DGAP-News

Highlight Group increases sales and earnings in fiscal year 2016

DGAP-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Final Results Highlight Group increases sales and earnings in fiscal year 2016 05.04.2017 / 18:53 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Consolidated sales rose significantly by 27.6% to CHF 441.7 million EBIT improved by 15.1% to CHF 35.8 million At CHF 19.7 million, consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders at the upper end of the forecast Earnings per share increased by 17.9% to CHF 0.46 CHF The business performance of the Highlight Group was highly positive overall in 2016.

Group development in fiscal year 2016

• Consolidated sales rose by 27.6% to CHF 441.7 million year-on-year (2015: CHF 346.1 million) and were therefore higher than the target figure of between CHF 410 and CHF 430 million
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• EBIT increased by 15.1% to CHF 35.8 million (2015: CHF 31.1 million) and consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders rose by 12.6% to CHF 19.7 million (2015: CHF 17.5 million).
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• The same applies to earnings per share, which were up 17.9% year-on-year at CHF 0.46 (2015: CHF 0.39).
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• The equity ratio improved by 14 percentage points to 36.7% as of the end of 2016 (December 31, 2015: 22.7%).
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• Net liquidity rose significantly by CHF 34.1 million to CHF 36.2 million (December 31, 2015: CHF 2.1 million.
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Development of the operating segments in 2016

• In the Film segment, the theatrical success of "Fack Ju Göhte 2" also carried over to home entertainment exploitation. The movie achieved outstanding sales and rental figures on both the physical and the electronic market. In the TV exploitation/license trading business area, there was also high income from advance sales of the international theatrical and TV productions "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" and "Shadowhunters". As anticipated, sales in the theatrical distribution business areas - which benefited from popular titles such as "Fack Ju Göhte 2" and "Look Who's Back" in 2015 - fell short of the previous year's level. The strongest performance recorded the licensed film "Dirty Grandpa" which drew 1.33 million moviegoers into cinemas, followed by the Constantin Film co-production "Schweinskopf al dente" which delighted around 550,000 spectators.