15.11.2016 – 17:46

Highlight Communications AG

DGAP-News: 3Q2016: Highlight Group with solid business development

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): 9-month figures
3Q2016: Highlight Group with solid business development

15.11.2016 / 17:43
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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3Q2016: Highlight Group with solid business development

-Consolidated sales rose by 20.5% to CHF 278.4 million

-Consolidated net profit of CHF 11.5 million at previous year's level

-Significant improvement of net liquidity by CHF 15.4 million

Overall, the Highlight Group's figures for the first nine months were in line
with expectations.

Group development in the first nine months of 2016

- Consolidated sales were up by CHF 47.3 million year-on-year at CHF 278.4
million (previous year's period: CHF 231.1 million). Both the Film segment
(+22.6 %) and the Sports- and Event-Marketing segment (+18.0 %) contributed to
this increase in sales.

- The rise in the Film segment was due mainly to sales from "Shadowhunters" -
the Constantin Film Group's first major international TV series production.

- The increase in the Sports- and Event-Marketing segment was due to the higher
agency commissions that the TEAM Group generated as a result of the successful
marketing of the UEFA club competitions (2015/16 to 2017/18 seasons).

- Consolidated operating expenses rose by CHF 66.8 million to CHF 336.9 million.
This development is attributable firstly to considerably higher amortization of
film assets and secondly to a rise in the cost of materials and licenses in
connection with productions.

- As a result, EBIT of CHF 19.4 million was lower than in the previous year's
period (CHF 23.0 million).

- Consolidated net profit for the period was virtually unchanged at CHF 11.5
million (previous year's period: CHF 11.6 million). The share of profit
attributable to Highlight shareholders amounted to CHF 11.1 million,
corresponding to earnings per share of CHF 0.26 CHF.

- Consolidated equity (including non-controlling interests) at CHF 96.7 million
was down by CHF 7.1 million as against the end of 2015. This decline was due
primarily to the purchase of treasury stock.

- Net liquidity posted a significant increase of CHF 15.4 million to CHF 17.5
million.

- The previous forecast for consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders
of between CHF 18 million and CHF 20 million remains unchanged. Based on the
operating business development to date and from today's perspective, the
Highlight Group is now expecting to generate consolidated sales of between CHF
410 million and CHF 430 million in 2016 as a whole.

The quarterly statement as of September 30, 2016 will be available for download
at www.highlight-communications.ch starting from today.

Highlight Group at a glance                            

Group figures according to IFRS                        

                                                                     

in CHF million                          3Q2016        3Q2015        Change in %

Sales                                   278.4         231.1         20.5

EBIT                                    19.4          23.0          -15.7

Net profit for the period               11.5          11.6          -0.9

Net profit attributable to shareholders 11.1          11.9          -6.7

Earnings per share (in CHF)             0.26          0.27          -3.7

Segment sales                                                        

Film                                    234.1         191.0         22.6

Sports- and Event-Marketing             44.1          37.3          18.2

Other Business Activities               0.2           2.8           -92.9

Segment result                                                       

Film                                    1.3           11.4          -88.6

Sports- and Event-Marketing             19.2          16.4          17.1

Other Business Activities               2.7           -0.7          485.7

                                                                     

in CHF million                          Sep. 30, 2016 Dec. 31, 2015 Change in %

Balance sheet total                     376.8         458.0         -17.7

Equity                                  96.7          103.8         -6.8

Equity ratio (%)                        25.7          22.7          3.0 points

Current financial liabilities           89.7          104.3         -14.0

Cash and cash equivalents               107.2         106.4         0.8

                                                                     

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15.11.2016  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.

The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Archive at www.dgap.de
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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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521151  15.11.2016