agora Group [non-consolidated data]

THE NEW STRATEGY OF THE AGORA GROUP FOR THE YEARS 2018-2022

The primary objective of the Company's Management Board is to accelerate the development and increase the scale of operations of the Agora Group. The new strategy of the Agora Group for the years 2018-2022 is based on the following pillars:

In February 2019, the Company acquired 40% of shares in Eurozet Sp. z o.o., the second largest Polish broadcaster in terms of radio coverage. In October 2019, Agora applied to the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection for consent to acquire the remaining 60% of shares in Eurozet. This transaction may change the Agora Group's position on the radio broadcasters' market and may affect the verification of the Group's investment plans in non-media businesses. At the same time, it is worth noting that this potential transaction does not change the key objectives and strategic goals of the Agora Group. Acceleration of growth and increase in the scale of the Agora Group's activities remains the most important goal, which will be reflected in increased revenue and profitability of the Group.

Taking into account the application for the consent of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection for the acquisition of 60% of shares in Eurozet Sp. z o.o. and the investments already made in the area of Internet and digital outdoor activities, the Company will engage in a smaller number of new investment projects by 2022.

The cinemas remain the priority development direction of the Agora Group in the area of entertainment in the broad sense. To date, the Company has not been able to find other projects in this area that would provide the Group with an equally satisfactory rate of return, whilst offering good development prospects.

The food business developed within the Helios Group by Foodio Concepts Sp. z o.o. and Step Inside Sp. z o.o. completed the first stage of its operation. At the end of 2019, the first company operated as many as 14 restaurants. The goal for the coming year is to improve their financial efficiency. The second concept – developed under the Pasibus brand name – had 6 operating restaurants at the end of last year. At the beginning of 2020, an investment agreement was signed, which will ensure faster development of this promising burger chain.

Another important directions of development in the strategic perspective of the Agora Group until 2022 are digitalization and further development of premium services and products. We are still looking for assets that would complement or strengthen our portfolio in these areas. Examples of such investments include Piano Group Sp. z o.o., the owner of the Move TV platform. With this investment, AMS has taken another step in building its digital media and services offer and strengthened its position in the promising DOOH area.

An example of measures related to the expansion of significant projects of the Group by innovative products or premium services is the continued dynamic development of Yieldbird, the leader in the ad-tech industry, related to the introduction of a product sold in the SaaS (software as a service) model to its offer. Yieldbird has so far achieved global success with its business and continues to grow in foreign markets.

We have also made investments in the B2B solutions segment. In June 2019, we acquired further shares in ROI Hunter, a Czech company, and we hold a 23.9% stake in this entity. ROI Hunter is a provider of a marketing platform which allows companies from the e-commerce industry to promote and sell products via Google and Facebook. In September, we also became the majority shareholder of HR Link Sp. z o.o., one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe.

The sale of high-quality content in the subscription model remains an important direction of Agora's development. During the current strategic perspective, the Group wants to triple the average number of subscriptions of Gazeta Wyborcza and podcasts of Radio TOK FM, as well as ensure improved monetization of this business model. Ultimately in the year 2022, half of the revenues of Gazeta Wyborcza is to be generated from digital sources and its profitability is expected to improve regularly. The Company is working steadily to achieve this objective. At the end of 2019, the number of digital subscriptions of Gazeta Wyborcza reached a record level of nearly 218 thousand and the share of digital revenues of Gazeta Wyborcza in total revenue of the daily increased to 24.0%. The number of sold subscriptions of Radio TOK FM podcasts has also increased – at the end of December 2019, it reached 20 thousand.

NEXT FILM, a brand of Helios Group, operating on the market of film distribution and production. In 2019, NF launched nine titles and the total audience of NEXT FILM films reached just under 4.9 million, and grew by over 308 percent (compared to 1.2 million in 2018).

