DGAP-Ad hoc: Highlight Communications AG

Figures for fiscal year 2017: Highlight Group posts surge in earnings - significantly outperforms forecast

Highlight Communications AG (ISIN: CH 000 653 9198) has closed fiscal year 2017 successfully and significantly outperformed its guidance for consolidated net profit of between CHF 18 million and CHF 20 million.

The consolidated net profit increased to CHF 23.7 million (previous year: CHF 20.3 million) as a result of the positive business performance.
According to preliminary IFRS figures, Highlight Communications AG is reporting consolidated sales for fiscal year 2017 of CHF 374.3 million (previous year: CHF 441.7 million), in line with its forecast range of between CHF 360 million and CHF 380 million.

Both the Film segment and the Sports- and Event-Marketing segment contributed to the positive business performance. The Film segment increased its earnings by more than CHF 9 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, closing the year with segment earnings of CHF 9.7 million (previous year: CHF 11.9 million). The Sports- and Event-Marketing segment also reported growth in the fourth quarter of 2017, closing with segment earnings of CHF 27.3 million (previous year: CHF 25.4 million). The Others segment incurred additional costs for the capital increase in June 2017, the costs for the successful takeover bid to the shareholders of Constantin Medien AG and additional legal costs of CHF 6.5 million, as a result of which the segment reported CHF -11.6 million (previous year: CHF -4.3 million) on a one-time basis. However, the non-recurring increase of legal and consulting costs in the Others segment was offset by financial income.

The full audited financial statements for fiscal year 2017 (German version) will be published on March 28, 2018 and will be available for download from this date at www.highlight-communications.ch.

Further information:

HIGHLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS AG
Investor Relations
Netzibodenstrasse 23b
4133 Pratteln BL, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)61 816 96 91
e-mail: ir@hlcom.ch