Egmont International Holding
A Danish media group with major businesses in publishing, film, television, entertainment, and digital media.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Egmont International Holding A/S, commonly known as the Egmont Group, is a Copenhagen-based Danish media corporation whose roots lie in printing and magazine publishing. Founded in 1878 by Egmont Harald Petersen, the company began as a small printing business established under the name P. Petersen, Printers. Petersen was initially too young to register the business in his own name, so it was named after his mother. The company developed rapidly into a publisher and adopted the name Gutenberghus in 1914, a title it retained until 1992. Egmont's publishing history was shaped by licensed and locally produced popular content. A major turning point came in 1948, when editor Dan Folke secured rights from Walt Disney Productions to publish Disney comic magazines in Scandinavia. The company launched localized Donald Duck titles in Sweden and Norway in 1948 and Denmark in 1949. These publications became an important foundation for Egmont's children's and comics activities and later supported international expansion into markets beyond Scandinavia. The group broadened its publishing portfolio through acquisitions. Its 1963 purchase of Danish publisher Aschehoug brought Egmont into books, while later transactions expanded its children's publishing, magazine, and international operations. In 1992 it acquired Nordisk Film, creating a major platform for film and television production, distribution, and related entertainment activities. The company also became involved in television through the Norwegian TV 2 venture, which it co-founded in 1991 and later acquired outright in 2012. During the 1990s and 2000s, Egmont expanded across Europe and other regions through businesses such as Semic Press, the children's catalogue acquired from Reed Elsevier, and the Junior.Publishing venture formed with EM.TV & Merchandising. Egmont ultimately took full control of that joint venture and renamed it Egmont Publishing. Its media portfolio has included magazines, comics, books, educational materials, activity products, films, television programs, cinemas, interactive games, music, and digital media. The company has also reshaped its portfolio through divestments and internal consolidation. In 2002, Egmont merged its entertainment distribution activities into Nordisk Film and closed the Egmont Imagination international animation production arm. In 2014 it acquired Forma Publishing Group. In 2015 it closed its American publishing division, and in 2020 it sold Egmont Books UK, Egmont Poland, and Schneiderbuch Germany to HarperCollins. The former UK book operation subsequently became Farshore under HarperCollins. Egmont currently operates through businesses including Story House Egmont, Nordisk Film, and TV 2 Group, with publishing and entertainment operations extending across numerous countries. Its publishing activities remain particularly prominent in children's books, comics, magazines, licensed products, and digital content. The Egmont Foundation, established through the founder's testamentary arrangements, is an important part of the group's identity and supports social, cultural, scientific, and health-related projects, especially those benefiting children and young people. Egmont is therefore both a commercial media group and a foundation-controlled institution whose profits help sustain philanthropic work.
History
Egmont's origins date to 1878, when Egmont Harald Petersen established a one-person printing business in Copenhagen. Because Petersen was not yet old enough to register a company under his own name, the business initially used a name associated with his mother. Printing gradually led to periodical publishing, and in 1914 the enterprise became Gutenberghus, referencing Johannes Gutenberg and the history of movable-type printing. The company entered a decisive new phase after the Second World War. In 1948, editor Dan Folke obtained permission from Walt Disney Productions to publish Disney comics in Scandinavia. Localized Donald Duck magazines appeared in Sweden and Norway that year and in Denmark in 1949. The Disney relationship gave Gutenberghus a strong position in children's publishing and helped establish a platform for future licensing and international distribution. Egmont diversified into books in 1963 through the acquisition of Aschehoug. From the late 1980s, it used its Disney connections and publishing infrastructure to expand beyond Scandinavia, including work connected with Eastern European and Chinese markets. In 1991, the group co-founded Norway's TV 2. It acquired Nordisk Film in 1992, making film and television a central component of the business, and changed its corporate name from Gutenberghus to Egmont in the same year. Further expansion followed during the 1990s. Egmont acquired Semic Press in 1997 and purchased a substantial children's publishing catalogue from Reed Elsevier in 1998. That catalogue included businesses and imprints associated with Dean & Son, World Distributors, and children's divisions of Heinemann, Methuen, Hamlyn, and Mammoth. In the United Kingdom, Egmont also acquired the Fleetway arm of IPC Media in 1991 and combined it with London Editions, becoming a major comics publisher. Much of the original Fleetway portfolio was subsequently sold or discontinued, leaving a concentration on reprints and licensed titles. In 1999, Egmont and EM.TV & Merchandising created Junior.Publishing as a joint venture for children's publishing connected with EM.TV productions. Egmont acquired the remaining interest in 2001 when EM.TV exited publishing, and the company became Egmont Publishing. The following year, Egmont reorganized its entertainment structure by merging Egmont Entertainment into Nordisk Film and closing Egmont Imagination's international animation production operation. In 2003, Telescreen and its parent Palm Plus Multimedia acquired rights to much of the Egmont Imagination catalogue outside the Nordic region. Egmont continued to adjust its portfolio in the 2000s and 2010s. In 2008 it bought the minority interest in magazine publisher Hjemmet Mortensen that it did not already own. It acquired Forma Publishing Group in 2014 and closed its American publishing division in 2015. In 2016, the IPC/Fleetway library was sold to Rebellion Developments, which already owned 2000 AD. In 2020, HarperCollins acquired Egmont Books UK, Egmont Poland, and Schneiderbuch Germany; the UK book operation was subsequently rebranded Farshore. The modern Egmont Group combines publishing, film and television, entertainment, and digital activities. Its principal businesses include Story House Egmont, Nordisk Film, and TV 2 Group. The group operates across a broad international network, publishes in more than 30 countries, and maintains a strong focus on children's and family content. Alongside its commercial operations, the Egmont Foundation supports social, cultural, scientific, and health initiatives. The foundation's charitable role reflects provisions originating in Petersen's will and has made support for children and young people a lasting part of the group's institutional identity.