Titles released by NEXT FILM in 2019

Source: BoxOffice.pl

FILMY RELEASED IN CINEMAS BY NEXT FILM IN 2019:

• January 2019 saw the premiere of Underdog – a film filled with sports emotions, inspired by a true story of an MMA fighter, with Eryk Lubos, Mamed Khalidov and Aleksandra Popławska in the main roles. The title had the best opening in the history of Polish cinema according to Boxoffice.pl. NEXT FILM was one of the producers of the picture.
• Also in January NEXT FILM released Miszmasz czyli Kogel Mogel 3 – third film in a cult comedic series. The film was watched by almost 2.4 million viewers around Poland.
• November saw the premiere of Całe szczęście, a romantic comedy produced by TVN S.A.
• In May cinemagoers were introduced to Słodki koniec dnia (Dolce Fine Giornata) with Krystyna Janda in the main role. The film was appreciated at Sundance and OFF Camera festivals.
• In August NEXT FILM invited viewers to watch Na bank się uda directed by Szymon Jakubowski – a crime comedy with vivid characters and witty dialogues, featuring, among others Maciej Stuhr, Marian Dziędziel, Adam Ferency and Lech Dyblik.
• Piłsudski directed by Michał Rosa (distributed by NF) was the title released in the middle of September. The film features Borys Szyc in the title role, and a host of excellent actors in supporting roles.
• In October 2019 NEXT FILM introduced to the cinemas across Poland a film by Maciej Pieprzyca entitled Ikar. Legenda Mietka Kosza. A story of the legendary Polish jazz musician, a rebel, outsider, a blind genius of the piano. Winner of Silver Lions at the Festival of Polish Cinema in Gdynia, the picture features Dawid Ogrodnik, Justyna Wasilewska, Piotr Adamczyk, Jowita Budnik. NEXT FILM was a co-producer of the film.
• In early November cinemagoers could see The Coldest Game by Łukasz Kośmicki. The latest production of Watchout Studio, in collaboration with NEXT FILM, features international and Polish stars: Bill Pullman, Robert Więckiewicz, Lotte Verbeek, James Bloor and Alexey Serebryakov. The Coldest Game is a mix of spy thriller with political fiction, produced by acclaimed creators, including Allan Starski in charge of production design and Paweł Edelman, director of photography.
• In late November cinemagoers were introduced to Kult. Film – a unique documentary, presenting unpublished footage from the life of the legendary Polish band Kult and its frontman Kazik Staszewski.

Since November 2019 NEXT FILM has cooperated with Netflix, which resulted in the platform placing a number of titles co-produced and distributed by NEXT FILM in their catalogue, among others Pokot directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, published in September. This partnership has complemented NEXT FILM’s the range of distribution channels.

AWARDS FOR FILMS DISTRIBUTED BY NEXT FILM

Titles distributed by NEXT FILM won nine out of 18 awards at the 2019 Festival of Polish Cinema in Gdynia. Ikar. Legenda Mietka Kosza, a new film by Maciej Pieprzyca, won six distinctions, including Silver Lions. Two awards were collected by the creators of The Coldest Game, and Magdalena Boczarska was awarded for the best performance in a leading female role in Piłsudski.

WYDAWNICTWO AGORA (AGORA’S PUBLISHING HOUSE) specializes in non-fiction, although it also publishes historical books, how-to manuals, interviews, guidebooks, a broad range of audiobooks and classics (collections by Stanisław Lem, Marek Hłasko or Ryszard Kapuściński). Among the authors published by Agora are Hanna Krall, Jackek Hugo-Bader, Magdalena Grzebałkowska, Prof. Jerzy Bralczyk and Prof. Jan Miodek, Mariusz Szczygieł, Adam Wajrak, Witold Szabłowski, Michał Rusinek, Joanna Fabicka, Grzegorz Kasdepke.

Records in a variety of musical genres represent an important part of the portfolio. Agora releases pop, rock, hip-hop, indie or jazz. Agora Muzyka produces concerts that are recorded and released on DVDs, supports new artists, promotes good music and important artistic initiatives. Appreciated by critics and listeners, many of Agora’s music releases reached gold or platinum status. Most are also sold on vinyls. Agora publishing house also releases DVDs and Blu-rays of films co-produced or distributed by NEXT FILM, that regularly land on bestseller lists.

