12.11.2014 – 17:56

Highlight Communications AG

DGAP-News: Highlight Group remains on growth track (news with additional features)

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): 9-month
figures/9-month figures
Highlight Group remains on growth track (news with additional
features)

12.11.2014 / 17:53

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  - Consolidated sales up by 19.2% to CHF 312.2 million

  - Consolidated net profit for the period improved by 51.5% to CHF 10.3
    million

  - Forecast for net profit in fiscal year 2014 raised

Due to the positive operating development in the Film segment, in
particular in the areas of home entertainment and TV exploitation,
Highlight Group has already outperformed all relevant 2013 comparative
figures in the first nine months of this year. For 2014 as a whole, the
Group is now expecting a consolidated net profit attributable to
shareholders of CHF 12 million to CHF 14 million instead of CHF 9 million
to CHF 11 million.

Group development in the first nine months of 2014

  - Consolidated sales rose to CHF 312.2 million and were thus up by 19.2%
    on the figure for the  first nine months of the previous year (CHF
    262.0 million). The increase is mainly attributable to the Film
    segment.

  - EBIT improved by CHF 12.0 million or 164.4% to CHF 19.3 million
    (previous year's period:  CHF 7.3 million).

  - Consolidated net profit for the period increased by 51.5% to CHF 10.3
    million (previous year's period: CHF 6.8 million). CHF 9.6 million of
    this profit is attributable to Highlight shareholders (previous year's
    period: CHF 6.1 million), corresponding to a rise in earnings per share
    of 61.5%  to CHF 0.21 (previous year's period: CHF 0.13).

  - Net debt was reduced by CHF 48.8 million to CHF 58.9 million
    (December 31, 2013: CHF 107.7 million).

Targets for fiscal year 2014

The Highlight Group has raised its forecast for consolidated net profit
attributable to shareholders in fiscal year 2014 to CHF 12 million to CHF
14 million (instead of CHF 9 million to CHF 11 million), corresponding to
earnings per share of CHF 0.27 to CHF 0.31. The Highlight Group continues
to anticipate consolidated sales in a range of CHF 380 million to CHF 410
million in fiscal year 2014.

The German interim report as of September 30, 2014 will be available for
download at www.highlight-communications.ch starting from today, and the
English version from November 17, 2014.





Highlight Group at a glance
Group figures according to IFRS

in CHF million                   Jan. 1 to  Sep.  Jan. 1 to  Sep.    Change
                                        30, 2014         30, 2013      in %
Sales                                      312.2            262.0      19.2
EBIT                                        19.3              7.3     164.4
Net profit (net of tax)                     10.3              6.8      51.5
Net profit attributable to                   9.6              6.1      57.4
shareholders
Earnings per share (in CHF)                 0.21             0.13      61.5
Segment sales
Film                                       272.4            222.7      22.3
Sports- and Event-Marketing                 37.1             36.5       1.6
Other Business Activities                    2.7              2.8      -3.6
Segment result
Film                                         9.3              0.1        --
Sports- and Event-Marketing                 15.7             13.7      14.6
Other Business Activities                   -1.7             -2.1      19.1
in CHF million                     Sep. 30, 2014    Dec. 31, 2013    Change
                                                                       in %
Balance sheet total                        381.8            443.3     -13.9
Equity (including non-                     101.1            107.2      -5.7
controlling interests)
Equity ratio (%)                            26.5             24.2    2.3 p.
Current financial liabilities              106.1            152.0     -30.2
Cash and cash equivalents                   47.2             44.3       6.6
Net debt                                    58.9            107.7     -45.3






+++++
Additional features:

Document: http://n.equitystory.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=UJAGRNOBYB
Document title: Highlight Group remains on growth track

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12.11.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Language:    English
Company:     Highlight Communications AG
             Netzibodenstrasse 23b
             4133 Pratteln
             Switzerland
Phone:       +41 61 816 96 96
Fax:         +41 61 816 67 67
E-mail:       ir@hlcom.ch
Internet: www.hlcom.ch
ISIN:        CH0006539198
WKN:         920299
Listed:      Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
             Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,
             München, Stuttgart


End of News    DGAP News-Service
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296796 12.11.2014