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EQS-News: Highlight Communications AG / Key word(s): Annual Results
Highlight Group publishes results for fiscal year 2023
2024-04-24 / 14:15 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
PRESS RELEASE
Highlight Group publishes results for fiscal year 2023
. Consolidated sales amounted to CHF 421.3 million in the financial year (previous year: CHF 523.8
million), due to production-related factors in the Film segment
. Due to foreign-currency effects, EBIT amounts to CHF 6.9 million
. Consolidated net profit for the period attributable to shareholders of CHF -10.6 million
. The equity ratio decreases to 26.8% as at December 31, 2023
Pratteln, April 24, 2023 - The Highlight Group generates solid consolidated sales in 2023 in a difficult environment
Group development in fiscal 2023
. The Highlight Group's business performance in 2023 was more subdued than in the previous year. At
CHF 421.3 million, consolidated sales were down 19.6 % on the previous year's figure of CHF 523.8 million due to
production-related factors and foreign currency effects.
. The operating profit (EBIT) fell by CHF 7.7 million or 52.9 % to CHF 6.9 million (previous year:
CHF 14.6 million) due to foreign currency effects and declining consumer behavior.
. The share of earnings attributable to Highlight shareholders decreased to CHF -10.6 million after
CHF -2.9 million in the previous year.
Development of the operating segments in 2023
Film segment
. There were a total of three in-house and co-productions in theatrical production. In 2023, shooting took
place on the in-house productions "Chantal im Märchenland" and "September 5", as well as a psychological thriller
set in the US with the working title of "Psycho Killer". In terms of international projects, shooting for "In the
Lost Lands and "Hagen" was completed. In theatrical distribution, ten films were released in German theaters during
the fiscal year, including "Rehragout-Rendezvous" from the Eberhofer series, "Manta Manta - Zwoter Teil" and "Sun
and Concrete". In TV exploitation/license trading, numerous license sales of in-house and third-party productions
took place with established and new partners in 2023. The premiere broadcasts of "Guglhupfgeschwader" and "Contra"
achieved a high market share.
. Sales in the Film segment fell by 29.1 % to CHF 253.6 million in the year under review (previous year:
CHF 357.4 million). Other segment income, which is largely influenced by capitalized film production costs, rose by
10.9 % to CHF 85.5 million (previous year: CHF 77.1 million). At the same time, segment expenses declined by a
total of 21.2 % to CHF 330.5 million due to the significant reduction in amortization in particular (previous
year: CHF 419.3 million). At CHF 8.7 million, segment earnings were down 42.5 % year-on-year
(previous year: CHF 15.2 million).
Sport and event segment
. In the sports and event segment, TEAM Marketing AG had a very good start to sales in both the media and
sponsorship areas and renewed several important partnerships in the early stages.
. In the reporting year, Sport1 Medien AG focused on optimizing its portfolio of rights, improving and
creating new digital content and marketing environments in addition to cross-platform content exploitation,
networking and capitalization.
. In the Highlight Event AG area, focus was set on the intensive support and realization of the sponsorship
agreements with the main sponsors of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Eurovision Song Contest. Additionally, the
agreement with the Vienna Philharmonic was extended until 2032 ahead of schedule.
. At CHF 167.7 million, external sales in the Sports and Event segment were up 0.8 % on the previous year's
level (CHF 166.4 million). Segment expenses declined from CHF 176.6 million to CHF 170.9 million, while other
income fell from CHF 13.3 million to CHF 6.4 million. As a result, the segment result of CHF 3.9 million was
slightly below the previous year's figure (CHF 5.6 million).
Targets for fiscal 2024
Due to the continuing uncertain market situation caused by the inflation trend and the effects of the Ukraine crisis,
the Board of Directors cannot rule out an impact on the Highlight Group's operating activities.
As in the previous year, the Board of Directors is monitoring the current situation in the current year and regularly
reviews the measures taken. The Highlight Group plans to return to stable and economically successful business
activities with great growth potential, including with a strong cinema program in the Film segment such as "In the Lost
Lands" and "September 5" and the highly successful UEFA club competitions in the Sports and Events segment. Due to the
risks mentioned above, the Board of Directors is unable to issue a forecast for the 2024 financial year.
There will be an adjustment to the Highlight Group's management in 2024. Peter von Büren, long-standing CFO (Chief
Financial Officer) of the Highlight Group, will step down from the Management Board as of June 30, 2024 due to his age.
However, he will stand for re-election as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors of Highlight Communications
AG at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. As his successor, the Board of Directors of Highlight Communications AG has
appointed Hasan Dilsiz, the former long-standing Director of Group Finance, as the new CFO and member of the Management
Board as of July 1, 2024.
The Annual General Meeting for fiscal 2023 is scheduled to take place on June 27, 2024.
From today, the annual report for 2023 can be downloaded from www.highlight-communications.ch in German and English.
The Highlight Group at a glance
Group figures (IFRS)

CHF million                                      2023          2022 Change in % 
Sales                                           421.3         523.8       -19.6 
EBIT                                              6.9          14.6       -52.9 
Consolidated net profit                         -10.6          -2.5         n/a 
(after taxes)                                   -10.6          -2.9         n/a 
Net profit attributable to shareholders         -0.19         -0.05         n/a 

Segment revenue

Film                                            253.6         357.4       -29.0 
Sport- und Event                                167.7         166.4         0.8 

Segment earnings

Film                                              8.7          15.2       -42.5 
Sport- und Event                                  3.9           5.6       -30.1 

CHF million                             Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Change in % 
Total assets                                    598.8         634.3        -5.6 
Equity                                          160.4         186.0       -13.8 
Equity ratio (%)                                 26.8          29.3 -2.5 points 
Financial liabilities                           157.2         189.3        17.0 
Cash and cash equivalents                        25.5          29.9       -14.7 

For further information:

Highlight Communications AG
Investor Relations
Netzibodenstrasse 23b
CH-4133 Pratteln BL
Tel: +41 (0)61 816 96 91
E-mail: ir@hlcom.ch
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2024-04-24 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com

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Language:     English 
Company:      Highlight Communications AG 

Netzibodenstrasse 23b
4133 Pratteln
Switzerland

Phone:        +41 61 816 96 96 
Fax:          +41 61 816 67 67 
E-mail:       ir@hlcom.ch 
Internet:     www.hlcom.ch 
ISIN:         CH0006539198 
WKN:          920299 
Listed:       Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, 

Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
EQS News ID: 1888363

End of News EQS News Service
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1888363 2024-04-24 CET/CEST

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April 24, 2024 08:15 ET (12:15 GMT)