In line with the provisional figures, Highlight Communications AG (WKN 920 299), included in the SDAX, with its Film and Sports and Event Marketing divisions, concluded fiscal 2007 with another earnings upturn despite a difficult market environment. The figures disclosed in this release take into account the changes to accounting and valuation principles made by the Highlight Group in the annual financial statements for 2007 as well as the relevant adjustments to the figures for the previous year.
Net consolidated earnings (Highlight shareholders) increased by 19% to CHF 30.7 million (previous year: CHF 25.8 million). For fiscal 2007, this represents earnings per share of CHF 0.68 or in EUR 0.41 (previous year: CHF 0.55 or in EUR 0.35). The planning for fiscal 2007 was for net consolidated earnings in a range of EUR 0.36 - 0.38.
Due to the change in accounting policies which impacted the subsidiary Constantin Film and Highlight Communications AG, consolidated revenues of CHF 481.7 million at the Highlight Group were slightly under the announced guidance. There was a 7.6% decline in revenues in comparison to the (adjusted) record value of the previous year (CHF 521.2 million) which was significantly influenced by the cinema hit “Perfume – The Story of a Murderer”.
It is expected that the complete financial statements for 2007 will be published on April 29, 2008 and will be available from this time for downloading under www.highlight-communications.ch.
Furthermore the Board of Highlight today has appointed Peter von Bueren as CFO Highlight. Since 1994 Peter von Bueren was in several management positions within the Highlight Group. He was also the Deputy CFO of Antonio Arrigoni who is the new CFO of EM.Sport Media AG.
For questions, please contact:
HIGHLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS AG
Investor Relations
CH-4133 Pratteln BL
Telefon 0041-61-816 96 91
e-mail ir@hlcom.ch
