ots Ad hoc-Service: Highlight Communications <DE0009203059> Highlight Communications AG: Revenues and earnings growth in the 1st quarter of 2000 above expectations
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Highlight Communications AG: Revenues and earnings growth in the 1st quarter of 2000 above expectations
- Revenues increased to CHF 38.7 million (up 130 %) - Disproportionately large increase in operating profit to CHF 9.2 million (up 240%). - EBIT margin widened substantially
Listed in the Neuer Market segment of the Frankfurt stock exchange, Highlight Communications AG, Pfäffikon, Switzerland successfully continued on its growth course in the 1st quarter of the new millennium. In the first three months of the year, the consolidated revenues of the Swiss media group (Highlight Group) rose to CHF 38.7 million, twice as high as in the year-ago quarter (CHF 16.9 million, +130 %). Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)rose from CHF 2.7 million to CHF 9.2 million, up 240 % year-on-year, representing a substantial increase in margins. Allowing for licensing expenditure, earnings before tax, income and depreciation/amortization on film assets (EBITDA) in the 1st quarter came to CHF 17.7 million, up from CHF 8.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Buoyed by business growth in the period under review, the Highlight Group's cash flow rose to CHF 19.6 million. In view of these positive trends, all divisions are expected to outstrip revenue and earnings forecasts this year. The figures for the quarter must be seen in the light of the fact that the Highlight Group's cinema exploitation revenues are not planned until the 2nd half of the year - among other things, Highlight will be releasing Universal's box-office hit U-571, which grossed USD 49.6 million within two weeks and is currently one of the Top 3 films in the US, in Germany in the 2nd half. In the Video division, sales in the 1st quarter have outstripped volumes for all of 1999 thanks among other things to the alliance with Paramount Pictures.
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