Artists of Agora Publishing House won 20 nominations in 12 categories in Popular Music and Jazz, of Fryderyk 2019, announced in January 2020 by Polish Phonographic Academy, including Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop, Alternative and in composer categories. Among the best performing artists were: Król, who was nominated in as many as four categories, and Muniek Staszczyk, with three nominations. 

Błażej Król also holds Polityka Passport 2019 in the category Popular Music.

Among the best-selling titles published by Agora Publishing House in 2019 were: Kolejne 365 dni by Blanka Lipińska, Michelle Obama’s memoirs Becoming. Moja historia, Sodoma. Hipokryzja i władza w Watykanie by Frédéric Martel, Szczerze by Donald Tusk and the biography Czapkins. Historia Tomka Mackiewicza. All these titles for weeks occupied the top of bestseller list of Empik, Poland’s largest book retailer. Other highly popular titles were also Piekło mnie nie chciało - a biography of Krzysztof Wielicki, the legend of Polish Himalayan mountaineering, as well as a unique volume of memoirs of Kora, beautifully designed and edited by Kamil Sipowicz Miłość zaczyna się od miłości.

Meanwhile fans of music often bought the latest albums by Pro8L3M, Fisz Emade and Kwiat Jabłoni – Poland’s debut of the year, in the opinion of music reviewers. Agora also released a critically acclaimed solo album of Muniek Staszczyk Syn miasta, the second album Młynarski-Masecki Jazz Band Płyta z zadrą w sercu, and the music productions of very popular Polish artists MTV Unplugged Kasia Kowalska and Reset by De Mono.

Agora also published books and records related to the films distributed by NEXT FILM, including Ikar. Legenda Mietka Kosza by the director of the film of the same title and a record by Leszek Możdżer with the soundtrack from the film, as well as a spy story The Coldest Game by Piotr Głuchowski, Łukasz Kośmicki and Marcel Sawicki, as well as Kamerdyner, the film.

Wydawnictwo Agora (Agora’s Publishing House) was also a publisher and distributor of the Polish version of WARSAW a strategic computer game set in occupied Warsaw during Warsaw Rising. The game premiered on 2 October 2019 – on the 75th anniversary of the fall of Warsaw Rising’s.

POCZYTAWSZY PODCAST

In October 2019 Agora was the first Polish publisher to launch a podcast with information about the latest book releases. Hosts of Poczytawszy talk about books, passions, creative process and life in general – with authors, protagonists and other creators. Podcasts also include sounds from the worlds described by guests and unpublished recordings from the lives of the books’ characters. Episodes of Poczytawszy, released every two weeks are available free on the website of the publishing house and Poland’s major podcast platforms.

NAGRODY DLA WYDAWNICTWA AGORA

Blanka Lipińska, whose book Kolejne 365 dni was published by Wydawnictwo Agora (Agora’s Publishing House), was among the winners Empik Bestseller 2019.
Five other titles published or distributed by Wydawnictwo Agora (Agora’s Publishing House) found their way to the list of nominations to the Empik Bestseller 2019 list along with the winning book by Blanka Lipińska: Audiobook Becoming. My Story by - Michelle Obama, soundtrack from Ikar. Legenda Mietka Kosza composed by Leszek Możdżer, Nieumiarkowania - record of Błażej Król, in Discovery of 2019 category, and films inspired by books published by Agora: Kamerdyner (The Butler) dir. Filip Bajor, in Drama category, and The Coldest Game dir. Piotr Głuchowski, Łukasz Kośmicki and Marcel Sawicki in Discovery of 2019.

Other prestigious awards received by Wydawnictwo Agora (Agora’s Publishing House) for their 2019 releases include Polityka Historical Prize 2019 for Jacek - biography of Jacek Kuroń by Anna Bikont and Helena Łuczywo; Polityka Passport for Błażej Król for the record Nieumiarkowana and​ Teresa Torańska Award of Newsweek Poland in for the biography Kieślowski. Zbliżenie by Katarzyna Surmiak-Domańska.

Online book stores of Agora are:

• Publio.pl – over 31 thousand e-books, ca. 3.5 thousand audiobooks and 350 press titles,
• Kulturalnysklep.pl – over 1 thousand books, publications, albums, films, press titles, posters.

