13.08.2013 – 17:57

Highlight Communications AG

DGAP-News: Q2 2013: Highlight Group in line with planning after six months

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Half Year
Results
Q2 2013: Highlight Group in line with planning after six months

13.08.2013 / 17:55

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- Consolidated sales of CHF 156.4 million slightly below the level of the
first half of 2012, as expected
- Consolidated net profit at CHF 4.4 million


Pratteln, August 13, 2013

In the first half of 2013, the Highlight Group generated sales and earnings
in line with the expectations for the current year.

The Film segment generated external sales of CHF 130.7 million, up 9.8% as
against the first half of 2012 (CHF 119.0 million). Sales in the first half
of 2013 were marked by the theatrical hits 'The Famous Five 2', 'Ostwind'
and 'Scary Movie 5', strong sales figures in home entertainment
exploitation, and a stable positive development in the TV service
production business area. Segment expenses rose by 19.1% to CHF 188.6
million, particularly due to the considerably higher cost of materials and
licenses in connection with productions. Segment earnings for the first
half of the year amounted to CHF 1.6 million. The company does not expect
significant earnings contributions for the year as a whole until the third
and fourth quarters, depending on audience figures for the major releases.

External sales of the Sports- and Event-Marketing segment at CHF 24.0
million were below the figure for the first half of 2012, as expected. This
decline was due essentially to changes in the business relationship with
UEFA, including handing over match organization to UEFA. As a result of the
targeted reduction of segment expenses by CHF 8.6 million to CHF 15.2
million, a segment result of CHF 8.8 million was generated. As expected,
this was lower than the previous year's figure but approximately at a
similar level to the two previous quarters as planned.

The Other Business Activities segment generated external sales of CHF 1.6
million (previous year's period: CHF 1.8 million) and other income of CHF
0.5 million (previous year's period: CHF 0.9 million). After deducting
expenses of CHF 3.5 million (previous year's period: CHF 4.1 million), the
segment posted a loss for the first half of 2013 of CHF 1.4 million
(previous year's period: CHF 1.5 million).

As expected, the Highlight Group's consolidated sales were down slightly at
CHF 156.4 million as compared to the previous year's figure of CHF 163.6
million. By contrast, a significantly higher production volume resulted in
a CHF 24.0 million increase in capitalized film production costs and other
own work capitalized to CHF 49.7 million (previous year's period: CHF 25.7
million). The Highlight Group's total output therefore rose from CHF 189.3
million to CHF 206.1 million.

Consolidated operating expenses posted a production-related increase from
CHF 188.7 million to CHF 209.9 million. As a result of the change in the
contract situation with UEFA and the pending theatrical releases, the
profit from operations of CHF 5.9 million was in line with planning. The
consolidated net profit amounted to CHF 4.4 million, of which CHF 4.2
million was attributable to Highlight's shareholders.


Based on the good operational prospects in the second half of the year,
particularly in view of the major international releases of 'The Mortal
Instruments: City of Bones' and 'Tarzan (3D)', the German Bora Dagtekin
comedy 'Fack ju Göhte' as well as 'Walking with Dinosaurs' and the
DreamWorks production 'The Fifth Estate', the Highlight Group continues to
anticipate consolidated sales of between CHF 350 million and CHF 400
million for 2013 as a whole. The amount of consolidated net profit will
largely depend on the results of the theatrical slate in the third and
fourth quarters.

The German interim report as of June 30, 2013 will be available to download
at www.highlight-communications.ch starting from this evening, and the
English version from August 20, 2013.


End of Corporate News

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13.08.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
company 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
Indices:     SDAX
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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