12.11.2014

Press Release
Pratteln, November 12, 2014

- Consolidated sales up by 19.2% to CHF 312.2 million
- Consolidated net profit for the period improved by 51.5% to CHF 10.3 million
- Forecast for net profit in fiscal year 2014 raised

Due to the positive operating development in the Film segment, in particular in the areas of home entertainment and TV exploitation, Highlight Group has already outperformed all relevant 2013 comparative figures in the first nine months of this year. For 2014 as a whole, the Group is now expecting a consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders of CHF 12 million to CHF 14 million instead of CHF 9 million to CHF 11 million.

Group development in the first nine months of 2014

  • Consolidated sales rose to CHF 312.2 million and were thus up by 19.2% on the figure for the  first nine months of the previous year (CHF 262.0 million). The increase is mainly attributable to the Film segment.
  • EBIT improved by CHF 12.0 million or 164.4% to CHF 19.3 million (previous year's period: CHF 7.3 million).
  • Consolidated net profit for the period increased by 51.5% to CHF 10.3 million (previous year's period: CHF 6.8 million). CHF 9.6 million of this profit is attributable to Highlight shareholders (previous year's period: CHF 6.1 million), corresponding to a rise in earnings per share of 61.5%  to CHF 0.21 (previous year's period: CHF 0.13).
  • Net debt was reduced by CHF 48.8 million to CHF 58.9 million (December 31, 2013: CHF 107.7 million).

Targets for fiscal year 2014

The Highlight Group has raised its forecast for consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders in fiscal year 2014 to CHF 12 million to CHF 14 million (instead of CHF 9 million to CHF 11 million), corresponding to earnings per share of CHF 0.27 to CHF 0.31. The Highlight Group continues to anticipate consolidated sales in a range of CHF 380 million to CHF 410 million in fiscal year 2014.

The German interim report as of September 30, 2014 will be available for download at www.highlight-communications.ch starting from today, and the English version from November 17, 2014.

Highlight Group at a glance

Group figures according to IFRS

in CHF million

Jan. 1 to  Sep. 30, 2014

Jan. 1 to  Sep. 30, 2013

Change in %

Sales

312.2

262.0

19.2

EBIT

19.3

7.3

164.4

Net profit (net of tax)

10.3

6.8

51.5

Net profit attributable to shareholders

9.6

6.1

57.4

Earnings per share (in CHF)

0.21

0.13

61.5

Segment sales

Film

272.4

222.7

22.3

Sports- and Event-Marketing

37.1

36.5

1.6

Other Business Activities

2.7

2.8

-3.6

Segment result

Film

9.3

0.1

--

Sports- and Event-Marketing

15.7

13.7

14.6

Other Business Activities

-1.7

-2.1

19.1

in CHF million

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Change in %

Balance sheet total

381.8

443.3

-13.9

Equity (including non-controlling interests)

101.1

107.2

-5.7

Equity ratio (%)

26.5

24.2

2.3 points

Current financial liabilities

106.1

152.0

-30.2

Cash and cash equivalents

47.2

44.3

6.6

Net debt

58.9

107.7

-45.3


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