Q1 2011: Highlight Group improves earnings once more
(firmenpresse) - Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Finance/
Q1 2011: Highlight Group improves earnings once more
DGAP-Media / 25.05.2011 / 16:07
- EBIT improved by 88.0% to CHF 15.6 million in line with scheduled sales
decline
- Net profit attributable to Highlight shareholders up 56.9% to CHF 9.1
million
- Net debt further reduced by CHF 15.5 million to CHF 69.9 million
- Targets confirmed for 2011 as a whole
Following the successful business performance of 2010, the Highlight Group
concluded the first quarter of the current fiscal year with further good
results: Net profit climbed by 23.8% to CHF 9.9 million, while the profit
share attributable to Highlight shareholders increased by 56.9% to CHF 9.1
million, corresponding to earnings per share of CHF 0.20 (first quarter of
2010: CHF 0.13).
Consolidated sales of CHF 86.7 million were down on the previous year's
figure (CHF 100.1 million)as anticipated, due mainly to the lower number
of theatrical releases, while consolidated operational expenses decreased
strongly from CHF 106.6 million to CHF 85.5 million. At the same time,
other income was virtually unchanged year-on-year at CHF 14.3 million
(previous year's period: CHF 14.8 million), resulting in profit from
operations (EBIT) rising from CHF 8.3 million to CHF 15.6 million, a surge
of 88.0%.
The primary factor contributing to this increase was the Film segment,
which - in spite of a sales decline from CHF 75.2 million to CHF 63.6
million - generated an improvement in the segment result from CHF -1.7
million in the first quarter of 2010 to currently CHF 6.3 million.
Owing to currency translation differences, external sales of the Sports-
and Event-Marketing segment of CHF 23.1 million were slightly down on the
first quarter of 2010 (CHF 24.9 million). The segment result, which had
been CHF 11.2 million in the first three months of the previous year,
dropped to CHF 10.4 million due to an increase of almost 3% in segment
expenses.
The cash and cash equivalents of the Highlight Group amounted to CHF 197.8
million as of March 31, 2011, an increase of CHF 31.8 million as against
the end of 2010 (CHF 166.0 million). In parallel to this, financial
liabilities increased by CHF 16.3 million to CHF 267.7 million, bringing
net debt down by CHF 15.5 million in the first quarter of 2011 to CHF 69.9
million.
With regard to the year 2011 as a whole, the Highlight Group is confirming
its sales and earnings forecast. Assuming that exchange rates (particularly
between the euro and the Swiss franc) remain roughly the same, consolidated
sales of between CHF 430 million and CHF 450 million and earnings per share
of between EUR 0.52 and EUR 0.54 are expected.
The interim report as of March 31, 2011 is available for downloading from
the company's website www.highlight-communications.ch as of today.
End of Media Release
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Language: English
Company: HighlightCommunications AG
Netzibodenstrasse 23b
4133 Pratteln
Schweiz
Phone: +41 61 816 96 96
Fax: +41 61 816 67 67
E-mail: info(at)hlcom.ch
Internet: www.hlcom.ch
ISIN: CH0006539198
WKN: 920299
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP-Media
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126201 25.05.2011
Datum: 25.05.2011 - 16:07 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 34206
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