PUBLIO.PL is Agora’s e-book store, with over 35 thousand e-books and audiobooks in their portfolio as well as hundreds of press titles from Poland’s best publishers. Publio offers readers fiction and non-fiction bestsellers, titles by publishers specializing in science, education and how-to books. Press lovers can choose from an array of leading titles such as Gazeta Wyborcza, Polityka, Zwierciadło, Wysokie Obcasy Extra and many others.

KULTURALNYSKLEP.PL is an online store selling the books published by Wydawnictwo Agora (Agora’s Publishing House), CDs and winyls with music by popular artists, films on DVD and Blu-ray, Gazeta Wyborcza supplements, and AMS posters. It also offers current, archival and special issues of a wide range of press and magazine titles, including Wysokie Obcasy Extra, Avanti, Logo.

Kulturalnysklep.pl offers users a rich choice of book bestsellers, music and cinema hits of Agora Group at attractive prices.

PUBLIO.PL AT BOOK FAIRS

In 2019 Publio.pl invited readers to attend International Book Fairs in Cracow and Warsaw and offered them attractions and special offers both on location and on the website of Publio.pl. As previously during the event, Publio.pl invited readers to join Książka za książkę (Book for Book). In return for five printed books, readers were offered a discount coupon for a free e-book or audiobook from a list of titles compiled for the project, plus an eco-bag. All collected books were donated to public libraries in Małopolskie and National Library. In May 2019 Publio.pl celebrated its seventh anniversary.

Helios group has a growing catering arm. As of the end of 2019, the group operated 20 restaurants, including 14 belonging to Foodio Concepts (12 - Papa Diego, 2 - Van Dog chains) and six to Step Inside (Pasibus).

PAPA DIEGO is the first brand created by Foodio Concepts – a entity established jointly by Helios, member of Agora Group, operator of Poland’s largest cinema chain, and their business partners. Papa Diego offers its guests everything that is tasty and attractive in Mexican cuisine - distinctive and fresh foods, full of aromatic herbs and natural spices. Those who are hungry for experience can taste in Papa Diego classic Mexican dishes such as tacos and burritos, nachos and sweet churros.

VAN DOG is a brand for the lovers of street food who look for original and surprising taste experience who are offered dishes such as gourmet Van Dog and Van Fries served in a multitude of surprising styles, as well as crazy, colourful freak shakes.

PAPA DIEGO/VAN DOG RESTAURANTS OPERATING AS OF THE END OF 2019

INVESTMENT IN PASIBUS BURGER CHAIN

In March 2019 Helios signed a letter of intent for forming a collaboration with the owners of Food for Nation, owner of Pasibus chain of burger restaurants. In April Helios secured the permit from the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection to launch the venture. As a result, starting from May 2019, Helios and Pasibus started launching new restaurants together. Ma saw the opening of the second Pasibus, and the first one opened in partnership with Helios, in Galeria Młociny. Further plans include opening several dozen of Pasibus restaurants.

⁵ October 2019, ZKDP (National Circulation Audit Office). Total paid distribution equals number of printed copies and digital issues sold, printed and digital subscriptions and other paid forms of distribution of content, printed and digital.

Agora publishes magazines and manages the websites of a number of titles covering a wide range of subjects, including lifestyle and shopping. Attractive editorial content, high quality photos and multimedia materials available online enjoy high popularity among readers and internet users. In 2019 press operations of Agora were conducted under the umbrella of Gazeta Wyborcza. Its team publishes also the magazines of Agora: Avanti – Poland’s first shopping magazine) and Logo – Poland’s only shopping and lifestyle monthly for men.

AVANTI is not only a colour magazine for lovers of fashion and shopping, for spending fun time and finding out about latest trends. It is also a stylist, a friend, who will help, advice and inspire. Avanti offers latest shopping reviews, reports from fashion shows, prices and tests – anything that helps you to make the best choices and feel special. Avanti is second most popular magazine for women.

LOGO has always been a reader’s friend, one that will show things as they are instead of painting an idealized, unreal picture of luxury. It offers commentary on the life around us in a variety of journalistic formats. New elements are – expanded and intriguing articles, ‘let’s talk about food’ column, more commentary and reflection, expanded automotive column and revised fashion section, as well as distinctive cover photo sessions.

