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