Biotest AG — Earnings Release 2004

Mar 16, 2005

News Details

Ad-hoc | 16 March 2005 14:15

Biotest: Excellent preliminary result 2004: EUR 5.0 million group profit

Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG Result 2004 Biotest: Excellent preliminary result 2004: EUR 5.0 million group profit Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Ad-hoc-announcement §15 WpHG Excellent preliminary result: Biotest achieves group profit of EUR 5.0 million in 2004 Dreieich, March 18, 2005. In financial year 2004 the Biotest Group more than doubled its EBIT which increased by 141.6 % to EUR 18.6 million from EUR 7.7 million in 2003 according to preliminary, not yet audited figures. Consolidated net profit totaled EUR 5.0 million after a loss of EUR 5.7 million in the previous year. The increase in group earnings was primarily due to cost cuts and revenue increases on the German and European markets. The group recorded its improved earnings despite revenues being 1.8% down at EUR 218 million by consciously doing without low-margin tender revenues. However strong revenue growth in the high-price European countries (+7.4%) was overshadowed by down-turns in non- European countries. Foreign business thus fell by 4.9% to EUR 141.5 million (previous year: EUR 148.8 million). In contrast, revenues in Germany grew by 4.5% to EUR 76.4 million (previous year: EUR 73.1 million). Business growth in the divisions was characterized by contradictory growth. Whereas the Pharmaceutical division recorded sales of EUR 141.9 million – down 2.8% year-on-year (EUR 146.0 million), this division recorded the strongest earnings growth in the group with EBIT totaling EUR 18.4 million. In contrast, the operating income in the Diagnostic division fell despite a constant level of revenues as a result of extraordinary charges from EUR 3.1 million in 2003 to EUR 0.1 million in 2004. As a result of the excellent earnings, the Managing Board is proposing – subject to the consent of the Supervisory Board – to pay a dividend of EUR 0.11 per ordinary and preferred share. Biotest’s full financial statements will be published in the Internet on March 31, 2005 and discussed at the financials press conference on April 19, 2005. Biotest AG – in brief Biotest AG, Dreieich, is a pharmaceuticals and diagnostics company with around 1,000 employees worldwide. Biotest has specialized in developing, producing and marketing therapeutic products and diagnostic systems, focusing on clinical immunology, auto-immune disease, hematology and intensive care medicine. The range of products covers human plasma products such as immu- noglobulin preparations and blood coagulation factors, test systems for transplant and transfusion diagnosis and tests for hygiene control. In addition to additional innovative plasma products, Biotest’s therapeutic pipeline also contains various monoclonal antibody candidates. Investor Relations: Hubert Bötsch, Tel:: +49 (0) 6103 801-444, Fax: +49 (0) 6103 801-880, E-Mail: hubert_boetsch@biotest.de Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, D-63303 Dreieich, Germany WKN, ISIN ordinary share: 522720, DE0005227201 WKN, ISIN preferred share: 522723, DE0005227235 Listed:Prime Standard/ Amtlicher Handel Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart Biotest AG Landsteinerstraße 5 63303 Dreieich Deutschland ISIN: DE0005227201 WKN: 522720 Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg und Stuttgart End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 16.03.2005 161415 Mär 05