In 2019 Agora decided to discontinue releasing printed magazines: Opiekun – quarterly magazine for people who are long-term caregivers and Kuchnia - exclusive magazine on the art of cooking and good eating. Meanwhile, Agora is developing digital versions of the titles.

Agora organizes a number of entertaining music, entertainment and educational events, in 2019: Cojestgrane24 Festival Warszawa, Olsztyn Green Festival, Białystok NewPop Festival, Kobiety Wiedzą (Women Know), Wysokie Obcasy Extra Live, Kino Letnie (Summer Cinema).

OLSZTYN GREEN FESTIVAL

Sixth Olsztyn Green Festival was held in 15-17 August 2019. Organized annually, the three-day event attracts fans of Poland’s best popular music and ecology on the municipal beach in Olsztyn, in the picturesque setting of Ukiel lake.
Performers included Ørganek, Paulina Przybysz, Łąki Łan, Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet, Nosowska and The Dumplings. Besides the concerts, participants could enjoy a host of other attractions promoting ecology and healthy lifestyle.
In the eco zone they could take part in recycling workshops during which they created new objects from reclaimed materials. Educational programme for children included learning how to use plastic bags for games and how to be more eco.
Accompanying programme included cinema programmes Co jest Grane 24 and Against Gravity, with 13 films on musical and ecological themes.

CO JEST GRANE FESTIVAL

The team of Co Jest Grane 24 organized the fourth summer city festival in Ujazdowski Centre for Modern Art in Warsaw. Held on 14 and 15 June 2019, the festival included performances of the best Polish artists, screenings in Festival Cinema, workshops for children and food-truck zone.

Two stages hosted 16 Polish soloists and bands: Lao Che, Daria Zawiałow, Waglewski Fisz Emade, O.S.T.R., Tęskno, Baranovski, Rasmentalism, Paweł Domagała, EABS, Mela Koteluk, Ralph Kaminski, Łąki Łan, Mery Spolsky, Novika, Mazolewski/Porter and Smolik/Kev Fox.

The two-day event opened with the finals of The Grand Test of Rock Classics organized by Rock Radio, with actors, musicians, athletes and journalists, as well as listeners of Rock Radio, competing for a main prize to be donated to a selected charity. Co Jest Grane 24 Stage hosted Roma Musical Theatre with a performance of the most popular tunes from musical theatre.

Participants of the event could also attend meet-and-greets with artists who signed their albums, watch music films in Festival Cinema, enjoy attractions for teens and children.

BIAŁYSTOK NEW POP FESTIVAL

Ørganek, Daria Zawiałow, Kortez, Fisz Emade Tworzywo, Łąki Łan, Mery Spolsky, Miouch, Rasmentalism, Sonbird, Otsochodzi and Anita Lipnicka – these are performers in the second edition of Białystok New Pop Festival, urban festival of culture organized by Agora. The two-day event was held over the weekend 13-14 July 2019 on the courtyard of Branicki Palace in Białystok.

The programme of Białystok Festival included concerts of Poland’s top alternative scene artists, meet-and-greets, workshops, active chillout zones and attractions for children - board and dexterity games, creative crafts and thinking workshops, Misja Robotyka (Mission Robotics) and group reading. Adults could visit the fashion zone with original products and fashion brands.

GOŁDAP FESTIVAL NA ZDROWIE KULTURA

On 1 June 2019, graduation towers spa in Gołdap hosted Gołdap Festival. Na zdrowie kultura. The main theme of the event was health and admission the family picnic style one-day event was free. The musical star of the festival was Izabela Trojanowska. Audience could also hear concerts by Reni Jusis and Bovska.

For the time of the event, organizers offered the youngest participants a host of attractions from ALE Foundation of Alternative Education as well as Pawujciowy EKO-Teatrzyk, mini theatre performances on the themes of ecology, environmental protection and healthy lifestyle. Short interactive eco-themed stories with participants acting both as performers and eco costume and prop designers. Other attractions included puppet theatre and pupped and set building with the use of various techniques and materials, as well as dance games.