- 2020
Three publishing businesses sold to HarperCollins
[1]HarperCollins acquired Egmont Books UK, Egmont Poland, and Schneiderbuch Germany.
- 2016
IPC/Fleetway library sold to Rebellion
[1]Rebellion Developments acquired the library of IPC/Fleetway material from Egmont.
- 2015
American publishing division closed
[1]Egmont discontinued its American publishing operation.
- 2014
Forma Publishing Group acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Egmont's publishing portfolio.
- 2012
TV 2 Norway acquired outright
[1]Egmont completed its move from co-founder to full owner of the Norwegian television group.
- 2008
Hjemmet Mortensen fully acquired
[1]Egmont purchased the minority interest in Hjemmet Mortensen that it did not already hold.
- 2001
Egmont took full control of Junior.Publishing
[1]After EM.TV exited publishing, Egmont acquired the remaining stake and renamed the business Egmont Publishing.
- 1999
Junior.Publishing joint venture established
[1]Egmont and EM.TV formed a children's publishing joint venture.
- 1998
Children's publishing catalogue acquired from Reed Elsevier
[1]Egmont acquired several children's publishing businesses and catalogues from Reed Elsevier.
- 1997
Semic Press acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened Egmont's magazine and comics publishing presence.
Products and positioning
A foundation-owned, internationally active media group combining mass-market publishing with film, television, entertainment, and digital businesses. Egmont has a particularly strong position in children's and family content, licensed publishing, comics, and Nordic media.
Comics and licensed publishing · 1948
Disney comic magazines
Egmont's localized Disney comic magazines were among its defining products. Beginning in Scandinavia in 1948, these publications adapted Disney characters and stories for national markets, including the well-known Donald Duck editions in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The titles helped establish Egmont as a major children's publisher and supported later licensing activity in additional territories.
Book publishing · 1963
Children's books
Egmont's children's publishing has included fiction, picture books, classics, novelty formats, annuals, activity books, and educational reading materials. Its catalogue has combined original authors and illustrators with licensed characters and established literary properties. The business has operated through local publishing companies and imprints across several European markets.
Magazine publishing
Children's and family magazines
Egmont publishes and has published magazines aimed at children and families, covering licensed entertainment, comics, games, activities, and youth interests. Examples identified in reference material include Toxic, Thomas & Friends, Disney Princess, Frozen, Minecraft, and Go Girl. The portfolio varies by country and licensing arrangement.
Film and television entertainment · 1992
Nordisk Film
Acquired in 1992, Nordisk Film is Egmont's principal film and television entertainment platform. It has been used for production, distribution, and related entertainment activities, including the consolidation of Egmont's former entertainment distribution operations and selected animation assets.
Television · 1991
TV 2 Group
Egmont co-founded Norway's TV 2 in 1991 and became its outright owner in 2012. The television business forms part of Egmont's broader media portfolio alongside publishing and film operations.
Brand decisions
2020
Sell three publishing businesses to HarperCollinsM&ABackground
Egmont continued to refine its international publishing portfolio and focus on selected media activities.
Action taken
The group sold Egmont Books UK, Egmont Poland, and Schneiderbuch Germany to HarperCollins.
Aftermath
The former UK books business was renamed Farshore in 2021 under HarperCollins.
2012
Acquire TV 2 Norway outrightM&ABackground
Egmont had participated in the establishment of TV 2 and later increased its ownership.
Action taken
The group acquired the remaining interests and became the outright owner of TV 2.
Aftermath
Television became an even more significant component of Egmont's Nordic media portfolio.
2002
Consolidate entertainment under Nordisk FilmStrategyBackground
Egmont reorganized its entertainment businesses to simplify responsibility for film and television activities.
Action taken
Egmont Entertainment was merged into Nordisk Film, while Egmont Imagination's international animation production arm was closed.
Aftermath
Nordisk Film became the group's principal film and television production and distribution platform; parts of the animation catalogue were later sold outside the Nordic region.
2001
Take full ownership of Junior.PublishingM&ABackground
EM.TV decided to leave publishing and concentrate on its core entertainment activities.
Action taken
Egmont acquired EM.TV's remaining 50 percent interest in the children's publishing joint venture and renamed it Egmont Publishing.
Aftermath
Egmont gained complete control of the children's publishing operation and its associated catalogue.
1992
Acquire Nordisk FilmM&ABackground
Egmont was expanding beyond its traditional magazine and book publishing base into mass media and entertainment.
Action taken
The group acquired Nordisk Film and made film and television a major business area.
Aftermath
Nordisk Film became the core of Egmont's film and television activities and later absorbed Egmont Entertainment's distribution operations.
Sources2 sources
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