10.11.2015 – 17:46

Highlight Communications AG

DGAP-News: Highlight Group improves EBIT and net profit

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Highlight Group improves EBIT and net profit

10.11.2015 / 17:44
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PRESS RELEASE

Highlight Group improves EBIT and net profit

-Consolidated sales of CHF 231.1 million in line with planning

-EBIT raised by 19.2% to CHF 23.0 million

-Consolidated net profit increases by 12.6% to CHF 11.6 million

-Earnings forecast raised for fiscal year 2015

As anticipated, the third quarter of 2015 was the quarter with the highest sales
and earnings so far in the current fiscal year. A key contribution to this was
made by the Film segment, in particular due to the theatrical performance of the
Constantin Film comedy "Fack Ju Göhte 2", which had already been seen by
approximately 5.5 million people by the end of September.

Group development in the first nine months of 2015

- Consolidated sales in the first nine months of the current fiscal year
amounted to CHF 231.1 million. The decline of CHF 81.1 million as against the
figure for the same period of 2014 (CHF 312.2 million) mainly results from the
fact that no international Constantin Film own production was released this
year.

- Consolidated operating expenses fell by CHF 70.1 million as against the
previous year's figure. This decline is primarily due to amortization,
depreciation and impairment, which were CHF 57.3 million lower at CHF 45.6
million.

- EBIT improved by CHF 3.7 million or 19.2% to CHF 23.0 million (previous year's
period: CHF 19.3 million). The EBIT margin for the first nine months of 2015 was
therefore 10.0% (previous year's period: 6.2%).

- The consolidated net profit rose by CHF 1.3 million or 12.6% to CHF 11.6
million. The fact that the EBIT increase was not fully reflected in consolidated
net profit was due firstly to higher tax expenses and secondly to currency
effects.

- The profit share attributable to Highlight shareholders amounted to CHF 11.9
million (previous year's period: CHF 9.6 million), corresponding to earnings per
share of CHF 0.27 (previous year's period: CHF 0.21) - an increase of 28.6%.

- As of September 30, 2015, the Highlight Group had cash and cash equivalents of
CHF 104.5 million and financial liabilities increased of CHF 101.5 million,
resulting in net liquidity of CHF 3.0 million at the end of the third quarter
(December 31, 2014: net debt of CHF 36.5 million).

- Consolidated equity (including non-controlling interests) was down CHF 13.1
million as against the end of 2014 at CHF 93.8 million (December 31, 2014: CHF
106.9 million). This decrease resulted primarily from dividend payments (CHF
10.3 million) and currency translation differences (CHF 9.8 million). With a
balance sheet total of CHF 441.6 million (December 31, 2014: CHF 361.6 million),
the equity ratio was 21.2% as of the end of the third quarter (December 31,
2014: 29.6%).

Targets for fiscal year 2015

In the current fourth quarter, the Highlight Group is anticipating that the
positive business performance will continue, and therefore adjusted its earnings
forecast for 2015 as a whole in an ad-hoc disclosure on October 30, 2015.
Assuming that currency exchange rates remain almost stable, it currently expects
to generate a consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders of between
CHF 16 million and CHF 18 million with earnings per share of between CHF 0.36
and CHF 0.40. The previous forecast for consolidated sales of between CHF 310
million and CHF 330 million remains unchanged.

The German interim report as of September 30, 2015 will be available for
download at www.highlight-communications.ch starting from this evening, and the
English version from November 17, 2015 at the latest.

 

Highlight Group at a glance        

Group figures according to IFRS    
 
in CHF million                          9M 2015       9M 2014           Change
in %

Sales                                   231.1         312.2             -26.0

EBIT                                    23.0          19.3              19.2

Net profit for the period               11.6          10.3              12.6

Net profit attributable to shareholders 11.9          9.6               24.0

Earnings per share (CHF)                0.27          0.21              28.6

Segment sales                                                            

Film                                    191.0         272.4             -29.9

Sports- and Event-Marketing             37.3          37.1              0.5

Other Business Activities               2.8           2.7               3.7

Segment result                                                           

Film                                    11.4          9.3               22.6

Sports- and Event-Marketing             16.4          15.7              4.5

Other Business Activities               -0.7          -1.7              58.8

                                                                         

in CHF million                          September 30, December 31, 2014 Change
in %
                                        2015

Balance sheet total                     441.9         361.6             22.2

Equity                                  93.8          106.9             -12.3

Equity ratio (%)                        21.2          29.6              -8.4
points

Current financial liabilities           101.5         81.3              24.8

Cash and cash equivalents               104.5         44.8              133.3

                                                                         

                                                                         



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10.11.2015  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:   Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial
Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart


End of News DGAP News Service

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410761  10.11.2015