Active zone offered yoga and fit dance for healthy spine. Meanwhile, in the health zone participants could talk to doctors and physical therapists, and in the food area taste regional dishes, meats and cheeses, local produce and festival dishes served by food trucks. More information: www.goldapfestival.pl.

WARSAW KONESER FESTIVAL

In 2019 Koneser Centre in Warsaw Praga hosted the second Warsaw Koneser Festival. Admission to the events was free and concerts were organized by Koneser Centre. The lineup included: Ørganek, Nosowskia, Skubas, Sabiny and Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet Komeda, L.U.C & Rebel Babel Ensemble, The Dumplings, Fisz Emade Tworzywo.

The event had an ecological dimension. AMS donated filtering water bottles to all artists and members of technical crew, thus encouraging them to drink filtered tap water throughout the two-day, which resulted in saving 1000 plastic bottles.

#BĘDZIECZYTANE EŁK FESTIWAL

#będzieczytane Ełk Festiwal is an event promoting literature, readership and music. The second event hosted by Ełk Culture Centre featured Polish artists on Women’s Voices concert tour and writers Szymon Hołownia, Krzysztof Wielicki and Marcin Popkiewicz.

Music performances by Edyta Bartosiewicz, Paulina Przybysz, Mela Koteluk, Ania Rusowicz and Julia Pietrucha were a part of Women’s Voices concert tour organized by Wysokie Obcasy, featuring women singers. In Ełk the theme of the concert was Women for the Planet – highlighting ecological, social, political and economic challenges of the contemporary world.

Festival audiences could also meet writers, guests of Michał Olszewski - Szymon Hołownia – journalist, commentator and author of books on theological themes, Krzysztof Wielicki – Polish mountaineer, author of Korona Himalajów 14 x 8000, co-author of Mount Everest biznesu and Rozmowy o Evereście; and Marcin Popkiewicz – scientist, journalist focusing on ecological issues, author of articles on energy revolution, climate: Rewolucja energetyczna. Ale po co? and co-author of Świat na rozdrożu, Nauka o klimacie and Polski węgiel. Organizers also prepared attractions for children.

In 2019 a pivotal change took place in the print operations of Agora Group. In the light of negative market trends and in response to the shrinking volume of orders from clients, in particular for coldest print jobs, Agora Group decided to reduce this business by closing down two of the group’s three printing plants, ant to reduce employment in the segment through collective redundancies. From the third quarter of 2019 optimized printing operations of Agora Group, conducted in Warsaw printing plant, has been part of Agora Group’s Newspapers business segment.

New technology companies of Agora Group:

• Yieldbird – specializes in optimizing the sales of programmatic advertising. The company continues to expand its scope of operations and develop innovative services, currently finalizing the tests of a new SaaS product to be launched in January 2019. In 2019 Yieldbird continued expanding their global presence, through signing clients in the US, Denmark, Ireland and Serbia, as well as by partnering up with Brazilian and Swedish companies. Yieldbird also joined IAB Europe – a leading organization of European digital advertising industry. Member of Agora Group specializing in optimisation of advertising specializing in optimizing publishers’ advertising assets is the second Polish member of the organization.

• HRlink – is a developer of an online application Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to be offered to employers and recruitment agencies in the SaaS model. HRlink.pl is a tool for effective recruitment, automatic multiposting of recruitment ads and easy management of candidates base.
  In September 2019 Agora acquired a majority stake in HRlink Sp. z o.o., thus strengthening our position in recruitment services and B2B industry. Agora has held shares in HRlink sp. z o.o. since 2012.

• ROI Hunter – is a supplier of marketing platform for e-commerce companies for promotion and sale of their products via Google and Facebook, with advanced campaign creation and data analyses tools. In June 2019, following an investment agreement, Agora purchased another batch of shares in ROI Hunter and currently holds 23.9 percent stake in the company. ROI Hunter has been expanding their services for marketers. The first office responsible for Europe sales was opened in London in 2019. Additionally, the company started a collaboration with one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the United States, and introduced a new instrument - Creative Factory enables users to easily create video ads for publishing on facebook and Instagram.

• GoldenLine – is an operator of one of Poland’s largest recruitment services. Currently the platform as over three million users and more than 80 thousand employer profiles.

