Highlight Communications AG / Quarter Results
25.05.2009
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- Highlight Group with steady business development after three months of
2009
- In line with planning, the Group generated revenues of CHF 116.8
million and net consolidated earnings of CHF 5.2 million in the first
three months of 2009
In the first quarter, the Highlight Group generated consolidated revenues
of CHF 116.8 million, down CHF 17.5 million or 13.0% on the previous year's
figure (CHF 134.3 million). This was primarily due to license income from
theatrical distribution and TV rights, which declined year-on year.
Profit from operations declined from CHF 13.3 million in the first quarter
of 2008 to currently CHF 8.5 million with net consolidated earnings for the
period reduced from CHF 10.1 million to CHF 5.2 million. CHF 0.2 million
(previous year's period: CHF 0.8 million) of this related to minority
interests and CHF 5.0 million (previous year's period: CHF 9.3 million) to
Highlight shareholders. This corresponds to earnings per share of CHF 0.11
(= EUR 0.07), a drop of 47.6% as against the previous year's period (CHF
0.21/EUR 0.13).
In terms of liquidity, the Highlight Group had cash and cash equivalents of
CHF 197.7 million as of March 31, 2009, an increase of CHF 10.2 million as
against the figures at the end of 2008 (CHF 187.5 million). Parallel to
this, current and non-current financial liabilities were reduced by CHF 2.6
million to CHF 302.2 million. Thus, net debt was reduced by CHF 12.8
million to CHF 104.5 million in the first quarter of the current fiscal
year.
Group equity (including minority interests) rose by CHF 6.3 million to CHF
104.5 million (December 31, 2008: CHF 98.2 million), which was primarily
due to the net earnings for the period. The notional equity ratio therefore
improved to 16.1%, after 15.3% at the end of 2008. After netting cash and
cash equivalents against financial liabilities and advance payments
received with film assets, the adjusted equity ratio as at the end of the
first quarter was 28.0% (December 31, 2008: 26.3%).
In the wake of the worldwide financial and economic crisis, the Highlight
Group feels the uncertainty in the media markets, too. Nevertheless, we
assume a steady business development and still anticipate consolidated
revenues of between CHF 490 and CHF 510 million with earnings per share of
between EUR 0.42 and EUR 0.44, provided that exchange rates remain largely
stable (especially between the Euro and the Swiss franc).
The interim report as of March 31, 2009 is available for download from
www.highlight-communications.ch as of today.
DGAP 25.05.2009
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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
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DGAP-News: Q1 2009: Highlight Group in line with planning
| Source: EQS Group AG