Fiscal year 2011

Operating business further shored up, capital base strengthened, financial results affected by exchange rates

Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Finance/
Fiscal year 2011: Operating business further shored up, capital base
strengthened, financial results affected by exchange rates

DGAP-Media / 21.03.2012 / 08:52

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Press Release

Pratteln, March 21, 2012

The Highlight Group further shored up its operating position as one of the
leading media groups in the Film and Sports- and Event-Marketing areas. The
financial results of fiscal year 2011 were significantly affected by the
appreciation of the Swiss franc against the euro and the US dollar.

  - With consolidated sales of CHF 383.5 million (previous year´s period:
    CHF 434.6), the target was achieved. The target range had been
    redefined in November 2011 to between CHF 370 and CHF 400 million on
    account of the appreciation of the Swiss franc and the slide in the
    euro/dollar exchange rate. Due to exchange rate effects, profit from
    operations (EBIT) of CHF 39.7 million was down as against the previous
    year´s period (CHF 56.1).

  - On an euro basis - meaning without consideration for currency effects
    from the fiscal year - earnings per share were EUR 0.56 and thus above
    forecast of between EUR 0.52 and EUR 0.54.

  - Consolidated equity (including non-controlling interests) increased by
    CHF 23.4 million to CHF 96.0 million as of the end of 2011.

  - Net debt was reduced from CHF 85.4 million to CHF 63.5 million.

The appreciation of the Swiss franc is particularly reflected in the
Sports- and Event-Marketing segment where sales are realized in euro and US
dollars while most of the expenses are incurred in Swiss francs.
Accordingly, both segment sales of CHF 90.3 million (2010:
CHF 100.9 million) and segment result of CHF 29.6 million (2010:
CHF 41.1 million) remained below the previous year´s figures.

As a consequence of lower income from the TV service production, theatrical
distribution and license trading/TV exploitation business areas, sales of
the Film segment dropped to CHF 292.0 million (2010: CHF 333.7 million).
Primarily due to exchange rate effects, the segment result of
CHF 16.8 million was also reduced from the previous year´s figure of
CHF 19.9 million.

Cash and cash equivalents of the Highlight Group amounted to
CHF 140.7 million as of December 31, 2011 (December 31, 2010:
CHF 166.0 million). At the same time, financial liabilities decreased by
CHF 47.2 million to CHF 204.2 million (December 31, 2010:
CHF 251.4 million).

Based on the established business areas and nearly stable exchange rates,
the Highlight Group expects consolidated sales for the current fiscal year
of between CHF 370 million and CHF 390 million. In terms of earnings per
share, the company estimates to generate a figure within the range of
EUR 0.42 and EUR 0.44.

As in the previous year, the Board of Directors of Highlight Communications
AG will propose a dividend of CHF 0.17 per dividend-entitled share for
approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. The ordinary
Annual General Meeting for fiscal year 2011 will take place on June 1, 2012
at Hotel Hilton in Basel.

The German annual report for 2011 is available for downloading from the
company´s website www.highlight-communications.ch from tonight. The English
version will be available from March 28, 2012.

For questions please contact:

HIGHLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS AG
Investor Relations
Netzibodenstrasse 23b
4133 Pratteln BL / Switzerland
Phone:  [phone]
E-mail:  [e-mail]

End of Media Release

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21.03.2012 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by DGAP - a
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Language:    English                                                
Company:     Highlight Communications AG                            
             Netzibodenstrasse 23b                                  
             4133 Pratteln                                          
             Switzerland                                            
Phone:       [phone]                                       
Fax:         [phone]                                       
E-mail:      [e-mail]                                          
Internet:    www.hlcom.ch                                           
ISIN:        CH0006539198                                           
WKN:         920299                                                 
Indices:     SDAX                                                   
Listed:      Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);       
             Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,   
             München, Stuttgart                                     

End of News    DGAP-Media  

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