• Domiporta – company integrating all segments of the housing market on one digital platform. It connects buyers and owners of real estate, developers, tenants, agency services, banks financing the purchase of a flat and entities providing design and finishing services. In 2019 the company reached a two-digit growth in the number of users, successfully introduced mechanisms to ensure high quality of traffic on the website and launched initiatives towards the integration of the industry community.

AWARDS OF THE BRANDS OF AGORA

Yieldbird was listed among the most dynamically growing technological companies in EMEA for the second time. Member of Agora Group, the brand climbed to the 159th place in the prestigious Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA. Yieldbird has consistently expanded their portfolio of services and range, reaching new groups of clients.

HRlink, a member of Agora Group, develops innovative digital solutions for online recruitment. It returned to the list of 50 fastest-growing technological businesses in Central Europe according to Deloitte. HRlink is the only operator that offers ATS that offers ATS service the only company among finalists. HRlink continues to develop their products for optimization and automatization of recruitment processes. For over seven years the company has perfected a state-of-the-art online application Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to be offered to employers and recruitment agencies in the SaaS model.

Consolidated Financial Statements of Agora Group according to MSSF 4Q2019

In 2019 total number of tickets sold according to Boxoffice.pl reached 61.7 million, which represents a 3.3 percent growth from 2018. The upward trend on the cinema market has not been interrupted since 2013 when cinemas sold 36.3 million tickets. In the following years the figure reached 40.5 million (2014), 44.7 million (2015), 52.0 million (2016), 56.6 million (2017) and 59.7 million in 2018. With 1.4 billion cinemagoers, the same tendency is observed throughout Europe. In the European Union alone, cinema viewership reached over 1 billion. Compared to 2018 audiences grew by o 4.5 percent. Source: The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC).

In 2019 distribution of paid dailies decreased on average by 10.3 percent. The largest drops were recorded in the segment of regional dailies.

Average monthly distribution of paid national dailies in 2019:

Source: ZKDP (National Circulation Audit Office). Distribution of paid national dailies – total sales of printed, digital, subscription, digital subscription and other paid forms of printed or digital formats of the titles.

Total sales in the three outdoor advertising segments (traditional OOH, transit and DOOH) was estimated at 574.5 million zł and was higher by 5.1 percent than in 2018 (data from Polish Outdoor Advertising Chamber of Commerce and STARCOM (Publicis Media)).

Total number of internet users in Poland in December 2019 stood at 27.7 million, with 22.9 million users of personal computers and laptops (at home and at work) and 23.4 million of mobile devices users (smartphones and tablets). In total, they made 56.8 billion site visits, and an average length of time spent in the web reached nearly 1 hour 37 min. per day.

Top 10 publishers - owners of internet websites and programmes the most popular among internet users – all devices

Source: Results of Gemius/PBI survey for December 2019. Sample size: N= 204618. Respondents aged 7-75. Internet users structure data from surveys NetTrack Kantar MillwardBrown 3Q2019, and Maluchy 2018

72 percent of the inhabitants of Poland, the population of roughly 21.7 million listened daily to the radio in 2019. The size of audience on weekdays reached 22.3 million (74 percent). Compared to the previous year, the audience remained roughly the same. We listen to the radio the most at work – 6 hours 32 min, which is longer by 8 minutes than a year earlier. For the first time in history, inside of a car emerged as the place where Poles are the most likely to listen to the radio (12.5 million listeners, on average two times more than in 2003).

Source: Radio Track, KANTAR, wave: I-XII 2019; I-XII 2018, all quarters

• Yieldbird in the ranking of Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)
• Online Technologies HR (HRlink.pl) in the ranking of Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe
• Yieldbird in Gazela Biznesu 2019 ranking

• Gazeta Wyborcza tops the ranking of Poland’s strongest brands Top Brand 2019
• Gazeta Wyborcza awarded for supporting the sector of modern services
• Europe Talks, project co-organized by Gazeta Wyborcza wins the Jean Monnet Prize 2019

