24.05.2018 – 19:47

Highlight Communications AG

DGAP-News: Highlight Group well on track

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim
Statement
Highlight Group well on track

24.05.2018 / 19:45
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Consolidated sales rose to CHF 85.5 millionEBIT improved by 37.5% to CHF 3,3
millionForecast confirmed for fiscal year 2018
The Highlight Group starts fiscal year 2018 with very sound results.


Group development in the first quarter of 2018
 
Compared with the first quarter of 2017, consolidated sales rose by CHF 5.5
million to CHF 85.5 million, whereby both segments contributed to this growth.
The increase in the Film segment is largely based on the start of
home-entertainment exploitation of the hit comedy "Fack Ju Göhte 3". The rise in
the Sports- and Event-Marketing segment stems from higher agency commission that
the TEAM Group generated as a result of successful marketing of the UEFA club
competitions.
 Consolidated operating expenses were down by CHF 10.9 million at CHF 107.6
million, particularly due to a production-related decrease in the cost of
materials and licenses.
 EBIT thus improved by 37.5% from CHF 2.4 million to CHF 3.3 million.
 At CHF -0.3 million, the consolidated net profit for the period was down on the
previous year's period (CHF 0.8 million) due to significantly higher financing
costs. This was also true for earnings attributable to Highlight shareholders,
which fell from CHF 0.7 million to CHF -0.7 million.
 Net debt amounted to CHF 89.4 million at the end of the first quarter of 2018
(December 31, 2017: net liquidity of CHF 109.5 million). This is mainly
attributable to an increase in financial liabilities due to the necessary
financing of the acquisition of additional shares (29.99%) of Constantin Medien
AG.
Targets for fiscal year 2018

The Highlight Group is confirming its annual forecast for consolidated sales,
which are expected to amount to between CHF 520 million and CHF 540 million, and
for consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders of between CHF 18
million and CHF 20 million.

The quarterly statement as of March 31, 2018 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                          1Q2018         1Q2017            Change
in %

Sales                                   85.5           80.0              6.9

EBIT                                    3.3            2.4               37.5

Net profit for the period (after taxes) -0.3           0.8               -137.5

Net profit attributable to shareholders -0.7           0.7               -200.0

Earnings per share (CHF)                -0.01          0.02              -150.0

Segment sales                                                             

Film                                    70.1           65.5              7.0

Sports- and Event-Marketing             15.4           14.5              6.2

Segment earnings                                                          

Film                                    -2.6           -2.7              3.7

Sports- and Event-Marketing             8.4            6.8               23.5

                                                                          

in CHF million                          March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Change
in %

Balance sheet total                     663.7          512.8             29.4

Equity                                  203.8          236.4             -13.8

Equity ratio (%)                        30.7           46.1              -15.4
points

Current financial liabilities           226.9          77.2              193.9

Cash and cash equivalents               137.4          186.6             -26.4

                                                                          

                                                                          

For more information:                                                     

                                                                          

Highlight Communications AG                                               

Investor Relations                                                        

Netzibodenstrasse 23b                                                     

4133 Pratteln BL, Switzerland                                             

Phone: +41 (0)61 816 96 91                                                

E-mail:  ir@hlcom.ch                                                       

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24.05.2018  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,
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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, Tradegate
Exchange



 

End of News DGAP News Service

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689487  24.05.2018