DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG

DGAP-News: Highlight Group with jump in sales and earnings

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement Highlight Group with jump in sales and earnings

12.05.2016 / 14:19 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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- Consolidated sales almost doubled to CHF 128.1 million

- EBIT improved by 74.0% to CHF 8.7 million

- Consolidated net profit for the period rose from CHF 0.6 million to CHF 5.5 million

- Earnings per share increased six-fold to CHF 0.12

The Highlight Group has started fiscal year 2016 with very positive results.

Group development in the first quarter of 2016

- At CHF 128.1 million, consolidated sales in the first three months were up by 99.2% on the corresponding figure for the previous year (CHF 64.3 million). The increase primarily stems from higher external sales in the Film segment, which are mainly attributable to the start of exploitation of the hit comedy "Fack Ju Göhte 2" in the home entertainment sector and the release of "Shadowhunters" by the US broadcaster Freeform.

- Consolidated operating expenses rose by CHF 99.4 million to CHF 174.3 million. The main reasons for this were a production-related rise in the cost of materials and licenses as well as considerably higher amortization of film assets.

- EBIT improved to CHF 8.7 million - an increase of 74.0% compared to the first quarter of 2015 (CHF 5.0 million).

- Consolidated net profit for the period rose from CHF 0.6 million to CHF 5.5 million and the share of profit attributable to Highlight shareholders increased from CHF 0.7 million to CHF 5.4 million. The higher increase of these two items as compared to EBIT is primarily due to the fact that the financial result improved from CHF -4.5 million to CHF -2.2 million owing to currency factors.

- Consolidated equity (including non-controlling interests) at CHF 92.0 million was down by CHF 11.8 million as against the end of 2015 (CHF 103.8 million). This decline was due in particular to the purchase of treasury stock with a value of CHF 16.3 million.

- Net liquidity rose by CHF 4.6 million to CHF 6.7 million despite a decrease in cash and cash equivalents.

The quarterly statement as of March 31, 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 1Q2016 1Q2015 Change in % Sales 128.1 64.3 99.2 EBIT 8.7 5.0 74.0 Net profit for the period 5.5 0.6 816.7 (after taxes) Net profit attributable 5.4 0.7 671.4 to shareholders Earnings per share (CHF) 0.12 0.02 500.0 Segment sales Film 113.1 52.0 117.5 Sports- and Event- 14.7 11.3 30.1 Marketing Other Business Activities 0.2 1.0 -80.0 Segment result Film 0.5 -0.5 200.0 Sports- and Event- 6.7 6.8 -1.5 Marketing Other Business Activities 2.7 -0.4 775.0

in CHF million March 31, 2016 December 31, Change in % 2015 Balance sheet total 383.1 458.0 -16.4 Equity 92.0 103.8 -11.4 Equity ratio (%) 24.0 22.7 1.3 points Current financial 83.2 104.3 -20.2 liabilities Cash and cash equivalents 89.9 106.4 -15.5

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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12.05.2016 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. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and 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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