Goldbach Group AG announced earnings results for the first half of 2016. The group increased its revenue in a challenging advertising marketplace by 3.2% against the prior-year period to CHF 234 million. Adjusted for divestments and currency effects, revenue growth was 4.6%. Operating profit before depreciation (EBITDA) came to CHF 13.3 million and operating profit (EBIT) was CHF 11.8 million, corresponding to growth of 12.2% and 10.1% respectively. As an indicator of operational profitability, the EBITDA margin increased to 5.7% during the period under review (prior year 5.2%). The successful sale of the group's operations in Poland was behind an extraordinary result of CHF 1.9 million, relative to CHF 0.7 million when the group streamlined its business portfolio in the prior year. The net result increased by 57% to CHF 3.7 million in the first semester of 2016. This clear increase was partly due to consistent cost management as well as the good operating result and the income from the sale of the subsidiaries in Poland. Operative cash-flow was CHF 8.4 million, which was CHF 12.7 million higher than the prior year.

Based on the current outlook and due to the consistent implementation of the initiated measures, the Goldbach Group anticipates its positive financial development to continue through the second half of the year. The group is standing by its financial goals for 2016 and expects organic revenue growth in the one-digit percent range from continuing operations and an improvement of EBITDA operative profitability in the two-digit percentage range. The net result attributable to shareholders should increase to CHF 8 million to CHF 10 million in 2016.