• Tomasz Jagiełło named Professional of the Year
• Katarzyna Borkowska among the most influential women of the cinema industry
• Papa Diego wins SCF Retailers Award for F&B debut of the year
• Helios Café in Blue City wins Sweets & Coffee Award 2019
• Marcin Czubak of Helios wins CineEurope Gold Award
• Helios and Papa Diego win PRCH Retail Awards

• TOK FM campaign on Google Assistant platform wins Mixx Awards 2019

• AMS wins Silver INNOVATION 2019 for Zielone przystanki (Green shelters)

• Agora wins CSR Silver Leaf of Polityka
• School with Class in 30×30 Ranking – CSR projects of the last 30 Years

• Grzegorz Sroczyński wins Bolesław Prus award for his work to date
• Patryk Ogorzałek from Gazeta Wyborcza Rzeszów recognized for his work
• Paweł Wilkowicz from Sport.pl receives DEMES 2018 statue
• Sławomir Kamiński awarded for photo of the year in Grand Press Photo 2019
• Michał Olszewski from Gazeta Wyborcza Kraków among the winners of Małopolskie Journalist Awards
• Agnieszka Burton wins Maciej Płażyński Award
• Marcin Pietraszewski from Gazeta Wyborcza Katowice wins Silesia Press 2019
• Ewa Wołkanowska-Kołodziej awarded for a series of texts in Gazeta Wyborcza
• Małgorzata Bujara and Bożena Aksamit of Gazeta Wyborcza winners of Obywatel Dziennikarz (Citizen Journalist)
• Adam Michnik awarded by University of Ostrava
• Bartosz Józefiak wins third place in Uzależnienia XXI wieku (21st Century Addictions) contest
• Adam Wajrak receives Andrzej Wajda Award
• Adam Wajrak wins Polish PEN Club award
• Ewa Podolska and Anna Gmiterek - Zabłocka named Medical Journalists of 2019
• Grand Press 2019 - winner Bożena Aksamit for her reportage about priest Jankowski

• Jacek wins Historical Prize of Polityka 2019
• Author of Nela i Artur. Koncert intymny Rubinsteinów (Nela and Artur. receives Gryfia 2018 Literary Award
• Gotuję z Lewiatanem book wins special mention of Pearl Impact Awards 2019
• Magdalena Grochowska wins Warsaw Literary Premiere for W czasach szaleństwa
• Anne Applebaum receives the state order from President of Ukraine
• Kieślowski. Zbliżenie – a book published by Wydawnictwo Agora nominated the best book by Newsweek Polska
• Platinum record for Młynarski-Masecki Jazz Camerata Varsoviensis for Fogg - pieśniarz Warszawy
• Błażej Król wins Polityka Passport 2019
• Władcy Polski. Historia na nowo opowiedziana nominated the best historical book of 2019
• book by Blanka Lipińska tops Empik Bestseller 2019 list in Fiction category
• Kamerdyner wins two Eagles
• Słodki koniec dnia wins OFF Camera 2019 competition
• Special awards for Krystyna Janda on Sundance for Dolce Fine Giornata
• Films distributed by NEXT FILM win prizes at 44th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia
• 3 awards of Polish Film Awards: Eagle for films distributed by NEXT FILM

• The last issue of Twój Weekend wins Grand Prix in category Glass, Titanium Lion and three bronze statuettes Cannes Lions festiva
• The Last Twój Weekend wins Grand Prix Gerety Awards
• WAN-IFRA for the last issue of Twój Weekend
• The last Twój Weekend wins Golden Drum 2019
• The last Twój Weekend awarded at London International Awards Festival
• KTR prizes for the project The Last Twój Weekend; Golden Drum 2019 Portoroż: Grand Prix Print 2 silvers: Content i Social Good; London International Awards: Native Advertising and Business-to-Consumer, Finnalist at Direct Marketing-Consumer
• D&AD Impact: Graphite Pencil in Campaign / Equality and Diversity
• Epica Awards: Gold Public Interest - Gender Equity

And: 2 Silver MIRAZYRAZY Awards and 1 brown MIRAZYRAZY Awards; 1 Athena Ad Awards; 1 Silver Jay Chiat; 1 Adweek’s 2019 Media Plan of the Year; 2 WPPed Cream Awards; 2 M&M Global Awards