Highlight Communications AG / Quarter Results 26.11.2008 Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Earnings from operating activities up 8.3% to CHF 34.0 million · Net consolidated earnings up 35.0% to CHF 24.7 million · Earnings per share increased to CHF 0.51/EUR 0.31 (previous year: CHF 0.36/EUR 0.22) Q3 2008: Highlight Group still enjoying success Pratteln, November 26, 2008: Despite more difficult general conditions, the Highlight Group has seamlessly continued the earnings-oriented path of the first half of the year, achieving the best results in the history of the Highlight Group after the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Earnings from operating activities improved by 8.3% to CHF 34.0 million (previous year: CHF 31.4 million). This development was driven by both the stable results in the Sports and Event Marketing segment and an excellent performance of the Film segment in the theatrical distri-bution thanks to the surprise hits 'The Wave' and 'Freche Mädchen' and home enter-tainment business areas. Thus, Film segment earnings rose from CHF 6.9 million to CHF 14.6 million, an increase of 111.6 % as against the first nine months of 2007. With an increase of 35.0%, net consolidated earnings rose even more strongly from CHF 18.3 million to CHF 24.7 million. CHF 22.9 million (previous year: CHF 16.7 million) of net consoli-dated earnings relate to Highlight shareholders, whose share of earnings therefore increased by 37.1%. This resulted in earnings per share of CHF 0.51 (= EUR 0.31) an increase of CHF 0.15 (= EUR 0.09) as against the first nine months of 2007. In the first nine months of 2008, the Highlight Group generated consolidated revenues of CHF 358.7 million, falling short of the previous years figure (CHF 369.7 million) by only 3.0%. The slight decline resulted from service income (revenues from the Sports and Event Marketing segment and TV service productions), which decreased from CHF 209.7 million in the previ-ous year to currently CHF 166.0 million. This decline is mainly due to the fact that service production proceeds in 2007 were dominated by the event three-part TV film 'Afrika, mon amour', while there have been no similarly major TV productions to date in the current year. By contrast, there was a clear increase from CHF 80.2 million to CHF 110.0 million in license income. Firstly, this includes income from theatrical distribution, which was up significantly on the previous year on account of the strong distribution slate ('Asterix at the Olympic Games', 'The Wave', 'Step Up 2: The Streets', 'Freche Mädchen' and 'The Baader Meinhof Complex'). Secondly, this also includes licensing revenues for TV rights. Income in the report-ing period also clearly exceeded the figure for the previous year. The generally successful exploitation in the home entertainment business area led to an increase in sales from CHF 79.7 million to CHF 82.7 million. In terms of liquidity, the Highlight Group had cash and cash equivalents of CHF 215.1 million as of September 30, 2008, an increase of CHF 14.6 million as against the figures at the end of 2007 (CHF 200.5 million). This is offset by current and non-current financial liabilities of CHF 317.1 million, which remained virtually constant as against December 31, 2007 (CHF 317.0 million). Accordingly, net debt dropped from CHF 116.5 million to currently CHF 102.0 million. Consolidated equity (including minority interests) increased significantly by CHF 16.7 million as against December 31, 2007 (CHF 83.0 million) to CHF 99.7 million at the end of the re-porting period. The rise was mainly due to the net consolidated earnings for the period of CHF 24.7 million. After netting cash and cash equivalents against current financial liabilities and film assets against advance payments received, the adjusted equity ratio as of September 30, 2008 was 26.4% (December 31, 2007: 22.4 %). The current year was characterized by the financial crisis, recession fears and considerably worsened general conditions. Nevertheless, given the positioning of the Highlight Group as well as the operating development of its business areas to date, the Highlight Group is still anticipating to achieve its operating objectives for 2008. The interim report as at September 30, 2008 is available for download from www.highlight-communications.ch as of today. HIGHLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS AG Investor Relations 4133 Pratteln BL / Switzerland Phone: 0041 61 816 96 91 e-mail: ir@hlcom.ch DGAP 26.11.2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Highlight Communications AG Netzibodenstrasse 23b 4133 Pratteln Schweiz Phone: +41 61 816 96 96 Fax: +41 61 816 67 67 E-mail: info@hlcom.ch Internet: www.hlcom.ch ISIN: CH0006539198 WKN: 920299 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hannover, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: Q3 2008: Highlight Group still enjoying success
| Source: EQS Group AG